Information
about EU Aid Volunteers initiative:
Concern are looking
for talented people with a relevant technical skillset who are committed to
long-term service in the humanitarian / development sector who can demonstrate
an outstanding ability to adapt to difficult circumstances, remain positive,
motivated and productive.
In this placement
the EU Aid Volunteer wil
l improve the quality of monitoring and evaluation in
the area of Livelihoods and Resilience programming in Malawi.
Successful
EU Aid Volunteers will benefit from:
• Experience of
Volunteering in a large international NGO through a three month apprenticeship based
in Concern’s Head Office in Dublin
• Hands-on learning
in a 12 month field placement in the Concern Malawi country programme
• Opportunity for
continuous self–development with the help of a mentor, line manager & on
line tools
Project
description:
Concern Worldwide
has been working in Malawi since 2002, supporting the poorest and most
marginalized to build resilient livelihoods and to lead healthy and productive
lives. Since then Concern has been implementing programs on: resilient
livelihoods; gender equality, Gender Based Violence and education; health and
nutrition including community management of acute malnutrition. Concern is also
implementing an emergency response to the drought as a result of the El Nino
weather phenomenon which caused devastating crop failure in much of the
country, leaving an estimated 5 – 8.4 million people in need of assistance.
Concern is providing emergency assistance through a cash transfer response as
well as early recovery support for livelihoods and strengthening resilience to
the impact of shocks.
Concern is currently
operational in four districts in Malawi; Nsanje, Mchinji, Nkhotakota and
Lilongwe and is shortly due to commence a School-Related Gender Based Violence
programme in Phalombe district and a livelihoods programme in Mangochi
district. Overall the security context in Malawi remains stable and generally
creates an enabling environment for effective programme implementation.
Description
of the tasks to be performed by the EU Aid Volunteer:
To improve the
quality of monitoring and evaluation in the area of Livelihoods and Resilience
programming in Malawi.
Whilst at
headquarters
• Develop a good
understanding of Concern’s conceptual approach to M & E, and how it aligns
to core strategy (e.g. How Concern Understands Extreme Poverty).
• Develop a strong
understanding of Concern’s existing M&E systems at organisational level,
with a focus on the Programme Quality Guide and core and standard indicators.
• Develop an
awareness of existing M&E tools across Concerns programmes especially
Livelihoods and DRR sectors
• Develop competence
in using Concern’s Digital Data Gathering (DDG) system
• To become familiar
with the Malawi programme through interaction with Desk Officer and appropriate
advisors
• Contribute to the
improvement of M & E processes and tools as required by the senior M &
E Advisor in the Programme Learning Unit (PALU).
• Analyse data and
contribute to reports for donors, senior management or Council as required.
• Analyse data and
contribute to reports for donors, senior management or Council as required.
• Understand
Concern’s basic programming approaches in relevant sectors particularly in
livelihoods / nutrition / resilience.
• Design an EU Aid
Volunteer communication project plan for implementation throughout the course
of the apprenticeship and deployment period.
Whilst
deployed to Concern Malawi
• Develop a good
understanding of the Country Strategy and the Livelihoods and Resilience
related work in the country programme.
• Working with the
Livelihoods Project Advisor, systematically document current M & E
approaches and processes in the Livelihoods & Resilience programme and
identify areas for improvement.
• Working with the
Livelihoods Project Advisor, develop, test and roll out to all relevant staff
new or improved M & E tools, using digital data platforms as appropriate,
in line with the programme M&E frameworks and Concern’s quality standards.
• Conduct monthly
analysis against key indicators, triangulate findings, and write progress
reports of internal and external use.
• Compile reports
for the Livelihoods team, country management and or donor reports.
• Develop material
suitable for use in a range of communications such as case studies, inputs into
reports and briefings for a range of audiences.
• Support programme
and project development and the set up new M&E systems as required.
• Share best
practice and support other sector programmes in a similar manner as required.
• Facilitate and
support the improvement of evaluation assessments Concern Malawi’s programmes
to a very high standard
• Support the
efforts to improve Concern’s accountability to beneficiaries and the quality of
beneficiary participation in programmes or projects, ensuring that PM&E
systems are compatible with the principles of accountability and participation
and in line with Concern’s existing commitments to the Humanitarian
Accountability Framework (HAP) / Common Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and other
processes.
• Support quarterly
review processes to ensure evidence from monitoring is reflected on and informs
programme planning (Results Based Management) ensuring timely documentation of
evidenced based decisions taken at quarterly review meetings
Key
performance indicators
• Report documenting
M & E approaches and processes in the Livelihoods & Resilience
programme and proposals for improvement;
• Online and hard
copy materials outlining new or revised M & E approaches and tools;
training material for rollout process.
• Maintain a repository
of tools and analysed data for management decision making.
