Consultancy - Brazil Programme Officer

Background

CAFOD is the Catholic Church's official international development and humanitarian aid agency in England and Wales. Founded in 1962 to combat poverty and injustice, CAFOD has been working in Latin America and Brazil for over 50 years. CAFOD's international programmes, in all the countries where we operate, are based on the concept of Integral Ecology, and programme strategies are developed in partnership with organisations working to combat the causes and impacts of poverty, injustice, inequality and environmental degradation, both in the field of socio-environmental development and in emergencies. CAFOD's guiding values are solidarity, dignity and co-responsibility. These values are expressed through a partnership model that prioritises local leadership. 

In Brazil, our partners, civil society organisations and organisations linked to the Catholic Church, work on projects and programmes that seek to promote socio-environmental and gender justice and protect our common home in a political context of many challenges, intensified exploitation of natural resources, marked social inequalities and the climate crisis. The work of our partner organisations aims to build resilient and dignified livelihoods, promote good governance, human and socio-environmental rights, while responding to the climate crisis and, more recently, humanitarian crises. We are an organisation that works to strengthen partners, local civil society organisations, so that they can face the many challenges posed, lead their organisations strategically and succeed in implementing projects and programmes.

CAFOD is looking to work with a consultant who can provide programme cycle services (design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and closure) for our programmes and projects with  partners in Brazil. The consultant will work with a small team accompanying the programme and our partners in Brazil. CAFOD is based in the UK and this contract will be managed by our headquarters in London.

Objectives of the Consultancy

The consultant will provide the programmatic, financial and thematic support necessary to enable the proper development of CAFOD's programme and cooperation projects with our local partners in Brazil. The support includes thematic programmatic support, advice and support on planning, monitoring and evaluation, the development of action plans for financial, risk and protection management and the implementation of quality standards, fundraising - such as writing proposals for calls for proposals and preparing reports for donors - and communication activities.

This consultancy lasts 12 months, requires full-time hours and must be based in Brazil, and requires proficiency in Portuguese and English.  The consultant must have the right to work in Brazil.

Duration of the contract

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 days of service are Monday to Friday, except when travelling is required, when it may include Saturdays and/or Sundays.

The consultant’s workplan will be agreed in advance with the Country Representative, identifying the products to be delivered during the term of the contract to ensure effective collaboration and project delivery, while respecting the independent nature of the consultancy arrangement.  

Location

This consultancy will support CAFOD's work on the Brazil programme - working remotely, based in  São Paulo or Brasilia. This will be a home-office consultancy. 

The consultancy will require travel and follow-up visits to CAFOD partners in Brazil, agreed with the Brazil Country Representative. Should opportunities arise, the consultant may be required to make international trips, as agreed with the Brazil Country Representative.  

Deliverables: areas of work, activities and expected results

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

1. Support for Programme Management and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

In co-operation with partners, develop and manage programmes and projects supported by CAFOD in Brazil.

Activities: supporting planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning (including facilitating external evaluations) with partners, producing reports on projects, in accordance with established contracts and agreements (project cycle management), donor requirements and CAFOD’s Brazil Programme strategy.

Developing project proposals, including leading the preparation of projects for funding calls and subsequent reports to be sent to donors. In some cases, the preparation of projects for funding may have the collaboration of other colleagues from the Latin America team and CAFOD's fundraising teams. 

Promote, capture and disseminate learning and evidence about the changes achieved in the projects and, more broadly, in the Brazil programme, and ensure that this learning and evidence informs the annual reflection and contributes to a constant adaptation and revision of the CAFOD programme in Brazil.

Coordinate and support CAFOD partners in risk management, emergency preparedness and response, starting with the preparation of funding requests, as well as providing operational capacity support to respond to humanitarian crises in the region.

Identify needs, provide and/or coordinate technical support from other CAFOD departments to ensure the effectiveness and quality of the programme in relevant areas.

Support (where appropriate) the work of other CAFOD members and consultants working on CAFOD-supported programmes.

   2. Financial management, due diligence compliance and administration 

Support and monitor the budgets of projects approved with funds from CAFOD or other donors who pass on funds directly or indirectly to the partners, as agreed with the Country Representative and in cooperation with colleagues in finance and fundraising. 

Carry out assessments of partners' financial capacity in co-operation with the finance team.

Review budgets and financial reports: provide administrative and financial support to partners and teams in the development, monitoring, evaluation and review of budgets and financial reports for projects and the programme budget in Brazil, in accordance with CAFOD and donor financial requirements and standards.

Develop relevant risk registers and monitor them together with the Country Representative; Where appropriate, commission and manage (with partners) audits for projects.

Effectively use CAFOD's programme management information systems to ensure that programme and projects information is up to date.

Ensuring compliance with agreements, contracts, regulations, action plans and other requirements related to good organisational and project management and governance.

 3. Accompanying partners, strengthening and facilitating networking

Develop, nurture and manage relationships with CAFOD partners in accordance with the principles and standards set out in our Partnership Policies, and in line with our commitment to strengthening local leadership and the principle of subsidiarity. Organising (and, where appropriate, accompanying) other teams’ visits to partners.

