Background to the Role:
CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire (CST) represent the official international relief and development agencies of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is the official development and relief agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. SCIAF is the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, the official aid and international development charity of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Trócaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland. All three agencies work to promote human dignity and social justice and are part of the global Caritas network, a confederation of over 160 Catholic aid agencies
CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire have been operating a joint programme in Ethiopia managed by a single office since 2000 where a mixed model had been implemented for example CAFOD leading on HR and security while Trocaire led on PCM etc. We moved to a lead agency model in 2020 when Trocaire and CAFOD’s registration in Ethiopia was merged under an entity ‘CST Ethiopia’. The Country Director leads the programme (approximately £6m sterling) on behalf of the three agencies and manages a team of 30 plus staff.
CST Ethiopia is in the process of developing a new Country Strategic Plan (2021 – 2025) focusing on programme thematic areas of women’s empowerment, resilient communities, and saving lives and protection human dignity. CST’s implementation approach in Ethiopia is through working with national partner organisations. We currently work with 17 partners in five areas of Ethiopia (Tigray, Afar, Oromia, SNNP and Greater Addis Ababa).
The three agencies working together in Ethiopia bring many benefits: reduced transaction costs for our partners; allowing our own administration to be more cost effective than having separate presence of the three agencies; it also allows greater flexibility in responding to partners’ capacity needs. As three agencies together we also have more influence with partners, donors and government than working separately.
Reporting to:
A Joint Agency Governance Group (JAGG) made up of the CAFOD Head of Region, Africa, SCIAF Programme Manager and Trócaire Head of Portfolio, Climate Change and Gender. Direct line management lies with the Trócaire Head of Portfolio, Climate Change and Gender.
Managing: (Individuals /Team)
Direct Management of 4; overall team of approximately 30.
Contract Type:
Fixed term
Contract Duration:
3 years**
Location of Position
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children & Adults
Trócaire is committed to Safeguarding people within our programmes from Exploitation and Abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. Any candidate offered a job with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire’s Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.
Purpose of the Role
The Country Director is responsible for strategic development and effective management of CST Ethiopia’s country programmes and operations, in line with organisational and country specific strategies, policies and procedures and under the lead agency model.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
· Provide vision and direction for the Ethiopia country programme in line with CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire’s organisational strategies.
· Develop and implement the Ethiopia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) and review the CSP annually.
· Report annually on programme, non-programme, and financial management to the JAGG.
· Input into CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire’s organisational strategies through strategic planning and annual review processes
· Model the behaviours and values expected of CST staff
· Contribute to the strategic direction of CST’s work, inputting into regional and Africa-wide processes and policies, and providing ideas, initiatives and information for development education, fundraising, campaigning, and advocacy work of the 3 organisations.
Programme development and overview of country programme
· Provide leadership and direction in the strategic development and implementation of development and humanitarian programmes at country level, in line with CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire’s strategic objectives, and strategies. **
· Ensure that effective results-based monitoring and evaluation systems are implemented in line with Trocaire (as lead agency) policies and procedures.
· Take forward capacity strengthening processes and develop opportunities for more systematic learning and sharing amongst partners and within CST itself.
· Ensure that programme learning is captured and feeds into programme development and sharing across programmes and across the three agencies.
· Ensure that programme staff work together to build synergies between programme areas, where this adds to programme impact.
· Ensure that internal and external reporting is carried out in a timely manner, to a high standard and in line with agreed objectives and targets.
· Maintain direct communication with managers in the three HQ (e.g. Head of Programmes, Head of Institutional Funding), and ensure that the country team is working effectively with other teams on programme quality and learning; research, policy & advocacy; and management of institutional funding.
· Provide leadership and foster collaboration with other actors (NGOs, INGOs, networks, host government etc.) in order increase programme quality and maximise impact.
· Ensure that CST responds appropriately to requests for humanitarian and development support, and that appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian and development programmes takes place in line with Core Humanitarian Standards.
· Lead on advocacy at a country level and on defining advocacy messages for use internationally.
· Facilitate fundraising and communications work on an emergency response.
Human Resource Management
· Ensure that CST attracts and retains high calibre national and international staff by providing; a sense of clear purpose to all staff, (ensuring staff understand CST’s objectives and their roles in achieving those objectives) and development opportunities, in line with Trocaire (as lead agency) policies and procedures.
· Lead on recruitment and management of staff according to Trocaire (as lead agency) management standards, so that staff are empowered, and the effectiveness of the team is maximised.
· Lead, manage and support direct reports, including setting objectives, conducting annual performance development reviews, providing coaching, and ensuring team members have individual development plans.
· Ensure effective and appropriate systems and processes for team learning and development.
· Lead wider cross organisational teams/initiatives relating to the programme, such as media and communications work, advocacy, co-financing initiatives, humanitarian response.
· Ensure consistent implementation of strong performance management systems throughout the country team, in line with CST policy.
· Foster a culture and efficient and effective practices of team-working in pursuit of greater programme impact and organisational effectiveness.
