DRC – Project Director At COOPI – International Cooperation

COOPI is looking for a Project Director in the DRC

Present in the DRC since 1977, COOPI has significantly increased its interventions in the country in response to the conflicts of the last 20 years. Starting in Kivu, where its first intervention took place, COOPI’s activities have expanded to most crisis zones, implementing emergency programs for displaced populations and victims of war, with a particular focus on nutrition, food security, and child protection. In provinces emerging from crisis, COOPI is committed to implementing multi-year projects to ensure a transition from emergency relief to development and guarantee harmonious and sustainable growth. COOPI facilitates a relevant response to the needs of local populations through a coordination structure in Kinshasa and various operational bases in the provinces. Each year, COOPI implements around a dozen projects funded by the European Union, the Humanitarian Fund, the ICC, the World Bank, and UN agencies.

Context and justification of the position

The COOPI – Social Development Center (SDC) consortium is implementing the project “Implementation of Community-Based Nutrition (CBN), Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMCM), and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Services in the Central Kasai Province,” funded by the World Bank through the UG-PDSS. In a context marked by a high prevalence of malnutrition, challenges in multi-sectoral coordination, and the need for strict alignment with the National Nutrition Program (PNNS), the National Nutrition and Health Program (PRONANUT), and World Bank procedures, the Project Director position aims to ensure the technical, operational, fiduciary, and partnership-based management of the project, drawing on proven experience in managing World Bank-funded PNNS/CBN projects. The project’s main objective is to contribute to reducing stunting (prevalence of chronic malnutrition) among children aged 0 to 59 months over a 24-month period in the Central Kasai Province of the DRC. The project is implemented in 19 health zones in the central Kasai province: Benaleka, Bunkonde, Demba, Dibaya, Kalomba, Katoka, Luiza, Masuika, Mikalayi, Ndekesha, Tshikaji, Tshikula, Bilomba, Katende, Lubondai, Lukonga, Mutoto, Ndesha, Yangala.

Job objective

The Project Director (PD) is responsible for the proper management of the project in technical, economic, financial, human resource, and logistical terms, maintaining a permanent presence in the field. This is done in compliance with the project contract and budget, COOPI procedures, and those of the funding agency. The PD ensures the achievement of the project’s planned results within the budget, the validated results framework, UG-PDSS/World Bank procedures, national standards (NAC, PCIMA, ANJE), and accountability standards. The PD organizes coordination meetings with project partners, monitors the progress of project and partner activities, and proposes synergies. The PD is particularly attentive to ensuring that the consortium functions as a single entity. The PD proposes, adapts, and implements tools for effective risk management by all consortium members, in a context of high exposure to fraud and corruption.

Responsibilities

Project management

Coordinate the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of activities according to the action planned by the project
Ensure the effective integration of nutritional activities into the PAO and PTT of the supported health zones;
Ensure the monitoring of performance indicators and the quality of data transmitted to the UG-PDSS;
Manage the allocation of project resources – human, financial, material, and informational – in collaboration with the relevant Directorates/Units of the Group, ensuring compliance with the procedures of the donors and COOPI;
Prepare the operational work plan and project documentation;
Conduct regular monitoring of the proper implementation of all activities in the field;
Ensure, in collaboration with the country coordination, that project monitoring systems are in place to monitor activity indicators;
Prepare all required reports, technical and financial statements;
Prepare a report summarizing the experience gained in the project;
To ensure good institutional relations with beneficiaries, project partners, local authorities and the donor;
Represent directly or organize regular representation of COOPI to the nutrition and protection clusters in Kananga and associated technical groups;
Ensure external communication with institutional partners, local authorities, and the international community;
Prepare narrative and financial reports.

Institutional and partnership coordination

To ensure liaison between the members of the group, the health authorities (DPS, ECZS), PRONANUT and the UG-PDSS;
Represent the project in coordination frameworks (nutrition clusters, technical groups, sector meetings);
Support the DPS in organizing meetings for data analysis, planning and dissemination;
To ensure the proper functioning of the group as a single and coherent entity.

