Governance and Rights Coordinator

Job Description

IRC opened the country program in Mali in 2012. Our programs range from humanitarian assistance to early recovery activities, focusing on child protection, education, economic well-being, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, women's economic empowerment and governance. We work in both northern, central and southern Mali. Conflict and drought have displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Mali and neighboring countries. The security situation in the north remains fragile. Nevertheless, the needs of displaced people and host communities affected by the conflict are widespread and the issue of humanitarian access is an ongoing process. IRC works in northern and central Mali in the most remote areas. The position is designed to help build the capacity and resources of populations to prevent and mitigate crises, manage change, and build self-reliance and resilience.

Scope of work

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Programs in Bamako, the Governance and Human Rights Coordinator will be responsible for the vision, strategy, design, monitoring and quality of implementation of governance programs in Mali as well as cross-cutting governance issues specific to all sectors. The Governance and Human Rights Coordinator will be based in Bamako and will travel frequently to field sites.

The Coordinator's role will also include capacity building for staff and partners involved in the implementation of IRC Mali's governance and human rights activities. The Coordinator will lead the design, development and environmental analysis of new projects focusing on governance and human rights.

In keeping with IRC Mali's emphasis on integrated programming, the Coordinator will work closely with other technical coordinators, such as the Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator, Health and Nutrition, EHA, Education, Integrated Protection, the Grants Coordinator, and especially the Monitoring and Evaluation Department. The Governance and Human Rights Coordinator will be supported by technical advisors (TAs) based at IRC headquarters to ensure effective and high quality delivery.

IRC's governance programs in Mali focus on

• Empowering people affected by conflict to solve their own problems, prevent and reduce conflict;

• Ensuring that all groups, regardless of gender, age, or ethnicity, are taken into account by local decision-makers, and that people understand and trust the processes by which decisions are made;

• Work to ensure that service providers and those in positions of power at the community and government levels are responsive to people's needs and recognize that all people have the same rights that must be respected and fulfilled (systems strengthening approach).

• The Governance and Human Rights Coordinator interacts with all IRC departments within the country program (Finance, Grants, Supply Chain, Administration, and Human Resources) and works closely with other sector technical coordinators as well as the Governance technical unit at the headquarters level.

Responsibilities

1. Technical and quality monitoring of programs

• Provide technical oversight and support to IRC Mali's Governance and Human Rights program activities;

• Provide leadership in the development and adaptation of program models that allow for greater participation of communities and CBOs in decision-making, greater responsiveness to their needs, priorities and requirements, and greater accountability of decision-makers to these communities and CBOs;

• Build close relationships with government officials and technical departments involved in the various sectors (EHA, Education, Health);

• Create close relationships and appropriate strategies to promote the strengthening of local dispute and conflict management systems, including with traditional and informal authorities.

• Lead all research and learning activities related to the governance and human rights sector;

• Ensure appropriate monitoring and decision making on data related to Governance and Human Rights programs;

• Ensure that all stakeholders receive updates on Governance and Human Rights programs either at the mission level or in the West Africa regional team, including the Head of Office - Mali, the technical unit, donors, etc;

• Ensure regular monitoring of partners' performance by providing technical support and guidance;

• In close collaboration with M&E departments, oversee the development of relevant M&E systems and ensure regular monitoring of data in the various Governance programs to feed into ongoing review and decision making for future programming;

• Ensure proper integration of gender and inclusion in all dimensions of the program;

• Ensure planning, coordination and quality control of conflict analysis and regular use of these approaches to adjust program interventions to the context;

• Ensure that activities are carried out according to work plans, balancing the need to achieve objectives on time with the importance of quality processes and methodological rigor;

• Support program managers in the development of SOPs for activities, planning, implementation and budget monitoring;

• Identify priorities for support to IRC technical units.

2. Strategic Planning

• Monitor the changing needs of target communities and adjust program priorities as necessary;

• In collaboration with the HQ technical coordinators and the Mali management team, lead the overall development of IRC's education and protection program strategies in line with IRC Mali's strategic action plan and IRC's results and evidence framework;

• Utilize a wide range of sources, continuously analyzing the security, political and humanitarian context in Mali;

• Provide technical input into the development of IRC Mali's emergency preparedness plans and protocols.

3. Program Development, Implementation, Communication and Advocacy

• Identify opportunities for new program development;

• Design and lead technical assessments that will inform the development of new programs;

• Coordinate and initiate project proposals and develop program proposals (development of logical frameworks, program design and implementation plans and appropriate, realistic and measurable indicators, budget) under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Programs - Mali and in consultation and collaboration with technical and management staff in the field and Technical Units at headquarters;

• In collaboration with regional and HQ teams, identify communication opportunities for internal and external audiences with a focus on humanitarian needs related to governance and human rights and publicizing ongoing projects and research;

• In collaboration with the CD, DDP and relevant coordination mechanisms, identify opportunities for advocacy on Governance and Human Rights issues.

• Ensure that all donor reports meet the required quality level for timely submission to internal IRC units and donors.

4. Coordination and Representation

• Collaborate with other technical coordinators on the mission to ensure an integrated strategy to support cross-cutting accountability and systems strengthening approaches across all sectors;

• In coordination with the supervisor, represent IRC to the UN, international and national NGOs, various ministries as needed and donors on all governance and human rights related issues;

• Participate in external meetings and working groups, and ensure coordination with all partners and stakeholders;

• Support IRC management in case of field visits by donor, media and/or VIPs and act as the main focal point for IRC's governance programs.

5. Staff Development

• Develop and implement an ongoing staff capacity building plan;

• Ensure compliance with IRC human rights policies during the recruitment process;

• Provide quality and timely performance reviews and contribute to the performance objectives of technical staff in Governance and Human Rights projects.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in international development, social sciences, political sciences, economics, public administration or other equivalent field or a combination of academic and project implementation experience;

• At least five years of professional experience in implementing medium to large scale projects in the area of governance and conflict reduction in fragile states;

• Demonstrated experience in systems strengthening, including local and national conflict management and justice systems.

• Proven experience in community empowerment, inclusion, social accountability, and conflict reduction.

• Specific expertise and documented track record in social accountability, community development and other voice and empowerment initiatives in the context of service delivery (health, education);

• Appropriate knowledge and practical experience in conflict analysis as well as adaptive approaches in volatile context driven programming;

• Strong personal leadership, coordination, mentoring and training skills;

• Optimal knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Outlook);

• Ability to communicate, speak and write well in French (English is an added value);

• Solution oriented, ability to deliver results on time, work under pressure, and in a multicultural context.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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