Democratic Republic of the Congo: Protection Programme Manager / Head of Office Beni – Democratic Republic of Congo

DRC is looking for a technically highly qualified protection manager for our programme in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The ideal candidate will be a specialist in protection and in particular child protection in a displacement context and have solid experience in project management, coordination and field office management.

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been present in DR Congo since 2009 with its country office in Goma. Current interventions take place in the Beni region in North Kivu with a focus on protection in internally displaced and host communities. The protection activities include community protection, empowerment of women and youth, and child protection and education. Current donors include ECHO, Swiss Development Cooperation and own funding. Presently, the program employs 3 expatriates and 35 local staff.

Overall objective

The Protection Programme Manager has overall responsibility for the implementation of DRC’s protection activities in the Beni region. He/she will manage DRC’s protection programme and all national staffs in the region, with direct reference to the Country Director. He/she will represent DRC in Beni and be responsible for security management and overall field office management in the area. The Protection Programme Manager provides strategic direction to the protection programme; leads on proposal development and is expected to play a central role securing funding to expand DRC’s protection programmes in DR Congo. The role entails building effective partnerships with a diversity of stakeholders, from IDPs to humanitarian partners, local communities, and local authorities. He/she isexpected to use a participatory approach involving IDP representatives to identify needs and facilitate activities, to thereby develop a sense of community and strengthen community support systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programme management:

• Overall responsibility for the day to day management of the Protection programme;
• Ensure that the programme meets its objectives in a timely and quality manner;
• Ensure that all interventions are in compliance with the DRC’s protection mainstreaming framework, international law and protection standards;
• Insure that equal access to protection and participation in the delivery of services is respected;
• Ensure technical quality and accuracy of the Protection program reports and lead the compilation and analysis of protection monitoring information/reports for sharing with partners and donors;
• Ensure communication to beneficiaries on protection issues and that beneficiary feedback mechanisms are in place;
• Ensure staff trainings and refresher sessions to maintain a high standard of capacity among the protection field teams;
• Ensure that all budgets accurately reflect program activities;
• Represent the DRC protection program at the Protection Working Groups/Clusters and other relevant forum for protection advocacy.

Program Strategy and Design

• Support the articulation and development of protection strategies in the program and their implementation in accordance with DRC mandate;
• Support the Country Director in identifying needs for the reorientation of program design or activities;
• Update protection sector strategy incorporating currents projects and future opportunities/directions, including a framework for emergency response;
• In coordination with the Country Director, contribute to new program designs and proposals.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Supervise the implementation of the programme by monitoring and evaluation (quality control, monitoring objectives and indicators) to ensure that activities/projects are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, and donor requirements;
• Ensure that timely and quality project narrative reports are provided to the donors on time according to donors requirement;
• Document programme activities and developments as well as integrate lessons learned into programme development in the region and in line with the national programmes.

Finance, Administration, Human Resources, Logistics and Security

• Overall oversight of logistics, administration, human resources and finances as well as security management of staff in the area of operation in Beni region;
• Overall responsible for managing the office and compound, including the overall financial budgeting and expenditures, staff management, administrative issues, security and logistics, in close liaison with DRC support staff in the area of operation.
• Ensure that adequate staffing is in place, including an appropriate gender balance, and that all staff are trained on skills and values required, with particular attention to accountability, respectful dialogue with people of concern, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Assess staff capacity and provide/recommend training and coaching to increase technical skills for improved project implementation as necessary.
• Supervise and support DRC programme staff members by identifying clear deliverables and ensuring conduct of performance appraisals of DRC’s staff in Beni Region;
• Support and monitor programme staff planning of activities in the Beni region in close coordination with programme managers;
• Responsible for following DRC Security procedures and ensuring that the DRC set up in Beni follows them including Chapter 19 & 20 of DRC’s Operations Handbook and local security regulations.

Representation and Coordination

• Represent DRC in the area of operation as required, such as with local authorities, UN agencies, other organisations and donors;
• Cultivate good relations with key humanitarian actors, including UNHCR, INGOs engaged in protection/recovery programming and donors, through regular attendance at technical meetings/clusters and bilateral meetings;

Qualifications

• Relevant educational background (sociology, social work, psychology, law, human rights);
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in emergency protection work (protection assistance to displacement affected populations/Child Protection/Gender/psycho social support) in internationally recognised organisations/UN agencies;
• Proven experience in program management and project design with good knowledge of donors Guidelines. Experience with donors such as EU,UNHCR, ECHO, SDC is an advantage;
• Demonstrated capacities in management, leadership, communication, coordination and in working with a multicultural staff;
• Experience with financial management, administration, human resource development and logistics;
• Experience in difficult and volatile environment and experience in safety/security management
• Ability to motivate and guide staff working in a complex conflict environment, preferably experience from an African context. Previous experience from North Kivu/eastern DR Congo is an advantage.
• Familiarity with Project Cycle Management within the context of IDP assistance and protection issues;
• Demonstrated record in collaborating, networking and negotiating with authorities, UN agencies, donors and other NGOs;
• Experience in developing fundraising strategies;
• Good analytical, negotiation, advocacy and communication skills;
• Ability to work under pressure in a rapidly changing and sometimes insecure environment;
• Fluency in spoken and written French and high professional proficiency in English is mandatory;
• Previous DRC experience an advantage;

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.

Conditions

Availability: 15^th May 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter

Duty station: Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo - Non Family Duty Station

Contract: Until 31 July 2017 (may be extended depending on funding availability).

Please note that this is a non-family duty station. DRC’s policy for rest and recuperation for international staff applies. Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. The position will be placed at salary level A14.

Please also note that due to the urgent need to fill this position, interviews and recruitment may take place before the closing date of the vacancy. We therefore encourage all candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Further information

You are welcome to contact Mervyn JOULLIE at cdm.rdc@drc.dk for more information about the position.

Please note that applications are not to be sent to Mr JOULLIE. We only accept applications sent online via www.drc.dk. Applications sent directly to cdm.rdc@drc.dk will not be considered.

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk.

Application process

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered. CV-only applications will not be considered. Please provide references, but do not attach any written recommendations.

To apply for this position please click here or go to our applications website.

Please submit your application, in English and marked “Programme Coordinator /Head of Office-Beni” no later than 30 April 2016.

Please write to job@drc.dk if you have questions to the application process or experience problems with your online application.

Commitments

DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff is required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organisation founded in 1956 that works in more than 35 countries throughout the world. We are the largest humanitarian NGO in Denmark and consistently ranked as one of the world’s best NGOs according to Global_Geneva.
We fulfil our mandate by providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations – refugees, internally displaced people and host communities in the conflict areas of the world. We also advocate on behalf of conflict-affected populations globally on the basis of humanitarian principles and the Human Rights Declaration. Our work and long-term strategies are guided by our five core values: Humanitarian approach - Respect - Independence & neutrality - Inclusion - Honesty & transparency.
You can read more about our vision and work ondrc.ngo.