Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) Coordinator

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IRC - The International Rescue Committee

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Job Description

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-west (Bocaranga), in North-East (Kaga Bandoro) and in South East (Zemio) – 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 Haut- Mbomou, implementing Health programs, Women Protection and Empowerment programs, Child and Youth Protection and Development programs and Economic Recovery and Development programs. 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.

The IRC has embraced an integrated program approach whereby health, protection and economic development programs work together in synergy to provide a holistic response to our clients.

Scope of work

IRC seeks a dynamic leader and programme strategist to fill the role of Economy Recovery and Development (ERD) Coordinator. The ERD coordinator will lead and oversee all the ERD components of IRC CAR’s program portfolio, including directing strategic planning, project design, integration into other sectors, implementation and supervision of staff. The ERD Coordinator will identify specific growth opportunities for ERD programs including cash and voucher programming, agriculture and livestock, micro and small business development and access to informal and formal financial institutions. The ERD Coordinator will also support the development of a long-term strategic vision for ERD programming in CAR within the IRC CAR Strategic Action Plan. He/she will serve as the key liaison with local and international implementing partners, Food Security Cluster, Cash Working Group and the Government of CAR, the Private Sector and other stakeholders.

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

S/he reports to the Deputy Director, Programs (DDP) and will be supported by 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 the technical quality of needs and market assessments as well as a range of IRC Basic Needs Assistance and Livelihoods Programming including VSLAs, cash and voucher assistance, agricultural and livestock and micro enterprise support– working with IRC’s ERD Technical Advisors to ensure global best practices are applied to programming

• Ensure alignment of cash/ voucher and livelihoods programming with IRC global strategy plan and relevant theories of change and indicators and relevant working groups

• Identify opportunities for growth of ERD programming portfolio through mapping of 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 ERD staffing and management structures

• Contribute to Country Program Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and its Implementation Plan

• Support the implementation and monitoring of IMPACT Standards (IRC best practices) in line with IRC strategic objectives to reinforce program quality.

• Ensure that gender, protection and environmental stewardship are mainstreamed in all programming under direct responsibility.

• Along with program staff and the Technical Unit/Advisors, support the development of Cash Relief Operating Procedures (CROPs), Programs Control Checklist and Program Implementation Notes, for program activities

• Ensure best possible client responsiveness (feedback) and regular monitoring and modification of ongoing programming as required.

Partner Management

• Works closely with the IRC's Partnerships Unit to ensure the IRC's Partnership Strategic objectives are achieved

• Oversees IRC's relationship with implementing partners

• Ensures regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project's objectives; provide technical support and guidance as needed.

• Working closely with the IRC's Partnerships Unit and the relevant ERD Managers, drafts and/or reviews the ERD's annual Partnerships Strategy, Stakeholders Analysis, identifying, when needed, strategic partners to jointly achieve economic well-being outcomes for vulnerable populations

Grant Planning & Monitoring

• Design projects and/ or lead relevant technical parts of proposal development processes for cash/ voucher and/ or livelihoods-related programming

• 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; supply chain, grant opening and closure, Project Management Cycle and other meetings. Has budget authority to pre-approved limits and responsibility for budget development and compliance under the direction of the DDP

• In collaboration with the Grants and the MEAL Departments, develop and implement a full monitoring and evaluation framework for all cash/ voucher and livelihoods activities as well as organizing program learning workshops where relevant

• Ensure smooth management, implementation and integration of project work plans and budgets (budget forecasting, development of spending plans and budget follow-up); secure best value for donors’ money and ensure correct spending of grants

Human Resources Management

• Provide technical direction and managerial oversight of ERD 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

• Ensure all ERD staff are following work plans and ERD projects deliverables are completed as planned

• Oversee the development and implementation of staff technical capacity building plans that promotes a culture of learning through systematic analysis and reflection of program data and lessons learned and ensure staff receive training accordingly.

• Set specific goals and expectations and provide regular, positive and constructive feedback to direct reports

• Conduct regular one to one meetings with each direct report

• 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

• Help to recruit and screen ERD project staff

• When applicable, draft ToRs for consultants conducting research or other type of work outside of the regular scope of ERD staff; ensure proper oversight of consultants’ work

• Identify and prepare program staff members who can step in when ERD staff members of Country Emergency Team (CET) are deployed for emergency interventions.

• 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

• Ensure ERD Program staff adhere to IRC’s IRC Way and other IRC 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 participate in Food Security Cluster as well as Cash Working Group (CWG) to stay informed and share information on needs and gaps as well as technical development/ innovations within the sector in CAR

• Actively engage in constant coordination and cooperation to other sectors within the IRC CAR portfolio, such as protection and health but also to colleagues working in M&E, Supply Chain, Finance, Logistics, HR etc.

• 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 engaged in ERD Program activities 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 cash/ vouchers and livelihoods to advance livelihood 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 (License) in international development, economics, business administration, agriculture, food security and/or related certification required; MA/MS/MBA (Maitrise) a plus

• Minimum of 5 years professional experience in humanitarian response, with specific experience in cash/ voucher, livelihoods and enterprise development approaches in emergency / early recovery settings

• Demonstrated experience with adhering to the humanitarian fundamental principals

• Strong program/technical, project design, proposal development 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

• Demonstrated knowledge of gender and proficiency in managing development projects that mainstream gender

• 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 oral and written French and basic English; fluency in English is a plus

Working Environment: The ERD Coordinator will be based in Bangui, in CAR, and will travel throughout the country. The security situation in CAR is still unstable, although the signing of the Khartoum peace and reconciliation agreement in February 2019 is still seen as a source of hope for the country to return to peace. The candidate must be prepared to work in insecure environments. This is an unaccompanied position. The ERD Coordinator will live in shared accommodation.

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC employees are required to abide by the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way Code of Conduct which are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and implements policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality: IRC acknowledges and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. IRC is also committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits.

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Qualifications

Added 2 years ago - Updated 11 months ago - Source: rescue.org