This is a new 2 year unaccompanied position based in Hargeisa, with frequent travel and significant time (40%) spent in other operational/office locations (Mogadishu, Baidoa, Nairobi) with an annual salary of Grade 4, €40,003 – €44,449.

Reporting to Concern Somalia’s Programme Director, you will line manage the MEAL Manager, Grants & Information Manager, and WASH and Construction Coordinators.

You will work closely with: Programme Coordinators and Managers (Emergency, Resilience, Durable Solutions, Health & Nutrition, Education, WASH), Partnership Advisor, Country Financial Controller and his team, Operations and Logistics Managers, HQ Technical Advisors and Desk Officer. You may also coordinate with Consortia counterparts, local partner NGOs, and government representatives.

We would like you to start in July 2020.

Purpose

You will work closely with the Programme Director (PD) to ensure effective management and implementation of high quality programmes across the entire integrated country portfolio, in line with the Country Strategic Plan (CSP), as well as programme and organisational strategies.

You will:

• Take the lead on Programme Quality, specifically Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), Grants Management, Information and Communication, Cross-Cutting issues (Equality, Protection, Conflict Sensitivity).
• In collaboration with Programme Coordinators/Managers and PD, support programme delivery and accountability through oversight of progress against costed workplans.
• Facilitate, together with the PD, coordination between programme teams, to enable cross-learning, cohesive approaches (especially of M&E, WASH and cross-cutting issues), and effective collaboration and cohesion on integrated multi-sector and multi-location programming across emergency response and longer-term development portfolios.
• Assist the PD and Country Director (CD) in building Concern’s programme profile and maintaining strong relationships with donors, consortia, government representatives and other key stakeholders including learning partners. The DPD-PQ may deputise for the PD in meetings/coordination fora and in her absence.

Responsibilities include:

Programme leadership

• Support PD to foster synergies and continually strengthen integration within and between Concern Somalia/Somaliland’s emergency response and longer-term development (resilience/durable solutions) programme portfolio, promoting nexus approaches and effective adaptive management.
• Provide inputs for PD to bring to the Senior Management Team and Consortia Steering Committees for information, guidance and/or approval; represent or join PD at meetings in her absence/request.
• Provide high-level oversight of the multi-sector multi-location SPHERES Resilience programme, acting as Grant Owner and ensuring effective collaboration and cohesion between respective Programme Coordinators, Managers and their SPHERES components and budgets.
• Oversee implementation of WASH and Construction interventions and strategy, supporting the respective Coordinators in effective coordination and workflow planning with sectoral and location-based colleagues.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Ensure that all programmes are designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated in line with Concern’s Programme Quality Guide plus available strategic and technical guidance and policies.
• Support the MEAL Manager and his team in development and roll out of a cohesive and clearly documented MEAL Framework for Concern Somalia/Somaliland, with aligned tools and processes: quantitative, qualitative, routine field tools for process and outcome monitoring, internal and external programme evaluations and learning reviews.
• Ensure timely, effective data analysis, including strengthening of team capacity in such plus the production and sharing of clear reports on key findings; ensure appropriate use by programme coordinators/managers for reporting, learning, adaptive programming, results-based management.
• Support the PD in the facilitation of annual programme reviews, internal planning and learning events.
• Support identification of learnings and best practices that can be piloted and/or incorporated into programming (i.e. from other Concern countries, HQ, peer agencies, partners); also proactively identify and lead on opportunities to demonstrate Concern Somalia/Somaliland’s programmatic learnings.
• Together with the CRM Working Group, further strengthen the Complaints Response Mechanism.
• Actively promote knowledge and understanding of the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS), including support to SMT in implementation of the Country Accountability Plan.

Grants and Programme Cycle Management

• With PD and Grants Manager, actively support identification of new programme interventions and partnerships in accordance with the CSP and How Concern Understands Extreme Poverty.
• Support the Grants Manager who oversees the Grants Management System, supports funding and reporting processes, and ensures timely grants opening and closing meetings.
• Support Grants Manager and Programme Coordinators with programme development processes, paying particular attention to MEAL, WASH and cross-cutting issues.
• With the PD, ensure each programme develops and actively tracks costed workplan and procurement plan aligned with donor-approved budget, activity plan and logframe, highlighting timely to Programme Coordinators/Managers and PD where specific attention is required and supporting liaison with Finance and Logistics as needed.

