Program Innovation Officer

Contract

This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.

Overall purpose of the role

The Programme Innovation Officer will join DRCs Programme Innovation and Business Engagement (PIBE) team that is exploring ways to develop new approaches to humanitarian programming across East Africa. DRC PIBE team have a broad portfolio of projects and pilots in areas of alternative finance and investment, predictive modelling and anticipatory action, climate adaptation and climate finance, digital work and local innovation and looks to work with new partners and private sector actors to test approaches in humanitarian settings. DRC in east Africa works across 10 countries in the region, supporting displacement affected communities in hugely varied contexts and across sectors creating space for a large variety of approaches and challenges to overcome.

The Programme Innovation Officer will work across 2 focus areas. Firstly, they will support the launch of a new humanitarian innovation project led by DRC in partnership with Response Innovation Lab (RIL) that looks at supporting community-level innovation in disaster-affected settings. The project will work with communities affected by climate and conflict in South Sudan and Somalia to and pilot an approach to help innovative ideas grow at the community level. Secondly, the officer will support the wider innovation portfolio being developed and implemented across the region, focusing particularly on working with countries to develop new ideas and implement pilots to test approaches.

Key Responsibilities:

Community Innovation project assistance

Country and partner coordination

• Work with countries to develop ideas, engage with communities and develop pilots to be implemented at the community level.
• Work with RIL to support the development of the innovation process that will be used, organizing workshops with relevant stakeholders to build out an innovation model that is relevant at community level.

Community Innovation project implementation

• Work with country offices, communities and partners to develop a framework for supporting community-level innovation in conflict and climate impacted situations.
• Support locally-led innovations to tackle challenges, guiding the process to develop sustainable outcomes for communities

Design and implementation of pilots:

• Build a strong learning approach to pilot implementation, disseminating information for further learning.
• Support country teams to develop new ideas and approaches to working, helping with the innovation journey that may be new.

PIBE portfolio support

• Work with country teams to develop new innovative ideas to pilot, supporting the development of ideas into concept notes and proposals for funding.
• Support country teams during the implementation of pilots, offering technical guidance as well as general pilot implementation.
• Explore new areas for humanitarian programming that could be relevant for DRCs areas of work, engaging with new partners for idea development.
• Explore external funding streams relevant for pilots, including the development of pilots into full projects and the integration of new ideas into DRCs core areas of working.

About you

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelors degree in Development Studies or related degree.

• At least 2 years track record working on innovation projects in displacement contexts or other similar contexts working with marginalized populations, with ideally some experience in engaging with the private sector and the non-profit or social enterprise sector. You should also have:

• Experience in implementing small pilots end to end, from design to implementation to results development and close out

• Experience in working with communities in humanitarian settings, particularly in climate and conflict settings
• Understanding and experience in climate adaptation programming
• Experience working with private sector partnership and work with social entrepreneurship and multi-stakeholder partnerships
• Understanding of refugee / host community contexts, including socio-economic challenges and opportunities and the role NGOs and private sector can play in addressing challenges and realizing opportunities
• Some engagement with external actors and an understanding of the donor landscape
• Fluency in English
• Strong communication skills
• High integrity and willingness to conduct her/himself transparently and open to scrutiny

Ideally, you also have

• Ability to communicate technical information in an easy to understand, informative and collaborative manner

• Good knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standards or other accountability measures/standards

Conditions

Contract: One Year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for National Staff ; Employment band Non Management H1

Availability: September 2023

Duty station: This position is based in Nairobi Regional Office in Kenya or Kampala in Uganda

Reporting Line: Regional Program Innovation and Business Engagement(PIBE) Manager

Providing equal opportunities: We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process

Application

Please submit your application and CV in English no later than 2nd August 2023