• Reports,
briefings, articles & case studies using M & E data
Description
of the competences and motivation required to match the profile:
Competencies
EU Aid Volunteers
will be expected to progress against the EU Aid Volunteer Competency
Framework throughout
the course of their EU Aid Volunteer placement with Concern. The
EU Aid Volunteer
transversal competencies are:
• Developing and
maintaining collaborative relationships
• Volunteering mind-set
• Managing oneself
in a pressured and changing environment
• Achieving Results
• Understanding the
humanitarian context of the EU Aid Volunteers initiative and applying
humanitarian principles
• Operating safely
and securely at all times
• Managing projects
in humanitarian contexts
• Communication and
advocacy
Technical
competences in line with the EUAV competency framework for this position:
• Project Monitoring
and Evaluation
Selection
criteria:
Candidates will be
considered for this role who meet the EU criteria for Junior Professional level
EU Aid Volunteers as outlined on the EUAid Volunteer website.
This requires:
• Candidates required to be
aged over 18 years of age and to be a citizen of an EU Member State or long –
term resident in the EU.
• Candidates may have up to 5
years of work experience in line with the EU Aid Volunteer definition.
For this EU Aid
Volunteer opportunity with Concern we are looking for candidates who meet the
following criteria:
Essential:
• Masters level
graduate in Development Studies, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, or
similar, with a strong component of research and M & E.
• Up to 5 years of
relevant experience in practical project management, including design,
implementation and M & E.
• Minimum of 2.5
years relevant practical experience of work focusing specifically on M & E
approaches, methodologies and tools, including using digital data platforms.
• A minimum of 6
months of relevant experience in a developing country or humanitarian context
• Excellent spoken
and written English
• Spoken and written
French to B2 level on the Common European Framework of References for Languages
Desirable:
• Understanding of
issues around human rights, gender equality, HIV/AIDS prevention, capacity
building and partnerships.
• Proven experience
of designing and implementing an innovative communications project
• Knowledge and deep
understanding of research methodologies
Demonstrated
ability in the following core competencies
• Developing and
maintaining collaborative relationships
• Managing One-self
in a pressured and changing environment
• Achieving Results
Concern Worldwide is
an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation
dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate
elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.
Concern has a Staff
Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been
developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from
exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants,
visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of
behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the
organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the
day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values
and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be
expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern
Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By
signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code
of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of
both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection
Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of
these two documents.
Concern receives a
substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly
donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on
Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear
on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and
entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government
(Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and
Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List). Any offer of
employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made
pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional
information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division
in our Head Office.
Concern Worldwide is
an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of
the community.
Conditions
of Service:
Job
location:
November – December
2016: Concern Head office, Dublin
January – December
2017: Concern Malawi
Contract:
EU Aid Volunteer
Agreement
Volunteer
Allowance:
In line with EU Aid
Volunteer daily allowances:
Whilst in Dublin
€651.91 per month
Whilst in Malawi
€460.64 per month
Accommodation
Accommodation in
Dublin whilst on apprenticeship and when deployed in Malawi will be provided by
Concern.
At the end of
volunteer placement an allowance of €1200 will be provided as a resettlement
allowance.
Travel
A return flight will
be provided to Malawi from the EU Aid Volunteers home country. In addition a
return flight will be provided for use, at the earliest, 9 months into the
volunteer placement.
The cost of
pre-departure preparations; insurance, medical clearance and vaccinations will
be provided.
Line
Management and Mentoring
Line Manager Malawi:
Senior Programme Approaches and Learning Advisor, Concern Worldwide
Mentor: Livelihoods
and Resilience Coordinator, Concern Worldwide Malawi
Learning and
Development
An exciting and
structured learning and development plan will be developed for each EU Aid
Volunteer. This will include; self-assessment, structured learning and
development plan reviews, on line learning, peer to peer support, a two week EU
run workshop and networking and learning opportunities across consortium. EU
Aid Volunteers will also have an assigned Mentor for the entirety of their
volunteer placement with Concern. This is combined with line management in
country from an experienced humanitarian professional.
Selection Process:
To apply for this
position please go to www.concern.net/jobs.
Please note that all applications must include:
• Completed
application form
• Cover Letter
• CV in Europass
Format
• Completed self-
assessment questionnaire
Closing
date: 4th September, 2016
Time for
submission of applications:
midnight on closing date
Timing of
shortlisting and interview(s):
Initial shortlisted candidates will be expected to undertake an on line Sonru
interview (dates to follow)
Information
on the interview process:
Final Interviews for final interviews will take place via Skype video (dates to
follow)
EU
Assessment Centre:
Please note that the
final stage of the recruitment process for this position will be a mandatory
ten day assessment centre style training run by the EU. This will take place
from the 27th September – 09th October 2016, in Pisa, Italy. Candidates who
progress to this round of the recruitment process will need to be available to
attend this mandatory training. In preparation for this the selected candidates
will be required to undertake 30 hours of e learning provided by the EU prior
to attending the mandatory training. Costs for travel and accommodation to
attend this training will be provided for those invited to attend this final
stage in the recruitment process.
Expected
date of decision on outcome:
14th October 2016
Start date: Volunteers are required to
be able to start their apprenticeship with Concern on the 28th November 2016
To apply for
this position please visit www.concern.net/jobs