Program Manager II- Agriculture & Livelihoods Team Lead, DRC 137 views0 applications

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS has been supporting program activities in the DRC since 1961 and has long-standing relationships throughout the country with church and non-church partners and communities. The DRC country program has a diverse funding base with projects in nutrition, community health, OVC, food security and agricultural livelihoods, microfinance (SILC), WASH, and emergency response. CRS/DRC currently has more than 191 national and 12 international employees and a FY20 budget of over USD 24 million.

Job Summary:

CRS is implementing an integrated multi-sectoral project called Budikadidi, a Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs Development Food Security Activity (DFSA), to achieve sustained nutrition, food security and economic well-being outcomes in 474 villages in the province of Kasai Oriental. Budikadidi – ‘self-sufficiency’ in Tshiluba – will leverage CRS’ and partners’ long experience in the Kasais to deliver an evidence-based, locally appropriate package of interventions that will build local capacity, strengthen service-delivery systems and increase accountability, and reduce structural, cultural and gender-based barriers to change. Key underlying causes of food security are compounded by geographic and economic isolation and long-term underinvestment by the Congolese state. They include structural factors such as limited access to diversified foods in sufficient quantity and quality, seeds, seed saving, or improved storage, unaccountable institutions and structures, poor governance, limited livelihood opportunities and inaccessible and unintegrated markets. In addition, many vulnerable farming households lack knowledge and skills in improved care practices, climate-smart and time-saving technologies and techniques for agricultural production, and general household management. All of these factors are exacerbated by women’s limited control over decisions impacting nutrition, health and access to productive assets and inputs; entrenched negative gender norms and practices; adolescent marriage and a high prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV). Budikadidi strengthens the adaptive capacity of households, communities, and structures to sustain project results beyond the project in six key strategic areas. Drawing from the Budikadidi theory of change (TOC), these six strategic areas are fully integrated in three project purposes:

• Foundational Purpose (FP)
• Maternal and Child Health Purpose
• Agriculture and Livelihoods Purpose

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of Budikadidi’s agriculture and livelihoods in Budikadidi programming, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its agriculture and livelihoods programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of Budikadidi agriculture and livelihoods activities throughout the project implementation and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Effectively manage talent for agriculture and livelihoods and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Lead the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications in the area of agriculture /livelihoods and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP agriculture and livelihoods sector portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP agriculture and livelihoods strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in agriculture and livelihoods per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in agriculture and livelihoods for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to agriculture and livelihoods and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of agronomy or Agricultural economics required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of agriculture and livelihoods
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages – French, English

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 20 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations
• MEAL skills and experience required.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities – Environment Specialist, SILC Manager, Market Garden specialist, Permagarden specialist, and the Crop Production Specialist

Key Working Relationships:

Internal – Deputy Chief of Party – Programs, Chief of Party, Team Lead for Nutrition, Health and WASH, MEAL Coordinator and MEAL team, Team Lead for Foundational Purpose, Operations Manager, Deputy Country Representative for Programming, other agriculture and livelihoods staff in country program

External – staff of partner organizations, government technical agricultural staff, local government officials, Food Security Cluster

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

· Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of ag-livelihoods required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.

· Minimum of 5 years experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of ag-livelihoods,

· Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

· Integrity

· Continuous Improvement & Innovation

· Builds Relationships

· Develops Talent

· Strategic Mindset

· Accountability & Stewardship

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer