Country Director At Cordaid

Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies 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 divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

Cordaid is an internationally operating value-based emergency relief and development organisation, working in and on fragility.

Cordaid is a member of the international Catholic networks Caritas and CIDSE and we are active in worldwide civil society networks. We work in around 20 countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

For the Cordaid Country office in Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, Cordaid is looking for a

Country Director

Introduction

In DR Congo, Cordaid fights poverty by improving access to health care and basic education, tackles impunity (by helping to put an end to the culture of violence), and helps to install effective forms of governance (by promoting the right to political participation, particularly for women).

We have a country office in Kinshasa and Goma field offices in Kananga, Gemena, Bunia, Bukavu and Uvira.

Cordaid has been active in DR Congo since the 1970s, and has built up an extensive network of partner organisations. Cordaid wants the people of DR Congo to once again be able to contribute to the development of their country’s basic facilities and work towards peace, safety and justice.

Cordaid DR Congo manages funds from the Government of the Netherlands, the Global Fund and UNDP. We have benefited through our headquarters funds from many other sources, including 288,000 private donors and works closely with international and national partners, including VNG International, African Security Sector Network, West African Network for Peacebuilding, Women’s International Peace Centre, Caritas Congo, Heal Africa etc.

See https://www.cordaid.org/en/countries/democratic-republic-congo/#main-content for further details.

Position & responsibility

The Country Director will report directly to the COO of Cordaid and maintains functional lines with the CFO and CEO. The Country Director is the line manager for all senior management staff of the Cordaid DRC office.

General objective and responsibility of the job

· Responsible for all expatriate and national staff;

· Develop and safeguard strategies of the country and uphold their alignment with the Cordaid strategic compass;

· Responsible for ensuring Cordaid is an inclusive, diverse, safe (with attention to race, age, gender) and accountable organisation living up to its values;

· Responsible for realisation of Country Office targets;

· End responsible for the management of all Cordaid sub-offices in DRC;

· The supervision of Cordaid programmes, finance and operations in DRC;

· Networking, representation and acquisition.

Specific objectives

· Strategy, cooperation and representation:

Formulates the country strategy for Cordaid DRC in light of political, economic and humanitarian context, meets regularly and creates partnerships with donors, local partners, (I)NGOs, UN agencies, local authorities, government authorities, and represents Cordaid DRC in high-level meetings.

· Funds:

Interacts with (potential) local/institutional donors, convincingly presenting the added value of Cordaid as to acquire funds and ensure the future funding for the programme(s) in the designated country.

· Business/Action plan:

Translates the agreed Country Strategy into a Work Plan for the Country Office, with specific results in designated project areas while securing the connection with the Cordaid strategy.

Monitors the progress, ensures achievements and interdependencies of different projects, taking into account the developments in the country, and proposes improvements in the chosen strategy.

· Programme Management:

Keeps track of developments within the projects, monitors progress, stimulates coordination between projects, manages the activities within the team and makes the necessary adjustments, taking into account the business/action plan, governmental policies, donor policies and the allocation of resources and preventing mission creep.

Translates the agreed Country Strategy into a Work Plan for the Country Office, with specific results in designated project areas while securing the connection with the Cordaid strategy. Ensures that staff carry out their work to the right standard. Ensures narrative and financial reporting are of quality and sent to donors timely.

· Risk Management:

Assesses security, political, administrative and financial risks in projects and offices, and manages the security of the Cordaid team, consultants and Cordaid visitors, according to the Cordaid Safety First Manual.

· Financial Management:

Ensures effective and efficient management of financial resources within the Country Office in such a way that costs stay within set personnel and organisation budgets. Directs employees on set income targets and takes corrective actions if revenues lag behind in the planning.

Ensures the financial feasibility of the country programme, from obtaining resources to make sure programme is within budget and resources are adequately spent and managed in a transparent manner. At all times the Country Director is accountable to the donors and benefactors of Cordaid’s projects.

· Personnel Management:

Leads personnel in accordance with the management style and social policy of Cordaid, focused on productivity, employee development and satisfaction. Ensures efficient use of resources and controls quality of work.

Qualifications

· Academic degree in international law, agriculture, health, economy, business/public administration, social sciences or other subject related to international cooperation.

· Excellent management skills including human resource and financial management, communication and intercultural cooperation skills.

· At least 5 years (recent) experience in a similar position (Country Director, Country Representative, Chief of Party) for an INGO

· At least 5 years’ experience with managing and monitoring development and/or humanitarian programmes, preferably also with EU, WB or Global Fund funded programmes.

· Experience in reporting requirements of institutional donors and working with local NGOs.

· Experience in security management and implementing security policies in insecure areas.

· A human centred approach to management and ability to promote and structure teamwork. **

· A networker.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills in French language and proficient in English.

· Diplomatic and goal driven.

· Analytical and problem-solving mind.

· Flexible and capable of working in a stressful and fragile context.

Specifics of station

This is an accompanied posting.

Contract information

The contract period is for 12 months starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period. We offer a Cordaid contract with a competitive salary and a benefit package which includes a comprehensive insurance cover, social security and pension contribution, holiday allowance, and 13^th month.