Location: Bujumbura, Burundi
Responsible To: Head of Programmes Operations & Development
Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) is a Pan-African
Organisation working for Social Justice and Development in 17 countries in
Africa.
ACORD seeks to go beyond addressing the consequences of poverty by
understanding, challenging and changing the conditions that cause poverty and
exclusion through a Pan Africa Programme that unites practical work, research
and advocacy.
ACORD believes that people have a right to a just and equal society thus we
work in common cause with the poor and marginalized people who have been denied
their rights to help them understand, challenge and change these conditions.
ACORD’s response to the challenges of Africa is firmly based on a belief that
people themselves are the agents of change and actors of their own development.
People’s ability to take action on the causes of poverty is what will transform
Africa’s future. This belief underpins ACORD’s practical work, its research
methodologies and policy advocacy.
ACORD works in partnership with local civil society and communities and in
alliance with other organizations in Africa and the rest of the world to
achieve these aims.
Job Purpose
Under the supervision of the Head of Programmes Operations & Development
(HPOD), the Area Programme Manager is responsible for the strategic direction,
leadership and operational management of the Burundi Area Programme and
represents ACORD with the Government, Local and international partners in the
country.
S/he will take the leading role in developing, overseeing, reviewing and
monitoring of the Country strategy and in ensuring alignment with the ACORD Pan
African strategic directions and overall thematic focus. The APM is responsible
for developing and managing new and ongoing programming initiatives, actively
leading the programme cycle management, and developing and managing
partnerships.
The APM is also responsible for ensuring cross learning and sharing knowledge
across the programme in all areas of programming as well as the national,
regional and international policy advocacy and development issues.
S/he is responsible for overall financial and human resources management of the
Area Programme as well as resource mobilization to ensure the smooth running
and financial sustainability of the Area Programme.
The position will be based in ACORD Country Office in Bujumbura with regular
visits to all project locations in Burundi.
Relationships with others
Under the supervision of the Head of Programmes Operations & Development
(HPOD), he/she will work in collaboration with staff in various
departments/units at the Secretariat: programming team (Pan-African program,
thematic managers, monitoring/evaluation), partnership development, funding and
communications, finance, human resources management and administration team.
Strategy development and implementation
- Keep abreast on
socio-economical and political developments in the Area Programme region
and maintain close communication with the Secretariat on relevant critical
factors and changes in the environment - Provide
Leadership in the development and implementation of the ACORD Area Program
strategy in line with the overall ACORD Strategic Plan and the context in
the country/region - Facilitate the
alignment of ACORD Area Program to strategic organizational thematic
priorities and accountability mechanisms provided in the ACORD programming
framework - Undertake timely
strategic review of the ACORD Area Program Strategy ensuring continued
relevance in the rapidly changing environment
- Represent ACORD
and its interests in dealing with government, international and local
organizations, networks and medias in the Area Programme country/region
and contribute towards consolidating and raising the profile of ACORD - Represent ACORD
in round tables seminars, conferences and forums and other public events - Develop
relationships with local organizations and networks - Establish
national and regional strategic relations and alliances with partners and
civil society working in common cause with ACORD objectives - Maintain good
partnerships relations at National and International levels
development
- Lead on the
development of area program document and projects, providing sound
methodological and technical support, informed by participatory
methodologies, human rights and social exclusion framework as per
organizational programming approach - As part of the
Area Program, develop and implement a research and advocacy plan on
focused issues of relevance in the country/region aligned with ACORD’s
global priorities - Lead the
planning, implementation and monitoring of the advocacy plan - Participate in
national and international campaigns in line with the advocacy plan and
other relevant opportunities - Mainstream
gender equality in Area program policies, strategy, program and projects
development, management and evaluation - Carry out
participatory annual budget planning as per organizational guidelines - Promote a
participatory approach in programming work and create space in the
