Head of the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG)

Job Posting Organization:
The Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) is an active platform of international NGOs with a regional presence and programs across Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes region. The organization works to strengthen humanitarian and sustainable development outcomes through enhanced coordination, advocacy, technical expertise, and active engagement with the broader aid community. Established with a member-led structure, the IAWG currently comprises 31 NGO members and is governed by a 7-member Steering Committee. The IAWG is hosted by the NRC East and Southern Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya, and aims to facilitate collaboration among NGOs to address humanitarian needs effectively.

Job Overview:
The Head of the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) is responsible for providing strategic leadership and representation for a regional, member-led platform of international NGOs operating across East and Central Africa. This role is crucial for strengthening collective NGO leadership, coordination, and influence in humanitarian and protracted crisis contexts. The postholder will ensure that NGO perspectives shape regional humanitarian priorities, policies, partnerships, and resource decisions. As the primary convenor, strategist, and external representative of the IAWG, the Head will engage with various stakeholders at both regional and global levels, advocating for the interests of the member organizations and ensuring effective collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Set and drive the strategic direction of the IAWG in alignment with its Charter and multi-year strategy. Lead strategic reviews and future planning to ensure relevance to evolving humanitarian, political, climate, and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security dynamics. Provide regular high-level reporting and advice to the IAWG Steering Committee.
• Collective NGO Coordination: Convene and facilitate senior-level coordination among NGO Regional Directors, enabling coherence, complementarity, and shared positioning across member organizations. Oversee the effective functioning of IAWG working groups and collective initiatives.
• Advocacy and Policy Influence: Position the IAWG as a credible, authoritative regional NGO voice on humanitarian priorities. Lead the development and articulation of common policy positions, messages, and advocacy priorities. Represent agreed NGO positions in regional and global policy and decision-making forums.
• External Representation and Partnerships: Act as the primary representative of the IAWG with UN agencies, regional institutions, donors, and humanitarian partners. Build and sustain strategic relationships that advance collective NGO objectives and humanitarian outcomes. Strengthen alignment and collaboration with country-level NGO fora and global NGO platforms.
• Institutional Sustainability and Governance: Ensure the financial sustainability and institutional credibility of the IAWG. Lead resource mobilization for core operations, analysis, and advocacy capacity. Support sound governance, transparency, and accountability to IAWG members.
• Secretariat Oversight: Ensure effective delivery, performance management, and compliance with host agency systems. Note: The above responsibilities are just a snapshot; please refer to the full job description for a complete understanding.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressive international experience in humanitarian and/or development contexts, including regional-level roles. Candidates should have proven leadership in multi-agency coordination, coalition building, or network governance. A strong understanding of humanitarian operations, NGO systems, and crisis dynamics in East and Central Africa is essential. Additionally, proven experience in advocacy, policy engagement, and strategic communications is required. Candidates should possess strategic leadership and systems thinking skills, strong facilitation, negotiation, and representational skills, excellent analytical and policy writing abilities, and high-level communication and public speaking skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a postgraduate qualification in international relations, development, political science, or a related field. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of humanitarian work and the political landscape in which the IAWG operates.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 10 years of progressive international experience in humanitarian and/or development contexts, with a focus on regional-level roles. This experience should include leadership in multi-agency coordination and a deep understanding of the operational challenges faced by NGOs in crisis situations.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the region may be considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is Nairobi, Kenya, and the contract duration is set for 2 years. The salary is graded at level 11 on NRC’s international salary scale. NRC is committed to being an equal opportunities employer, promoting diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability. The organization encourages innovative ideas and provides opportunities for employees at all levels to take responsibility and be heard. This position is open for expats who meet the selection criteria, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interested candidates should submit their applications and CV in English, ensuring they meet the minimum standards in terms of experience and qualifications.