In collaboration with local partners, carry out analyses of existing organisational capacities (including in the areas of protecting children and vulnerable adults), define organisational management quality standards (including gender and inclusion standards), develop capacity-building plans to invest in partner capacities and fill identified gaps.

Ensuring compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements related to our work. 

4. Communication, support for the general strategy of the Brazil Programme and CAFOD, facilitation of networking, and support for CAFOD representation

Develop effective communications with partners, other civil society organisations including, where relevant, local governments, national, regional networks, bilateral agencies, donors and other agencies, working in Brazil, in line with our commitment to local leadership and the principle of subsidiarity, and in coordination with the Country Representative.

Develop relationships and manage contacts with other CAFOD departments and teams to ensure that the Brazil programme is well understood and that information is available for fundraising and effective communication, including publications, media briefings, education work, etc. This may involve attending sessions/events with partners, CAFOD communities of practice and working groups, etc.

Communicate and give visibility with evidence and examples of positive change resulting from the work of partners and communities, and learning within CAFOD, among partner organisations and to other strategic stakeholders highlighting CAFOD's programme strategy in Brazil. Lead and support the development and compilation of communication materials (e.g. blogs, short videos) with evidence and learning from the work of partners and facilitate the work of other CAFOD colleagues in disseminating the Brazil programme.

Organising (and, where appropriate, accompanying) visits by other teams to partners.

Support advocacy work in support of CAFOD's partners and efforts with other strategic partners and stakeholders

Expected outputs:

The consultant is expected to deliver:

1. Support Programme and project management to a portfolio of partners.
2. Grant management and Compliance according to CAFOD policies and standards.
3. Accompaniment and capacity strengthening to CAFOD partner’s organizations.
4. Quality MEAL and reporting
5. Communication materials in English and Portuguese
6. Funding application and institutional funding management
7. Support the implementation of the Brazil Integral Ecology programme

Consultant requirements

Language skills:  Fluency in Portuguese and in English (written and spoken). The consultant's working environment is bilingual (Portuguese and English). Spanish is an advantage (but not required). 

Experience

• Proven professional experience (5 to 10 years) in project and programme management, including financial and budgeting support for development and humanitarian projects
• Demonstrated experience in accompanying local organisations in Brazil.
• Experience in accompanying, monitoring and strengthening local organisations, organisational and programme development, technical improvement of programme quality, accountability and financial management.
• Knowledge of financial and project budget management processes and systems. There will be training in the use of CAFOD systems (Sharepoint, Webpromise).
• Experience in drawing up proposals and managing contracts with donors

Qualification

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

Skills and competencies 

• Analytical and summarising skills in Portuguese and English. Preparation, revision and consolidation of reports (narrative and financial).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and online collaboration platforms (e.g. Excel, MSTeams,database and others).
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and respond quickly to requests.
• Understanding of and familiarity with working with local secular organisations and organisations inspired by the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.
• Ability and willingness to travel to remote areas, sometimes at short notice and to risk areas.
• Flexibility and transparency, valuing a culture of mutual respect, diversity and trust.
• Good teamwork, interpersonal and self-management skills.   

Thematic focus (preferably thematic experience/knowledge)

• Development - rural and urban livelihoods, in connection with the environment and the climate crisis, strengthening the resilience of vulnerable populations (e.g. through agroecology practices, strengthening of grassroots collectives demanding social and economic rights for urban and rural populations).
• Social rights, good governance, public budget, gender and inclusion.
• Indigenous rights, human rights defenders, protection and access to territory, management of territories.
• Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness and anticipatory action to reduce vulnerabilities and disaster risks, rural and urban emergency response.

Ideally, the consultant will complement the thematic knowledge of CAFOD's partners and support reflection and action on cross-cutting issues, particularly safeguarding, protection and gender equality and dignity and social inclusion.

Advanced experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and identifying learning with various methodologies (e.g.: Outcome Harvesting).

Experience with complex donors, both institutional donors and foundations as well as major donors.

Commitment to CAFOD’s Values: 

Applicants must demonstrate alignment with CAFOD’s values of partnership, solidarity, compassion, dignity, and stewardship, and commitment to safeguarding and inclusive programming. 

Consultancy Management

The consultant is accountable to CAFOD’s Brazil Country Representative, who will manage, supervise and support the contracted person. The Consultant will be required to adhere 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. 

Protecting children and vulnerable adults

CAFOD is committed to acting in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults at all times, considering these interests to be paramount. All CAFOD consultants share responsibility for promoting and maintaining a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying 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 the 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

Potential consultants who meet the minimum requirements and are available should send 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 on the basis of their knowledge, experience and relevant competencies and on the basis of how well their 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.

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

Submission and contact information

Please send your application and documents by e-mail to: pobrazil@cafod.org.uk:

indicating "Application for Brazil PO Consultancy CAFOD" in the subject line.

Deadline for the submission of expressions of interest: 23:00 (Brazilian time) on Monday 16^th June 2025.

The tentative timetable for the evaluation of proposals, interviews and written tests is the week of 23th June 2025.