Consultancy - Brazil Programme Support Officer

Background

CAFOD is the official development and international cooperation agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Founded in 1962 to fight poverty and injustice, CAFOD has been working in Brazil for over 50 years. Our international aid and emergency programmes at the global level are based on an Integral Ecology Programme Model. This model involves developing programme strategies in partnership with local organisations to address and tackle the causes and symptoms of poverty, injustice, inequality and environmental degradation. CAFOD's values of solidarity, compassion, dignity and stewardship are expressed through a model of partnership, giving priority to local leadership.  

In Brazil, our partners, both civil society organisations and organisations linked to the Catholic Church Social Teaching, work on various projects and programmes. These initiatives seek to promote human, socio-environmental and economic rights, good governance, rural and urban sustainable and resilient livelihoods, climate justice, and provide humanitarian support. Our partners ensure safeguarding, accessible, dignified and inclusive long-term programming with disadvantaged groups, like marginalised women, children and indigenous peoples, their families and communities. We are an organisation that works alongside and supports local civil society partners who lead on programme priorities, design and implementation. 

To support the smooth running of CAFOD's cooperation programmes and projects, CAFOD is looking for a consultant based in Brazil to provide programme support to our partners, the Brazil team and CAFOD’s teams based in London.

The Consultant will work with a small team, which comprises a Country representative and a Programme Administrator. CAFOD is based in the UK, and this contract will be managed from our headquarters in London.

Please note that this is a mid-level support consultancy focused on Programme Cycle Management, financial, communication, and coordination tasks.

Objectives of the Consultancy 

The individual consultant will provide programme support services to CAFOD's Brazil programme and cooperation projects with our local partner organisations, including:  

• Partner and project cycle management support
• Project Compliance Support
• Funding Application and Donor Reporting.
• Wider Programme Support (communication, finance, coordination) 

 
The consultancy requires fluent English and is best suited for professionals seeking a support role. 

Contract Duration

The contract for this consultancy is for 12 months, encompassing 240 days, with an average of 20 days per month. This is a full-time consultancy. The consultant’s workplan will be agreed upon in advance and coordinated with the programme team to ensure effective collaboration and project delivery, while respecting the independent nature of the consultancy arrangement.  

Location

This consultancy will be based in Brazil, preferably in São Paulo, working remotely. The Consultant may be required to travel and follow-up visits to CAFOD partners in Brazil, agreed in advance with the Brazil Country Representative.  

Deliverables 

Under the supervision of CAFOD's Brazil Country Rep, the Brazil Programme Support Officer Consultant will deliver the following support services: 

1. Partner and project cycle management support

• Partner Support & Coordination: Accompany and support the management of programmes and projects supported by CAFOD in Brazil in line with principles and standards set out in CAFOD’s partnership policy. Support context and risk analysis and the implementation of action plans after SADI, financial assessments and audits are carried out. Keep track of partner/project records. 

• Project Management & M&E: Appraise/review proposals, analyse project reports (narrative, financial, audits), manage grant monitoring/approvals on WebPromise. Conduct partner monitoring visits (project monitoring, due diligence, capacity strengthening), support project effective implementation and monitoring, evaluation and learning (M&E), and coordinate partner workshops/meetings (agendas, papers, attendance lists). 

• Programme Quality Support (SADI): Work closely with CAFOD staff, other consultants and partners in Brazil to ensure that principles and policies of safeguarding, accessibility, dignity and inclusion (SADI) are developed and implemented. Track compliance for SADI, safeguarding and financial assessments. For partners managed by the consultant, and on request by team, support the completion/follow up of specific programme quality assessments for partners and facilitate capacity strengthening support.

2. Grant Administration and Compliance Support
   

• Grant & project compliance and payments: Support the Brazil team and Finance colleagues as requested in preparing operational and grant approvals. Save project and partner documents to the WebPromise grants database and SharePoint, tracking due payments and reports, and prepare documentation for evaluations, audits and donor reporting. 

3. Funding / Donor Support

• Funding Development & Engagement: Assist with the development of funding proposals (including partner-led, development and emergency response). Develop applications to major donors, support donor relationship management, scope potential donor funding prospects, prepare donor presentations/meetings and regular updates, in coordination with other CAFOD teams and departments. 
• Donor Reporting & Compliance: produce donor reports (six months and annual reports - narrative and financial – in coordination with the Brazil team input, track project funding/expenditure/donor compliance, and coordinate/communicate impact stories/case studies. 

4. Brazil Programme Support (Communication, coordination, finance and information management)

• Communications Support: Support communication flows, internal and external, dissemination of news and updates from partners’ work and key events in Brazil, within CAFOD. Produce monthly updates and other pieces of communication (blogs, short articles, case studies, videos, talks). Provide Portuguese-English (and vice versa) interpretation/translation for partners and materials produced by partners, CAFOD materials, and provide support for CAFOD staff visiting Brazil.
• Team Coordination: Support team meetings, mid-year and annual organisational planning and reviews, internal reporting processes. Support Brazil programme MEL, serve as a designated point of contact for CAFOD internal queries on specific issues, and represent the team in CAFOD internal meetings or working group when asked. Contribute to maintaining team organisation systems (document tracking) and respond to funding requests as directed. Support travel and logistics for partners and visitors, support meetings and partner exchanges, and assist events, partners meeting, trip preparations as needed. 
• Financial monitoring and expense support: In cooperation with the Brazil team and Finance colleagues, assist with budget monitoring (including Budget vs. Actual and expenditure tracking), supporting team reconciling financial data as required. 
• Team Documents and Information Management: Assist in the efficient management of information systems (SharePoint, WebPromise, MS Teams), support SharePoint housekeeping, and manage, save and file documents. 