structure for staff participation and involvement in decision making - Ensure there are
updated systems and processes for monitoring activities, results and
impact assessment at program level - Provide continuous
monitoring and support to existing projects and coordinate program
reviews/internal evaluations and facilitation of external evaluations in
close collaboration with the M&E and Programs Operations Manager in
the Secretariat - Ensure that the
monitoring and evaluation system is participatory and involving the team
and partners - Carry out an
adequate follow up on implementation of the findings from internal and
external evaluations - Facilitate
trainings, researches and learning of cross-cutting relevance to programs - Coordinate the
production of timely quality program reports
In close communication with the Partnership Development Unit and the Programs
Operations Manager
- Keep abreast of
the trends within the donor environment in the Area Program and
Internationally - Undertake local
and international fundraising initiatives - Ensure that
effective grant management systems are in place and are consistent with
the overall organization fund seeking and management policy and promote
their application - Be aware of all
donors conditionality in the Area Program country/region and monitor
adherence to donors conditionality - To produce good
quality funding proposals and respond to call for proposals - Facilitate donor
visits and evaluations as necessary
management
In close collaboration with the Head of Finance and the Programs Operations
Manager
- Ensure effective
implementation of the overall Finance Manual - Ensure adequate
budget monitoring and review - Review accuracy
of accounts and carry out periodic checks on financial matters - Monitor the
delivery of accounts on a timely basis and comment on any significant
variances arising from budget monitoring - Check and verify
all inventories - Facilitate
annual and project-specific audit processes within the Area Program
Resources Management
In close collaboration with the Human Resources & Organisational
Development Manager and the Head of Programmes Operations & Development
- Provide
leadership support to Area Programme staff and promote best practices in
human resources management - Coordinate
regular reviews and update of the human resources policies and procedures
for the Area Programme in compliance with the overall human resources
management manual and the national labour laws - Oversee adequate
implementation of performance management processes including performance
planning and review - Oversee and
monitor efficiency and fairness of recruitment processes across the
programme - Provide Coaching
and Counselling advice to staff when necessary - Coordinate the
development of a staff development plan in line with strategic directions
of ACORD in the Area Programme - Organize regular
meetings with the strategic management team and all staff for the purpose
of exchanging information, coordination and learning
Communication and learning
- Ensure that the
programme is maintaining a coordinated and agreed information exchange
both internally and in its dealing with external parties - Ensure that key
programme documents (strategy programme document, projects proposals,
research and reports …) are internally shared with the Secretariat and
agreed upon before communicating to donors and other external parties - Ensure that all
communication infrastructures are set up in the programme and smooth information
flow is maintained - Ensure that
experiences and best practices are documented and shared across the
organisation
& Collaboration
The National Coordinator is under direct supervision of the Head of Programmes
Operations & Development in Nairobi.
Education/Qualification/Experience
- Master Degree
level Education in development or program management studies; - At least five
(5) years working experience in the INGO sector in Africa; - At least 3 years
working experience working in management positions; - Proven
experience in research and advocacy - Strong People
and financial Management skills; - Strong
experience in strategy, program formulation and implementation;
- Familiarity with
and commitment to a gender approach to development; - Familiarity with
and commitment to participatory methodologies; - Knowledge of
current thinking on development issues and methods; - Computer skills;
- Excellent
written and oral communication skills.
Competencies
- High level
conceptual, strategic thinking and analysis skills; - Strategic
decision making; - Adaptation
skills: work in a multicultural environment; - Decision-making
and problem solving skills; - Communicate with
impact with various stakeholders
national package Download
the application form from this link and apply to: Human
Resources & Organisational Development Manager
ACORD
Nairobi, ACK Garden House,
P.
O. Box 61216, 00200,
Nairobi,
Kenya
Tel:
+254 20 2721172, 2721185/86 To
apply, please complete an application form (attached above) and e-mail it with
a detailed Curriculum Vitae and cover letter to recruit@acordinternational.org
with the Job Title in the Subject Box. Closing
Date: 28th
October 2011