Third Party Monitoring (TPM) – Roving Field Specialist (RFS) DRC

Global Emergency Group, Inc. with Credence Management Solutions, LLC in Support of USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance: Third Party Monitoring (TPM) – Roving Field Specialist (RFS) DRC

LOCATION: Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with regular field travel

DURATION: Full time consultancy for six (6) month period with the possibility of extension

START DATE: December 15, 2023

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS: Compensation of $650 USD per month. Three (3) weeks unpaid leave every three (3) months. Paid roundtrip ticket to the RFS’s home base of record every six (6) months. Additional benefits may be provided as appropriate.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Roving Field Specialist (RFS) will provide Third Party Monitoring (TPM) services on behalf of Team Credence in support of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The RFS is expected to operate from within the DRC and support technical and logistical aspects of site visit planning and daily activities. The RFS may be called upon to shift their portfolio to support activities at the direction of BHA programmatic staff.

POSITION REPORTING/COMMUNICATION LINES

The Roving Field Specialist will communicate directly with and take technical direction from in the first instance from the Credence RFS Program POC, other RFS’s and programming staff and also the USAID/BHA Senior Humanitarian Advisor in Goma or his/her designate.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The RFS will be responsible for conducting field visits in areas where USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) has partners providing humanitarian assistance and areas experiencing humanitarian crises. The objective of each field visit will either be to monitor the work of a USAID/BHA humanitarian partner or to assess the humanitarian needs in a defined location.

The RFS will be responsible for the following:

1. Develop a Contextual Baseline and Conduct Context Monitoring: The RFS will develop an understanding of humanitarian developments within the DRC, while also maintaining knowledge of USAID/BHA’s humanitarian portfolio and field visit priorities. The RFS needs to stay current of new humanitarian developments throughout the DRC and provide regular verbal and written reporting to USAID’s BHA Team and other entities on issues related to the humanitarian situation. This will include providing regular reports on site visits, attending meetings, context, and other issues that impact humanitarian aid.
2. Monitor Humanitarian Programs: The RFS will maintain regular contact with BHA grantees. She/He will travel to partner implementation sites to verify project activities and document progress and challenges (including access issues) against approved project scopes. The RFS will report to USAID/BHA on partner progress and share beneficiary feedback.
3. Perform Needs Assessments: The RFS will independently travel to locations that are experiencing new and evolving crises to assess humanitarian needs. The RFS will report to appropriate USAID/BHA teams on his/her assessment findings.
4. Link to USAID/BHA’s Technical Standards: Where feasible, the RFS will use USAID/BHA technical standards for monitoring and assessment.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as development studies or international relations
• At least five years of experience monitoring humanitarian and/or development programs
• Experience working in conflict-affected areas
• Strong spoken and written English language proficiency
• Fluency in French language
• Travel 50 – 75% of the time within DRC

Desired

• Experience working in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Experience in field monitoring
• Familiarity with USAID monitoring practices and standards
• Local language skills for the Democratic Republic of Congo

REQUIRED POSITION COMPETENCIES

• A demonstrated high level of personal responsibility, self-motivation and leadership ability.
• Demonstrated professional aptitude that includes, but is not limited to, being responsible, disciplined, adaptable, accountable, client-focused and having a strong work ethic.
• “Can-Do” attitude and ability to overcome significant challenges.
• Strong problem-solving and inter-personal skills.
• Proven respect of others regardless of age, gender, economic status, cultural background, nationality, religion, political affiliation, race or sexuality.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Values consistent with the GEG Way including integrity, honesty, courage, acting in an honourable manner and respect of all others.

TRAVEL FREQUENCY

The RFS is expected to be based in Goma and complete all required field visits (including travel) during the period that he/she is contracted. The exact number of field visit reports generated by these days of field visits will depend on the location(s) visited, duration of travel required, and access limitations posed by insecurity. The RFS will take three weeks of temporary leave after every three months of consecutive service. The schedule for leave shall be adhered to so as not to cause delays in other team member’s leave schedules and impact program deliverable timelines.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The RFS will not require an office but will work from their living quarters. The RFS will travel to project sites and humanitarian crisis sites using a combination of UNHAS flights, boat, helicopter, and implementing partners’ vehicles. The advisability of safe travel will be determined by the RFS after consultation with USAID/BHA staff, GEG contracted security support, and USAID/BHA’s implementing partners who work in the targeted area. The RFS will adhere to security management directives and policies as prescribed by these parties or face disciplinary procedures. The RFS will be expected to provide their own IT and communication equipment.

DO NO HARM

In all field work carried out under this contract, the RFS must employ “Do No Harm” principles. The RFS must use data collection methods that do not re-traumatize respondents and respect the fact that some respondents may have experienced traumatic stress or distress. It is essential that the RFS keep data coded and stored in a way that respects the confidentiality of respondents; that beneficiaries understand participating in data collection will not affect the level of assistance they receive; and that clear informed consent is granted at the beginning of every interview and/or photograph. No data should be collected from children younger than twelve years of age or without the consent of their parents. Data collection must operate through a conflict-sensitive lens so as to not create conflict or contribute to conflict in any way. Above all other objectives, this consultancy must do no harm to anyone involved in it.

SELF-CONDUCT

No RFS or stakeholder with whom the RFS works (beneficiaries, Implementing Partner, residents of areas visited in official capacity, etc.) shall be subjected to discrimination in the form of sexual harassment or abuse. Sexual harassment includes sexually oriented verbal or physical behavior which an individual would reasonably find to be unwanted or unwelcome, considering all surrounding circumstances and which may detrimentally affect the work environment. Abuse, either physical, verbal, or mental, is also prohibited. RFSs are expected to maintain professionalism in the workplace and when conducting site visits on behalf of the client. This may include but is not limited to drug or excessive alcohol consumption, the patronizing of prostitutes, non-adherence to local laws, and other actions which could harm the reputation of GEG and the U.S. Government. RFSs conducting such behavior will be subject to permanent termination from their contract.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

While performing the duties of this job, the RFS is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The RFS is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The RFS must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.

NDA AND USAID REPRESENTATION

The RFS must sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in advance of conducting any site visit on behalf of USAID. They may not direct partners to act on behalf of the U.S. government, nor serve an official representational role on behalf of the U.S. government but will collect important information to inform BHA management of its implementing partners in DRC.

ABOUT GLOBAL EMERGENCY GROUP

Founded in 2007, GEG is a benefit corporation that supports vulnerable people affected by crisis in 52+ countries by providing a broad range of humanitarian support services to a wide range of organizations, including the United Nations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, donor governments, companies, major international and national NGO’s and local communities. Every day, these organizations and communities rely on GEG’s emergency response expertise, and on the combined capabilities and dedication of its people to implement strategies, find solutions and seize opportunities to assist the world’s most vulnerable people.

Global Emergency Group is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and recruiting people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. GEG does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion or belief, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family structure, age, medical condition, disability, ancestry, national origin or ethnic group. All recruitment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.

As a part of Team Credence, Global Emergency Group provides field support to USAID ’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance.