With funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the IRC is implementing a 3-year, $45 million CDR Program in 4 provinces of DRC. This program aims to support 280 communities, representing 1.78 million inhabitants, in reducing poverty, increasing social cohesion, improving access to social services, increasing understanding of good governance and improving linkage with authorities at local level.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Haut Katanga-based CDR Area Coordinator is responsible for implementing the Haut Katanga activities of IRC’s nationwide CDR program, ensuring that the program is implemented in Haut Katanga in a manner that is both consistent with the nationwide design, and coherent with the specificities of the local context. He/She supervises a robust national staff team and works closely with the CDR Director and the consortium coordination team, who are leading the overall program in Eastern DRC.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategy

• Become familiar with the IRC Program Framework institutionalization and strategic planning process, contribute to these processes and utilize their outputs in his/her work;
• Ensure that overall Program implementation and monitoring systems support the IRC’s strategic objectives in the DRC and are aligned with and embody the core principles of the IRC’s Program Framework: Protection and Promotion of Rights, Participation, Capacity Building, Partnership, and Holistic Programming;
• Gain an understanding of CDR programming and ensure that this trickles down into program implementation;
• Seek out opportunities for appropriate synergy and collaboration between the CDR Program and other projects implemented in the geographical area or responsibility, especially vertical service delivery projects, and especially those implemented by the consortium members, and by other DFID-supported NGOs, in particular in the sphere of peace-building.

Program Area Management

• All management activities are to be conducted in a manner that ensures coherence of the program in Haut Katanga with the overall nationwide program.
• Provide vision, leadership and technical direction to the area team, in accordance with the agreed program methodology and in alignment with IRC national operational policies and practices;
• Manage, in coordination with key program staff, strategic area work-plans, achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation plans, financial projections and tools for evaluation – all of those tools being drawn from the nationwide tools provided by the consortium coordination team;
• Manage the overall project in the area of responsibility by planning, monitoring and evaluating project activities in accordance with the guidance and requirements of the nationwide consortium coordination team;
• Ensure that all tools and resources required for the Program are identified by the nationwide consortium coordination team and contribute to their development as required;
• Oversee administrative and financial management of the Program in the area of responsibility;
• Ensure that Program adequately meets beneficiary needs and related targets;
• Ensure that Program is implemented in a timely and professional manner;
• Ensure that the Program always works towards greater community involvement and ownership;
• Participate in regular Consortium coordination meetings, especially to share lessons learned and best practices and to contribute to the protocols and training modules. Participate in UN, Government, Donor coordination mechanisms/meetings in the area, as appropriate.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• IRC is committed to the collection of high quality data to document project effect and impact.
• Ensure effective implementation in Haut Katanga of the country-wide M&E systems throughout the lifetime of the Program;
• Ensure adequate documentation is made for all activities undertaken in the course of the Program in Haut Katanga;
• Lead a continuous quality improvement process to ensure the highest quality possible of the Program in the area in close collaboration with the consortium coordination team;
• Work in partnership with the academic institution that is in charge of designing and implementing the baseline, mid-term and final impact evaluations, as requested;
• Ensure the appropriate use in Haut Katanga of a web-based platform for data entry, processing and analysis.

Grants and Budget Management

• Reporting - IRC must produce high quality regular program reports for donors and other key stakeholders. Project reports are written by the Program staff, with the support of Grants staff.
• Be responsible for the accurate, timely and high quality aspects of donor and internal reports for Haut Katanga.
• Budget Management
• Monitor program spending versus budgets (budget vs. actuals) in Haut Katanga;
• Contracts Management
• Gain knowledge of donors’ culture, policies and procedures in relation to the Program and ensure IRC compliance with these regulations in Haut Katanga;
• Ensure community compliance with agreements provisions.

Human Resources

• Directly manage, and participate in the recruitment of, a robust CDR area team comprising up to 50 national staff;
• Ensure the program in Haut Katanga uses consistent HR systems with the other areas – consistent job descriptions, recruitment tools, performance plans, training and staff development systems, etc. so that consistency in Program implementation is supported by a consistent approach to HR;
• Promote professional working relationships within the area team and with the other components of the consortium and when required, contribute to resolving staff conflicts and concerns in Haut Katanga in a timely manner, in close collaboration with supervisor;
• Contribute to area team-wide understanding of and agreement and compliance with IRC sexual abuse and exploitation and mandatory reporting policies.

Representation

• Representation functions are held in close coordination with the Provincial Coordinator.
• Organize field visits for DFID staff and other stakeholders upon request;
• Ensure that the IRC and the Program are appropriately represented in relevant coordination bodies at provincial level on issues that directly relate to the Program, such as decentralization, the PRSP, return and reintegration, pillar 3 of the UN plan for DRC, etc.;
• Ensure the Program develops and maintains good relationship and communication with local and provincial level relevant authorities and other actors such as the UN, the World Bank, etc.;
• Security
• Achieve competency in use of all communications equipments;
• Be fully capable of implementing emergency response procedures without assistance.

REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced degree in International Development or another relevant field
• At least 3-5 years of international program management experience, including at least 2 years of experience in community recovery, or CDR-type programming
• Experience in Francophone Africa, and ideally in DR Congo a plus
• Prior experience managing DFID funding preferable
• Strong budget management skills
• Fluency in both French and English
• Analytical, presentation, communication and reporting skills
• Demonstrated creativity, team-building and staff capacity-building skills, ability to apply innovative thinking and problem solving skills
• Ability to work independently while being a strong team player
• Ability to work well under unstable security, administrative, and programmatic pressures
• Advanced knowledge of usual desktop software such as Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Culturally sensitive with the ability and interest to work with a multi-ethnic team
• Must demonstrate flexibility to adapt to changing requirements
• Must be willing to live in shared housing
• Must be willing to follow security guidelines and restrictions

Vacancies Contact

Reference Code: RW_7FAPL4-5