DRC: Deputy Chief of Party Technical: USAID Solutions for Peace and Recovery

Jun 21, 2019 | Management Systems International
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The goal of the Solutions for Peace and Recovery (SPR) program, implemented in eastern DRC (North Kivu and South Kivu), is to increase social cohesion through inclusion of women and marginalized groups in community-based conflict analysis, prevention, resolution, and recovery. SPR provides USAID/DRC with the ability to respond to dynamic, time-sensitive, and/or unique opportunities to reinforce peace and prevent or assist in the recovery from conflict in areas that are strategically important to the stability of eastern DRC. USAID’s SPR Amani kwa Maendeleo Project is implemented in North and South Kivu under the leadership of Management Systems International (MSI), in partnership with International Alert (IA) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Project staff are employed by each of these organizations but operate as a single unified team under the overall technical and administrative guidance of the SPR Chief of Party (COP). The person hired for this position will be employed by International Alert and International Alert will manage this position as part of their contribution to the SPR project.

Position Summary

The Deputy Chief of Party – Technical (D/COP) assists the COP in management of technical and programmatic aspects of the USAID funded Solutions for Peace and Recovery (SPR) project, supporting greater participation of women and other marginalized groups in conflict prevention, resolution and recovery. SPR will achieve this through production of inclusive conflict research and participatory analysis, capacity building of local organizations including local partners, and training in conflict management and leadership in areas affected by conflict. This position is an integral, dedicated, part of the SPR project team operating under the overall technical supervision of the SPR COP, but also part of Alert’s broader DRC team. The D/COP post will be located in Bukavu, South Kivu. The D/COP assists the COP in management of technical and programmatic aspects of the USAID activity. This individual will oversee day-to-day implementation of all three objectives, including the design, quality, development and production of all assessments, analytical reports, field-based research, activity implementation and monitoring and evaluation. She/he must ensure that high-quality, results-oriented interventions are carried out for all three objectives. The D/COP must participate and engage in technical meetings and maintain positive relationships with GoDRC officials and other stakeholders. She/he will need to balance conflict programming with USAID/DRC’s development programming in agriculture, health, education, economic growth, environment and governance sectors to ensure sustainability and overall regional coherence. She/he should also plan to spend significant time traveling in eastern DRC assisting with activity start-up as well as conducting continuous monitoring throughout the life of the activity. The D/COP will report to the SPR COP for technical outputs, operational guidance, and day-to-day tasks. She/he will also be under the supervision of International Alert’s Peacebuilding Portfolio Manager located in Bukavu, who exercise oversight over Alert’s contribution to SPR. The D/COP will line manage the Alert SPR Component Lead for Objective 1 located in Goma, MSI Component Lead for Objective 2 located in Goma, IRC Component Lead for Objective 3 located in Bukavu, MSI Monitoring Evaluation & Learning Manager located in Bukavu, MSI Advocacy and Communication Officer located in Goma, IRC North Kivu Program Coordinator located in Goma.

The purpose of this job is to:

Oversee day-to-day implementation of the three project objectives, (i) Solutions to specific drivers of conflict identified and accepted by community stakeholders, (ii) Participatory solutions implemented and (iii) Resources for community development more inclusively allocated.

Provide assistance to the COP to establish and maintain effective and adequate communications and coordination with other actors in the DRC and region working on conflict management and social cohesion in the region and balance conflict programming with USAID/DRC’s development programming in other sectors to ensure sustainability and overall regional coherence.

Responsibilities:

