Programme Officer at Catholic Agency For Overseas Development - CAFOD

Job Purpose

To contribute to CAFOD’s involvement in the Eritrea in line with the agreed strategy, by taking the lead on the day-to-day management of CAFOD-supported programmes, engaging in programme development; securing institutional funding for CAFOD supported programmes and partnerships; and contract management. The scope of the post falls into the following broad functions: 

• Programme management and development in line with the direction set by the Country Strategy: in co-operation with partners, developing and managing CAFOD supported long-term development programmes;
• Managing effective relationships with partners: developing and nurturing partnerships and providing or facilitating capacity development support, where appropriate;
• Internal and external representation: of the Eritrea programme, in co-ordination with the Programme Manager, Eritrea and the Emergency Response Group, as appropriate;
• Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects: developing and managing budgets, and monitoring expenditure in line with agreed parameters;
• Systems and compliance: ensuring the effective use of CAFOD’s systems to share programme knowledge and inform decision making. This includes ensuring compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work;
• Thematic focus: complement partners’ thematic understanding on Food Security and Livelihoods, Health and Nutrition, Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change and resilience building, Education for marginalized children, and other cross-cutting areas on gender, HIVAIDS, Social Protection and Accountability, contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring about positive change for poor and vulnerable communities in Eritrea.

Job Scope

The post-holder will be responsible for building effective working relationships with peers across the International Development Group, as well as with colleagues in the Emergency Response and Advocacy Groups, and the International Programme Funding Unit. This is in order to develop and maintain horizontal links between programmes, learning, innovation, good practice, and fundraising within and between regions or areas of work. The role has also a number of cross-divisional and cross-organisational functions linked to work with CAFOD’s Education, Communities & Supporters, Fundraising, Finance and Media teams. The post-holder will be expected to undertake frequent travel (approximately 12 weeks per year)

Accountability

The post-holder reports to the Programme Manager Eritrea. This role does not involve line management or budget management responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Programme management and development in line with the direction set by the CSP

• In co-operation with partners, develop and manage CAFOD-supported programmes (this includes long-term development and advocacy), contributing to the development and review of CAFOD’s Eritrea strategy and programme frameworks;
• Jointly responsible with partners for the effective implementation, monitoring, evaluation (including facilitating external evaluations) and reporting on programmes, in line with jointly agreed standards programme cycle management (PCM) & donor requirements;
• In agreement with partners, jointly develop programme and project proposals and assess the existing capacities to manage and implement the work. This includes leading on preparation of high quality programmes and projects in line with the Eritrea strategy and programme frameworks; and reports for external funders, in liaison with the Programme Manager, Eritrea, and the development of partner capacity development plans to address capacity issues;
• Contribute to the development of resource development plans, as well as to identifying new funding opportunities through donor mapping exercises;
• Keep up-to-date with donor policy developments and trends, both within the relevant country/sub-region/sector, and more generally, and represent CAFOD in funding review groups/networks in the countries/sub-regions as appropriate.
• Promote, capture and disseminate learning from partners and programmes, and ensure that this informs future programme development;
• Realise CAFOD’s principles by acting in line with CAFOD’s partnership standards, and by promoting and supporting partners’ adherence to jointly agreed accountability, gender, safeguarding children, supply chain management/procurement good practice, and other standards, as these emerge;
• Contribute, where appropriate and in agreement with partners, to advocacy and information work in support of partners efforts, with relevant stakeholders in the region and/or globally;
• Oversee and support (where appropriate) the work of Programme Accompaniers and consultants working on CAFOD-supported programmes;
• Respond to emergencies as they occur, as requested by the Programme Manager, Eritrea, and in co-ordination with CAFOD’s Emergency Response Group;
• Keep up-to-date with development issues and trends, both within the relevant country or sector, and more generally;
• Monitor the political and security context to contribute to CAFOD’s organisational risk assessments and security plans.

Programme funding and partners’ fundraising capacity

• In agreement with partners and the Country Programme Manager, assess existing partner capacities and systems to manage and implement institutionally funded programmes and, jointly develop programme and project funding proposals;
• Lead, co-ordinate or support the preparation of funding applications with donors such as: ECHO, DEC, DfID, EC, UN, Comic Relief, Big Lottery Fund, etc.;
• Contribute to investing in partners’ capacities, by jointly identifying funding needs, developing plans to strengthen capacities, e.g. proposal writing, programme development, monitoring & evaluation, etc., or identifying sources of support. This can be through identifying who is best placed to offer such support or by the direct provision of specific capacity strengthening initiatives;
• Support partners in accessing the tools and support required to secure and effectively manage institutional funding, as well as strengthening partner capacity in donor mapping and developing donor engagement strategies;
• To work with CAFOD’s Country Programme Manager on designing a partners’ institutional funding capacity strengthening initiative/strategy.  

Contract Management

• Working with Country Programme Manager and partners to manage various contracts, including financial and narrative reporting, and monitoring and evaluation (including facilitating external evaluations) of institutionally funded programmes, in line with jointly agreed standards (Programme Cycle Management), donor requirements, and CAFOD’s value of Stewardship;
• Responsible for reporting to donors – including financial reporting and ultimately responsible for the quality of those reports before submission.
• Support programme staff and partners on the development of plans, accounting frameworks and work plans, etc.

