Job Profile

The post-holder will lead the programmatic delivery of a new financial inclusion project working in partnership with relevant partners and other key stakeholders.

The post holder will be responsible for building effective working relationships with peers in the International Programmes Department. This is in order to develop and maintain horizontal links, and to foster learning between programmes, innovation, good practice, and fundraising within and between regions or areas of work. The role also has a number of cross-divisional and cross-organisational functions linked to work with CAFOD’s Communities & Supporters Fundraising, Finance, Media, Policy and Advocacy teams.

The post holder will be expected to undertake frequent travel connected with the management of the programme portfolio, and the achievement of strategic objectives.

Accountability

• The post-holder reports to the Programme Manager-Financial Inclusion
• The post-holder supports the delivery of programmes within agreed budget. Not a budget holder

Key Responsibilities

Programme management and development in line with the direction set in the project proposal

• In co-operation with partners, manage the JOA financial inclusion project proposal
• Jointly responsible with partners for the effective implementation, monitoring, evaluation (including facilitating external evaluations) and reporting on the financial inclusion project, in line with jointly agreed standards (programme cycle management) and donor requirements;
• 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 Sierra Leone and/or globally
• Keep up-to-date with development issues and trends in Sierra Leone
• 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.

Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects

• In close co-operation with the relevant roles in the Finance & Admin Manager and the PDFO, 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 Programme Manager or Country Representative
• Carry out partner financial profiles and reviews, in co-operation with the finance team.

Internal and external representation:

• In co-ordination with the Programme Manager/Country Representative, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, including Chiefdom authority, district council government, national networks and other agencies working in Sierra Leone. This will include other Caritas/CIDSE agencies
• 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.

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:

• Complement partners’ thematic understanding on financial inclusion, food and livelihood security and contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring about positive change, offering guidance to the partners etc.

Notes:

• 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.
• 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.

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.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, 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, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post involves contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults, or has responsibility for people who will do, and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues.  This post will require a Police Clearance certificate and sterling check.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.

Person Specification 

Essential Criteria

Understanding our context

A Works comfortably with secular, church and other faith-based partners

B Committed to our partnership model of working

C Demonstrates awareness of trends and changing approaches to development work

Working together

D Recognises the importance of gender and diversity in development work

E Supports others to carry out their roles and responsibilities

F Actively listens to new and different perspectives and experiences of stakeholders and team members

G Communicates effectively with a wide range of stakeholders

 

Making change happen

H Clarifies roles and responsibilities within the team to maximize impact

I Documents lessons learned and apply them to future projects

J Monitors work progress and performance

K Deals with poor performance or inappropriate behaviour

 

Job-specific competencies

1. Significant experience in Village Savings & Loans Association model is required. This experience could include VSLA project management and field experience
2. Understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends, and donor conditions

• Experience using programme cycle management tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed project;

1. Understanding of effective and values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities
2. Able and committed to working with and developing the capacity of local partners organisations/ National NGOs
3. A successful track record of managing multiple projects, building partnerships and facilitating or supporting the development of individual or partners’ capacities

• Substantive knowledge of key issues and emerging trends in financial inclusion
• Excellent communication skills in English, both oral and written

1. Experience managing an institutional funded project such as EC and Foundations
2. Financial management understanding and experience
3. Minimum of first degree is required

• Ability and willingness to travel (approximately 12 weeks per year), sometimes at short notice

Desirable Criteria

1. Previous work experience in Sierra Leone
2. Experience with a values-based partnership approach and working with private sector partners.

Job Profile

The post-holder will lead the programmatic delivery of a new financial inclusion project working in partnership with relevant partners and other key stakeholders.

The post holder will be responsible for building effective working relationships with peers in the International Programmes Department. This is in order to develop and maintain horizontal links, and to foster learning between programmes, innovation, good practice, and fundraising within and between regions or areas of work. The role also has a number of cross-divisional and cross-organisational functions linked to work with CAFOD’s Communities & Supporters Fundraising, Finance, Media, Policy and Advocacy teams.

The post holder will be expected to undertake frequent travel connected with the management of the programme portfolio, and the achievement of strategic objectives.

Accountability

• The post-holder reports to the Programme Manager-Financial Inclusion
• The post-holder supports the delivery of programmes within agreed budget. Not a budget holder

Key Responsibilities

Programme management and development in line with the direction set in the project proposal

• In co-operation with partners, manage the JOA financial inclusion project proposal
• Jointly responsible with partners for the effective implementation, monitoring, evaluation (including facilitating external evaluations) and reporting on the financial inclusion project, in line with jointly agreed standards (programme cycle management) and donor requirements;
• 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 Sierra Leone and/or globally
• Keep up-to-date with development issues and trends in Sierra Leone
• 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.

Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects

• In close co-operation with the relevant roles in the Finance & Admin Manager and the PDFO, 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 Programme Manager or Country Representative
• Carry out partner financial profiles and reviews, in co-operation with the finance team.

Internal and external representation:

• In co-ordination with the Programme Manager/Country Representative, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, including Chiefdom authority, district council government, national networks and other agencies working in Sierra Leone. This will include other Caritas/CIDSE agencies
• 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.

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:

• Complement partners’ thematic understanding on financial inclusion, food and livelihood security and contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring about positive change, offering guidance to the partners etc.

Notes:

• 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.
• 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.

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.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, 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, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post involves contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults, or has responsibility for people who will do, and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues.  This post will require a Police Clearance certificate and sterling check.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Understanding our context

A Works comfortably with secular, church and other faith-based partners

B Committed to our partnership model of working

C Demonstrates awareness of trends and changing approaches to development work

Working together

D Recognises the importance of gender and diversity in development work

E Supports others to carry out their roles and responsibilities

F Actively listens to new and different perspectives and experiences of stakeholders and team members

G Communicates effectively with a wide range of stakeholders

Making change happen

H Clarifies roles and responsibilities within the team to maximize impact

I Documents lessons learned and apply them to future projects

J Monitors work progress and performance

K Deals with poor performance or inappropriate behaviour

Job-specific competencies

1. Significant experience in Village Savings & Loans Association model is required. This experience could include VSLA project management and field experience
2. Understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends, and donor conditions
3. Experience using programme cycle management tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed project;
4. Understanding of effective and values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities
5. Able and committed to working with and developing the capacity of local partners organisations/ National NGOs
6. A successful track record of managing multiple projects, building partnerships and facilitating or supporting the development of individual or partners’ capacities
7. Substantive knowledge of key issues and emerging trends in financial inclusion
8. Excellent communication skills in English, both oral and written
9. Experience managing an institutional funded project such as EC and Foundations
10. Financial management understanding and experience
11. Minimum of first degree is required
12. Ability and willingness to travel (approximately 12 weeks per year), sometimes at short notice

Desirable Criteria

1. Previous work experience in Sierra Leone
2. Experience with a values-based partnership approach and working with private sector partners.