MCC recrute Capacity Building Coordinator based in N’Djamena, Chad

According to the work schedule to be determined upon arrival (which will be fluid & flexible), the Service Worker will be based out of the MCC Chad office but will spend a number of days each week with MCC’s partner organizations, either in N’Djamena or traveling in-country to partners located outside of the city (6-8 hours away).

• Climate: Chad’s climate is very hot and dry. Peak temperatures of 45 to 50°C (120 -130°F) are reached in N’Djamena during the hot season of March – July. Rains begin sporadically in June and fall heavily in July and August, tapering off through September, leaving the long dry season from October through May. November – February is the relatively cooler season, when nights cool off and daytime temperatures peak around 30°C (90°F). Loose cotton clothing is essential.

• Health: Remaining healthy in Chad requires appropriate personal hygiene combined with prudence. Yellow fever vaccination is required to enter the country. Typhoid, cholera and malaria are common but with appropriate precautions can be avoided. Malaria prophylactics are optional, with doxycycline and mefloquine now available locally. Malaria cures are readily available, and treat most cases. Mosquito nets are recommended for sleeping. The air can be very dusty much of the year — something to be aware of/consider if dealing with asthma and respiratory illnesses. The quality of service at local Chadian hospitals is highly variable. However, there is a modern hospital, staffed by European doctors, which is adequate, and an excellent clinic, also staffed by European doctors, that is available within N’Djamena.

• Diet: The traditional diet is high in starch but also includes many nutritious, locally produced vegetables and is often fish or meat based when people can afford it. Seasonal fruits such as pineapples, mangoes, bananas, guavas and watermelons are available throughout the year. Imported foods (such as cheese) are available in N’Djamena but are quite expensive.

• Cultural Expectations: Spending a lot of time visiting is “good form” in Chad. Extensive greetings (particularly with Arabic-speakers), conversation, and sweet tea are part of proper social behaviour. Appropriate attire for women includes long skirts and/or long, loose fitting pants; and tailored shirts for men. Public displays of affection are minimal and often frowned upon. Women and men often socialize separately.

• Infrastructure: Most middle-class houses are one-story, concrete structures within private walled compounds, some with their own water pump. Service Workers are provided with a high quality water filter which is necessary for all drinking water (unless it is bottled water). Extra precautions (washing all fruits/vegetables in bleach water) are necessary in food preparation to prevent illness. Although the capital city, N’Djamena’s electricity and water supply are not always reliable. Generators are often used for power supply. Voltage regulators are required to protect all electronic devices.

• Religion: Chad’s population is about 53% Muslim, 35% Christian, and 11% animist. Christians are 24% Roman Catholic (Chad being a former French colony) and 14% Protestant, almost exclusively represented by 8 evangelical denominations — the largest being the EET (Evangelical Church of Chad), the ACT (Assembly of Christian Churches of Chad/ Plymouth Brethren roots) and the EFLT (Evangelical Lutheran Brethren). There are no Mennonite churches in Chad, although MCC has a 40 year history in the country and is highly respected. Service Workers are expected to regularly attend a congregation of their choosing. Past Service Workers have found joining the church choir, or other church group provides an active social network. The diversity of worship styles in the Protestant/evangelical churches is limited (mostly contemporary music with dancing) and services are usually 2 hours or longer. There is an International Christian Fellowship of N’Djamena which meets twice each month, and is run in English. There is also a weekly women’s Bible study, and monthly men’s prayer breakfast based out of this international fellowship.

• Transportation: The Service Worker’s primary modes of transportation in town are walking, mid-sized taxi buses, which are numerous and inexpensive, and a moto or, if needed due to family size, a vehicle. Mid-size buses also provide transport to other Chadian cities, and a large bus with air conditioning is available for travel to and from Moundou, where other MCC workers and partners are located. Air France and Turkish Airlines have regular flights throughout the week out of Africa. Other airlines provide access within the continent.

In this consulting-type role, the service worker will be primarily concerned with the strategy, structure, management and operations of partner organizations. The worker will identify options for organizations, suggest recommendations for change, as well as advise on additional resources to implement solutions. The service worker will provide objective advice and expertise to help organizations develop capacity in any area that they may be lacking e.g. organizational management, technology implementation, strategy development, communication, human resources, or operational improvement. The service worker will also aid partners with the planning and reporting requirements of MCC.