Managing effective relationships with partners

• Develop, nurture and manage relationships with CAFOD’s partner organisations in line with the principles and standards set in our Partnership Policy, guidance and tools, and in agreement with the Country Representative or Programme Manager;
• Work with partners to regularly assess the quality of the relationship, ensuring that effective communication channels are in place, and that any shortcomings are addressed;
• Invest in partners’ capacities, by jointly identifying needs, developing plans to strengthen capacities, identifying sources of support, and allocating resources. This can be through a facilitator or by direct provision of specific capacity strengthening support;
• Support partners in accessing the tools and support required to successfully implement capacity development plans;
• Organise (and where relevant accompany) partners’ visits.

Internal and external representation

• In co-ordination with the Country Programme Manager develop, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, including local government, national networks, other agencies working in/on Eritrea including other Caritas/CIDSE agencies; donor organisations, and create opportunities to share CAFOD’s programme experiences with donor staff;
• In agreement with the Country Programme Manager, sustain relationships with relevant bi-lateral agencies, including DfID and the EC, seeking opportunities for programme funding, where applicable;
• Communicate with other teams within CAFOD to ensure that the programme is well understood, and that information is available for fundraising and other communication, including publications, media briefings, education, etc. This may involve participation in sessions/events with Supporters, communities of practice, working groups, etc., as agreed with the relevant manager.
• Where appropriate, liaise with the International Programme Funding Unit to ensure coherent donor engagement strategies are developed and maintained;
• Work with partners to regularly assess the quality of the relationship, ensuring that effective communication channels are in place, and that funding-related issues are timely addressed;
• In agreement with partners, contribute to raising the profile of partners’ work with relevant donors in the region and/or globally.

Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects

• In close co-operation with the relevant roles in the finance, prepare, manage and monitor budgets relating to both CAFOD and partner-led expenditure, as agreed with the Country Programme Manager;
• Deliver the programme within agreed budgets or instigate budget revisions according to evolving needs, in line with CAFOD’s finance guidelines and procedures;
• Develop relevant risk registers and monitor them in conjunction with the Country Programme Manager;
• Where appropriate, commission and manage (with partners) audits for programmes and projects;
• Carry out partner financial profiles and reviews, in co-operation with the finance team.

Systems and compliance 

• Effectively use CAFOD’s programme management information systems to ensure programme and project information is up-to-date. This will include producing management information to support decision making;
• Ensure compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work, including liaising with IPFU donor leads on donor compliance requirements.
• Ensure compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work. 

Thematic focus:

• Complement partners’ thematic understanding on Food Security and Livelihoods, Health and Nutrition, WASH, DRR, Climate Change and resilience building, Education for marginalized children, and other cross-cutting areas on gender, HIVAIDS, Social Protection and Accountability, contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring about positive change, contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring about positive change.

Notes:

• This list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive, and the post-holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification;
• If considered useful and appropriate, specific percentages per function/areas of responsibility can be assigned by agreement between the post-holder and his/her line manager. 

Child Protection

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect. CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children and young people and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse. CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children, seeing these interests as paramount.

This post-holder is likely, or potentially, required over the length of the time that they are in post: 

• to have contact with children (people under 18) in the course of their work;

• to see the same child more than once or otherwise to have the chance to build a rapport with a child through their work;

and CAFOD is unable to guarantee that this contact with children will be at all times supervised by someone with an enhanced criminal records check and a check of the data barring list for children. They will require the Enhanced Disclosure including a Barred List check for Children.

Key Competencies

Essential

• Understanding our context
  • Understanding Catholic identity; Works comfortably with secular and Church Partners
  • Understanding CAFOD
  • Understanding international development:    Understanding and experience of international development and programme management and quality standards within this context
• Working together
  • Managing ourselves: Able to make sound independent decisions in complex circumstances; displays flexibility to cope with continuous change and uncertainty; able to support others in coping with change and other stresses
  • Working with others: Demonstrated facilitation, capacity building & training skills, including the ability to influence teams; able to work successfully within networks and with other organisations
• Communicating; Proven diplomatic skills; can communicate complex ideas simply; communicates corporate messages & able to communicate with colleagues & partners at a distance
• Looking outwards; Understanding of effective & values-based partnership work between northern & southern organisations & communities; experience working with secular, church & other faith based organisations, & working in networks
•  Making change happen
• Managing resources Computer literacy i.e.  familiar with Microsoft word, excel and knowledge of information and database management;
• Strong budget management skills.
• Achieving results; Able to manage competing work demands, experience of developing successful funding applications for institutional donors; experience of participatory project design, and use of analytical tools.
• Managing our performance: experience of developing and implementing monitoring systems to track the effectiveness of programmes.
• Taking the lead: demonstrated ability to think strategically and contributing to strategy development, planning processes and contingency planning

Job-specific competencies

• Understanding & first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends & donor conditions;
• Experience using PCM tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed programme framework;
• Experience of working with, and/or a commitment to humanitarian standards e.g. Humanitarian Charter, SPHERE, the Red Cross & Red Crescent Code of Conduct and IHL instruments
• Experience developing M&E frameworks & data collection & analysis tools & committed to partner capacity strengthening
• Financial management understanding & experience;
• Ability and willingness to travel 4 months annually, sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Integrated programming.

Desirable

• First-hand work experience with a values-based partnership approach (between northern and southern organisations and communities). 
• Specific technical skills on food security & livelihoods, health & nutrition, WASH, DRR, Climate change & resilience building, education & other cross-cutting themes.
• Previous work experience in Eritrea

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to child protection.