Country Director – CAR

We are a growing organisation, working with children and youth with partner organisations and through direct implementation in some very challenging places. We’re focused on child protection, education and livelihoods and our projects range from providing short term psychosocial support to children affected by conflict to supporting the development of sustainable child protection systems. We work in complex conflict settings which range from acute emergencies to protracted humanitarian crises and we aim to respond to crisis, support recovery and build resilience.

We are recruiting a Country Director in Central African Republic (CAR) to lead the growing team, build the programme and bring a strong focus on quality, fundraising and representation. Our priorities have been shaped by the ongoing conflict, and as the shape of the conflict alters, we anticipate developing an approach which will respond to the recovery and rehabilitation of affected communities. Children across the country continue to be exposed to protection risks such as family separation, the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, SGBV, exploitation and other harmful practices. War Child and our partners are currently working in four prefectures; our bases are in the capital Bangui, Bossangoa in Ouham prefecture, Paoua and Bocaranga in Ouham-Pende, Ndélé in Bamingui-Bangoran prefectures, and Birao in Vakaga prefecture.

You will have experience of leading and motivating teams in unstable environments, excellent knowledge of regional politics and developing trends, the ability to influence and advocate and a strong track record in resource mobilisation and effectively managing organisational growth whilst ensuring programme quality. You will demonstrate experience of building programmes with a focus on accountability and meeting needs.

Your role

War Child UK has worked in Central African Republic since 2012. In 2022 the CAR country programme will continue to focus on reaching vulnerable children and on providing holistic responses to children currently and formerly associated with armed groups; children who have experienced sexual violence; and children who have been separated from their families as well as those undergoing the worst forms of child labour.

We are recruiting a new Country Director for our Central African Republic programme. We are seeking an experienced NGO leader who is familiar with the challenges of operating within the constraints of a context such as CAR. We want to further grow our programme, and central to this role will be the ability to build networks and alliances with local and international partners and to represent effectively with a wide range of donors. We place a very strong emphasis on national advocacy as part of our theory of change, and you will need the representational and relationship skills to ensure that War Child is connected to the appropriate national and local authorities across our areas of operation. War Child has a clear vision and approach to programme quality, and you will have a track record in ensuring effective monitoring, accountability, and learning.

Leadership and team building skills are paramount, the Country Director will inspire results and performance across the team. The post also forms part of War Child’s dynamic and experienced Country Director Group, with the ability to share experience across our country programmes. The Country Director will lead the Senior Management Team for War Child UK in CAR, focusing on growing the programme to meet needs, developing the vision and strategy and take overall responsibility for HR, Financial and Security decisions. The role also ensures information from the country programme is shared across departments and will represent War Child at the highest levels; engaging with donors, national authorities, clusters and national partners in CAR. The role is managed by the Director of Programmes and Advocacy based in London.

Our work with children and at-risk adults to keep them safe is the most important thing we do. We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in all areas of our work. We have zero tolerance for any behaviours and practices that puts children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse and/or harm