Career Opportunities at Danish Refugee Council

Overall purpose of the role:

• The post-holder will provide leadership and day to day management, technical support and oversight of an upcoming ECHO-funded protection consortium. DRC will be the lead agency of consortia including both international and local organizations, and the PM should have experience in coordinating multi-partner consortia and working with local organizations. The Program Manager will be responsible for coordinating the project across the consortium members and overseeing the day-to-day implementation of the DRC team to meet project goals. The PM will act as the main point of contact for the respective donors in consultation with the Head of Programmes (HoP) and directly supervise project staff in coordination with the DRC Area Manager including being responsible for managing the expectations of and relationships between all project partners, target population and stakeholders. The PM will preferably have experience in protection programming in refugee contexts.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Project Management, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure the project is implemented in ways responsive to the beneficiary communities, donor compliance procedures and vision/mission of each of the partner organizations. This includes working closely with consortium members, national/local government, relevant stakeholders 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 reporting is delivered
• Ensure project activities are delivered according to the agreed project proposal and implementation plan, and that 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.
• Ensure work plans are regularly updated in collaboration with the project team, ensure project plans and project tracking tools are used by the project team, and monitor project activity implementation.
• Ensure community participatory planning and targeting in line with project design and needs, and following donor compliance procedures.
• Provide on-site support through frequent visits to all project sites.
• Engage with the various technical staff from DRC and partners to facilitate support to the team.
• Serves as the primary contact with respect to project implementation for the donor and strategic stakeholders.

Technical Expertise

• Provide technical assistance to implementing teams in areas of protection, working alongside project partners, Regional Office technical coordinators and DRC Kenya colleagues
• Provide oversight to MEAL teams, including supervision of the PMU MEAL Officer
• Lead on development of the protection monitoring deliverables

Training & Capacity development

• Identify training needs of team and explore options for meeting them.
• Provide continuous technical support and mentorship for all project staff and partners in the project in order to develop their professional and technical competencies.
• Ensure that minimum standards for project management and accountability are met.

Coordination & Partnership

• Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the project and ensure effective integration among the consortium members, with special attention for the specific needs and expectations of the project objectives/aims.
• Ensure proper communication mechanisms are in place to guarantee effective and timely communication between project staff and the consortium members and management.
• Participate in regular external stakeholder meetings, and maintain external relations with the relevant government agencies, and stakeholders across the project areas.
• Ensure there is a system for networking and communication with relevant local government line departments, DRS (Department of Refugee Services), UNHCR, relevant actors, and community representation in the project areas.
• Promote collaboration and synergy between the consortium member project activities and similar projects, businesses and activities in the project areas.
• Promote a positive profile of the project and good understanding among other actors and communities about the project.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Represent the project at interagency coordination meetings as well as other key stakeholder forums related to the sector.

Budget Management

• The post holder will oversee the project budget responsible for budget monitoring, cash forecasting and BFU reviews while working closely with DRC and partners. Will oversee the project budget in order to maintain project expenditure within budget parameters, ensuring adherence to DRC financial procedures and donor 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 Programme and the Country Office team in budget drafting and revision processes as per identified/prioritized needs of the project.

Staff Management

• Directly lead, manage and motivate the project staff and partners. Ensure that they have clear objectives and receive regular supervision and reviews. Develop a plan, and oversee management, of all project staff.
• Ensure appropriate participation of staff in project management, day to day implementation and decision making, and escalating issues as per the consortium governance structure.
• Ensure project staff members attend and participate in weekly and monthly office management meetings as per schedule.
• Ensure timely recruitment and replacement if the need arises 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 Competence

• At least 5+ years of experience working in multi-donor-funded and/or multi-stakeholder projects or programmes managing protection programs in refugee settings
• Experienced and excellent demonstratable understanding of project cycle management.
• Able to navigate between consortium members, their workstyles, and their agenda’s.
• Experienced working with and implementing projects aimed at addressing challenges faced by displacement affected entrepreneurs to maintain and grow their businesses.
• Experience in capacity-building staff, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills
• Has excellent communication (spoken and written) and presentation skills
• Excellent planning and organizational skills coupled with conflict management skills
• Experience with remote management of staff
• Possess a sense of cultural awareness, sensitivity and respect for diversity
• Strong organizational, team spirit and team work skills

Education

• Master’s in Development Economics; International Development, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, or other relevant fields, or Bachelors with relevant work experience.