Administrative/financial responsibilities

Plan the expenditures to be made and ensure the follow-up of approved project expenditures;
Control the consistency of expenditures with the project budget, and regularly monitor expenditures made and supervise the accounting and cash management and the project account using COOPI management tools;
Prepare the project’s purchasing plan.

Logistics/security responsibilities

Supervise and organize the proper preparation of the material resources necessary for the execution of the project;
Ensure the proper management of assets acquired for the project;
To monitor compliance with security procedures by all members of the project/base team;
In conjunction with the Country Coordinator and the Logistics Coordinator, analyze the security situation in the project’s intervention area and decide on actions to be implemented, if necessary, in relation to the security plan.

Human Resources

Engage project staff and manage the staff assigned to the project and their evaluation;
Organize and lead project team coordination meetings;
To supervise and coordinate project teams;
Ensure compliance with work instructions, protection of beneficiaries and prevention of abuse;
Promote an ethical, inclusive and results-oriented work environment.

Input management and logistics

Ensure the monitoring of the supply of ESS (Emergency Social Services) with nutritional inputs and routine treatment medications;
Ensure the monitoring of input stock management in the CDRs and at the level of the ESS in collaboration with providers at all levels of the health system and report to the PMNS every quarter;
Supervise the management of nutritional and medical inputs (PCIMA, prevention);
Ensure compliance with the supply chain and inventory management procedures;
Ensure the continuous availability of inputs in the supported structures.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

Oversee the compilation, analysis and transmission of performance data;
Produce weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual project reports;
Contribute to the project’s monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) plan.

Candidate Profile

ESSENTIAL

University degree of minimum level BAC+5 in a relevant field (nutrition and/or public health and/or project management, MBA sociology or equivalent);
At least 10 years of professional experience in project management, preferably in African countries, with a strong emphasis on field implementation;
Experience in managing projects focused on behavior change;
Relevant and proven professional experience in the DRC or other post-conflict countries;
Strong communication skills (oral and written) in French;
Experience in managing large consortia/groups (at least 3 members in the group);
Experience in project management in the field of nutrition;
Excellent writing skills and knowledge of the Office suite;
Excellent ability to work in basic conditions and adapt to field life;
Excellent organizational skills: flexibility, strong sense of initiative and autonomy in work;
Excellent ability to work under pressure;
Ability to work in a sensitive and complex political and security context and in a multicultural environment;
Good knowledge of the procedures of donors World Bank, UN, EU and ECHO;
Excellent ability to work in a team and towards objectives and to train employees as needed;
Excellent negotiation and communication skills.

DESIRABLES

Experience of at least 3 years in project management with large budgets (more than 10M usd);
Professional experience of at least 5 years in the implementation of multi-sectoral nutrition projects in the DRC;
Proven skills in monitoring and evaluation, budget management and reporting;
Experience in managing projects focused on behavior change;
Experience in Nutrition projects;
Excellent command of the NAC, PCIMA, ANJE, CPSr programs;
Solid knowledge of World Bank procedures;
Proven skills in monitoring and evaluation, budget management and reporting;
Excellent coordination, communication and negotiation skills;
Proficiency in IT tools and results-oriented management.

COOPI reserves the right to close recruitment before the advertised deadline . Thank you for your understanding.

COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale is a secular and independent Italian humanitarian organization that fights against all forms of poverty to improve the world. Founded in 1965, COOPI is now present in 33 countries across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, with emergency and development projects carried out by expatriate staff – on average more than 240 people per year – and national staff. Its main institutional donors are the European Union (ECHO) and INTPA (USAID), UN agencies, the Italian government, local authorities, and other European governments.

How to apply

Send your CV and cover letter to the following link: https://coopi.org/en/job-position.html?id=5629&ln=