Programme Officer – Turkey and Syria earthquake (For CAFOD) At Catholic Relief Services

Job Profile

To contribute to CAFOD’s response to the Syria crisis response Programme, including our response to the earthquakein line with the agreed strategy, by taking the lead on the day-to-day management of CAFOD-supported programmes and partnerships, side by side with other team members. CAFOD’s programme work is underpinned by an Integral Ecology Programme Model, where Programme Strategies are developed with partners to focus on addressing the causes and symptoms of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation.

This post-holder will manage effective relationships with partners; developing and nurturing partnerships and providing, or facilitating capacity strengthening support where appropriate. The postholder will be expected to undertake travel within the region, including to Syria, security permitting. The scope of the post falls into the following broad functions.

• Project management and development in line with the direction set by the Syria Crisis Humanitarian Programme Strategy
• Building and developing effective relationships with Partners
• Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects
• Programme Quality and Capacity Strengthening
• Monitoring and communicating impact of our programmes and projects

Key Responsibilities

Project management and development in line with the direction set by the Core Programme Strategy

• In co-operation with partners and the Syria Crisis Response team, develop and manage CAFOD-supported programmes, contributing to the development and review of CAFOD’s Syria Crisis response Emergency programme strategy;
• Jointly responsible with partners for the effective implementation, monitoring, evaluation (including facilitating external evaluations) and reporting on programmes, in line with jointly agreed standards (programme cycle management) and donor requirements;
• In agreement with partners, jointly develop programme and project proposals and assess the existing capacities to manage and implement the work. This includes leading on preparation of funding applications and reports, in liaison with the Emergency Programme Manager – Syria Crisis Response and Humanitarian Funding Officer , and the development of partner capacity strengthening.
• Promote, capture and disseminate learning from partners and programmes, and ensure that this informs future programme development;
• Realise CAFOD’s principles by acting in line with CAFOD’s partnership standards, and by promoting and supporting partners’ adherence to jointly agreed accountability, gender, safeguarding, inclusion, supply chain management/procurement good practice, and other standards;
• Carry out partner safeguarding assessments
• Carry out advocacy work in support of partners (and CAFOD’s) efforts, with relevant stakeholders at local, national and international levels;
• Promote and signpost opportunities for peer learning, regional exchanges, and local quality and accountability initiatives
• Identify funding opportunities for the programme, with support from Humanitarian Funding Officer and Syria Crisis Response team

Building and developing effective relationships with partners

• Develop, nurture and manage relationships with CAFOD’s partner organisations in line with the principles and standards set in our Partnership Policy
• Invest in partners’ capacities, by jointly identifying needs, developing plans to strengthen capacities, identifying sources of support, and allocating resources.
• Organise (and where relevant accompany) partners’ visits.

Internal and external representation

• In co-ordination with the Emergency Programme Manager – Syria Crisis Response develop, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, including national networks, bi-lateral agencies, and other agencies working in/on the Syria Crisis response. This will include other Caritas/CIDSE agencies;
• Communicate with other teams within CAFOD to ensure that the programme is well understood, and that information is available for fundraising and other communication, including publications, media briefings, education, etc. This may involve participation in sessions/events with Supporters, communities of practice, working groups, etc.
• Develop supporter communications and work with the media, writing and undertaking interviews both on radio and TV if required.
• Look for other opportunities to communicate the work of our partners and raise the profile of the programme, to raise awareness about the ongoing needs and increase fundraising for the programme

Financial reporting and monitoring of programmes and projects

• In close co-operation with the relevant roles in the finance and funding teams, prepare, manage and monitor budgets relating to both CAFOD and partner-led expenditure, as agreed with the Emergency Programme Manager – Syria Crisis Response
• Develop relevant risk registers and monitor them in conjunction with the Emergency Programme Manager – Syria Crisis Response
• Where appropriate, commission and manage (with partners) audits for programmes and projects;
• Carry out partner financial assessments, reports and reviews, in co-operation with the finance team.

Programme Quality, Systems and Standards

• Effectively use CAFOD’s programme management information systems to ensure programme and project information is up-to-date.
• Ensure compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work.

This list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Understanding our context

A Understanding Catholic identity;

B Understanding CAFOD; Actively supports CAFOD’s vision, mission and values and what we aim to achieve

C Understanding humanitarian aid: Understanding and experience of humanitarian aid programme management and quality standards within this context

Working together

D Managing ourselves; Able to make sound independent decisions in complex circumstances where information may be unclear

E Working with others; Proven successes in working with community-based organisations and local partners in the delivery of humanitarian programmes and capacity building, particularly in preparedness and response; ability to work remotely with partners and team members

F Communicating; Able to communicate with colleagues and partners at a distance

G Looking outwards; Understanding of effective and values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities; ability to build and maintain effective communication with influential external contacts.

Making change happen

H Managing resources Computer literacy i.e. familiar with Microsoft word, excel and knowledge of information and database management; Strong budget management skills.

I Achieving results; Able to manage competing work demands; proven experience of successfully delivering an operational emergency programme overseas or in different humanitarian contexts; will tackle conflicts or problems in a balanced way

J Managing our performance; Able to feed into team plans and objectives and deliver against them in challenging circumstances

K Taking the lead; demonstrates high levels of service to communities, partners or external networks and fora

Job-specific competencies

1. Previous experience in a humanitarian programme environment overseas OR in more than one humanitarian context;
2. Familiar with the Middle East context
3. Experience of preparing and monitoring complex budgets
4. Understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends and donor conditions;
5. First-hand experience with a values-based partnership approach (between northern and southern organisations and communities)
6. Experience using programme cycle management tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed programme framework
7. Knowledge of IT systems, including Microsoft Office and Sharepoint Online
8. Able and committed to working with and developing the capacity of local partners organisations/ National NGOs;
9. Financial management understanding and experience
10. Ability and willingness to travel (up to 12 weeks per year), sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk
11. Thematic experience in monitoring programme outcomes.
12. Fluent in written and spoken English

Desirable Criteria

1. Languages; Levantine Arabic h
2. Previous work experience in Syria, Lebanon and/or Jordan
3. Previous work experience in rapid onset emergencies. Experience of earthquake response(s) or emergencies in urban contexts particularly desirable.
4. Previous experience of working on Disaster Emergencies Committee (DEC) funded projects.
5. Technical expertise in any of the following areas: WASH, Shelter, Protection, Livelihoods or Cash and Voucher Assistance.