Program Associate – West Africa

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI and demonstrating the Core Values in their day to day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks include:

Excellence– We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom– We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. Respect- We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people. Teamwork- We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration. Transparency– We believe in open communication and clear decision-making. Accountability- We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.

The Program Associate (PA) is the entry level position for program work at IRI and provides administrative and programmatic support for current and developing programs in West Africa including The Gambia and Sierra Leone, among others.

Position Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in political science, international relations, African affairs, or related field
• 0-1 year of experience in international development, African affairs, or related field
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint required
• Excellent writing, research, and communication skills
• International experience preferred
• Knowledge of/experience working on issues in West Africa
• French language proficiency a plus

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Tracks and follows-up on pending procurement requests, approvals and monitoring once approved, including processing payments
• Assists in projecting program costs and monitoring project spending
• Contributes to quarterly, semi-annual, final, and other relevant reports for funders
• Edits and summarizes weekly reports for internal and funder audiences
• Coordinates submission of contract packages
• Updates program databases, contract trackers, etc.
• Compiles briefing books for trainers
• Maintains project site and documents
• Provides logistical support for DC meetings and events
• Supports IRI’s communication strategy including IRI’s branding and outreach plans on projects assigned by drafting and updating program summaries, web stories/blogs, tweets, etc.
• Follows political developments in countries assigned and contributes toward summarizing/analyzing content in quarterly reports and proposals
• Assists with program monitoring and evaluation (M&E), including participating in regular M&E calls, tracking compliance, and identifying where adjustments need to be made
• Participates in program design and strategy brainstorming sessions
• Participates in business development, such as in writing portions of proposals and drafting budgets
• Participates in cross functional teams and initiatives
• Performs other duties as assigned.