· Ensure that there are regular staff forums and meetings for discussion and coordination of strategic, operational, and administrative initiatives
Financial and Admin Management
· Take responsibility for overall financial management in the country and ensure that there is optimal use of financial resources, managed in a transparent and accountable manner in line with CST’s systems and procedures.
· Plan, manage, and review budgets (programme budget, office overheads budget, back-donor funded programmes), in line with CST’s financial policies and guidelines and according to the requirements and deadlines set by the Head of Region and the JAGG.
· Manage the core costs budget and the country staffing budget
· Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with CST’s finance guidelines
· Ensure that partner organisations are assessed in relation to financial management and governance standards and are supported to address capacity weaknesses
Country office management and governance compliance
· Ensure that all host government requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc., are complied with.
· Ensure the country security plan is accessible and up-to-date, and provide effective security management, including staff security and risk mapping.
· Oversee, maintain, and protect office assets and support systems. This includes computer software and hardware, vehicles, casual staff, bank accounts and procurement.
· Ensure that all necessary policies and procedures are in place and followed by staff in terms of security, procurement, safeguarding children, use of equipment, medical cover, local terms, and conditions – including salary scales. Provide for training of staff in such policies as necessary.
· Ensure that internal and external audits are fulfilled in a timely and efficient manner, in line with Trocaire policy, and back donor and host government requirements.
· Ensure follow-up on recommendations arising out of audits of CST’s operations and take appropriate actions where necessary.
· Ensure full compliance with Trocaire anti-fraud policy and related back donor or host government requirements.
Institutional Funding
· Lead the development and ensure implementation and regular review of a country strategy on Institutional Funding.
· Ensure that the country team is accessing and managing Institutional Funding in accordance with CST’s strategic objectives, and Trocaire (as lead agency) policies and procedures.
· Ensure full compliance with donor requirements in relation to Institutional Funding secured for the country programme.
· Ensure optimal cost recovery, based on sound systems for budgeting, monitoring and compliance reporting.
· Take overall responsibility for managing risks related to institutional funding.
· Monitor and ensure that the programme takes advantage, where opportunities arise, for in-country funding.
· Network actively and play a lead role in management level dialogue with donors and other INGOs on accessing and managing institutional funding.
Representation, Communications and Advocacy:
· Represent CST with the host government, national NGO and INGO networks, the Catholic Church and its agencies, donors and other key strategic stakeholders.
· Act as prime spokesperson for CST in country with all external stakeholders
· Maximise opportunities for collaboration with like-minded agencies for integration into country- based networks.
· Increase awareness of CST’s work with CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire’s supporters and key stakeholders in the UK and Ireland, through the provision of communications material, facilitating internal and external visitors and carrying out media interviews upon request by the Communications Unit in the three HQs.
· Lead the country team in contributing to the development and implementation of core communications, fundraising, development education and advocacy initiatives at global level.
· Play an active role in defining and delivering on a country-specific advocacy agenda.
The ideal candidate will have:
Qualification
· Third level qualification in Development, Humanitarian or related field of study.
Experience
· Significant demonstrable experience in the management of development and humanitarian programmes of substantial scale.
· Demonstrable experience in running a country office (admin, finance, HR management, security management etc.);
· In-depth understanding of programming in a partnership model, working in a partnership-based NGO.
· Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies and techniques, including results-based management, rights-based approach and participatory methodologies.
· Demonstrable experience or knowledge of one or more of the programme areas: sustainable livelihoods and natural resource management, women’s empowerment, prevention and response and civil society strengthening.
· Demonstrable experience of promoting gender equity through programming and within an international organisation.
· Demonstrable experience of working to attract institutional donor funding and of managing large and complex donor grants.
· Solid experience of managing teams in a multi-cultural environment and playing a leadership role in ensuring cohesiveness, inclusion and development of staff at all levels.
· Experience of working in a faith-based organization.
· Experience of working with management information systems.
Skills
· Excellent leadership skills.
· Ability to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives.
· Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement a clear country level strategy in the context of organisational strategy.
· Demonstrated ability to manage multi-cultural teams of national and international staff well, and to implement performance management effectively.
· Ability to coach and help others develop in their professional lives.
· Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills and demonstrated ability in using these with internal stakeholders and external stakeholders.
· Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial systems on a significant scale, in development and humanitarian contexts.
· Demonstrated ability to meet corporate governance and accountability requirements of host governments, CST and donors.
· Demonstrated ability to manage security in challenging environments.
· Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation, and problem-solving skills.
· Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including ability to make highly effective presentations to groups; communicate well to the media; develop succinct reports for management or other internal purposes; and produce analysis and articles for internal and external use.
· Competent in Microsoft packages (Word, Excel) and in the effective use of ICT.
· Fluency (written and spoken) in English
· A full valid driving licence.
Qualities
· Understanding of, and empathy with, the role of the Catholic Church in development
· A strong commitment to the work of justice and an empathy with the ethos and work of CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire.
Other
· Ability and willingness to travel within Ethiopia and internationally including travel to three HQs in Ireland and the UK.
