We are looking for someone who is interested in a short assignment of half a year in Uganda. The assignment will require knowledge of ECHO donor relations as well as the reporting mechanisms. Besides, due to the size of the consortium, it requires a relationship/consortium manager.

Position title: ECHO-PPP Consortium Manager (maternity cover)

Duty station: Kampala, Uganda (please note that this is an international mobile staff position)

Time period: 6 months

Starting Date: 1 February until 31 July 2024

Status: Single posting

Purpose of the position

The ECHO-PPP Consortium Manager is responsible for coordinating the consortium of the DG ECHO-funded Pilot Programmatic Partnership (PPP): “Accelerating local action in humanitarian and health crisis”, for which IFRC is a global grant holder. Together with Austrian Red Cross (AutRC) and Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) is supporting the Uganda Red Cross (URCS) with the implementation of the programme for 3 consecutive years. During the assignment the project will be in the second year, transiting into the third on the 1st of June 2024.

The position as Consortium Manager has two core elements:

• Consortium: lead and coordinate the project consortium, including liaison with IFRC and DG ECHO; and
• NLRC: ensure technical and management oversight on all NLRC-supported activities; and participate in relevant technical fora and working groups.

Further, the ECHO-PPP Consortium Manager will actively coordinate with the NLRC Country Representative and Delegates to ensure overall coherence to the NLRC Country strategy to support the URCS. The Consortium Manager ensures all activities adhere to the project MoU terms and conditions and are implemented according accepted humanitarian standards, while ensuring back donor financial compliance, promoting capacity strengthening of the URCS and actively pursuing community engagement and accountability in the implementation of the activities.

Background

NLRC and URCS have been working together since 2005 with a focus on WASH, community health, data and response preparedness and anticipatory action. Currently NLRC is supporting 2 major projects (Chronic Crisis and ECHO PPP) and planning with URCS for 2 new ones (Water & the Heart of Climate Action and OneWASH). The ECHO-PPP project strives for a well-functioning multi-hazard preparedness and response system from national, through district, down to village level: ensuring and strengthening linkages between EW/EA resulting in timely and accurate preparedness, forecast-based actions and response. The project focuses on the 5 pillars of the ECHO-PPP: (1) Disaster Risk Management; (2) Epidemic, Pandemic Preparedness and Response; (3) People on the Move; and (4) Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) and (5) Risk Communication and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA).

The global ECHO-PPP, administered by IFRC, is for 3 years, and consistent with other countries in Africa and globally. At this stage activities and budget have been agreed for Year 2, and Year 2 implementation will then inform the scope and scale of development for Year 3.

Position in the organization

The ECHO-PPP Consortium Manager will report directly to the NLRC Country Representative based in Kampala, Uganda. On technical matters related to the project, the Consortium Manager will liaise closely with URCS Disaster Management, and Health & Social Services departments, NLRC technical advisors, PMER and NLRC Data team (510), and other relevant actors within the NLRC HQ for support and guidance. The Consortium Manager will coordinate and work closely with the AutRC and Belgian RC- Flanders consortium partners, and with IFRC; as well as the IFRC Operations Manager (for refugee response).

Summary statement and responsibilities

Project Implementation – key actions during the maternity cover:

• Proposal development: Lead the development of the proposal for the third year of the Project, in consultation with ECHO Uganda and in close collaboration with all consortium partners.
• Reporting: Complete the 2023 Annual reporting cycle. Lead the bi-annual internal narrative, indicator and financial reporting cycle.

Continuous responsibilities:

• Project management: Provide support in planning, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance, and reporting throughout the project cycle in accordance with NLRC and URCS procedures and agreements as set in the MoU and in full compliance with ECHO requirements under the ECHO-PPP; as NLRC budget-holder responsible for the project budget management, adequate and timely quality narrative and financial reporting, developing ToRs for reviews and evaluations
• Monitoring and evaluation: Review project progress, together with URCS, ensuring the tracking of project progress against targets, and reviewing quarterly program reports and financial reports with URCS senior management. Undertake regular monitoring field visits and meetings with the community and relevant actors including project partners in assessing the trends, patterns and changing needs and consequently advise;
• Accountability: Ensure that all required documentation by the back-donor and all other relevant key documents are being stored at NLRC’s digital system SPACE, making use of the required workflows for approval of budget, contracts and other key documents. Ensure the implementation of the project meets required international standards by SPHERE, WHO and IFRC.
• Partnership with URCS: Provide mentorship, capacity strengthening and technical support to URCS staff and connect with available remote expertise (NLRC/IFRC advisors and 510) to ensure a high quality project. Follow up with URCS to ensure activities and procurements are planned in time; working advances and full accountabilities submitted in time. Support URCS Project Manager and URCS PMER teams to produce and submit required reports and develop/revise quarterly adjusted action plans and budgets. Support URCS in their networking and partnership with other stakeholders, such as government.
• Advocacy: Advocate among humanitarian actors, relevant government ministries, local officials and the community for quality WASH, Disaster and Epidemic Preparedness and CVA activities/services (with PGI and CEA mainstreamed) to promote risk reduction among the targeted communities.

In execution of the above responsibilities key is to uphold the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and comply with the Code of Conduct and policies

Requirements/Qualifications

• University degree or professional qualification in WASH, Public Health, Disaster Management or similar, or equivalent professional experience
• At least 5 years’ experience in project management of community development-related projects
• At least 3 years’ work experience in the humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on at least one of the following sectors: Disaster Risk Management; Epidemic, Pandemic Preparedness and Response; People on the Move; Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Risk Communication and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA).
• Knowledge of ECHO donor requirements for implementation and reporting
• Experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment
• Experience in working through implementing partner structures
• Capacity strengthening: experience of training national staff and volunteers
• Experience in narrative and financial management & reporting
• Experience in institutional donor resource mobilization and proposal writing
• Experience in working in African context
• Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience is a bonus

Your talents

• Strong leadership , coordination and donor relationship
• Proactive attitude with a strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication, with the ability to represent the NLRC
• Ability to quickly create relations
• Data literate

We offer

• A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for 6 months
• A flexible and human-centred working environment in an international environment.
• Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.

Please note that this is an International mobile staff position: you have to be eligible to be dispatched to Uganda