Nexus Programme Officer

Starting Salary: USD 33,79

Contract: Fixed Term Contract (2 Years)

Location: Goma, DRC

Please note that we will only accept applications completed in English

Job Profile

CAFOD’s work in DRC focuses on integral human development and social justice, covering humanitarian and social development programmes in the areas of emergency response, protection, early recovery and livelihoods. CAFOD also works in the areas of governance, peacebuilding and advocacy. CAFOD works in partnership with national and local faith and secular actors.

Working with CAFOD’s DRC team, the postholder will have responsibility for the Nexus programme development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in line with CAFOD’s Programme Cycle Management (PCM), under the support of the DRC Deputy Country Representative based in Goma. The postholder will work closely with the Deputy Country Representative and the MEAL Officer to develop and manage CAFOD’s humanitarian, early recovery, protection and livelihoods programmes in DRC. The postholder will also take forward relationships with key stakeholders and partners at both operational and strategic levels, contribute to the formulation of CAFOD’s strategies and goals, develop programmes to achieve those goals, and carry out the programme and partner appraisal, monitoring, and review needed to implement and manage programmes in line with CAFOD’s values and working principles. In addition, the postholder will initiate strategic alliances where relevant in areas such as advocacy, relief, and early recovery within the DRC programme. 

Key Responsibilities

To manage and develop the programme in conjunction with the Programme Manager (40%):

·       Contribute to the implementation, monitoring and review of CAFOD’s country strategy for DRC.

·       Contribute to the development of new programmes in line with CAFOD’s corporate and country strategic frameworks.

·       Take a key role in managing the Nexus Programme

·       Actively engage in the co-creation and project proposals development of partner organisations and assess the partner organisations’ abilities to manage and implement the proposed project.

·       Monitor the progress of individual projects and the wider impact of CAFOD’s programmes, using the learning from this to inform future programme development.

• Support the development of new proposals responding to various crises, early recovery, and sustainable livelihoods approaches concerning CAFOD’s work in DRC, including making sure partners have a good understanding of the Early Recovery and Sustainable Livelihoods concept.
• Ensure that projects/programmes are properly appraised and presented for approval (via PCM[1] guidelines) that is to say:
• Developing Programme Concept Notes; Programme Framework documents
• Carrying out Programme Organisational Assessments
• Formulating documentation for grant approvals (e.g. Project Summary and Grant Approval, Grant Agreement Document etc)

·       Oversee the work of Programme Accompaniers and technical consultants working on CAFOD programmes.   (The Programme Officer will not be expected to take on the line management of such personnel.)

·       Mainstreaming, in consultation with other relevant staff, advocacy, conflict prevention, anticipatory, environment and gender considerations into CAFOD programmes in the region

Relationship holding with partners and key stakeholders (20%):

• Develop, nurture and manage relationships with CAFOD’s partner organisations in DRC in agreement with the Programme Manager.
• Identify and organise responses to the learning needs of partner organisations in conjunction with CAFOD’s support teams. 

To represent CAFOD’s programme at an operational level (20%):

• Develop, nurture and sustain relationships with relevant local stakeholders, including local government, early recovery and livelihoods-related national networks and other agencies working in DRC.  This will include other Caritas/CIDSE agencies.
• In liaison with the DRC CMT, to sustain relationships with relevant bilateral agencies based in-country, including FCDO and the EU, seeking opportunities for programme funding where applicable.
• Undertake advocacy and information work in support of CAFOD’s programmes with relevant stakeholders in the region and/or elsewhere.
• Lead on preparation of funding applications and reports for external funders, in liaison with the Deputy Country Representative, Senior MEAL Officer and Business Development Lead.
• Liaison and communication with other Departments and Sections within CAFOD to ensure that the programmes are well understood, and that information is available for publications, media briefings, development education, etc.To contribute to the financial accountability of the programme (10%):

• Prepare and monitor budgets relating to both CAFOD and partner-led expenditure in conjunction with the Programme Manager.
• Deliver the programme within an agreed budget.

Programme knowledge and learning (10%):

• Use CAFOD’s programme management information systems effectively to produce management information and support decision-making at both programme and corporate levels.
• Keep up to date with development issues and trends, both within the relevant country/sector and more generally.

Safeguarding

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities. 

Job Specific Competencies

·        At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in humanitarian-development-peace nexus programming.

·        Strong context analysis capabilities and conflict-sensitive programming skills.

·        Proven ability in proposal development and donor report writing.

·        Ability to work effectively in insecure, complex, and rapidly changing environments.

·        Strong programme design and report writing skills.

·        Strong skills in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL).

·        Strong context analysis capabilities and conflict-sensitive programming skills.

·        Significant experience in integrated development work, particularly in Early Recovery, Livelihoods, and Peace.

·        Fluent in written and spoken French and English. 

Desirable Competencies

·        Knowledge of DRC context.

·        Understand and speak local languages in DRC.

·        Knowledge of safeguarding Children is an advantage.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognizes the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behavior as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.