Project Manager at Danish Refugee Council

Overall purpose of the role: (1-2 sentences)

The overall purpose of this position is to provide day to day management and oversight of the ABLI-Garissa Project activities in Dadaab refugee camps and surrounding host communities. Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is the lead agency to implement this project with Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and International Trade Center (ITC). The Project Manager shall help to develop and standardize to the extent possible, systems and procedures and to ensure cross-functional learning between the consortium members, and provide effective backstopping among team members when circumstances require it.

Duties and Responsibilities:

R1: Project Management, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure the project is implemented in ways responsive to the beneficiary communities and donor compliance procedures. This includes working closely with consortium members, local government, partner NGO and community structures to successfully implement and strengthen local capacity.
• Ensure that the project has appropriate monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems established (including impact evaluation), and that the project documentation is comprehensive (electronic and hard copy).
• Ensure project activities are delivered according to the agreed project proposal and implementation plan. (i.e. all activities and deliverables are completed within the agreed timeframe and budget, reports are submitted as per the agreed schedule and formats are fulfilled as specified in signed agreements).
• Regularly update periodic work plans with the project team and ensure this is used by the whole project team and monitor project activity implementation.
• Ensure the project is implemented in ways responsive to the community’s needs through community participatory planning and targeting in line with DRC principles, values and following donor compliance procedures.
• Provide on-site support through frequent visits to project sites.
• Ensure that the project reports are delivered according to DRC and donor contractual requirements, within the agreed timescale and budget.
• Engage with the various technical staff from DRC, NRC and ITC to facilitate support to the team.
• Serves as the primary contact with respect to project implementation for the donor

R2: Training & Capacity development

• Identify training needs of team and explore options for meeting them.
• Provide continuous technical support and mentorship for Team Leaders, Livelihoods Officers and Assistants in the project to develop their professional and technical competencies.
• Participate in all relevant trainings to become technically equipped for project implementation and monitoring.
• Oversee capacity-building with local structures in the camps and sub-county level contributing towards improved management of the project.
• Facilitate capacity-building plans and systems development, review/update systems and plans regularly and ensure implementation of the same.
• Ensure that minimum standards for project management and accountability are met.
• Identify and prepare key resource individuals (local level project staff) for capacity building and skills development.

R3: Coordination & Partnership

• Coordinates the day to day implementation of the project and ensuring effective integration among the consortium members.
• Ensure proper communication mechanisms are in place to ensure effective and timely communication between project staff and the consortium members.
• Participate in regular external stakeholder meetings, and maintain external relations with the relevant government agencies, and partners in Dadaab.
• Ensure there is a system for networking and communication with relevant local government line departments, UNHCR, partners NGOs and community representations in the project areas and compliance to the same
• Promote collaboration and synergy between the consortium member project activities and similar projects/groups in the Dadaab refugee camps and host community.
• Promote a positive profile of the project and good understanding among other sectors, partners and communities about the project.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with all stakeholders – Community support groups, community leaders, RAS, UNHCR, I/NGOs, to enhance multi-agency, multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination.
• Represent the project at Dadaab-level CRRF/Livelihoods interagency coordination meetings as well as other key stakeholder forums related to the sector.

R4: Budget Management

• The post holder will oversee the ABLI-Garissa project budget while working closely with Area Managers for DRC, NRC and ITC and therefore, responsible for budget monitoring, cash forecasting and BFU reviews.
• Will oversee the project budget in order to maintain project expenditure within budget parameters, ensuring adherence to DRC financial procedures and EU-TF requirements.
• Track budget spending and ensure timely reviews of financial transactions and budget utilization every month.
• Support team members to utilize financial planning tools, such as spending plans, procurement plans, and work-plans based on activities and budgets.
• Work closely with the respective Area Managers and the Finance Teams in budget drafting and revision processes as per identified/prioritized needs of the project.

R5: Staff Management

• Directly lead, manage and motivate the Project Support Coordinator and Project Support Assistant in Garissa Town. Ensure that they have clear objectives and receive regular supervision and reviews.
• Ensure appropriate participation of staff in project management, day to day implementation and decision making, and escalating issues to the Field Management Team.
• Ensure project staff members attend and participate in weekly and monthly office management meetings as per schedule
• Ensure timely recruitment of highly competent project staffs.
• Monitor and provide objective feedback related to staff performance, including objective-setting, probation & performance evaluations to promote growth and development.

Experience and technical competencies:  

• At least 8 years of experience working in donor-funded projects or programmes, 4 years of which in managing projects or programmes.
• Experience working communities within refugee camp and host community set ups.
• Experience in implementing livelihoods/self-reliance interventions including drylands agriculture, enterprise development, community-managed microfinance, vocational skills development, et cetera.
• Clear understanding of Core Humanitarian Standards for Quality and Accountability in humanitarian work (CHS)
• Experience in capacity-building staff, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops 
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills
• Demonstrates a good understanding of Project Cycle Management  
• Has excellent communication (spoken and written) and presentation skills 
• Good planning and organizational skills coupled with problem-solving ability
• Possess a good level of conflict management skills 
• Possess a sense of cultural awareness, sensitivity and respect for diversity
• Strong organizational, team spirit and team work skills
• Knowledge of the key issues and current trends in refugee affairs