Graduation Adviser – Rwanda 84 views0 applications

Graduation Adviser Rwanda

Introduction

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Our vision is a world where no-one lives in poverty, fear or oppression; where all have access to a decent standard of living and the opportunities and choices essential to a long, healthy and creative life; a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Our Mission is to help people living in extreme poverty achieve major improvements in their lives, which last and spread without ongoing support from Concern. To achieve this mission we engage in long-term development work, build resilience, respond to emergencies and seek to address the root causes of poverty through our development education and advocacy work.

Background Concern Worldwide in Rwanda

Concern Worldwide began operations in Rwanda in 1994, delivering emergency interventions in line with our humanitarian mandate. Over the years, our work in Rwanda evolved from emergency programming to development programmes in education, health and nutrition, agriculture and improving livelihoods of the vulnerable and people living in extreme poverty. Furthermore, we continued to intervene in arising emergencies by providing emergency nutrition and/or relief to disaster-affected communities and contributed to broader national policies.

Today’s portfolio

The current Country Strategic Plan covers the period of 2018-2022. The Concern Rwanda team is currently implementing a programme using the Graduation Approach covering a period from 2017 to 2022 with a view to extend this for 5 additional years. Irish Aid, Concern’s own funds, and private sector grants from individuals and foundations fund that programme.

In Rwanda, Concern’s implementation model for social protection is recognized as an innovative approach. Concern is ideally positioned to provide evidence based learning, test new models, share best practices, and advocate on issues faced by the poor and vulnerable people in Rwanda. Concern will work towards being a centre of excellence in social protection and graduation programming and will experiment with adapting the programme to new locations and new target groups and we will favour implementation of these adapted programmes through local partners.

About the role: This is a new role on a 12-months contract with unaccompanied terms. The position will be based in Kigali, with frequent trips to Huye, our main programme base. The position will be advertised nationally and internationally, and will be Grade 4 of our international salary scale (€43,268-€48,076).

You will report to the Rwanda Country Manager and work closely with the Burundi/Rwanda Programme Director and Country Director, as well as other Concern Rwanda colleagues. You will liaise with Concern’s Social Protection Advisor in Head Office, the Head of Technical Assistance in SAL, and colleagues within Concern working on Graduation programmes. You will supervise the Grant and Communication Officer.

We would like you to start in February 2022.

Your purpose: The Graduation Adviser will work in collaboration with the Country Manager in realising the future ambition of Concern’s Graduation programme in Rwanda and lead in identifying new opportunities for bringing the programme to scale, nationalising/further integrating the approach within Rwanda’s social protection policies and programmes and identifying new funding opportunities to achieve this ambition. You will contribute to developing and maintaining a high standard of collaboration with government interlocutors, donors and technical partners.

You will provide ongoing technical support to the current Graduation Programme and share learning with other Concern Graduation programmes. You will develop strategies and communication materials to increase the visibility of our Graduation programme in Rwanda.

You will be responsible for:

Programme Development and Coordination

• Further develop, in collaboration with the Country Manager and Senior Management Team, Concern Rwanda’s strategy for bringing Graduation to scale and nationalising/further integrating the programme into national Social Protection policies and programmes
• Map out existing and potential opportunities for donor engagement based on consultations with staff, donors, government and UN agencies
• Work with the Country Manager and Senior Management as well as other team members to Scale-up the current Graduation Programming to include new geographic zones and/or target groups (urban, displaced etc.) by identifying new sources of funding and developing strong concept notes and project proposals
• In consultation with the Country Manager, work proactively with international NGOs, UN agencies, Ministries and other actors to expand networks, and to participate in relevant technical forums and working groups at national and international level. This includes, but is not limited to the Partnership for Economic Inclusion hosted by the World Bank, the UNHCR Poverty Alleviation Coalition, Regional Economic Inclusion Working Group and Regional Social Protection and Forced Displacement Working Group).
• Promote a culture of shared learning in country and with colleagues in the region, within Concern globally and with external partners
• Increase internal and external visibility and advocacy of Concern Rwanda’s Graduation programme

Technical support

• In collaboration with programme staff and the Senior Management Team, support with the ongoing development and roll-out of the Concern Rwanda strategy, with a particular focus on the Graduation approach, ensuring that programme activities are in line with government strategy and Concern’s organisational approaches
• Provide technical advice on implementation and innovation within the Graduation approach
• Provide oversight and support to monitoring, evaluation and learning focusing on measuring impact and sharing learning
• Participate and contribute to contextual analysis and proposal development. You will be assisting in the development of technical briefing papers, concept notes and high quality proposals that are in line with Concern and sector strategies and meet donor requirements.
• Ensure that crosscutting and mainstreaming issues (gender & equality, protection, accountability, environment, HIV and AIDs and conflict where relevant) are factored into programme design and delivery, reviews and evaluations.
• Enhance collaboration with other technical departments to support integrated resilience and social protection programming and improve impact

Accountability:

In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS):

• Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E);
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed;
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme participants and communities.

Other:

• Actively participate in collective exercises such as preparation or updates of in-country and international Concern initiatives.
• Ensure the highest stands of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing within and outside the programme and enabling staff, beneficiary and other stakeholder participation at all stages of the project cycle.
• Be aware of, understand and comply with all of Concern’s policies and procedures (Code of Conduct and associated policies, safeguarding, finance, logistics, HR, security management etc.)
• Actively participate in any emergency response if called upon to do so (within the existing programme area or in a new one).
• Adhere fully to the commitments and rules of Concern’s Code of Conduct and associated policies , including the respect of confidentiality.
• Undertake any other relevant and reasonable work as requested by your line manager.

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field or advanced degree in Development Studies, Social Protection, Livelihoods & Markets, or other related disciplines.
• Proven experience (at least 5 years) in senior programme management or leadership positions within the Social Protection sector or with cash and resilience programmes
• Previous experience implementing the Graduation Approach
• Experience in advocacy and close collaboration with local authorities, line ministries and national governments, INGOs, NGOs, CBOs, other civil society groups and the private sector
• Knowledge of approaches that promote how market linkages can be strengthened to enable those living in extreme poverty to have equitable access
• Knowledge of participatory methods, M&E and data collection methodologies, including experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis of food security and livelihoods data.
• Thorough understanding of gender, equality and protection issues.
• Experience in implementing safeguarding procedures and advocating for effective safeguarding procedures
• Experience developing visibility, communication and advocacy materials
• Clear commitment to and experience with mentoring and coaching staff, combined with the ability to give direct actionable feedback.
• Strong communication and coordination skills, both internally and externally.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with senior representatives of donor, INGO and Government structures and to represent the organisation at national or international levels
• Knowledge of the key tools used by donor agencies, such as logical frame works, results chains, theories of change, results-based management and financial administration systems.
• Fluent in English
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage a high volume work flow.

Desirable:

• Experience bring programmes to scale and/or handing programmes over to national authorities
• An understanding of accountability as applied within humanitarian and development programming; familiarity with the Core Humanitarian Standard and its application.
• Knowledge and experience of cash-based interventions in complex crisis.
• Experience of working in the region.
• Experience of financial management and donor compliance processes