Regional Project Manager, Greater Horn of Africa and Sahel 129 views0 applications

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and beliefs shall guide our actions and relationships.

IDMC is the leading provider of data, research, and analysis on internal displacement worldwide. From 2018 – 2020, IDMC partnered with the German Federal Foreign Office on a project to improve knowledge and evidence on internal displacement linked with drought in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Niger. The project also examined the relationship between internal and cross-border displacement in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and South Sudan. The methods to achieve this included a combination of primary data collection, rigorous data analysis, and the convening of partners working on internal displacement crises in the above-mentioned countries.

IDMC is seeking a highly motivated and competent individual to join our team as Regional Project Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa to support us in the application of the analytical tools and recommendations we have developed in the first phase of this project as we enter into an exciting new phase of project implementation in 2020-2021. The overall objective of this project is to enable more informed and targeted humanitarian programming to internal displacement in the region by providing technical support and expertise to aid agencies and responders.  This position will play a critical role in building relationships and engaging with key stakeholders comprising government, UN agencies, international organisations, and civil society in the Greater Horn of Africa and Sahel regions. The position will also be the primary person responsible for ensuring the successful achievement of all the project’s outputs, activities, and indicators.

1.       Role and responsibilities

The purpose of the Project Manager position is to provide overall support, leadership, and guidance on a project focused on internal displacement linked with drought and cross-border movements, with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office.

The following is a brief description of the role.

1.       Project management: provide overall leadership of the project and ensure the successful and timely achievement of planned activities, outputs, and outcomes.

1. Coordination: strengthen collaboration and coordination between partners and aligned projects working on related issues in Sub-Saharan Africa.
2. Engagement: Provide support and engage partners, including government, UN, and donors, proactively and establish strong collaboration and support in the region.
3. Budget monitoring: regularly monitor planned versus actual expenditures, ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, inform IDMC HQ of any deviations in spending plan and budget needs.
4. Project monitoring, reporting, and evaluation: develop and implement project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan, conduct monitoring field visits, coordinate project partner inputs into donor reports, support implementation of external evaluation.

Specific responsibilities

Project management

·       Develop and regularly update project work-plan and create a system for monitoring and evaluation

·       Co-convene national and regional capacity-building workshops and consultations with humanitarian and government partners in the region

·       Participate in inter-agency coordination meetings addressing issues of food security, livelihoods, protection, information management, et.al.

·       Liaise with IDMC’s Data & Analysis, Policy & Research, and External Relations teams to ensure timely completion of planned activities and milestones.

·       Monitor expenditures against available budget

·       Ensure donor compliance and alert Grants Management team about any delays in project implementation.

·       Proactively identify opportunities for partnership and funding with prospective donors.

·       Support the organisation of regional and national events to disseminate project findings.

·       Actively participate in national, regional, and global policy processes and events.

·       Support development of communications products including informational brochures, promotional videos, ensuring visibility of project partners and donor.

·       Build media relations in the region

Representation and external engagement

·       Introduce IDMC, and present project objectives to government partners in the region, including line ministries and technical agencies

·       Generate interest and solicit feedback and input from government partners into the delivery of the project’s objectives and outputs

·       Organise regular meetings with government counterparts to discuss project objectives and identify support needs and opportunities for partnerships, feeding back regularly to IDMC HQ

·       Organise government meetings for IDMC Director’s office to discuss the project and broader IDMC approach and objectives in the region

·       Contribute to the identification and documentation of government practice (policy and operational) in addressing internal displacement in the region

·       Represent IDMC in national and regional consultations and cultivate relationships with regional bodies such as the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development for the Horn of Africa.

Critical interfaces

·       IDMC Director

·       IDMC Special Adviser to the Director

·       IDMC’s Data and Analysis Team – for technical support on displacement monitoring and analysis, and roll-out and application of IDMC’s disaster displacement risk model and drought displacement model

·       IDMC’s Policy and Research Team – to extend support towards development of recommendations based on IDMC’s research findings.

·       IDMC’s External Relations team – for the production of communications and visibility products to disseminate the project findings.

·       Project partners – for enhanced coordination and to ensure alignment of activities

·       Key stakeholders including government representatives, civil society organisations, et.al.

Generic professional competencies for this position:

• 5-10 years of relevant experience managing projects working on issues of: internal or cross-border displacement, drought displacement and/or food security, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, durable solutions, or related.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• Excellent organisational skills
• Outstanding diplomatic and representational skills
• Experienced in developing and implementing M&E plans

·       Proven networking and relationship management skills

Context related skills, knowledge and experience:

·       Master’s degree in international development, human mobility, migration, or related field.

3-5 years’ experience working in the Sub-Saharan Africa region with established network of partners

Behavioral competencies 

·       Strategic, able to develop strategic plans based on desired impact and outcomes

• Solutions-oriented, takes initiative to troubleshoot challenges

·       Critical thinker and analytical

·       Committed and passionate about the issue of internal displacement

·       Highly professional and collaborative

·       Enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, can juggle multiple competing priorities, and can successfully deliver on short deadlines

·       Influential and decisive

·       Strong coordination and collaboration skills