Somali Cash Consortium Programme Director

About the role: This is an accompanied 24 month, new role based in Nairobi with frequent travel, including to Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and to other project sites in Somalia with a grade 5 salary of

€48,648 – €54,053. The Programme Director will lead the programming of Somali Cash Consortium (SCC) in Somalia.

You will report to the SCC Director and you will line manage Somali Cash Consortium Programme team: Programme Manager, MEAL Coordinator and Senior Field Coordinator. You will liaise with the SCC Systems and Finance Director, with Concern Worldwide Somalia Country Director, Country Financial Controller and other key support staff and with key staff of the Somali Cash Consortium partners’ agencies; you will liaise regularly with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MolSA).

We would like you to start as soon as possible.

Job Background:

Concern Worldwide lead the Somali Cash Consortium. Consortium members include ACTED, COOPI, Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Refugee Council Save the Children and IMPACT Initiatives. The Somali Cash Consortium implements a large humanitarian cash transfer program (multi-purpose cash assistance) and a multi donor Social Transfer Program.

Concern Worldwide is a global organisation with programmes operating in 28 countries worldwide supported by our offices in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea and by our affiliate offices in the United States of America.

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the SCC Director and serving as a senior member of the Consortium Management Unit (CMU), the Programme Director (PD) will manage and guide the development of the Consortium’s programme activities in Somalia. The PD is expected to contribute to the strategic thinking, planning, and overall coordination efforts of the consortium. S/he will be responsible for ensuring that a drive for quality and innovative practice is embedded in the day-to-day implementation of the project, overseeing the consortium’s technical matters related to the SCC programs. S/he will be responsible for ensuring application of standard processes and activities across partner implementation. Specific to programme management, s/he will set up and facilitate the work of the SCC Programme Management Working Group (PMG), s/he will manage, coordinate and consolidate consortium member reporting and programmatic accountability, set up and facilitate the work of the M&E Working Group as well as donor reporting. S/he will be responsible for coordinating the program implementation with Federal Government of Somali and in particular with the Programme Coordination Secretariat within the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MolSA).

Key Responsibilities:

• Senior team member of Consortium Management Unit
• Lead the strategic development and implementation of programmes of the SCC through continuously improving programming methodologies and techniques
• Lead the implementation of partnerships with SCC organisations, ensuring compliance with internal and donor requirements
• Oversee the implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems in SCC programme, in line with Concern Worldwide programme polices, standards and strategies
• Ensure the effective and professional management of donor relationships and grants and support the development of high quality proposals
• Provide ongoing mentoring, support and advice to SCC Programme and MEAL team and to the wider SCC team

You will be responsible for:

Programme Design, Implementation and Development:

• Lead the development of SCC programme strategies ensuring they are responsive to the changing environment and needs of the participating communities. SCC focus is on life saving cash programming and cash based shock responsive social protection programs
• With the SCC Director, lead the development of the programme strategy in the development, implementation, promotion and monitoring of the SCC Program
• Support SCC partners in programme assessments as required, in response to changing context or newly-identified needs
• Ensure that programme reporting is adhered to by all consortium member agencies and the Consortium Management Unit (CMU) and communicated clearly to the donor, this includes: proactive follow-up and monitoring of the implementation of the programme; ensuring all narrative reporting is professionally coordinated and compiled on time, accurately and in line with agreed
• Lead the Consortium Programme Management Working Group (PMG) and M&E Working Group (M&E WG), including developing program implementation strategy linked to the different SCC programs and regular data cleaning and analysis, and present its activities to the wider consortium
• Facilitate high quality programme development processes through project concept notes, proposals , and by ensuring adherence to Concern Worldwide Project Cycle Management (PCM) guide
• Promote appropriate and relevant innovations in SCC programmes
• Oversee expenditure on programme budgets to ensure programmes are implemented in a timely and responsible way, in compliance with donor budgets and requirements

Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Ensure that programming meets high standards in terms of design, monitoring and evaluation through Concern Worldwide’s Project Cycle Management System, Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) accountability commitments, Programme Quality Guidelines and PME Framework
• Facilitate programme launch meetings, annual programme reviews and organise mid-term reviews and final evaluations in line with the organisation’s and donors’ requirements
• Ensure that programme learning is captured through sound monitoring systems and that it is used to improve and adapt programmes
• Request technical advisors inputs as needed and ensure that the outcomes of technical advisor visits, evaluations and other recommendations are documented, tracked and implemented
• Develop the Accountability Framework and provide management and technical support to the MEAL and Programme department and other relevant staff in its implementation
• Promote joint planning and monitoring among partners and programmes and ensure integration and effective learning
• Ensure that reviews are documented and evaluations reports are in line with the Concern and donors’ requirements

