Programme Adviser for IMS MENA Department

IMS seeks a candidate with extensive experience in working across the programme cycle incl. programme development, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), and donor reporting. The right candidate must be well versed in the programmatic aspects of international development cooperation and possesses strong knowledge of results-based management.

The objective of the position is to lead the integration of results-based management practices into the MENA Department’s programme cycle, to increase focus on results and help showcase the long-term effects of IMS’s work in MENA. This will be achieved by supporting programmes in results-based planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.

The Programme Adviser will be part of the MENA Programme Development team and contribute to the overall aim of establishing a clear, comprehensive, and utilised approach to programme cycle management in the MENA Department.

Key functions and responsibilities

The scope of work will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

Programme Development:

• Support programme design processes including assessments, proposal development, technical quality assurance, programme strategy development, and negotiating partnerships with donors.

MEL:

• In alignment with IMS’s institutional MEL approaches, support the development of a robust results-based MEL workflow across the MENA department that can ensure tracking of programme results and progress, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Lead the implementation of the results-based MEL workflow across MENA programmes e.g., via peer-to-peer support and simple user-friendly approaches.
• In close collaboration with the MENA Data Harvest Adviser, ensure monitoring data are readily available, as appropriate to programme teams, institutional units, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Lead both internal and external evaluation processes, including the support of designing evaluations in close coordination with programme teams.
• Support lessons learnt and recommendations harvested from across the MENA department are incorporated into new or ongoing programmes.

Donor Reporting:

• Responsible for coordinating MENA donor reporting processes with programme teams and other relevant contributors.
• Responsible for producing annual donor grant reports, as well as providing quality assurance and support to programme teams on interim donor reporting.

Other areas of work:

• Support quality assurance and further defining the common approach and standards of implementation and monitoring and their coherent application across programmes.
• Support facilitation of cross-cutting learning and knowledge sharing initiatives across the MENA Department.
• Support the alignment of IMS’s strategy, institutional objectives, and initiatives, and when relevant, provide technical input to contribute to the quality of programming across IMS, e.g., by liaising closely with IMS’s Gender Organisational Learning and Development (GOLD) Unit.

Qualifications and skills

• A minimum of five years of professional experience working across the programme cycle, including strong knowledge of results-based management approaches and methods, and working with contextually driven partnership programmes and projects in MENA.
• Solid experience with international development cooperation, specifically in grant management with donors. Candidates experienced working with donors from Nordic countries, and the European Union are highly desirable.
• Experience in providing technical quality assurance and training related to results-based management, incl. simple user-friendly approaches.
• Solid experience with and up-to-date knowledge of M&E tools and methods, for instance, outcome harvesting or most significant change methodologies.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent analytical skills and report writing skills.
• Proven track record of managing processes incl. various stakeholders and making data-driven decisions is an asset.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• A master’s degree within a relevant field of study.
• Excellent written and verbal skills in English is a must. Excellent written and verbal skills in Arabic is a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated interest in and good understanding of the current political and human rights/ media environment in the MENA region.
• Ability and willingness to travel within the MENA region, and to IMS headquarters in Denmark (Copenhagen) when needed.
• An inherent growth mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, flexibility, and adaptability are essential as well as commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Duration and location

• Expected length of employment: Open ended contract.
• Place of employment: Flexible
• Employment type: Full-time