Reference number: Rec/023/22
CORDAID is a Dutch, international non-governmental organization which combines 100 years of experience and expertise in emergency aid and structural poverty eradication. CORDAID believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for a just and sustainable society where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion tear up societies, we connect people and communities. We also stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders, to make a difference where it is most needed. Together with more than 600 partner organizations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America we structurally improve the living conditions of the poorest and most excluded populations - the bottom billion.
Purpose of the position
The Head of Humanitarian Response Programs provides leadership to Cordaid Ethiopia’s Humanitarian and Recovery programs and will line manage the respective program staff. She/he collaborates with technical focal points of the Humanitarian Aid and Recovery programme units at Cordaid Global Office in The Hague.S/he is responsible for the overall Humanitarian and Recovery programmatic strategy across the entire country operation and ensures strategic coherence and vision of the humanitarian response and Recovery program, based on active participation in the development of the Cordaid Strategic Program Plan document.
S/he takes responsibility for the effective planning, implementation, coordinating, standardization and monitoring the efficient delivery of Cordaid’ emergency preparedness and response, in Ethiopia. Working with the program team, managers and coordinators s/he maintains strategic donor relations management, executes resource mobilizing strategy with current and potential donors. The Head of Humanitarian and Recovery Programs coordinates all monitoring, reporting and documentation of evidence on outcomes, program-based human-interest stories, lessons, best practice and internal knowledge development and innovation in Cordaid Ethiopia program.
S/he continuously work on improving quality of products and services by formulating the strategies and program developments.
Responsibilities and Accountability
Program Development, Management and Reporting
Support the country team to develop, implement and update the humanitarian and Recovery strategy and profile positive Cordaid visibility, representation and participation in the respective sector.
Lead program team managers and coordinators, providing relevant technical guidance on humanitarian, Recovery nexus approaches, and support with specific technical guidelines, tools and manage the humanitarian program cycle management (identification, formulation, monitoring, and evaluation, learning and reporting).
Manage strategic donor relations management, and with the team of program managers, execute resource mobilizing strategy with current and potential donors, mainlining up-to-date donor intelligence profiles, and monitors and delivers on fundraising plans.
Ensure capacity and risk assessment of national/local partners and enforce dialogue with partners on (strategic) relation between Cordaid and local partners.
Conduct regular on-site visits to project sites to build relationships, and continuously support and monitor the progress of projects funded by Cordaid and donors.
Ensure that Humanitarian and Recovery programs are sensitive to gender and vulnerable groups (incl. women, girls and boys, people with disabilities and older adult) and incorporate identified risks reduction measures into the full life cycle of the Program design, operations & maintenance etc.
Manage disaster risk reduction projects in Ethiopia and lead the expansion and growth of disaster risk reduction programming and ensure value addition in the conflict-affected areas
Guide and participate in report writing to ensure accuracy in evidence harvesting, consistency, high quality documents submitting them on time to donors.
Ensure organisational program accountability and transparency and produce key program documents, reports submitting them to Cordaid, donors and to other stake holders as requested.
Strategy, Program Development & Management
Take lead to develop and implement an effective Cordaid program strategy and implementation plan relevant to the country priority needs transiting Recovery to development.
Implement short-term and long -term programs that create new opportunities for diversified resource mobilizing base.
Grant Acquisition
Provide overall strategic leadership the respective programme and initiative and input in continuous donor mapping, donor intelligence, competitor analysis identifying that lead to concrete results in resource mobilizing to secure financial and other resources for the programs.
Lead response to call for proposals observing laid out donor requirements and standards and taking into account relevant sectoral strategies, with evidence-based proposal development processes and quality technical writing for award opportunities.
Bid Management
Leads the bid project of calls for proposals and tenders related to the assigned specific donor portfolio.
Guides the project opportunity from the lead stage to the contracting stage – ending with a signed donor contract.
Ensures the writing of the technical and financial proposal through facilitating the technical writing team, finance lead and monitoring progress.
Participates in writing and developing the proposal when needed Leads negotiations for specific assigned bids.
As manager of the bid team provides donor specific advice on rules, regulations and policy. Uses donor contacts to ensure the winning outcome of calls and proposals. Oversees (parts of) the role division, planning and communication with donors and a consortium in order to achieve a positive outcome for Cordaid.
Networking, Representation and Visibility
Develop & maintain close relationships with donors and counterparts such as ECHO, the UN system, CAP, CHPF, and other in-country INGO and NGO fraternity networks for information sharing, exchange, building relations and networks to further Cordaid aims in Ethiopia. Participate in relevant ACT Alliance, Caritas, UN, CAP, and other humanitarian and Recovery coordination / thematic cluster meetings and other meetings at government and national level.
Facilitate documentation of stories and media materials with human interest related to Cordaid and partners’ programs and projects and liaise with concerned units for broader coverage (digital and print media)
Communication, Representation & Advocacy
Ensure to appropriately represent Cordaid in all relevant forums a) donors, government, and other key actors; b) Cordaid partners (present and past including relevant partner network consortia, alliance forums, and other relevant sector cluster meetings).
Facilitate program representation and accountability of Cordaid in relevant strategic levels, platforms, sector, cluster forums and events that profile visibility, and offer opportunity to share exchange and improve relations, space and opportunities for Cordaid at regional, Woreda and among institutional forums
Leadership & Management
Maintain strong focus on leadership and people management, ensuring the most capable and competent staff members are in place to implement the humanitarian and Recovery program strategy and operational plans. Lead and manage Cordaid’s team to facilitate high-performance culture, open trustworthy relationships and integrity.
Ensure all program-based needs and requirements are timely and efficiently shared with support services for best coordinated implementation.
Provide excellent standards in the management of the human, financial, capital and technical resources of the organization, which includes inspiring and maintaining high standards of work and clear accountability to stakeholders.
Establish a consultative and participative management environment that engages and develops Cordaid project teams to deliver on donor obligations hence meeting program commitment priorities.
Financial & Operational Compliance
Ensure quality adherence, contractual compliance and timely reporting on all humanitarian/Recovery projects. In collaboration with the Finance and Operations Manager, ensure responsibility for project expenditure, financial accountability and planning requirements, and provide a high level of support to program processes and procedures.
Monitor the overall financial integrity of Cordaid program funds through grant management, monitoring and evaluation. Track project indicators, expenditure and other grant essential information and ensure to conduct grant review meetings on regular basis.
Lead the coordination of grant opening and closing meetings and propose resource mobilizing strategies.
Provide capacity building to managers to strengthen the organizational practices that result in successful financial and operational audit scores and take lead in the implementation of risk management, risk mitigation, and in executing audit recommendations.
Familiarize self and understand to Cordaid Donor Compliance issues, specifically to the terms and conditions of the Donor the programme is working on and comply with same in area of responsibility.
He/she is ultimate budget holder of the sectoral program.
Ensure project compliance with donors’ regulations, organizational and local government policies
With support from the Country finance team, review Grant Management Report, assess spending rates and budget forecasts.
Ensure a timely pace of implementation in a challenging environment, with spending in line with budget forecasts.
Approve project expenditures, carry out regular budget tracking and take the lead on official requests for modifications in consultation with Finance & Operations and Grants team when needed
Ensure project implements and adheres to approved visibility, marking and branding plan.
Accountability and Reporting
Maintain management accountability, reporting and updating the line manager on all humanitarian and Recovery projects performance and progress in program, including resource mobilizing processes, decisions and actions. Present project/programme progress and challenges on a regular basis as appropriate to the Country Director. Undertake functions and roles delegated by the line manager.
Integrity
Showcases integrity standards as outlined in Cordaid’s integrity policies. Fulfills integrity responsibilities as outlined in Cordaid’s Integrity Framework and Standard Operating Procedures. Actively contributes to a safe environment within their scope of influence by encouraging dialogue, trust, as well as understanding and adherence to Cordaid’s integrity standards and procedures.
Attend to other duties as directed and instructed by the line manager.
Others
Ensure logistics, procurement, HR and finance protocols are followed by all respective programmes team members, and collaborate closely with Internal/external Audit and Grant team to ensure the integration of compliance concerns into the work of the programme respective sector.
Ensure appropriate HR planning, training, staff performance management, resource allocation, etc. is made as required for the successful implementation of programme objectives, including appropriate support personnel at Cordaid’s field sites
Qualification, skills and experiance required
Masters or post-graduate in International Relations, Humanitarian Programs Management, degree, international development, Disaster Risk Management and/or similar field.
Minimum 5 years’ management experience, of which at least 3 should include management of a portfolio of programs across humanitarian and Recovery sectors.
At least 7 years proven experience with strategy and program development and management of humanitarian aid programs.
Proven experience in writing proposals.
Demonstrable experience of driving integrated advocacy, communications, and fundraising approaches.
Proven skills in leading strategic programming and planning processes.
Ability to live and work under pressure in a rapidly changing and insecure environment.
Team player with excellent communication and strong participatory leadership skills.
Knowledge and Experience
Understanding the workings of the Humanitarian Sector in Ethiopia, knowledge of working with humanitarian concepts, principles, approaches and SPHERE standards, guidelines frameworks and tools; this includes competent working knowledge on how to link of humanitarian aid to development programming.
Proven competencies and experience in representation externally to key stakeholders, including donors, embassies and clusters.
Experience of managing program systems and tools to oversee complex project portfolios across different sectors and locations as well as within consortiums
Experience in working with national/local actors and capacity building of national and local organisations in emergency preparedness and response.
Experience with maintaining donor relations and policies in particular ECHO, UN funding mechanisms, CAP and cluster approach.
Competence in resource mobilizing and working knowledge on how to meet requirements for call for proposals, and the relevant attendant pre, in situ, and post proposal procedures; including skills for adapting to different donor requirements and procedures for funding.
Strong experience in program quality, PMEAL, program development and proven fundraising abilities with key donors.
Experience with using relevant humanitarian international standards such as sphere.
Proficient in micro-soft office packages such as word and excel.
Core Competencies
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving.
Collaboration & Influence.
Agility & Adaptability.
Initiative and Entrepreneurship.
Effective Communication: Oral and Written of English language
Assessing and Analysing Information.
Curiosity and Imagination
This vacancy is archived.