CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: Catholic Relief Services
Country: Sudan
Closing date: 14 Nov 2014

Background:

CRS/Sudan began implementing programs in emergency relief food distribution, health, water and sanitation, peace building, shelter, education and food security/agriculture in West and Central Darfur in July 2004. Ten years of protracted conflict and complex emergency in Darfur has had a significant negative effect on the health and nutrition status of the Darfuri population, particularly IDPs, children under five and pregnant and lactating mothers. CRS continues to be one of WFP’s largest implementing partners. While UN and INGOs efforts in Darfur have succeeded so far to maintain malnutrition and diseases rates under the emergency threshold, those rates are still high, large segments of the population still dependent on food aid and threats of diseases outbreak (e.g. meningitis) and severe/acute malnutrition are still looming.

CRS and WFP are currently implementing General Food Distribution (GFD) and other food programs in different areas of West and Central Darfur, serving more than 500,000 beneficiaries. The cash and commodity value of the program is more than $16 million. This Food program serves as the anchor for all CRS activities in West and Central Darfur. While GFD is a core component of its programs in Darfur, CRS also applies the Integral Human Development (IHD) framework in addressing root causes of vulnerabilities among the conflict affected populations in Darfur. The IHD focuses on increasing targeted population resilience to shocks and building their assets base through a multi-sector response including Food Security, Health and Nutrition, Education, Shelter and Non-Food Items, Education, and Water and Sanitation. WFP and CRS are beginning to transition from GFD into other food programming modalities including Food for Recovery, Food for Work, and Food for Education. CRS Sudan is also moving away from direct implementation, and needs to take steps towards this goal within the food program, as well.

CRS has a sub-office in El Geneina and major field offices in the “Southern Corridor” towns of Habila and Mukjar, which are lead by Area Coordinators. The Area Coordinators directly oversee components of the food program in their operating areas, coordinating closely on budgets and work plans with the Food PM; they also represent CRS to the local WFP sub-office.

Primary Function:

The Food PM will be responsible for managing the overall food program in West and Central Darfur, with the support of the Area Coordinators. He/she represents the food program with the donor in El Geneina, in particular on negotiations regarding the tonnage rate and expansion of the food program. S/he will lead the design and management, of new projects/modalities that will help CRS gradually transition from GFD to other modalities including FFW, FFE, etc. The Food PM will also ensure the integration of food resources and activities with ongoing CRS programing in other sectors; e.g. agriculture/livelihoods and health with a focus on nutrition, education, water and sanitation to maximize program impact; in particular the PM will ensure that CRS Sudan programming is aligned and contributing to the agency strategy.

Specific Responsibilities

1.Project Management

· Develop letters of intent, MOUs and Technical Agreements with local government, NGOs and other stakeholders.

· Carry out project launch, start-up activities including staffing, procurement, detailed implementation planning and SMILER for monitoring.

· Create detailed quarterly work plans and use project management tools as per EARO guidelines such as: risk register, work breakdown structures, issue log and others

· Directly oversee the monthly distributions of WFP-sponsored food assistance in the Northern Corridor of West Darfur.

· Ensure the regular distribution of food assistance, warehouse management, and monitor the distribution and submit monthly/quarterly/yearly reports to WFP on the required format. Work with Area Coordinators on these tasks for the Southern Corridor

· Hold monthly/quarterly review meetings with project team to review activities progress and plan for the next month/quarter.

· Ensure projects are managed on time, on budget and on scope

Reporting

· Provide monthly commodity reports to Finance.

· Review food project work plans developed at the field office level in Habila and Mukjar. Offer feedback and technical support, as needed.

· Collect data, prepare, and submit required reports for food projects, including donor and private funds narrative reports, monthly performance indicator tracking tables, baseline and final evaluation reports, as well as other reports needed/required by the local government, donors, the region or headquarters, when necessary.

· Provide regular updates to government and non-government coordination bodies, as well as the region and HQ, as requested.

Budgeting, Financial Planning and Reporting

· Work with CP level Program and Finance staff and PMs to track the overall spending for food projects.

· Ensure accurate and timely reporting of program finances and progress status, review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis. Although the Area Coordinators submit reports directly to their local WFP sub-office, the Food PM collects these reports for a central food program file, and should monitor the reports in case programming adjustment as needed.

