Capacity Strengthening Lead – BHA West Africa Early Recovery, Risk Reduction and Resilience (ER4) Activity 39 views0 applications

About Corus:

Corus International is the parent of a family of world-class organizations working to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to end extreme poverty once and for all. We are a global leader in international development, with 150 years of combined experience across our brands. Our nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries include Lutheran World Relief (LWR), IMA World Health (IMA) and its fundraising brand Corus World Health, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Brands. Our employees around the globe are experts in their fields and dedicated to helping the world’s most vulnerable people break the cycle of poverty and lead healthy lives. Further details about the organization can be found at: https://corusinternational.org

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has been strengthening the resilience of communities and governments in West Africa and globally for decades, enabling communities to recover more quickly, and help governments at the national and local levels prepare for and mitigate the impacts of disasters and climate change. Lutheran World Relief implements early recovery, risk reduction, and resilience (ER4) programming across the global, including in countries such as Burkina Faso and Nepal.

About the Job: LWR is seeking a Capacity Strengthening Lead to help build partnerships and support the development and capacity of the local organizations under the BHA West Africa ER4 Activity. The 5-year project is expected to strengthen the abilities of individuals, communities, institutions and systems in Sierra Leone and Togo to prepare for natural hazards without losing development gains through 1.) increasing access to and use of multi-hazard early warning systems, particularly at subnational and community levels; 2.) supporting and enhancing disaster risk reduction (DRR) structures, including linkages between national and subnational/local structures; and 3.) strengthening and enhancing community resilience to predictable disasters. The Partnerships Lead will lead the development and implementation of the project’s local capacity building and localization efforts, in an effort to ensure local partners are ready to transition to receiving direct funding from USAID. This will include a particular focus on strengthening internal systems and financial management of the sub-recipients, human resources and financial management, and building their competence in overall program management.

The position will be based in Togo and report to the Managing Director, Africa. Actual hiring is contingent upon signed agreement and USAID approval.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and implementation of the project’s overall capacity development strategy to strengthen the technical and organizational capacity of local organizations and transition local organizations to direct donor funding.
• Conduct organizational capacity assessments (OCAs) on local funding recipients. Assist local organizations in determining their capacity strengthening needs and designing, implementing, and monitoring capacity strengthening activities. Oversee the management of country-based capacity strengthening teams.
• Support the financial, administrative, human resources, IT, managerial and organizational capacity of the project’s local partners and funding recipients through mentoring and coaching and capacity strengthening.
• Ensure that the project is fully aligned with and contributing to the realization of USAID’s Local Capacity Strengthening Policy.
• Responsible for day-to-day monitoring implementation of capacity development activities by mentoring technical teams, ensuring adherence to targets, timelines, budget management, and achievement of objectives.
• Monitor potential risks and actively engage with the program team on mitigation of risks as they arise.
• Lead/coordinate strategy development, implementation, and monitoring of all project activities concerning capacity development.
• Support the development and realization of local organizations’ resource mobilization and sustainability strategies.
• Track local funding recipient’s progress on capacity strengthening; analyze capacity outcomes to recommend local funding recipients for direct USAID support.
• Support local organizations to comply with USAID rules and regulations and maintain their status in all the required USG systems.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, social sciences, public policy, organization studies, or a degree in a relevant field is required.
• At least 5 years of experience implementing and leading capacity strengthening activities for local organizations and partnership building in an international development or humanitarian context is required.
• At least 5 years of experience managing activities involving grants or subcontracts to partners in low- and middle-income countries. Experience overseeing sub-awardees to achieve project results.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and organization strengthening of local organizations which may include areas such as administrative, logistical and financial management, policy and advocacy, leadership development, strategic planning, and network engagement strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience in needs, organizational capacity, and risk assessments, design of capacity building and training programs, working in teams/groups, presenting training material and/or providing coaching and mentoring.
• Experience successfully preparing organizations to become prime recipients of USG funds.
• Experience working or partnering with local institutions in complex/challenging contexts; experience in rapid response mechanisms or crisis modifiers preferred.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining partnerships between national, sub-national, and local entities including governments, local organizations, and civil society.
• Extensive experience working in West Africa, with specific knowledge of the political, social and economic contexts in either or both Sierra Leone and Togo preferred.
• Strong communication skills, including both written and oral presentation skills; proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among public and private partners.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Knowledge of and experience with USAID rules and regulations required.
• Professional oral and written proficiency in English and French required.
• Willingness and ability to travel to project sites in Sierra Leone and Togo.