Senior Country Representative – West and Central Africa At Farm Radio International

Senior Country Representative

Position Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Assigned countries: Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali and DRC

Supervises: Country Program Managers/Coordinators

Required languages: French (English an asset)

Preview :

The Senior Country Representative (SCR) occupies an important position at Farm Radio International. The SCR is responsible for overseeing and promoting the growth of the organization in designated countries. The primary role of a seasoned SCR is to build a strong reputation and awareness for RRI; collaborate effectively with government partners; position RRI to participate in major development initiatives; secure new funding opportunities; lead the development of a strong, capable, highly functional, well-coordinated and motivated team; and coordinate the administration and management of RRI operations in designated countries. The SCR will also support team members in collaborating effectively with and fulfilling their obligations to staff in other RRI teams and offices, including regional, international and specialist teams and departments.

Main responsibilities

1. To raise awareness of Radios Rurales International and develop or maintain an excellent reputation for impact, credibility and results in assigned countries.

• Represent RRI at regional, national and local events
• Maintain regular contact with key decision-makers and policy makers
• Promote RRI’s work to national and local media, for better media coverage
• Organize promotional activities, including project launch and closing activities
• Have a professional and welcoming office for visitors.

  2. Build strong relationships

• Organize or facilitate the work of a “Country Advisory Council” made up of reputable professionals
• Build and maintain relationships with national and regional authorities, including sectoral ministries, technical services, regulatory bodies, as well as any other relevant working groups or special working committees.
• Establish and maintain relationships with Canadian high commissions, embassies and Global Affairs Canada, and other embassies and bilateral development agencies
• Build and maintain relationships with funding organizations
• Build and maintain relationships with civil society organizations, including media outlets, farmers’ associations, women’s organizations, NGOs, etc.
• Establish and maintain relationships with private sector groups
• Receiving visits and organizing field visits and tours

3. Work closely with RRI’s program development team and systems — Advance the organization in-country by identifying and developing opportunities for new projects

• Explore, identify and follow up on opportunities
• Contribute to the development of concept notes, proposals and budgets with program managers and regional program managers
• Ensure that donors or project collaborators understand and acknowledge the role and potential financial needs of RRI
• Ensure that application procedures, including internal Radios Rurales Internationales procedures (e.g. risk analysis and management) are applied and that deadlines are respected
• Promote RRI submissions

4. Provide leadership and coordination of country teams in designated countries

• Guide the recruitment and professional development of members of all teams, with good participation and contribution from others in the global, regional and specialized teams
• Guide the development of an organizational culture and practices that promote gender equality, are inclusive and participatory, respectful of diversity and are pleasant to live in, with zero tolerance for sexual harassment or misconduct, acts of fraud or corruption of any nature
• Guide the contribution of country teams to the organizational strategic plan
• Coordinate the development of annual country plans informed by, and linked to, the overall plan of all RRI global strategic intentions (SIs)
• Evaluate work plans and regularly monitor progress against annual objectives
• Convene and chair management team meetings
• Regularly call coordination meetings with staff
• Coordinate country participation in quarterly IS planning and review meetings
• Ensure that specialists are working effectively and reporting to managers and coordinators of specialist teams
• Ensure that project managers work effectively with the country team, regional and global teams and report to their managers
• Ensure that the Country Finance team collaborates effectively with the Regional Finance Manager and Regional Finance Coordinators
• Ensure staff comply with all RRI policies, procedures and guidelines

5. Manage assigned country offices and any other regional or sub-offices

• Ensure compliance with office policies and protocols
• Ensure that the procurement policy is properly implemented.
• Ensure that all contracts are properly completed, forwarded to the people who need them and archived correctly, both physically in a secure file cabinet and digitally on Google Drive.
• Negotiate leases and manage subleases for “tenants” of Radios Rurales Internationales offices
• Equip and maintain offices
• Ensure that offices are “green” in terms of energy and water resource saving, cleanliness, comfort, safety and surrounded by plants
• Vehicles – ensuring they are well maintained, insured, licensed and that policies are followed.
• Furniture and equipment – ​​ensuring that they are properly maintained, insured, stored, inventoried and that all maintenance procedures are followed, etc.

6. Manage HR administration of assigned countries

• Ensure that all staff have up-to-date contracts, job descriptions and individual work plans (in accordance with Employee Performance Management (EPM) frameworks and systems) and that their files are archived, complete and up-to-date
• Guide the staff recruitment process with the necessary support from all those involved in recruitment decisions
• Monitor the work of international volunteers and interns
• Ensure all staff are aware of and comply with policies relating to personnel, protection and safety, harassment, whistleblowing and administration
• Ensure permits and visas are available for international staff and interns
• Ensure that national labour laws and standards are respected
• Ensure that mandatory payments, including income tax and VAT, are deducted and submitted and that all social benefits and other benefits are available and up to date
• Ensure the integration, orientation and training of new staff
• Recruit and directly supervise: office managers, logistics managers, drivers, office support staff

7. Financial management

• Control and monitor the annual budget of countries
• Monitor financial tracking, financial systems and reporting
• Ensure the implementation and effective compliance with manuals or regulations related to finance and procurement
• Ensure secure archiving and storage of all financial reports
• Organize and support financial audits required for country programs
• Ensure the development, monitoring and revision of project expenditure plans
• Ensure smooth running of annual audits and projects

8. Safety, protection and well-being

• Periodically conduct a risk, vulnerability and threat assessment
• Collaborate with other agencies on security issues
• Update internal security and protection reports and communicate security concerns to relevant teams and departments
• Ensure compliance with all country policies and procedures

Qualifications

• Have 10+ years of experience in program management, particularly in development communications
• Have excellent communication skills in French (written and oral); English is an asset
• Be willing to travel

Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience in the field of project development and implementation, including project life cycles and management results
• Sufficient knowledge of gender equality principles and women’s rights and experience in integrating these principles into the project cycle
• Experience and knowledge of media and communication for development
• Experience in audiovisual press
• Knowledge of agricultural and health practices in sub-Saharan Africa
• Knowledge of national and international financial and strategic partnerships in West Africa

Skills and Attributes

• Experience in operational management, including financial and human resources of an organization or department
• Good research, data evaluation and writing skills
• Proven results in finding and securing funding for projects
• Excellent intercultural communication skills
• Good organizational and time management skills; ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Be comfortable working with minimal supervision and limited resources
• Proven experience in international NGO management