· Hold monthly and quarterly reviews of budget and spending, as well as forecasting.

· Monitor food project budgets, checking for proper burn rates, allowability, allocability, and appropriateness of expenses.

· Ensure that reimbursement claims are submitted on-time to WFP

2.Supervise and Coach programming staff

· Directly supervise and provide technical assistance to national staff for the food program in coordination with the Area and sub-officer Managers.

· Foster national staff development and teambuilding through coaching and mentoring.

· Support program staff in project implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

· Identify training needs and opportunities for staff and organize/facilitate training events as appropriate.

1. Program Design

· Ensure concept papers and grant proposals are developed for submission to major donors, in line with CP, region and agency strategy and Sphere standards. This will include working closely with regional technical advisors, program staff, resource agencies, partners and communities and facilitate participatory needs assessments, project design and proposal writing

· Coordinate and lead food-related assessments conducted by CRS, or participate in assessments conducted in coordination with other stakeholder

· Assess in-country and community based human, material and financial resources to support food programs. Identify potential national NGO partners for the food program.

· Identify prior assessments and best practices for food programming in Darfur

· Lead the design of Food programs, including WFP Field Level Agreements (FLAs). Receive input on food program design from the Area Coordinators, CRS CP staff and regional staff

· Develop new programs that gradually shift GFD programming into other food modalities; e.g. SFP, TFP, FFW, FFE, etc.

· Ensure integration of program interventions with other leveraged resources and other relevant programs, particularly health and nutrition, during the program design.

· Design capacity-building plans for CRS local partners.

4.Program and Management Quality:

· Ensure that program strategic objectives and results under his/her portfolio are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards.

· Oversee program’s monitoring and evaluation system. Ensure that M&E and learning is incorporated into evolving program plans.

· Ensure that aspects of gender, peace-building and IHD are fully considered throughout the project cycle.

· Ensure that principles of humanitarian accountability are included in program design and implementation.

· Identify and implement mechanisms for improving the cost efficiency of food projects.

5.Representation and communications:

· Provide regular updates to the Head of Program, Head of Office and the rest of the team on progress, priorities and constraints.

· Represent CRS in different technical and operational working groups and forums.

· Represent CRS in Darfur to different donors, local government authorities and other stakeholders in the area of Food.

· Negotiate with WFP on the tonnage rate for FLAs. Provide strong justification for a tonnage rate that captures project costs.

· Attend staff regular coordination and management meetings.

Program Manager Competencies

These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each program manager to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

· Sets clear goals and manages toward them

· Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders

· Manages financial resources with integrity

· Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning

Emergency competencies

These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff working in emergencies to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

· Communicates strategically under pressure

· Manages stress and complexity

· Actively promotes safety and security

· Manages and implements high-quality emergency programs

Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervise and provide technical assistance to the Food Project Officers

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Head of Office in Geneina, Area Coordinators, Project Officers, Program Managers, Head of Program, Country Representative, other key staff in the Geneina and Khartoum offices; as well as EARO Regional technical advisors and the DRD/PQ.

External: Host country government agents in West Darfur, WFP and UN officials, NGO agents, donor officials and local partners

Qualifications:

· Masters degree in international development or other related field.

· At least 5 years experience in designing and managing Food programs, with at least two years managing WFP programs.

· Technical knowledge of health and nutrition programs an important plus, but not required.

· Ability to represent the Agency with government, UN and non-government agents.

· Proven experience in project design and implementation, proposal-writing, budgeting and financial management.

· The acceptance of cultural differences, basic living conditions and a continuously changing environment.

· Supervisory experience preferred, especially in a multicultural setting.

· The ability to work independently with minimum supervision and the desire to embrace the challenge of working in a complex emergency.

· Excellent communication and English writing skills; knowledge of Arabic a plus.

· Professional proficiency in French, Spanish or Portuguese.

Physical requirements and environment

The position is based full-time in Al Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan. This is a non-family post in location with limited amenities and frequent travel to different locations in Darfur

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position

CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

EOE/M/F/D/V

How to apply:

Please visit our website at www.crs.org/about/careers