Key stakeholders:

Internal

• Consortia partners
• DRC SMT and Area Managers

External

• Relevant County and national government line ministries
• UNHCR, DRS, relevant Government of Kenya departments
• Relevant Inter-agency working groups
• Project Donor

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Overall purpose of the role: 

The holder of this position will manage a team of Economic Recovery Officers and Assistants to effectively implement a Livelihoods and Self-Reliance project in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Settlement and the surrounding host communities with a specific focus on financial inclusion activities. He/she will be responsible for the overall design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of DRC’s Economic Recovery Programme in the specific areas and the wider Turkana County. The Team Leader will provide oversight, technical support, and leadership within the DRC Economic Recovery unit around activities related to financial inclusion and should have expertise in financial inclusion approaches.

Duties & Responsibilities:
Technical Expertise in Financial Inclusion

• Provide technical guidance on financial inclusion activities, including technical design of connecting entrepreneurs to formal financial institutions
• Lead the development of revolving funds to support financial inclusion
• Provide technical guidance on the training and establishment of VSLAs, their running and managing growth in their capacity
• Liaise with formal financial institutions to support access for hard-to-reach customers, building trust and setting up dialogues with target communities
• Support small businesses to access finance and repay safely, providing mentorship where necessary to support growth and repayment of loans
• Develop a pipeline of businesses in target areas that can access formal finance and support the connection of these businesses to financial institutions.
• Provide technical guidance around KYC requirements and ID requirements for access to formal finance. 

Program Management, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation

• In collaboration with Project Manager, provide technical leadership related to project design and development, planning, implementation, and overall project management of the livelihood portfolio. 
• Develop technically sound work plans consistent with program goals and objectives in coordination with Economic recovery staff & M&E team.
• Develop high-quality concept notes, proposals, strategies, and monitoring and evaluation plans and ensure appropriate and timely implementation of these plans.
• Closely monitor the implementation of Financial Inclusion activities to timely, identify any problems that may affect the achievement of intended outputs and results.
• Submit timely weekly, monthly, quarterly & annual reports to the Program Manager. 
• Organize and manage workshops, trainings and meetings that are hosted by the sector with relevant stakeholders.
• With support from field staff and M&E team, ensure robust monitoring & evaluation of all Economic recovery activities.
• Ensure timely and quality procurement of sector items and services in liaison with the Logistics department
• Ensure harmonious working of team with other consortium partners. 
• Lead in private sector partner engagement in Financial Inclusion. 

Training & Capacity development:

• Provide ongoing technical support and mentorship for Economic Recovery Officers and Assistants to develop professional and technical competency.
• Support field teams to participate in and provide leadership within coordination working groups and other sectorial meetings.
• Provide technical feedback on narrative reports and ensuring that established program targets and objectives are being met.

Coordination & Partnership

• Ensure that DRC is effectively represented and fully participates in all the relevant Thematic and Inter-Agency Working Groups, particularly in the areas of Agriculture, Livestock, Natural Resource Management, Business/Entrepreneurship and Private Sector. 
• Promote a positive profile of DRC and the Economic Recovery Program and ensuring DRC’s role is well understood within the sector, and among other sectors, partners and the communities.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with consortium partners and all other stakeholders. 
• Higher level guidance to the Market Systems with private sector engagement when scaping for partnerships for the program. Guidance in mapping and engagement strategy.

Budget Management:

• Manage the Economic Recovery budgets in order to maintain program expenditure within budget parameters, ensuring adherence to DRC financial procedures and donor requirements
• Support the Economic Recovery team members to utilize financial planning tools, such as spending plans, procurement plans, and work plans based on activities and budgets.
• Prepare spending plans, procurement plans, and work plans based on activities and budgets.

Staff Management:

• Timely recruitment of competent Economic Recovery staff in case of vacancies and holding regular staff meetings for planning and feedback sharing;
• Monitoring and providing objective feedback related to staff performance, including objective setting, probation and performance evaluations to promote growth and professional development.
• Providing leadership and support to ensure staff well-being. 

Experience and Technical Competence 

• At least five years of experience working in access to finance programs, sustainable and alternative livelihoods, resilience, economic recovery and self-reliance programming in displacement contexts;
• Must have a substantial previous experience in implementing financial inclusion and MSD programs with good understanding on access to finance.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills; cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relations with local partners and other stakeholders
• Experience and willingness to work in the field and proficient program management skills.

Education

• At least a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University in Agri-business, Business Development, Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Economics, Economic Development, Community/International development). Master’s Degree in relevant field preferred.

Key stakeholders: 
Internal

• Kakuma SMT, Economic Recovery teams, Support Services team, Country office program and support teams; 

External

• Consortium Partners
• Local government authorities
• Other NGOs
• Donors