Note: The list is not exhaustive; it is illustrative of the expected deliverables. there may be other deliverables that are relevant and appropriate to provide the service. 

Expected outputs

The Consultant is expected to deliver: 

1. Project cycle management and reporting support for partner grants. 
2. Grant administration and compliance within the Brazil Programme. 
3. Provide accompaniment and support to the completion of specific programme quality assessments for partners and facilitate capacity strengthening action plans. 
4. Quality communication in both languages for external and internal dissemination and the implementation of Brazil communication strategy.
5. Quality input to Brazil MEL to the Brazil and LAC MEL framework based on partners' work and reports.
6. Support Brazil team planning, review and annual reflection processes.
7. Support the development and implementation of Brazil funding strategy, including donor mapping, preparing proposals, monitoring plans and reports produced.

Consultant requirements

Languages:    

• Portuguese and fluency in English (fluent level, written and spoken). 

Experience: 

• 2-5 years of experience providing programme support, administration, financial management or project assistance in the development and/or humanitarian sector in Brazil. 
• Experience in financial management and budget tracking, including supporting budget management, financial monitoring, use of reporting systems and procedures, data entry, expenditure tracking, and preparing financial reports. 
• Providing effective administrative, organisational and logistical support to teams and partner organisations. 
• Partner relationship management and project monitoring. 
• Experience in proposal development and contract management with donors. 
• Familiarity with programme quality standards, safeguarding and differential approaches (community accountability, inclusion, gender, disability). 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., social sciences, international relations, development studies, administration, or related fields).

Skills and competencies:

• Programme Cycle management knowledge (appraisal, monitoring, evaluation)
• Thematic awareness or interest in areas such as sustainable rural livelihoods, urban livelihoods, climate change, indigenous rights, human rights, social rights, gender, good governance and humanitarian/emergency response. 
• Strong communication skills in English and Portuguese (report writing, proposal writing, communication pieces, e.g., blogs, case studies).   
• Excellent IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and online collaboration platforms (e.g., MS Teams, SharePoint, databases). 
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail. Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Understanding/familiarity working with local organisations and social movements, both secular and organisations inspired by Catholic social teaching and the Catholic Church.   
• Strong interpersonal skills, with a collaborative approach in multicultural settings. 
• Ability and willingness to travel to remote areas, sometimes at short notice and to risky areas.  

Accountability and support

The Consultant will be directly responsible to CAFOD Brazil Country Rep. The Consultant will be subject to CAFOD's safety and security policies, and any other applicable policies, while working with CAFOD.  

Fees/Billing

The consultant will be remunerated against the delivery of work plan deliverables and must submit the corresponding invoice/payment request to CAFOD for the total of each payment due in relation to this consultancy. 

Protection of minors and vulnerable adults

CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, considering these interests to be paramount. All CAFOD consultants share responsibility for promoting and maintaining a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they must take given their role and responsibilities. Consultants engaged by CAFOD must adhere to CAFOD's safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD's Code of Conduct, Privacy and Data Protection, Fraud and Corruption Prevention policies, as an appendix to their contract and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with these - see policies at https://secure.ethicspoint.eu/domain/media/es/gui/105295/index.html. This consultancy involves contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults, and applicants will be subject to satisfactory references.  

By submitting an application, the applicant confirms that they understand and accept these procedures. 

Expression of interest and application process

Interested persons who meet the minimum requirements and are available should submit the following documents in English (preferably in PDF format): 

• Your CV, with the most relevant experience, including the names of at least three references (they will only be contacted after the interview phase). 
• Your proposal or letter describing how you fit the consultant profile, knowledge, experience and competencies detailed in the Terms of Reference.  
• Your proposed fees and remuneration for this consultancy. 
• Example of relevant written work

If you wish, you can include a written reference or a letter of recommendation. The consultant will be selected based on their knowledge, experience and relevant competencies and based on how well the proposal meets the requirements set out in the ToR.  

Please note: Applicants with significant senior management experience or qualifications well beyond the requirements of this role may not be considered, as the consultancy is designed for mid-level professionals. 

CAFOD reserves the right to accept or reject any application without giving reasons, including those exceeding our budget limit. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application. 

Submission/Contact Information: 

Please send your application and documents by email to pso@cafod.org.uk, indicating "Application for CAFOD Brazil Programme Support Officer" in the subject line.  

Deadline for the submission of expression of interest: 23:00 hours (Brazil time) on Monday, 16^th June 2025.  

The tentative timetable for interviews and written tests is the week of 23^rd of June or the 30^th of June 2025.