DRC Country Coordinator 110 views3 applications

Background

Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding that supports locally led peacebuilding initiatives around the world. Interpeace tailors its approach to each society and ensures that the work is locally driven. Together with local partners and local teams, Interpeace jointly develops peacebuilding programmes and helps establish processes of change that connect local communities, civil society, government and the international community.

As a strategic partner of the United Nations, Interpeace is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and has offices around the world.

For more information about Interpeace, please visit www.interpeace.org

Position within the Organization

The Country Coordinator is a member of the Programme Management Unit which manages and implements Interpeace’s active and ongoing programmes around the world. The Programme Management Unit is led from the Headquarters office in Geneva, although team members are based in various locations including in East and Central Africa, West Africa, Europe and the MENA region.

The Country Coordinator reports to the DRC Country Representative. For this position to be effective, the position will also draw on support from the Great Lakes Representative, the Programme Management Unit in the region and at Headquarters and with the Programme Development and Operations teams as well as a within the network of Programme Managers based in other countries of operation.

Purpose and General Overview

The Country Coordinator is responsible for the overall management and delivery of results by Interpeace programme and project teams in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including liaison with local partners and authorities at the operational level as required in order to enable Interpeace to implement its mandate. The Country Coordinator works under the strategic oversight of the DRC Country Representative, and also works in close collaboration with Interpeace’s Great Lakes Representative on cross-border programmes that affect the DRC.

The Country Coordinator represents Interpeace and is responsible for the delivery of practical collaboration with local authorities, international and local organisations, networks and media under the general guidance of the DRC Country Representative. The Country Coordinator deputes for the Country Representative in representing Interpeace at senior leadership levels with national and local authorities and partners as required.

S/he is responsible in managing and supporting the programmatic activities implemented at the regional and national levels within pre-agreed programme budgets or funding allocations.

S/he will supervise the programme staff of the DRC programme, promoting their professional effectiveness and growth as well as their welfare.

Duties and responsibilities

Strategic Engagement:

• Closely monitors political, security, economic and social dynamics likely to have an impact on peace and programming activities at the national and regional levels, and share them through regular exchanges and monthly notes with the Country Representative
• Ensures practical relationship building with implementing partners
• Contributes to the development, definition and ongoing evolution of the Interpeace programme strategy in line with the overall Interpeace Strategic Plan and the context in DRC.
• Engages with implementing partners to secure their ongoing commitment and delivery of mutually agreed peacebuilding activities
• Provide strategic guidance, leadership and overarching management to programme and project managers/officers to ensure effective coordination and convergence across the overall country programme
• Is accountable for effective implementation and compliance of programme activities in DRC in accordance with Interpeace Finance, Procurement, HR and other policies and procedures as required by grant or contract agreements

Programme Development

• Contributes to the identification and development of opportunities to expand the programme within the country, in collaboration with the country programme team and implementing partners as well as the Programme Development Unit
• Coordinates the country programme annual planning and budgeting processes as per organizational guidelines and local context

Representation

• Supports the Country Representative in managing the political space and engaging national authorities, in collaboration with the DRC Advocacy Focal Point based in Kinshasa
• Represents Interpeace as required in meeting with authorities, donors and international partners operating in the field
• Deputes for the Country Representative when required, particularly in interacting personally with senior leaders of national and local authorities in DRC as well as partners

Management

• Ensures compliance of programmatic work at activity level with internal controls
• Has a close operational coordination at working level with other teams in Interpeace and with implementing partner organizations
• Supervises a team of programme personnel within the framework of Interpeace’s organigramme and management structure/accountabilities
• Collaborates with project officers to ensure that annual and quarterly budget previsions are shared by implementing partners based on programme objectives, planned activities and available resource
• Collaborates with finance officers to ensure close monitoring of budget burn rates and support the timely development and submission of budget revisions when necessary
• Ensures that partners’ requests for fund transfers and activity implementation receive Interpeace’s feedback and timely follow-up
• Responsible for the financial health of the full country portfolio including cashflow
• Ensures that the security, safety and general welfare of the Interpeace staff in in the DRC are protected and promoted, and professional development is advanced where possible
• Ensures that Interpeace’s safety, security and other standards are promoted and supported where possible and relevant with partners in the DRC
• Ensures all reporting obligations on programme activities and outputs are completed and submitted on schedule and to the standards required

Qualifications:

Education

• Advanced degree in international relations, political science, development, management, or relevant field

Experience

• At least 5 years of professional experience in programme management (strategy, planning, reflection, implementation, monitoring, evaluation)
• Several years of field experience in conflict affected contexts, including in the DRC or the Great Lakes region
• Work experience in the fields of peacebuilding, governance, and/or development.

Competencies

• Demonstrates effectiveness and strong experience with short and long-term planning; financial, personnel and program management.
• Advanced knowledge and experience of project cycle management including using project planning and management tools
• Knowledge of current thinking on peacebuilding issues and methods; and demonstrable ability to anticipate emerging needs and integrate them swiftly into priority programme setting
• Developed ability of raising the profile of an organization, strategically networking with government agencies, donors and other international agencies, and using the media to generate profile
• Proven ability to communicate, negotiate and work with high level executives and government officials.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment successfully and to demonstrate gender responsive and non-discriminatory behavior and attitudes.
• Excellent ability to interact with people respectfully and with tact
• Strong writing and communications skills in English and French is required. Knowledge of local language, Tshiluba or Lingala an advantage.

Interpeace Competencies

• Collaboration and Weaving
• Communication
• Drive for results
• Adaptability and Continuous Learning
• Respect for Diversity

Success factors

• Identifies with and is committed to Interpeace’s core values and working principles
• Commitment to inclusiveness
• An innovative, critical thinker with extensive problem-solving skills
• A strategic manager who is accountable, leads by example, mentors and empowers a team and works to create work-life balance