ERD (Economic Recovery and Development) Technical Coordinator

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The mission of the IRC is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future.

IRC CAMEROON STRATEGY

The IRC started operations in Cameroon in 2016 to respond to the increasing concerns for people affected by violence linked to Boko Haram, in the Far North of the country. Assistance to displaced populations extends across the far North, notably Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Logone & Chari, delivering lifesaving programming to increase access to water and improving hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash programming to enable poor families to meet basic needs and improve food security, and protection programming, including meeting specific needs of women and girls. Following the increasing crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon, the IRC expanded its operations into the Southwest region in August 2018, and Northwest in December 2019, delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations. The IRC’s current field offices are in Maroua in the Far North and Buea in the Southwest, and a representation office in Yaoundé.

IRC Cameroon is committed to continue to provide essential humanitarian services, with a focus on safety in communities and ensuring affected populations can meet their basic needs, whilst also building the resilience of beneficiaries, especially women and girls. IRC Cameroon is funded by European and American donors.

SCOPE OF WORK

IRC seeks a dynamic leader and programme strategist to fill the role of Economy Recovery and Development (ERD) Coordinator. The ERD coordinator will lead and oversee all the livelihoods components of IRC Cameroon’s program portfolio, including directing strategic planning, decision making, and supervision of staff.  The ERD Coordinator will identify specific growth opportunities for livelihoods programs including cash and voucher programming, agriculture and livestock, micro and small business development and access to informal and formal financial institutions. The ERD Coordinator will also support the development of a long-term strategic vision for ERD programming in Cameroon within the IRC Cameroon Strategic Action Plan. He/she will serve as the key liaison with local and international implementing partners, Food Security Cluster, Cash and Voucher Working Group, Nexus working group and the Government of Cameroon, the Private Sector and other stakeholders. The position reports to the Deputy Director for Programme (DDP), with technical supervision of the Project Managers in Buea and Maroua. This position will either be based in Buea or Maroua with frequent trips to project sites of the country program (at least 50% travel to other field offices).

MAIN RESPONSABILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Programme (DDP) and with technical support from ERD TAs, the ERD Coordinator will be responsible for:

• ·Ensure the technical quality of a range of IRC Basic Needs Assistance and Livelihoods Programming including VSLAs, cash and voucher assistance, agricultural and livestock and micro enterprise support.

• ·Design and seek funding for livelihoods programming that bridges emergency and recovery/resilience needs.

• ·Conduct extensive partner mapping and value/chain and market assessments to inform activity design

• ·Refine a comprehensive strategic approach to ERD programming for IRC Cameroon

• ·Ensuring effective implementation of project activities.

• ·S/he will provide overall managerial oversight and leadership for the ERD project, including oversee operational functions for achieving the goals of the project.

• ·Ensure that gender, protection and environmental stewardship are mainstreamed in all programming under direct responsibility.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program quality/Management and implementation

• ·The ERD coordinator is responsible for the overall project coordination in all provinces and in line with the IRC Country Strategic Action Plan within IRC international priorities, frameworks and policies.

• ·Provide technical leadership and direction for all ERD activities; define and implement activities to achieve the greatest coverage and impact possible. This includes providing technical guidance on contextually appropriate methodologies for delivering livelihoods activities.

• ·Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate program analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy in line with the overall program M&E.

• ·Ensure regular communication with technical coordinators within IRC Cameroon, and headquarters-based Technical Advisors for Economic Recovery & Development, Protection and Health (including WASH and Nutrition) to integrate appropriate technical unit priorities in program design and implementation.

• ·Provide overall leadership, mentoring, quality control and coordination to strengthen program outcomes.

• ·Lead the development of detailed implementation plans along with Project Managers, flowing from annual strategic work-plans, and ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.

Team management/Staff Supervision & Development

• ·Oversee project implementation team and ensure that all staff are following work plans and ERD projects deliverables are completed as planned.

