Head of Programme Niger

Lead program quality and fundraising efforts to support humanitarian response in Niger.

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NRC - Norwegian Refugee Council

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Application deadline 9 months ago: Thursday 14 Aug 2025 at 18:30 UTC

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Overview

Lead program quality and fundraising efforts to support humanitarian response in Niger.

You have:

  • Minimum 4 years’ experience from a senior management position in a humanitarian/recovery context
  • Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
  • Knowledge of cash-based interventions and market-based programmes
  • Fluency in French and English, both written and verbal
  • Documented success of achieving significant donor funding in a start-up country
  • Experience of working in a neglected or forgotten crisis

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH

About the Context

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been working in Niger since 2019 and the Niger Country Office separated from the Burkina Faso Country Office on June 1st 2023.

NRC programmes in Niger focus on Education, Shelter, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene(WASH), and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) for populations forced to move.

Niger faces a multitude of humanitarian crises: population movements, conflicts, malnutrition, food insecurity, recurring epidemics, cyclical floods and droughts.

Conflicts in neighboring countries contribute significantly to the growing insecurity and instability in Niger, and cause population displacements which are currently affecting four regions: Diffa, Tillabéry, Tahoua, and Maradi.

NRC is currently intensifying its humanitarian response through the Rapid Response Mechanism, while responding to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

The NRC programme also focuses on early recovery, durable solutions and self-reliance for populations in need; in addition to Advocacy which is a key pillar of NRC’s response.

Find out more about NRC https://www.nrc.no/ and Watch this short video to see NRC in action https://vimeo.com/736782633

What we are looking for

NRC is looking for an experienced and dedicated Head of Programme in charge of programme quality and development.

The Head of Programme is a key senior position in the NRC country set up, responsible for cross-cutting programmatic information management, sound design of and overseeing assessments, monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring that information collected is reflected upon, used to improve ongoing projects, and is incorporated into consistently high-quality grant proposals and reports.

You will play a key role in strategy development and adherence and ensuring that policies, systems, and people are continuously and accurately working in a coordinated manner to ensure that a coherent and comprehensive program is designed and implemented.

Additionally, you will be responsible for fundraising activities and external representation, alongside the Country Director.

What you will do

  • Responsible for the development and update of the fundraising strategy in line with the country strategy and programme development needs.
  • Lead the programme teams on the development of cost-effective and evidence-based concept notes, project proposals, and budget development for scale-up and post emergency programming including innovative interventions ensuring plans are in line with the country strategy and NRC policies.
  • In conjunction with the Country Director, liaise with donors on new funding and operational areas of programming, and for all grant management and reporting requirements.
  • Ensure NRC’s MEL data collection systems are in place and information is properly stored, analysed and reported, learning is documented, assimilated, and used to improve future programmes.
  • Ensure the quality of the country multi-sectorial integrated programme follows international standards, the NRC response policy, NRC safe and inclusive programming (SIP) all along the programme management cycle
  • Work with the Country Director, Advocacy & Communications Manager to support the identification of evidence gaps in programme and, in-line with national, regional, and international strategies, collate evidence to undertake advocacy and communication initiatives
  • Ensure appropriate accountability mechanisms as feedback and complaint response mechanisms are well vulgarized amongst communities, key feedback and complaints are acted upon and learning integrated in the programme cycle
  • Identify and work with a diverse group of local stakeholders as partners in alignment with the local humanitarian leadership’s objectives of the country office
  • Lead the generation of programmatic evidence and capitalization efforts, in collaboration with the Programme team

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position JD - HoP Niger .pdf

What you will bring

1.Professional Competencies

  • Minimum 4 years’ experience from a senior management position in a humanitarian/ recovery context
  • Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
  • Knowledge of cash-based interventions and market-based programmes
  • Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
  • Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
  • Fluency in French and English, both written and verbal

Context/Specific skills, knowledge, and experience:

  • Experience of working in a neglected or forgotten crisis (with little or no media attention)
  • Experience with improving programme quality and standards
  • Documented success of achieving significant donor funding in a start-up country

2. Behavioural competencies

  • Strategic thinking
  • Working with people
  • Analysing
  • Managing resources to optimize results
  • Managing performance and development
  • Planning and delivering results

What we offer

  • Duty station: Niamey, Niger
  • Contract: 12 months
  • Salary/benefits: grade 11 on NRC’s salary scale
  • NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
  • We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.
  • Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC https://www.nrc.no/career/what-we-offer/

Kindly send any questions about the application process to: [email protected]. Applications sent via email will not be accepted. Please check your application status on your NRC application profile.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience in securing funding in volatile contexts? The interviewer wants to assess your ability to generate financial resources in challenging environments. Discuss specific examples of funding you've secured and the strategies you used.
What strategies have you implemented to improve program quality? This question assesses your capacity to enhance program effectiveness and quality. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure that program teams communicate effectively with local stakeholders? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Tell us about a time when you had to manage a diverse team. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe your experience with monitoring and evaluation systems. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What challenges have you faced in implementing advocacy initiatives, and how did you overcome them? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure accountability within your programs? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What is your approach to strategic planning in a humanitarian context? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 10 months ago - Updated 9 months ago - Source: nrc.no