Job Vacancy at Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) – Programme Manager: Financial Inclusion

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 Country Representative and directly manages the following posts:

• Programme Officer Livelihoods and Governance

The post holder manages budgets and funding within the scope of their authority. The post holder is an “Implementation Manager” and forms part of Sierra Leone and Liberia Country management team.

Lead and manage the programme portfolio:

• In line with the overall direction set by the Sierra Leone and Liberia strategy and the Country Representative, provide direction to CAFOD-supported programmes and projects, ensuring that they meet agreed quality standards and donor/contractual obligations;
• In line with the overall direction set by the Financial Inclusion project document, provide direction to the project on financial inclusion ensuring that they meet agreed quality standards and donor contractual obligations
• Ensure integration across the programmes portfolio, ensuring that learning is captured and shared across the wider organisation and between partners, and informs decision making and new programme designs;
• Ensure that the financial inclusion project is being implemented with an M&E framework that clearly articulates the monitoring and evaluation system for the project, including regularity of monitoring visits by the Programme team
• Co-ordinate the development of new pieces of work, while ensuring the effective implementation of the Financial Inclusion project in line with agreed quality standards (including programme cycle management) and the donor contract guidelines and obligations
• Ensure that cross-cutting themes (e.g. downwards accountability, safeguarding children, complaint handling mechanism, etc.) are effectively managed within and across the project, working with the relevant staff to achieve this
• Lead the review of the programmatic aspects of the country strategy, particularly programme frameworks;
• Keep up-to-date with development issues and trends, both within the relevant country/sub-region or sector, and more generally;
• Monitor the political and security context to contribute to CAFOD’s organisational risk assessments and security plans. This includes acting as security manager, where appropriate.

• Provide guidance and support to Programme Officers and other members of the Programmes team in their work, to develop and nurture effective relationships with partners. In some cases (e.g. strategic partners), the post-holder can take a more active role in developing those relationships;
• Work with Programme Officers and the team to support or facilitate the development of partners’ capacities and to promote the sustainability of their work. This includes the development of tailor-made capacity development plans;
• Ensure that the Sierra Leone and Liberia partnership portfolio is regularly reviewed and that individual relationships are monitored against CAFOD’s and partners’ partnership standards and expectations.

Financial and funding management:

• Manage the programme and costs budget and cash flow (implementing manager/budget holder responsibilities), monitoring income and expenditure, and ensuring that the latter is done in compliance with agreed parameters and policy;
• Identify opportunities for co-financing from institutional donors, and provide leadership in securing and managing such funds, working with the Programme Development & Funding Officer;
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting on programme work;
• Ensure the project complies with donor and CAFOD’s financial management standards, including managing financial risks.

Internal and external representation:

• In co-ordination with the Country Representative and the Programmes team develop, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, including dstrict government, national networks and other agencies working in Sierra Leone. This will include other Caritas/CIDSE agencies;
• In liaison with the Country Representative and the team, sustain relationships with relevant bilateral agencies, including EC, Foundations, UN agencies and DfID, seeking opportunities for programme funding, where applicable;
• Effectively communicate with other teams within CAFOD to ensure that the programmes are well understood, and that information is available for fundraising and other communications, including publications, media briefings, development education, etc. This may involve participating in communities of practice, working groups, supporter events, etc, as agreed with the Country Representative.

Systems and compliance:

• Overseeing the effective use of CAFOD’s systems to share programme knowledge and inform decision making. This includes overseeing compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work.

Security management:

• Supporting the Country Representative in delivering effective security management. This includes among others, acting as security manager when delegated by the Country Representative; support the development of security risk mappings, country security plans; standard operating procedures; contingency plans (e.g. medical evacuation, relocation/evacuation and hibernation), etc.

• Lead on the recruitment and management of staff according to CAFOD’s management standards, so that staff are empowered, and the effectiveness of the team is maximised;
• Provide leadership and support to direct reports (and staff under shared management arrangements), act as a sounding board and hold them to account in areas under their responsibility. This includes setting objectives, induction, organising regular 1:1 meetings, conducting annual performance reviews, providing coaching, and ensuring team members have individual development plans. The post-holder may be required to manage volunteers and staff remotely;
• Enable and empower direct reports to achieve the best possible with the available resources, ensuring CAFOD’s management standards are followed;
• Ensure effective and appropriate systems and processes for team learning and development are in place;

Thematic focus:

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

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

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

1. Significant experience in financial inclusion is required. This experience could include project management, field experience and/or experience of international development and programme management and quality standards;
2. Experience working to expand financial inclusion to rural and agricultural households will be highly valued

• Understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends and donor conditions;

1. Experience using programme cycle management tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed project;
2. Understanding of effective and values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities;
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. Fluency in other languages relevant to the work, particularly French, is also desirable.

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

• Experience of line management
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Desirable Criteria

1. Previous work experience in Sierra Leone or West Africa sub region;
2. Previous experience working with private sector partners.

Please click here for a full list of CAFOD’s Staff Benefits

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested individuals should click on the button below to apply.