Job Vacancy at CAFOD for Programme Officer – Resilience

To contribute to CAFOD’s involvement in Sierra Leone in line with the agreed strategy, by taking the lead on the day-to-day management of CAFOD-supported programmes and partnerships. The scope of the post falls into the following broad functions:

• Programme management and development in line with the direction set by the Country/Sub-regional 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 Sierra Leone programme, in co-ordination with the Country Representative, Programme Manager and the Humanitarian Department, 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 Resilience, contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring about positive change;

Job Scope

The post-holder will be responsible for building effective working relationships with peers in the Programmes Department, as well as with colleagues in the Humanitarian and Programme Effectiveness Departments. This is in order to develop and maintain horizontal links, and to foster 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, Media, Policy and Advocacy teams.

The post-holder will be expected to undertake frequent travel (approximately 12 weeks per year).

• The post-holder reports to the Country Representative;
• The post-holder delivers programmes within agreed budget. Not a budget holder;

Key Responsibilities

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

• 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 Sierra Leone 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) and 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 funding applications and reports for external funders, in liaison with the Programme Funding Team, and the development of partner capacity development plans to address capacity issues;
• Promote, capture and disseminate learning from partners and programmes, and ensure that this informs future programme development in CAFOD
• 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;
• Respond to emergencies as they occur, as requested by the Country Representative, and in co-ordination with CAFOD’s Humanitarian Department;
• 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.

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;
• 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.
• Support partners in accessing the tools and support required to successfully implement capacity development plans;
• Organise (and where relevant accompany) partners’ visits.

• In co-ordination with the Country Representative, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, including local government, national networks and other agencies working in/on Sierra Leone. This will include other Caritas/CIDSE agencies;
• In agreement with the Country Representative, 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.

Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects

• In close co-operation with the relevant roles in the finance and funding teams, prepare, manage and monitor budgets relating to both CAFOD and partner-led expenditure, as agreed with the Programme Manager or Country Representative;
• 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 Representative;
• 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.

Thematic focus: Resilience

• Manages CAFOD Resilience, sustainability and resilience programme component in Sierra Leone
• Complement partners’ thematic understanding on Resilience, contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring about positive change.
• To provide support to CAFOD partners to develop and implement community managed Disaster Risk Reduction interventions that contribute to community resilience and sustainability.
• Ensure Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience activities are properly designed, appraised, implemented and evaluated.
• Identify and prioritise partners’ Resilience capacity development needs and conduct training for partners and communities such as hazard (HVCA), vulnerability and capacity assessment, resilience, risk assessment, etc.
• Support partners, communities and communal authorities set early warning committees and systems and channels to disseminate early warning information to communities

1. 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;
2. 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.

Job-specific competencies 

Essential: 

1. Understanding of effective and values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities.
2. Understanding and experience of international development and programme management and quality standards within this context;
3. Understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends and donor conditions;
4. Experience using programme cycle management tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed programme framework;
5. Able and committed to working with and developing the capacity of local partners organisations/ National NGOs;
6. Financial management understanding and experience;
7. Ability and willingness to travel (approximately 12 weeks per year), sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk;
8. Fluency in both written and spoken English
9. Demonstrate knowledge in key areas of Resilience, Climate change and Resilience, Safeguarding and Protection Policies and DRR programme management

Desirable: 

1. First-hand work experience with a values-based partnership approach (between northern and southern organisations and communities).
2. Previous work experience in Sierra Leone.

CAFOD-specific Competencies 

Understanding our context

• Understanding Catholic Identity: Willingness to work with a faith based organisation
• Understanding CAFOD: Share and support CAFOD’s values and ways of working

Working together

• Working with others: Show ability to work with partners and stakeholders
• Communicating: Able and willing to communicate clearly and regularly about the project

Making change happen

• Managing resources: Delivers programmes within an agreed budget
• Achieving results: Delivers work within the agreed programme framework
• Managing our performance: Ability to capture lessons, share them and improve the project
• Taking the lead: Be highly self motivated and take initiative towards improving the programme