RCA – Country Administrator At COOPI – International Cooperation

COOPI is looking for a Country Administrator in CAR

Since 1974 COOPI has worked in the CAR for harmonious and comprehensive development, for the benefit of both individuals and local communities. Regarding the sectors of intervention, commitment to local realities has encouraged COOPI to establish plans and implement development projects in the social, economic, health, environmental and training fields. The conflict situations led to the decision to take charge of emergency and rehabilitation projects, which today have become another specific sector of intervention in the Country. Thanks to the consolidated and constant presence, as well as the relationships with institutions, non-governmental organizations and local communities, COOPI is recognized as one of the reference points for international cooperation in CAR. The donors who currently finance COOPI are ECHO, EU, UN agencies, Humanitarian Fund. The intervention areas are the prefectures of Bangui, Ombella M’Poko, Lobaye, Nana-Mambere, Ouham-Pende, Ouham, Kemo, Haute Kotto, Basse Kotto, Mbomou, Haut Mbomou and Ouaka.

Job objective

The Country Administrator:

• is responsible for the correct administrative/financial management and the sustainable nature of country coordination and zone coordination, by preparing coordination budgets and controlling the drafting of project budgets;
• takes care of the control of balance sheets and the correct arrangement of financial reports in compliance with COOPI and donor procedures;
• guarantees for the headquarters, the accuracy and completeness of the information.

Responsibilities

Budget planning and control

• Prepare, in collaboration with the Head of Mission and periodically check the progress of the budget relating to the costs of general coordination and any zone coordination present in the country;
• Control the sustainable nature of the coordinations and bases under the responsibility of the head of mission and verify the correct allocation/distribution of fixed costs on the projects.

Economic and logistical control

• Supervise new project budgets in accordance with the planning and sustainability of country/Milan headquarters coordination;
• In collaboration with project managers, any zone administrators and the Head of Mission, periodically identify economic and financial commitments for carrying out project activities;
• Administrative management of projects whose coordination is in charge in particular the SAD;
• In collaboration with project managers and/or coordination administrators and country/zone coordinators, check monthly the economic and financial management of projects : balance sheet status, expenditure forecasts, financial forecasts for carrying out activities;
• Provide advisory support to project managers and project and coordination administrators and monitor the correct application of COOPI and donor administrative procedures;
• Verify the sustainability and correct management of COOPI property assets in collaboration with the country logistics function;
• Verify the correct application of the organization’s procedures relating to the purchase of goods and their management;

Financial management

• Supervise and control liquidity management (cash and bank) and the sending of funds to projects according to requests;
• Supervise funding from donors for the implementation of projects (anticipations and subsidies) by updating the information that must be sent to central headquarters;
• In agreement with the Head of Mission, work to ensure deadlines for receiving funding are met;
• In agreement with the desk and the Central Headquarters Area Administrator, in addition to the Head of Mission proposing the priorities for the timetable for the presentation of financial reports;
• Ensure the correct management and control of the General Coordination fund and the bases;
• With the Head of Mission, have responsibility for signing the organization’s current accounts;

Reports and audits

• Finalize and control the interim and final financial reports to be presented to donors, before transmitting them to central headquarters;
• Be responsible for the accuracy of reports and ensure the correct archiving of data from all projects managed in the country;
• Be responsible for the preparation and conduct of audits conducted in the country and for sending to the central headquarters documents relating to projects that must follow an audit in Italy;
• Be responsible for preparing the annual audit, if this is planned in the country;
• Guarantee the correct functioning of the various bases and zone coordinations present in the country by also carrying out on-site verification missions.

HR management

• Manage and supervise local administrators/accountants who work at the Coordination;
• Ensure the training of base administrators/zone coordination under the responsibility of country coordination and all expatriate staff involved in the administrative process and periodically monitor the work carried out;
• Assist the Head of Mission with standards for local personnel management and ensure the correct maintenance of documentation relating to personnel administration;
• Supervise and control the work of the human resources office for both national and expatriate staff;
• Be responsible for evaluating administrative staff;

Others

• Produce and periodically transmit the information and data requested by the Milan headquarters, respecting the set deadlines;
• Ensure the correct archiving of the country’s administrative documentation (central and peripheral level) in compliance with the organization’s procedures;
• In collaboration with country coordination, take care of relationships and bureaucratic procedures with the country’s public and administrative organizations and with the administrative and financial offices of the decentralized delegations of institutional donors.

Candidate profile

Essential

• Preferable License or Diploma in Economic disciplines ;
• Certified experience of at least 5 years , in the economic-financial sector, administrative coordination in international cooperation organizations;
• Good knowledge of the procedures of the following donors: EU, FH, Unicef, IOM, ECHO, WFP, AICS, UNHCR, BHA, WFP;
• Good knowledge of the French language ;
• Good knowledge of the English language ;
• Excellent Office knowledge;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Ability to work in a team and achieve objectives;
• Ability to build positive relationships with colleagues;
• Ability to work in a multicultural atmosphere, under pressure and in difficult security contexts;
• Ability to be involved beyond the simple assigned task;
• Motivation to work in a non-governmental organization while respecting its principles and values;

Desirable

• Experiences working in African countries and/or conflict/post-conflict contexts;
• Previous experience with COOPI and knowledge of its procedures;

COOPI reserves the right to close a recruitment before the deadline of the advertisement. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will take place on a continuous basis and the position will be closed as soon as it is filled, thank you for your understanding.

COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale is a secular and independent Italian humanitarian organization that fights all forms of poverty to improve the world. Founded in 1965, COOPI is now present in 33 countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, with emergency and development projects led by expatriate staff – on average more than 270 people per year – and national staff. The main institutional donors are the European Union – ECHO and INTPA – USAID, UN agencies, the Italian government, local authorities and other European governments.