Programme Officer – Resilient Livelihoods and Governance 4 views0 applications

Starting Salary: Le 273,618

Contract: Fixed – 1 Year

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Job Profile

To contribute to CAFOD’s programmes in Sierra Leonein line with the agreed strategy, by taking the lead on the day-to-day management of CAFOD-supported resilient livelihoods and governance programmes and partnerships. CAFOD’s programme work is underpinned by an Integral Ecology Programme Model, where Programme Strategies are developed with partners to focus on addressing the causes and symptoms of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation.

This post-holder will manage effective relationships with partner organisations; developing and nurturing partnerships and providing or facilitating capacity strengthening support where appropriate. The postholder will be line managed by the Programme Manager. The scope of the post falls into the following broad functions.

• Project management and development in line with the direction set by the Sierra Leone and Liberia Core Programme Strategy
• Building and developing effective relationships with Partners
• Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects
• Programme Quality and Capacity Strengthening
• Provide technical expertise and leadership on CAFOD work on resilient livelihoods and governance.

Key Responsibilities

Project management and development in line with the direction set by the Sierra Leone and Liberia Core Programme Strategy

• In co-operation with partners, support the development of projects as agreed with the Country Representative in line with CAFOD’s Sierra Leone and Liberia core programmestrategy;
• Provide day-to-day management of CAFOD-supported resilient livelihoods and governance programmes/projects;
• Jointly responsible with partners for the effective implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on CAFOD-supported programmes, in line with agreed project management standards and donor requirements;
• Support partners to jointly develop new programme and project proposals that are align with the CAFOD’s programme strategy and existing capacities to manage and implement the work.
• Contribute to the preparation of donor funding applications and donor reporting, in liaison with partners, Business Development Lead and Programme Manager.
• Promote, capture and disseminate learning from past and ongoing CAFOD funded partners’ projects, ensuring that learning informs future projects/programme and the development of CAFOD’s Sierra Leone and Liberia core programmestrategy;
• Realise CAFOD’s principles by acting in line with CAFOD’s partnership policy and standards, and by promoting and ensuring partners’ adherence to jointly agreed accountability, gender, safeguarding, inclusion, supply chain management/procurement good practice, and other standards;
• Carry out advocacy work in support of partners (and CAFOD’s) efforts, with relevant stakeholders at local, national and international levels;
• Oversee and support (where applicable) the work of Programme Accompaniers, Programme Support Officers, and consultants working on CAFOD-supported programmes

Build and develop effective relationships with partners

• Develop, nurture and manage relationships with CAFOD’s partner organisations in line with the principles and standards set in our Partnership Policy;
• Facilitate partner capacity assessments, working with relevant partner staff and CAFOD colleagues where appropriate;
• Ensure partner records (including Safeguarding, Organisational and Financial Profiles) are up to date and that agreed capacity strengthening actions are fully implemented;
• Invest in partners’ capacities by jointly identifying needs, developing plans to strengthen capacities, identifying sources of support, and making requests to the Country Representative for resources allocation to support capacity strengthening.

Internal and external representation

• In co-ordination with the Country Representative and/or Programme Manager, develop, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, including local government, national networks, bi-lateral agencies, and other agencies and Caritas/CIDSE agencies working in Sierra Leone;
• Communicate with other teams within CAFOD to ensure that the programme is well understood, and that information is available for fundraising and other communication, including publications, media briefings, education, etc. This may involve participation in sessions/events with Supporters, communities of practice, working groups, etc.

Financial reporting and monitoring of programmes and projects

• In close co-operation with the relevant roles in the finance and funding teams, prepare, monitor and report on project budgets, as agreed with the Programme Manager or Country Representative;
• Identify relevant projects’ risk registers and monitor them in conjunction with partners, the Country Representative or Programme Manager;
• Where appropriate, work with partners and the finance team to commission and manage project audits under the oversight of the Country Representative or Programme Manager;
• Review partner financial reports and cash forecasts and prepare grant approvals and payments in co-operation with the finance team and Programme Manager.
• Conduct regular partner monitoring visits, identify implementation gaps and provide feedback to improve programme quality.
• Conduct periodic project reviews to assess progress against agreed objectives, indicators and workplans, and recommend corrective actions.
• Follow up on recommendations and agreed actions from monitoring visits, reviews and learning events.

Programme Quality, Systems and Standards

• Effectively use CAFOD’s programme management information systems to ensure programme and project information is complete and up-to-date.
• Ensure compliance with CAFOD policies, and any donor/government agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work.
• Support the mainstreaming of SADI principles and approaches across partner programmes.
• Organise and facilitate inter-partner learning and reflection events to promote knowledge sharing, learning and programme integration.
• Support partners to document and share learning, good practices, achievements and challenges.

Resilient livelihoods and Governance

• Support the development of CAFOD and its partners’ thematic understanding on resilient livelihoods and governance.
• Participate in relevant sectoral groups and communities of practice, and share learning and developments with colleagues and partners.
• Provide technical support and guidance on resilient livelihoods and governance as needed to projects, proposals and activities across the CAFOD Sierra Leone and Liberia Programme.

Safeguarding

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Your role is responsible for ensuring that the programming work you are accountable for is safe, accessible, dignified and inclusive, providing ongoing support and follow-up to our partners in this area.

Person Specification

• Understanding international development: Understanding and experience of international development and programme management and quality standards within the context of CAFOD work in Sierra Leone and Liberia
• Working with others: Ability to work in a team including a multi-cultural team
• Communicating: Able to communicate effectively with colleagues and partners at a distance
• Looking outwards; Understanding of effective and values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities.
• Managing resources: Computer literacy i.e. familiar with Microsoft Word, Excel and knowledge of information management; Budget monitoring skills
• Taking the lead: Ability to take initiatives for innovations

Job-specific competencies

1. Understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends and donor conditions;
2. First-hand experience with a values-based partnership approach (between northern and southern organisations and communities).
3. Experience using programme cycle management tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed programme framework;
4. Able and committed to working with and developing the capacity of local partners organisations/ National NGOs;
5. Financial management understanding and experience;
6. Ability and willingness to travel (approximately 12 weeks per year), sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk
7. Thematic experience and experience in resilient livelihoods and governance programming in Sierra Leone or the region.

Desirable Criteria

XI. Previous relevant work experience within the NGO sector for at least 4 years

CAFOD is a welcoming, supportive workplace committed to a safe, inclusive culture where everyone is respected. CAFOD will make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the recruitment process to ensure candidates with disabilities or individual needs are fully supported.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect. CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse. CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount. Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post involves contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults, or has responsibility for people who will do, and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted directly via CAFOD’s website – CAFOD Careers