Donor Liaison, Funding and Reporting

• Work with the SCC Director and Country Director and the Desk Officer to actively identify potential new funding opportunities, to ensure future funding streams are known and developed
• Maintain and develop strong donor relations through national and regional representation, as required
• Ensure strict compliance with donor contract requirements/ reporting deadlines
• Oversee the development of high quality and timely concept notes, proposals and reports
• In collaboration with SCC Finance and Systems Director, oversee the preparation of donor budgets to ensure that the timing and cost of planned programme work and systems support is accurately reflected, while taking relevant donor requirements into consideration

Partnerships

• Oversee and manage partnership agreements implementation
• In collaboration with SCC Director, lead SCC work to analyze, evaluate, review and expand as necessary current SCC membership
• In collaboration with the finance department ensure that effective controls and the monitoring of partners’ finances are in place

Staff Management and Development

• Lead and manage staff, contributing to their capacity building and career development. Support career development initiatives of staff in programmes to develop their skills
• Provide technical support and on-going on-the-job training and coaching to staff, including in particular a thorough induction at the start of their contract
• Ensure that all positions have accurate job descriptions and that each member of the team fully understands outcomes which are expected of them, by setting SMART objectives, conducting regular Programme Development Reviews (PDRs) and that they are aware of the success criteria relating to their work
• Ensure that all staff are aware of and comply with Concern’s policies and procedures
• Monitor and review performance and hold staff accountable for meeting the success criteria; give corrective feedback where required and take decisive action in the case of poor performance
• Ensure that work within the team(s) is planned and organised in a way which will meet the organisation’s needs in the most cost effective manner possible; ensuring that team members are given appropriate workloads and are working efficiently
• Take an active part in the definition, implementation and monitoring of a staff capacity development plan
• Proactively seek, receive, synthesise and disseminate programme relevant material to team members
• Build clear processes in each programme to ensure organisational learning is prioritised and systematically used in PCM, external exchange and advocacy

Representation and Networking

• Engage with and support national and regional level networks relevant to increasing Concern’s learning and improve programme implementation; provide for potential funding/consortium work
• Represent SCC at Somalia Cash Working Group Meetings and/or Work Streams, and other relevant coordination fora, in coordination with the Cash Consortium members
• Ensure that relationships and formal agreements with the government are maintained and updated as appropriate
• In consultation with the SCC represent SCC and/or ensure SCC is represented at national and regional level coordination fora as appropriate

Other

• Frequent travel to programme locations across Somalia as required for trainings, monitoring and coordination.
  • Lead or actively participate (as required) in collective exercises such as preparation or updates of the Country Strategic Plan, the Preparing for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) plan, Security Management Plan (SMP)
  • Assist the SCC in coordinating and managing strategic issues through involvement in decision making at the SCC Steering Committee meetings
  • Take active measures to address equality issues, particularly relating to gender, in programme as well as in operational (e.g. HR, logistics, etc.) activities
  • Ensure the highest standards of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing within and outside the programme and enabling staff, beneficiary and other stakeholders’ participation at all stages of the project cycle
  • Be aware of, understand and comply with all of Concern’s policies and procedures (finance, logistics etc.).
  • Be aware of, understand, comply with and be a model of Concern’s HR policies like P4 and Code of Conduct, and ensure that every member of the programme team is aware of, understands and complies with all of Concern’s policies and procedures
  • Fully adhere to security protocols and procedures and ensure that all members of the programmes team also do so. Contribute to on-going security management and planning as necessary
  • Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the SCC Director (the line manager for this role)

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential:

• Third level qualification in Development Studies, Education, Social Sciences or other related discipline
• At least three years overseas experience in similar or related senior management positions
• Experience of programme development, the project management cycle, budget management and participatory planning methodologies
• Strong understanding of and commitment to the promotion of equality
• Knowledge and experience of cash based programming (life-saving and cash based social transfer )
• Fluent English (written and spoken)
• Experience working in remote-management context, ideally applying mobile cash-based delivery
• Experience working within a consortium setting
• Experience working in Somalia
• Ability to work closely with field-based national staff and experience utilizing various staff training and adaptive management approaches
• Strong coordination/negotiation skills specifically with the ability to effectively coordinate among consortium members and actively contribute to creating a high-paced, flexible, team-oriented culture
• Strong organizational, prioritization and analytical skills, as well as a good understanding of the application of logical and adaptive frameworks
• Experience writing original, creative and high quality donor funding proposals, reports, case studies and learning documents
• Willing to spend significant time travelling to program areas within Somalia and Somaliland driving project implementation, M&E, networking

We would also like:

• Experience participating in and working with coordination and learning promotion organizations of the cash sector
• Previous experience working in East Africa Region
• Affinity with organisational values, mission and vision, commitment to humanitarian
• Experience of managing multiple simultaneous grants from donor such as EU, ECHO, and UN Agencies

Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a consultancy opportunity with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their consultancy contract. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to do consultancy work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, being hired as a consultant with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Concern’ is the trading name of ‘Concern Worldwide’, a company limited by guarantee, registered number 39647; registered charity number CHY 5745, registered in Ireland, registered address is 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Follow Concern online: www.concern.net