Handicap International Road Safety Program Manager

Although the overall socio-economic and health situation of Lao PDR has improved over the years, the country is lagging behind its neighbours. Lao PDR is ranked 138 out of 187 on the Human Development Index (HDI). While overall poverty rates in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have dropped, there is growing inequity between the poorest and wealthiest segments of the population. The Lao PDR is a 236 800km².Landlocked Least Developed Country (LLDC). Over the past 20 years Laos has been progressively transitioning from a centrally-planned to market-oriented economy. This has contributed to impressive economic growth, averaging more than 7 percent per annum between 2001 and 2010. In 2011, Lao PDR achieved a GNI of USD 1,010 and, as such, graduated from its lower economy income categorisation to a lower-middle income economy. Overall poverty has almost halved over the past two decades from 46 percent in 1992-93 to 27.6 in 2007-08 enabling significant progress towards the attainment of its MDGs. In 2011, the Human Development Index for Laos is 0.524 (Cambodia: 0,523, Vietnam: 0,593) and belongs to the medium human development group of countries. However, the benefits of growth have not been evenly distributed. Inequality is increasing and poverty remains widespread in rural areas where the vast majority of Lao people live. Over one-quarter of the total population remain below the national poverty line. The Lao PDR is therefore at an important cross-road in its development, and is challenged to balance growth with equity and sustainability, to ensure that current and future Laotian generations can participate in and benefit from its growth success

Handicap international in Lao PDR: Handicap International started working in Lao PDR since 1996. Since then, the organization has been engaged in programs that focus on the prevention of disability (UXO clearance / Risk Education/Mother and Child Health and Road safety campaign), rehabilitation services at the institutional (Technical assistance to physiotherapy department in central and provincial hospitals) and community level (Community Based Rehabilitation), social economical inclusion of persons with disability and promotions of rights for persons with disability.

Road Safety: The Road Safety Program started in 2003, in response to the rapid increase in road traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities as a result of the sharp increase in the number of vehicles in recent years. In cooperation with Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the program has been primarily working to raise awareness on road safety in Vientiane Capital and Savannakhet Province. Vientiane Province is expected to be added following a request by the government.

Road Safety Program has been implementing four main activity components: public awareness; youth education; community-based activities; and data collection. Activities are diverse, including:

• Public Awareness: community outreach; mass media campaigns; involvement of road crash victims; outreach to employers and employees through RS Network. • Road Safety Education: the development of a school curriculum; RS education of secondary and vocational students in cooperation with the traffic police; • Community-based Activities: targeted training; community action planning • Data Collection and research: data collection on road traffic crashes, regular helmet surveys; researches projects in partnership with the National University of Lao PDR • Support skills development of local partners; and technical and process support to the government counterpart.

The program is gearing towards communication for behavior change, though there is now the drive towards asking for commitment of road users.. The emphasis on on-the-ground community outreach has proven to be an effective way of awareness-raising to reduce road crashes. Community mobilization and capacity building of local authorities are envisioned as a potential exit strategy in project areas where awareness raising has seen positive results, while the replication of the methodology in other geographical areas is contemplated.

The program also has a number of components that require a close cooperation with the Government of Lao PDR in the coming months, including: implementation of a national RS curriculum for primary schools ; a peer education program for secondary students capacity building for government partners to take over regular helmet and hospital survey; development of the project next phase (2014-2019)

For more information concerning the context of work in this country, please consult our internet sitewww.handicapinternational.be

General Objective

The Program Manager is expected, in close collaboration with the technical referent and Operational Coordinator, to develop methodologies, lead in the implementation and monitor the quality of activities.

The program is expecting to nationalize the position of the Program Manager with an expatriate staff as an Advisor to support the national personnel in the transition period

Responsibilities

Responsibility 1: Team development and management

• Recruit and supervise project teams • Facilitate communication, cooperation and knowledge exchange within the team • Prepare and lead the periodical internal office meetings • Manage the project team delegation of task and responsibilities (monitoring, supervision, evaluation) • Manage team communication to prevent and solve possible conflicts • Develop team building activities when appropriate and possible • Provide coaching and identify capacity building needs • Evaluate staff performance once a year

Responsibility 2: Planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project • Coordinate the project implementation and provide support through developing methodologies, coaching, monitoring and supervision • Develop and monitor budget, and manage material and financial resources of the program • Prepare with teams annual, quarterly and monthly planning • Lead project annual review • Manage regular donor reporting according to the guideline and set up a system of knowledge management and information exchange with government counterpart • Ensure quality control for measuring the indicators of the project • Manage the project evaluation and ensure that lessons learned are incorporated in future operations

Responsibility 3: Needs assessment and project formulation • Identify needs and opportunities in close consultation with government counterpart and based on surveys/assessments • Formulate new projects within the framework of the program strategy/proposal • Mobilize resources for the new projects

Responsibility 4 : Representation and coordination with donors, national/local counterparts and partner agencies • Represent the program in stakeholder/donor meetings • Develop and maintain constructive relationships with institutional partners and governmental bodies • Participate in the regional road safety approach, in collaboration with the relevant program managers and HI colleagues in the SEA region and global headquarters

Responsibility 5: Be part of a Country Management Team • Provide inputs in overall coordination and management issues for the mission • Take part in identifying linkage between three programs within the mission for harmonization, integration and knowledge exchange

Profile required for the job

Knowledge • Master’s degree in Community Development, Social Sciences, Education, Urban Planning, or Transport related fields • Fluent in English (oral and written), knowledge of French and Lao is a plus

Skills • Proven experience in project management and coordination • Minimum 5 years of experience in road safety, in community development and/or public education • Strategic planning, proposal writing, monitoring and evaluation • Capacity to support the project cycle management of road safety projects • Budget development and monitoring • Team development and management, coaching skills • Proven skills in partnership development • Previous experience in working with rural communities (preferably in South East Asia) • Previous experience in developing and implementing national policies • Proven skills in the development of training tools and methodologies. • Capacity to organize and facilitate technical seminars • Strong Computer skills

Personal qualities • Excellent communication skills and inter-cultural sensitivity • Maturity and diplomacy • Creative thinking, resourcefulness, orientation for innovation and change • Flexibility. • Ability to maintain an overall positive attitude when facing difficulties • To adhere to Handicap International vision: a world in which all forms of disabilities can be prevented, cared for or integrated, and in which the rights of the persons with disability are respected and applied

Expatriate mission details

City/site RS PM: The post will based in the main office in Vientiane for 65% but with travel to the RS field base in Savannakhet province 25% and field trips to other province 10% (depending on possible extension).

Department / project Road Safety

Number of employees The total number of employees of Handicap International in Lao PDR is125.

Size of the team Currently 8 national staff (4 in VTE, 4 in SVK) Direct management 3 Indirect management 5

N+1 Operational Coordinator

Budget responsibility Yes (150.000 Euros)

Contract 1 year fixed-term contract (renewable), full time with a 6 month trial period

Other advantages Housing and bills covered (not telephone)

Expected date of arrival February 2013

Duration of the mission 12 months

International travel Not required for regular duties but some regional travel may be involved for conferences/workshops.

Travel between sites Regular travel to Savannakhet

Possibility of a couple Yes

Possibility of children Yes

Specifics Own Housing – not shared

How to apply:

Please send CV and cover letter to jobs@handicap.be