Oversee day-to-day implementation of the three project objectives

  • Oversee the design, quality, development and production of all assessments, analytical reports, field-based research, activity implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
  • Ensure that high-quality, results-oriented interventions are carried out for all three objectives.
  • Ensure effective start-up, implementation and monitoring of research and analysis capacity building in eastern DRC.
  • Ensure planning, technical support and execution of partners activities in line with contracts.
  • Work with USAID/DRC technical office personnel to design any required research/analyses tools and field visits.
  • Contribute to team-wide communications and knowledge management and participate in organization-wide events and discussions on related topics/projects.
  • Work closely with the DCoP Operations to ensure local partners are receiving adequate support to run implementation.
  • Provide leadership for effective project implementation and reporting
  • Under the supervision of the SPR COP, provide technical leadership for the SPR project technical team
  • Ensure quality assurance for all Objective design, planning, and implementation.
  • Provide input to the SPR monitoring and evaluation plan as well as conflict- and gender-sensitive DME tools, and work with the COP and relevant SPR staff to ensure effective data collection, analysis and reporting.
  • Under the guidance of the COP, liaise and coordinate with relevant local, regional and international stakeholders.
  • Ensure compliance with SPR operational policies and with Congolese laws.
  • Support SPR technical staff to monitor project expenditure, ensuring rational and efficient use of resources, compliance with the project contract and budget and preventing overspending or underspending.
  • Provide quarterly, annual progress reports and ad hoc narrative reports as requested.

Maintain effective communication and coordination with other USAID projects, actors in the East of DRC and region

  • Establish effective and adequate communications and coordination with other actors in the DRC and region (working on conflict management and social cohesion), including the World Bank, other NGOs and private sector actors.
  • Participate and engage in technical meetings and maintain positive relationships with GoDRC officials through Consultative Committee and other Congolese stakeholders.
  • Participate and engage in quarterly technical meetings and maintain positive relationship with other USAID projects particularly DFAP, IGA, GBV and protection project, Kivu Value Chain.
  • Interact professionally with senior Mission, Embassy, and US government officials ensuring effective start-up, implementation and monitoring of the flexible response mechanism in eastern DRC, under the direction of the SPR COP.
  • Balance conflict programming with USAID/DRC’s development programming in agriculture, health, education, economic growth, environment and governance sectors to ensure sustainability and overall regional coherence, under the direction of the SPR COP

Advocacy, communication and quality programming

  • Oversee advocacy support actions in North and South Kivu as well as actions to apply pressure on national actors who have the potential to positively influence outcomes in the East.
  • Ensure integration of community approaches, conflict and gender sensitivity, inclusion and capacity building into all activities as appropriate including project beneficiaries’ identification.
  • In collaboration with M&E team, ensure monitoring and evaluation of project indicators, knowledge management activities, and advise changes in program direction and focus as needed.
  • Provide technical oversight to SPR local partners and other collaborating agencies, to ensure that lessons learned, and best practice are documented and shared.
  • Ensure active, jointly and coordinated participation of all Component MEL team, Advocacy & Communication team in SPR monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual planning and review. Provide information and updates to the SPR COP regarding activities implementation, ensuring sustained and responsive communication.

Contribute to wider organizational goals within Alert

  • Participate actively in the management processes of the DRC team, including team meetings, sharing of information, context analysis, and strategy development.
  • Participate and contribute to other Africa Programme activities and events in the Great Lakes and beyond, including regional meetings, and promote cros s -learning and help create linkages between different country programmes.
  • Stay up to date with and participate in wider organizational discussions and processes e.g. by attendance at Home Weeks, strategic thinking, the development and pursuit of thematic programming, representation and communications.
  • Contribute to advocacy, communications and networking activities, as and when necessary.

Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in peace building & conflict studies, political science, international relations, international development, international relations, other social sciences or other field closely related to the work required.
  • At least 8-10 years of relevant management, supervisory and technical experience with progressive responsibility working with activities that are of similar scope and scale to this project
  • A Master’s degree may be substituted by a Bachelor’s degree
  • At least 7 years of relevant work experience in conflict affected countries similar to the DRC
  • At least 7 years of experience focusing on conflict research, analysis, and stabilization sectors
  • Professional level oral and written skills in English
  • Proficient oral and written skills in French
  • Good coordination and communication skills
  • Attitude for team work and good leadership skills
  • Responsiveness, and ability to handle stressful situations and intense work periods

Desirable Requirements:

  • Experience of working in DRC
  • Knowledge and understanding of peacebuilding programming
  • Knowledge of gender sensitive and conflict sensitive approaches, and experience implementing these in development, humanitarian and/or peacebuilding projects
  • Knowledge of Swahili
  • International driving license and ability to drive manual shift