Cross-Cutting Issues

• Develop and lead roll out of practical approaches to mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues – primarily (Gender) Equality, Protection, and Conflict-Sensitivity across all programmes.
• Lead regular orientation and training of staff on the above themes, in collaboration with PD and HQ Technical Advisors and through engagement of external experts and partnerships per need.
• Working collaboratively with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and Designated Safeguarding Focal Points, actively promote best practice in Safeguarding.

Coordination, Information and Communications

• In conjunction with CD and PD, network and strengthen relations with donors, consortia lead agencies, UN Agencies, and other leading NGOs and actors at national and local level.
• Represent Concern at relevant management and coordination meetings, including consortia.
• Support the Grants & Information Manager to develop and roll out a communications and visibility strategy for the country programme, reaching key stakeholders at all levels in-country and externally.
• Support development of information and communication products drawing from programmatic and operational experience, best practices and learnings, for internal (country/HQ) and external audiences.

Human Resource Management

• Line manage staff (MEAL Manager; Grants & Information Manager; WASH and Construction Coordinators; possibly others should organogram be revised); support their continued professional development, including setting of SMART objectives and regular Performance Development Review.
• Ensure direct reports and their teams comply with Concern’s Code of Conduct and Associated Policies, plus other key organisation policies, and promote such amongst the wider programme team.
• Identify needs and facilitate technical and managerial capacity development for direct reports, as well as for the broader team in Programme Quality aspects, including training and coaching where needed.

Required Skills and Experience

Essential

• Masters level qualification in International Development, Humanitarian Studies, M&E/MEAL, Programme Management, or other relevant discipline of study.
• At least 6 years’ experience in international development and/or humanitarian programming (preferably exposure to both), including significant programme or MEAL management experience in complex and insecure contexts at a senior level.
• Experience managing multi-sector programmes, ensuring effective overall leadership and efficient collaboration between sub-teams.
• Strong abilities in Programme Cycle Management systems and tools, including tracking of costed workplans and budgets.
• Solid theoretical knowledge and experience in practical application of Results Based Management:
• Proven ability to develop, roll out and build staff/partner capacity in M&E tools and processes which demonstrably influence decision-making, programme learning, adaptation and impact.
• Ability to ensure production of clear succinct data analysis reports and concrete recommendations.
• Understanding of and commitment to principles of Equality (esp. Gender), Centrality of Protection, Safeguarding, and Conflict Sensitivity, with ability to lead cohesive mainstreaming of approaches throughout programming design, implementation and evaluation.
• Experience working with major institutional donors (DFID, EU, ECHO, OFDA, UN, Irish Aid, World Bank) and compliance to donor contractual requirements.
• Excellent collaborative report writing and proposal development skills in the English language.
• Experience working in complex multi-stakeholder or consortia partnerships and structures.
• Proven ability to represent an organisation at senior levels with government, Clusters, Consortia, etc. and to engage in influence and programmatic advocacy based on field experience and learning.
• Proven competencies in managing staff, strengthening capacity and building effective teams, preferably with remote management experience.
• Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to security protocols.
• Commitment to nurturing institutional cultures that use critical reflection and learning to improve practice and outcomes.
• Knowledge of latest theories and best practice in the field of development and humanitarian work, with demonstrable understanding of how they relate in the Somalia/Somaliland context.

Desirable

• Knowledge of key programming approaches in Resilience, Durable Solutions and/or Graduation.
• Conceptual understanding of adaptive management and (double-) nexus approaches, with ideally some experience of their pragmatic application in programming.
• Familiarity with WASH and/or Construction interventions in integrated programming is advantageous.
• Experience working with and through local partner organisations, including strengthening capacity.
• Working understanding of the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS).
• Experience in Somalia/Somaliland or comparable contexts.
• Familiarity with Concern Worldwide strategies, programmatic approaches and organisational culture is a distinct advantage.

Competencies and Attitude Traits:

• Strong commitment to ensuring accountability to all stakeholders, particularly targeted communities.
• Strong inter-personal skills and proven ability to establish effective working relationships with key actors at all levels and work collaboratively with people from different socio-cultural backgrounds.
• Results-focused with a keen eye to detail; and solutions-oriented with a problem-solving attitude.
• Flexible and adaptable, with ability to work on own initiative.
• Strong personal resilience capacity, able to manage pressure and work to conflicting deadlines in dynamic and challenging contexts.
• Willingness to travel regularly to Somalia and Somaliland and stay in basic conditions, in volatile areas.