CAR: Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator

Sep 6, 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 26 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.

The IRC has been active in CAR since 2006 and has been implementing emergency response programs since early 2013. The IRC has three field offices in the north – Bocaranga, Kaga Bandoro, and Dekoa – in addition to a central office in Bangui. Since 2007, it has built close relationships with local communities, community leaders, local authorities, and other local and international actors. Today, the IRC is one of the leading humanitarian actors working in the prefectures Ouham Pende, Nana Gribizi, and Kemo, implementing programs in health, women and child protection, economic recovery and development, and food security. The IRC has demonstrated its ability to successfully implement health and protection programming, improving beneficiaries’ access to healthcare and providing survivors of violence with safe, confidential services to help them recover and reintegrate into their communities. The gained technical expertise, logistical abilities, and local knowledge and understanding has laid the foundation to expand and deepen these services to reach more people and respond to the emergency need at a greater scale as additional funding is secured .

 

SCOPE OF WORK:

The IRC is currently implementing economic recovery programming in CAR via Livelihoods, Food security, Cash and voucher programming, as well as responding to the dynamic and changing needs of displaced Central African in IDPs sites. The IRC plans to continue and scale up assistance, in particular Cash and Livelihoods programming’s as well as expand economic and livelihoods support for vulnerable households inside CAR. The ERD Coordinator is responsible for the design, integration, scale up and successful implementation of these programs.

The ERD Coordinator will work extensively with other sectors, to ensure that ERD principles are being incorporated into CAR sector programs, and in particular with the Protection Coordinator to strengthen the integrated nature of IRC’s assistance programs in CAR.

S/he reports to the Deputy Director of Programs and will have access to technical guidance from the IRC ERD and Cash Programming’s Units.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Quality and Program Development

  • Provide direction and monitor staff in their implementation of project work plans and quality of technical activities, including program budget oversight
  • Ensure appropriate methodologies and technical approaches are developed for all program activities – working with IRC’s ERD Technical Advisors to ensure global best practices are applied to programming
  • Ensure alignment of livelihoods programming with IRC global strategy plan and relevant theories of change
  • Identify opportunities for growth of livelihoods programming portfolio including existing gaps/beneficiary needs and areas for innovation and expansion, including through market assessments
  • Contribute to development of country office’s sector-relevant strategic direction and plans including ongoing development of livelihoods programming staffing and management structures
  • Along with program staff and the Technical Unit/Advisors, support the development of Standard Operating Procedures and Guidance Notes for program activities
  • Ensure regular monitoring and modification of ongoing programming as required.

Grant Planning & Monitoring

  • Support proposal development process for livelihoods-related programming as needed
  • Prepare relevant and quality IRC and donor reports as per agreed-upon schedules (monthly, quarterly and/or annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements
  • Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures; including active participation in procurement, supply chain, grant and other meetings. Has budget authority to pre-approved limits and responsibility for budget development and compliance under the direction of the DDP
  • Together with the Grants Manager and the M&E Coordinator, develop and implement a full monitoring and evaluation framework for all livelihoods activities as well as learning strategies, and adapt them to the different program methodologies

Human Resources Management

  • Provide technical direction and managerial oversight of livelihoods staff to include ERD Manager and project staff, and provide advising and guidance to staff across other sectors (e.g., women’s empowerment, protection, etc.) on integrated programming inclusive of ERD activities
  • Set specific goals and expectations and provide regular, positive and constructive feedback to direct reports
  • Build capacity of the team under his/her supervision in basic assistance and livelihoods support methodologies, as well as management capacity, both individually and through conducting/coordinating staff training exercises
  • Identify and implement in coordination with HR department, professional advancement opportunities for good performers within the department.
  • Help to recruit and screen livelihoods project staff as team grows
  • Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
  • Ensure timely completion and submission of interim and annual employee performance reviews
  • If/as required, identify staff performance issues and works with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies
  • Responsible for adhering to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures

Coordination & Representation

  • Develop and maintain effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders including fellow agencies/NGOS, government departments and ministries, community-based organizations and partners, donors, and others in accurately and professionally representing IRC positions, promoting long-term strategies and resolving problems/conflicts
  • Actively advance IRC’s connections to economic actors/private sector at a local, regional and national level, seeking avenues for partnership, collaboration and coordination of activities to ensure sustainability of interventions
  • Oversee the IRC’s relationship with consortia implementing partners and support the identification of new partners as it relates to new programming
  • Regularly engage with the ERD Technical Advisor and other Technical Unit Advisors and Specialists to benchmark programming to IRC standards and ensure application of best practices
  • Participate in IRC and external working groups and communities of practice around livelihoods to advance livelihoods strategies, disseminate research and program successes, discuss implementation challenges, and share best practices
  • Support the sharing of information and learning across livelihoods-related programs based in CAR

Other

Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Qualifications:

  • BA/BS Degree in international development, economics, business administration, law, and/or related certification required; MA/MS/MBA a plus
  • Minimum of 5 years professional experience in humanitarian response, with specific experience in livelihoods and enterprise development approaches
  • Prior experience working in emergency settings or insecure environments preferred
  • Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills
  • Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties
  • INGO experience required; experience with coordination systems or advocacy preferable
  • Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others
  • Personal qualities: works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well, has a strong sense of humor
  • Fluency in French and English required.

IRC leading the way from harm to home.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you need assistance in the application or hiring process to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. Please contact Talent Acquisitions at IRC.Recruitment@rescue.org. As required by law, the IRC will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with a known disability.