• ·Oversee the development and implementation of staff technical capacity building plans that promotes a culture of learning through systematic analysis and reflection of program data and lessons learned and ensure staffs receive training accordingly.

• ·Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

• ·Assist ERD staffs in identifying professional development needs and opportunities.

• ·Provide continuous performance feedback to staff; identify performance issues and work with staff and Human Resources to document and address issues in a timely manner.

• ·Assist with and as necessary lead the recruitment of ERD staffs, in coordination with IRC Cameroon human resources and senior management, and headquarters’ technical units.

Business Development

• ·Collaborate with key staff and senior members of other technical sectors to prepare strategic workplans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation plans, financial projections and tools for evaluation.

• ·Identify gaps and needs in current programming areas of VSLA, CVAs, agriculture and livestock and micro enterprise programming.

• ·Facilitate co-design sessions that involve potential partners and are responsive to client needs

• ·Develop concept notes and proposals related to ERD programming expansion and continuation.

• ·Ensure the integration of cash and voucher assistance activities across outcomes mainly with health, protection, and WASH.

Coordination & Representation

• ·Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors, in consultation with the DDP.

• ·Regularly attend relevant cluster and working group meetings at appropriate levels to feed in IRC priorities from the field.

• ·Seek out donor opportunities in line with livelihoods strategy and priorities.

• ·Develop partnership with local private sector and value chain actors

Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and learning

• ·Maintain an effective monitoring, evaluation and planning system

• ·Analyze all relevant data and share information with the MEAL Coordinator, DDP and relevant stakeholders

• ·Coordinate program evaluations and reviews ensure documentation of lessons learned informing reporting and program development.

• ·Support the MEAL Coordinator and client responsiveness officers in addressing complaint and feedback from clients and partners

Partnerships

• ·Identify and develop partnerships with local and international implementing partners as appropriate for program design and service to beneficiaries.

• ·Strengthen relationships with national bodies such as Early Warning System (SISAAP), the Safety Nets National Programme etc.

• ·Identify private sector partners and linkages to support VSLA, cash and voucher assistance, agriculture and livestock, and micro enterprise- related interventions.

Reporting

• ·Collect, compile and revise ERD program narrative reports and ensure timely submission.

• ·In collaboration with grants assure quality of reports to be submitted to donors

• ·Provide up-to-date information on success stories to Comms and Advocacy team

Professional Standards

• ·Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to the SMT, and when liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs

• ·Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

• ·All IRC staff are required to adhere to the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

Minimum Qualifications:

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:  

·Advanced degree in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, Management, Agriculture, Livestock, women empowerment or others similar areas,

Demonstrated Skills and COMPETENCIES :

• ·At least 5-7 years of relevant work experience in cash and voucher assistance, social protection, agriculture, livestock and/or other humanitarian and development programmes with demonstrated experience leading a team to achieve results.

• ·Knowledge and experience of cash and voucher assistance, market and value chain analysis, private sector engagement, livelihoods mapping, rural livelihoods, access to finance and micro enterprise support

• ·Fluency in English and French required.

• ·Previous experience managing programming in complex emergencies as well as ability to manage, supervise, coach and mentor staff/team teams remotely.

• ·Proven leadership and strategic planning capabilities with demonstrated budget management ability.

• ·Demonstrated knowledge of gender and proficiency in managing development projects that mainstream gender

• ·Demonstrated effectiveness in developing and maintaining unbiased and professional working relationships with government officials, civil society partners, and other counterparts and clients

• ·Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace.

• ·Knowledge of all regulatory, contractual, legal and financial compliance requirements associated with international donor funding.

• ·Willingness to travel to the field and occasionally at field sites with rustic conditions and various levels of privacy.

• ·Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook

• ·Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills in French and English, effective in representation and advocacy with external parties.

• ·Be of Cameroonian nationality

Female candidates are highly encouraged

Application Deadline: 6 October 2024