Cameroon: Deputy Director, Programs

Aug 7, 2017 | International Rescue Committee
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The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

COUNTRY PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

IRC has been present in Cameroon since January 2016 when the organization launched an assessment in response to increasing concerns for people affected by violence linked to Boko Haram.  In March 2016, IRC opened a field office in Maroua in the Far North, delivering lifesaving programming to increase access to water and improving hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash programming to enable poor families to meet basic needs and improve food security, and protection programming, including meeting specific needs of women and girls.  With funds from European and American donors, the IRC has an ambition to deliver quality humanitarian and recovery programs to meet the needs of vulnerable displaced and host families.

SCOPE OF WORK:

As a senior member of the country team, the Deputy Director for Programs will have overall responsibility to supervise, support, and enhance quality, coherence, impact, sustainability and synergy of all programs implemented by IRC in Cameroon. S/he will disseminate and monitor the implementation of the IRC’s new Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and the related initiatives, playing a lead role in fundraising and advocacy work of the country program.The Deputy Director for Programs will be based in Maroua but he/she will be required to travel to field sites and the capital approximately 30% of his/her time.   He / She will manage the Technical Coordinators / Managers, M&E Manager and the Grants Manager.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, OVERSIGHT and COORDINATION

  • Ensure effective and timely implementation of programmatic objectives of grants
  • Work with the senior management team to develop operational budgets, which reflect a detailed understanding of situational parameters, beneficiary needs, available resources and technical possibilities
  • Ensure that project planning tools (implementation plans, procurement plans, spend plans, M&E plans) are elaborated, shared and used on a monthly basis;
  • Work closely with Grants manager and support program coordinators to hold efficient and effective Opening, Review, and Closing Grants Meetings
  • In collaboration with the Grants Manager ,Finance Controller, DDO  and programs coordinators, ensure that monthly Grant Review meetings are conducted and actions are follow up;
  • Assist Sector Coordinators to develop and maintain monitoring plans, work plans, spending plans, staffing plans, etc. in collaboration with Operations, Finance and Grants.
  • In collaboration with the Grants Manager and Sector Coordinators ensure that quality donor reports are generated and submitted to headquarters and donors in a timely manner, ensuring programmatic review and inputs on all reports ahead of submission;
  • Provide on-going problem-solving guidance for field offices regarding programmatic issues, planning issues, and difficulties encounters with local authorities and Partners;
  • Ensure a close coordination and collaboration with the DDO to ensure an adequate synergy between programs and operations.
  • Support and promote adherence to finance controls for program expenditures in accordance with IRC policies and procedures;
  • Develop strong working relationships with Technical Units and Technical Advisors, to ensure adequate remote and in-country support in line with country office needs and strategic direction

PROPOSAL DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Take a leading role in program design drawing on evaluations, lessons learnt and identified beneficiary needs;
  • Support the Grants Manager and programs coordinators to write high quality proposals, meeting identified needs and donor requirements
  • Promote the use of IRC’s Outcome and Evidence Framework in both program design and proposal development, ensuring that Theories of Change are incorporated, in line with the country Strategic Action Plan
  • Ensure issues of gender equality and protection mainstreaming are integrated into program design
  • Assist the CD in developing a strong relationship with donors to ensure sustainable funding of programs;
  • Maintain an up-to-date contextual analysis to ensure pertinence of all programming
  • Identify opportunities for cross-border linkages and learning with IRC’s Lake Chad Basin country programs.

STRATEGY 2020

  • Under the supervision of the Country Director, coordinate the planning, development, implementation of IRC program initiatives, in accordance with the Program Development Priorities from the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and liaise with IRC’s Technical Units for technical guidance on implementation and new program design;
  • Under the supervision of the Country Director, ensure effective and timely implementation of programmatic objectives of the Strategic Action Plan (SAP);
  • Coordinate reporting on SAP progress;
  • Supervise the roll out of program related SAP initiatives, such as the Outcome and Evidence Framework and Monitoring for Action;
  • Ensure that all staff and partners have a clear understanding of the importance of gender equality in programs and that all programs are designed to reduce the gender gap.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

  • Ensure all projects have monitoring and evaluation plans in place from the outset, which are reviewed at regular intervals
  • Develop staff understanding and use of IRC’s Outcome and Evidence Framework
  • Support the M&E Manager to provide quality technical assistance to all program-specific M&E staff
  • Keep informed on monitoring and evaluation techniques and support tools which can be shared with program staff
  • Assist with technical assessments and evaluations by reviewing TOR, reports and checking quality of activity
  • Ensure adequate budgeting of M&E activities in all proposals

 

ADVOCACY AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Strongly participate and coordinate advocacy efforts on relevant sectoral policies and on community of practices, both within Cameroon and across the Lake Chad Basin
  • Represent IRC and IRC's interests with the Government officials, donors, UN, and other operating and implementing partners when required or applicable;
  • Assist the CD in developing a strong relationship with donors to ensure sustainable funding of programs

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT

  • Supervise 4 sector leads, M&E Manager and Grants Manager;
  • Conduct regular one to ones with direct supervisees and ensure objective setting and performance reviews in line with IRC’s Performance Management System.  Ensure that these systems are cascaded to all program staff;
  • Oversee recruitment of all program staff, ensuring transparent processes adhering to IRC’s policies and procedures;
  • Conduct training of IRC staff on program design, monitoring, and evaluation, report writing, and proposal development. Capacity building of both the expatriate and national staff members in the above-mentioned areas is a priority.

COUNTRY LEADERSHIP

  • Key member of the IRC Cameroon’s leadership group and Senior Management Team, contributing to the effective leadership of the country program;
  • Development of excellent working relations with peers;
  • Replace CD when he/she is out of the country.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Advanced degree in International Relations, Community Development, Economics, or related disciplines.
  • At least 5 years of African experience and 7 years of experience in the management of humanitarian and recovery programs.
  • Demonstrated skills and experience in NGO administration, finance and logistics systems.
  • Proven ability to effectively manage and develop staff capacity
  • skills and experience in program design and delivery, including proposal development
  • Proven capacity in staff management, multi-tasking, time management and diplomacy.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Expertise and knowledge on a diversity of programs (WASH, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Economic Recovery & Development, Protection and Rule of Law, Education)
  • Innovative and creative problem solver, strong communicator, excellent writer, have a focus for quality and most of all be a team player.
  • Fluent in French and proficient in English

ADDITIONAL QUALITIES A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS:

  • Problem Solving & Judgment: effectively uses critical thinking in solving problems;
  • Results Driven: sets challenging and clear expectations to meet organization priorities
  • Committed to the mission of the IRC, is sensitive to both the political and social ramifications of decisions;
  • Diplomatic both within the organization and with external interactions;
  • Copes well with pressure and adapts and learns from adversity;
  • Communicates important information in ways that are easily understood, both written and oral
  • Respected and trusted negotiator in conflict situations.

 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Security in the Far Nord Cameroun Maroua & Kousseri   is level III (orange) and the IRC has a curfew in place. Lodging is in a shared IRC guesthouse.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

This is an unaccompanied position.