DRC: Conflict and Governance Program Manager

May 14, 2018 | Mercy Corps
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Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. 

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of around 250 people working in North and South Kivu. Mercy Corps’ national office is in Goma with sub-field offices in Katwe, Mweso, Butembo (North Kivu), Bukavu (South Kivu). Current Mercy Corps activities focus on the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in camps of internally displaced people, but also large-scale WASH infrastructure and service delivery development in urban centers. Mercy Corps also has Food Security, Economic Recovery/Development and Governance programs, with an increasing shift towards transitional and integrated development programming. The DRC team has a strong commitment to providing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to development challenges, and is actively seeking and facilitating market-based solutions. The Food Security and Inclusive Access to Resources for Conflict-Sensitive Market Development (FARM) program will work to improve access to, control over and utilization of land for 25,000 households in North Kivu and improve target market systems. Land access is both a driver and manifestation of conflict in FARM’s intervention areas. Years of violent conflict, mass displacement, poverty and weak governance have severely undermined individuals’ ability to equitably access, invest in, and use land for social and economic needs. FARM’s Land Access Strategy is hinged on three Outcomes - access, control, and use – which will be mutually reinforced to improved stability by addressing root causes of conflict. FARM puts an emphasis on improving access to land through improved natural resource management and dispute resolution mechanisms. 

General Position Summary

The Program Manager (PM) will manage and oversee activities related to FARMs Conflict Mitigation and Land Access Strategy: Addressing systemic constraints to land access through improved capacity of the institutions that manage conflict related to land, securing recognized rights to land, advocacy at provincial and national levels to government, large landowners and customary officials to ensure land access rights are durable, supporting communities to realize the economic benefits resulting from sustainable land management, improving the use of and sustainability of agricultural plots, utilizing resilient design agricultural practices. Under the leadership of the Program Director, the PM is responsible for coordinating and implementing Outcome 1 activities and achieving desired results, in compliance with donor and internal requirements. The PM is responsible for the leadership and supervision of Outcome 1 team members and will manage coordination with Search for Common Ground, the implementing partner. S/he will ensure common strategies, approaches and cross-cutting themes are applied consistently across the program and partners in target communities. S/he will provide technical guidance on conflict management and resource governance activities, will support operational and formative research to ensure new ideas/approaches are integrated into the program as necessary. The PM will ensure high quality and timely reporting, program documentation and ensure minimum standards are met for Outcome 1. Finally, s/he will ensure the program actively contributes to peace-building and good governance, while utilizing a Do No Harm approach. 

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
  • Provide leadership and management of all aspects of Outcome 1 activity design, planning, implementation, quality and accountability.
  • Ensure that program implementation is responsive to community needs and consistent with Mercy Corps’ and technical guidelines
  • Provide technical direction and oversight of team members to follow workplans, ensuring activities are on schedule, and that project deliverables are completed as planned.
  • Advise on technical aspects of good governance, land access and conflict management, community participation and accountability to improve the transparency and responsiveness of government structures and participatory governance mechanisms specifically related to land access.
  • Supervise and manage all Outcome 1 sub-grantees, technical and implementing partners, to ensure democratic dialogue, conflict management and land negotiation processes in program intervention areas are implemented on time, budget and scope.
  • Support the Program Director to design and roll-out the programs formative and operational research framework.
  • Advise on technical aspects of conflict-sensitivity and harmonization with other program components.
 PROGRAM COORDINATION/REPRESENTATION
  • Support the Program Director to liaise with The Dutch Embassy in Kigali and Goma Representation, and represent the program to other ISSSS aligned or funded programs, cooperating sponsors and other stakeholders.
  • Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field (including the Clusters), in close coordination with the Program Director.
  • Coordinate activities with SO1 partners, sub-grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
 FINANCE, COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT
  • Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
  • Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
  • Provide technical and management support for the reporting requirements to the program.
  • Ensure that the FARM program has sufficient systems in place to meet program management standards and comply with donor regulations and good practice.
  • Ensure Program File for SO1 is kept up to date and meets minimum program management standards.
  • Support development and implementation of program policies, protocols and systems.
  • Work with program staff to integrate quality monitoring processes based on protocols into program implementation, including internal and external reviews of program quality.
 TEAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
  • Build the capacity of DRC staff and local partners in the area of reporting to enable them to develop high quality reports and other documents.
  • Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
  • Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
  • Contribute to program team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and build capacity related to land access, governance, gender, and program/grant management.
 Organizational Learning As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. Accountability to Beneficiaries Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Supervisory Responsibility Direct supervisor to 1 FARM staff: Land Access and Use Team Leader; indirect supervision of 9 team members (including Governance Officer/Assistants, Land Access Officers, Environment Officer/Assistants). 

Accountability

 Reports Directly To: FARM Program Director Works Directly With: Outcome 2 Managers, Programme Officer, Gender Department, Communications Manager, DMEL Department, Procurement, logistics, security and finance teams. 

Knowledge and Experience

  • Master's degree in one of the following: Peace & Conflict studies, Governance, International Development or other related field
  • Experience with European and US institutional donors, including grant management, and proposal development.
  • 3-4 years of field experience in conflict and development environment, working on conflict, peacebuilding or natural resource management programs.
  • Ability to work in a sometimes solitary environment with moderate to high levels of insecurity and significant restrictions on personal movement.
  • Fluent French is required, fluency in English desired.
  • Ability to deliver high quality reports within short deadlines.
  • Demonstrable knowledge of DRC’s natural resource governance, conflict dynamics (or understanding of these issues in similar contexts).
  • Ability to multi-task and juggle several tasks and relationships at one time.
  • Excellent communication skills, experience in representing an organization.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required.
  • Experience implementing programs related to stabilization, governance, and accountability particularly in Africa.
  • Proven ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams and with technical and administrative staff and consultants.
 

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have an ability to work independently, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, and be proactive in communications and development of professional relationships. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in the region. S/he will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal, relationship and cross-cultural communication skills especially in high stress environments are essential for success. S/he will be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps; have the ability to creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations with patience, dynamism, tenacity and a good sense of humor. 

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Goma, DRC and it requires up to 30% travel to field sites, including Kiwanja and Kitchanga bases. This position is an unaccompanied position. Shared accommodation will be provided in Goma according to Mercy Corps DRC housing policy. Goma is a provincial capital of over 700,000 inhabitants, with the possibility to travel to Bunia, Bukavu, and Kinshasa. Living in Goma is comfortable, although water and electricity can be unstable. Outside Goma, travel can be dangerous and unpredictable due to armed forces and rebel activity. While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Goma, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with evacuation options for serious illnesses. There’s reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.