Introduction

DanChurchAid (DCA) invites applications for an experienced Head of Programme (HoP) for its Mali/Sahel Country Office, within a multi-sectoral humanitarian response programme. This position is based in DCA’s Bamako office.

The HoP reports directly to the Country Director and is an integral part of the in-country Senior Management Team. The HoP liaises with Fundraising and Technical departments in HQ as well as Programme and Support staff in country.

About DCA in Mali/Sahel

DCA has been implementing humanitarian response activities in Mali since 2013, operating in the Northern and Central parts of the country. In 2022, DCA started cross-border humanitarian interventions reaching the Western part of Burkina Faso as well.

DCA works within the triple-nexus framework through Conflict prevention, social cohesion and peacebuilding, Risk Education on mines and explosive remnants of war and Victims Assistance, Food Security, Livelihoods and Climate Change adaptation, with a holistic approach aiming to improve people’s ability to cope with the effects of armed violence and to enhance economic resilience in a challenging context.

DCA is committed to the Grand Bargain and Localization agenda, and all DCA projects in Mali are partially or fully implemented through local partnerships.

Overall Description of the role

Your main responsibilities will be to support the development of DCA Mali programme and contribute to DCA’s long-term strategy in Sahel, ensuring programme synergies and relevance and developing concept notes and proposals, to manage/coordinate the project activities, ensuring that they are implemented in accordance with DCA’s quality standards and donor requirements and to support on the associated financial, administrative and reporting duties both externally and internally.

You will advise on humanitarian principles and ensure that the programme mainstreams protection and gender and fully understands and applies SPHERE Standards wherever relevant/required, and you will assist the programme with working towards Core Humanitarian Standards and all relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Specific Responsibilities:

Management and coordination

• Represent the programme/operations within the Senior Management Team (SMT).
• Line management, performance driver and staff development of Project Managers and Project Coordinator, MEAL Manager and Grant & Reporting Intern.
• Coordination of the programme department with respect to the CD and support department
• Ensure coordination with relevant humanitarian fora/clusters/working-groups, international and national NGOs, UN agencies, donors, national and local authorities and other stakeholders, with support from CD.

Fundraising and strategy

• Provide contextual programme analysis inputs to DCA’s country and fundraising strategy, ensuring programme relevance and expansion, in line with DCA and donors priorities.
• Participate in consolidating DCA’s operations in Mali/Sahel and advise on partnerships and programmatic opportunities.
• Lead the development of high-quality concept notes, project design and donor proposals.

Programme quality, reporting and compliance

• Ensure quality of overall project and programme activities, with increased synergy and complementarity across projects, and advise CD on programme improvements.
• Work closely with DCA’s national partners, assess their capacity and implement organisational and technical capacity-building plans accordingly.
• Supervise the development of timely and quality project reports matching DCA and donor requirements.
• Support and oversee the development of strong Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning systems and feedback mechanisms.
• Actively mainstream protection and gender in all projects, ensure the inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable groups, and assist the programme with working towards Core Humanitarian Standards and relevant SDGs as well as adherence to SPHERE standards.
• Ensure project compliance to DCA and donor policies and requirements.

Cross-cutting duties

• Maintain effective working relationships with other members of the programme as well as with DCA HQ.
• Contribute to a culture of excellence, continuous improvement and performance optimization across all projects.
• Be a role model for diversity, inclusion and belonging and a positive contributor for team spirit.
• Work in accordance with DCA values and humanitarian principles.
• Any other reasonable duties, as requested by CD.

Qualifications, experience and skills:

• A relevant academic qualification at Master’s level in development studies, project management or any other relevant topics or the equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 4 years’ experience at a senior level, preferably in complex humanitarian environments.
• Proven experience in resource mobilization, donor liaison and coordination and in particular working with institutional donors such as Danida, UN, ECHO and EU.
• Clear understanding of the cluster system and humanitarian coordination.
• Experience in a volatile and insecure context and the ability to keep a cool head under pressure.
• Strong leadership, team building and communication skills.
• Full professional fluency in written and spoken French and English.
• Strong analytical skills, organized and structured approach and ability to plan, coordinate and lead processes that include multiple stakeholders and interests.
• Being committed, flexible, result-oriented and possessing strong interpersonal skills including the ability to manage a busy workday with conflicting deadlines in a multicultural setting.
• Knowledge of the Sahel context and experience working in French-speaking regions of Africa an advantage.

We offer:

• 12 months contract with the possibility of extension
• A very competitive salary package
• 30 days of paid annual leave
• A generous R&R allowance
• Insurance as per industry standards
• An interesting and challenging experience addressing humanitarian needs
• Skilled colleagues and comprehensive HQ support
• A positive and caring work environment

Closing date: 22 May 2022. Tests and interviews are expected to be held between 27 May and 07 June 2022. However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and DCA reserves the right to select a candidate prior to the closing date.

All interested candidates, irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, or ethnic affiliation are encouraged to apply for the vacancy. DCA conducts an anti-terror check as part of the recruitment process. It is a prerequisite that you can pass this check and maintain this status throughout your employment with us. Everyone applying for a job with DCA must be ready to comply with our Code of Conduct, Staff Policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment, and our Child Safeguarding policy.