Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
BACKGROUND
An outbreak of the highly lethal Ebola virus disease began in Guinea in December 2013, which led to almost 25,000 cases and more than 9,700 deaths in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
In addition to the direct health impacts of the epidemic, quarantines, border closures, and decreased agricultural activity have negatively affected food security. Poor, market-dependent households in areas worst affected by Ebola are predicted to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity in Spring 2015 due to decreased incomes and purchasing power.
While Ebola has affected the entire country, the Forest Region has been particularly hard hit. Both Nzérékoré and Macenta Prefectures in the Forest Region are now in the FEWS NET Stressed (Integrated Phase Classification – IPC Phase 2) food security category, currently have Ebola cases, and have had the greatest crop decline since the outbreak began. In a November and December 2014 Catholic Relief Services/Guinea rapid food security assessment, 61% of households surveyed identified price as the major obstacle to food access, while only 12% noted availability as a challenge. Further assessment in January and February 2015 revealed that, while production and trade have decreased, markets are still largely functional.
In response to the food access issues outlined above and with financial support from Food For Peace, CRS and its local implementing partner the Organisation Catholique pour la Promotion Humaine (OCPH – Caritas Guinea) will assist 2,000 vulnerable Ebola-affected families (10,000 individuals) in meeting their monthly food needs through the lean season, with 8 monthly distributions of value-based vouchers redeemable for food in local markets through November 2015. CRS will target Macenta and Nzérékoré Prefectures with a focus on peri-urban areas due to higher proportions of market-dependent households. CRS is seeking a Food Security Manager to lead this project.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS POSITION
The primary responsibility of the Food Security Manager is to work closely with two national Project Officers, partner staff, and CRS/Guinea’s Head of Programs (HoP) to implement and monitor/report project activities. The FSM will ensure a high level of accountability for CRS resources, will promote technical excellence in programming, and will identify other needs and programming opportunities as appropriate.
The primary responsibility of the Food Security Manager is to work closely with two national Project Officers, partner staff, and CRS/Guinea’s Head of Programs (HoP) to implement and monitor/report project activities. The FSM will ensure a high level of accountability for CRS resources, will promote technical excellence in programming, and will identify other needs and programming opportunities as appropriate.
SPECIFC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION
Program Quality and Management • Lead the field-level implementation of activities using appropriate CRS project management tools to plan, review and track progress and quality by the program team and local partners, with guidance from the HoP.
• Regularly monitor field-level activities and work with local partners (OCPH/Caritas) to resolve obstacles to timely, quality, and accountable implementation. Proactively raise issues with the HoP and/or Head of Operations as appropriate.
• Assist in identifying and developing new needs/growth opportunities and/or opportunities for strategic partnerships or synergies between CRS projects or between CRS and other agencies.
• Directly supervise two CRS national Project Officers, including setting and supporting their progress towards their annual performance/development goals, with support from HoP and CRS/Guinea Human Resources department.
Program Quality and Management • Lead the field-level implementation of activities using appropriate CRS project management tools to plan, review and track progress and quality by the program team and local partners, with guidance from the HoP.
• Regularly monitor field-level activities and work with local partners (OCPH/Caritas) to resolve obstacles to timely, quality, and accountable implementation. Proactively raise issues with the HoP and/or Head of Operations as appropriate.
• Assist in identifying and developing new needs/growth opportunities and/or opportunities for strategic partnerships or synergies between CRS projects or between CRS and other agencies.
• Directly supervise two CRS national Project Officers, including setting and supporting their progress towards their annual performance/development goals, with support from HoP and CRS/Guinea Human Resources department.
MEAL and Reporting
• Manage the project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) plan, with particular emphasis on accountability and transparency. Lead in-field learning events, debriefs, etc. and ensure documentation and sharing of lessons learned. Ensure prompt collection, analysis, and sharing of all project data, especially commodity/market monitoring.
• Manage the project’s Protection Mainstreaming plan.
• Ensure the appropriate use of ICT tools for project implementation (barcode scanning) and monitoring; report and address (if applicable) issues encountered during their use (with support from HoP and CRS/Guinea’s IT Manager).
• Conduct period reviews of paper vouchers, market supply, vendors, etc. to check against electronic reports.
• Draft timely and high-quality donor narrative reports, indicator tracking tables, baseline and final evaluation reports, as well as other reports needed/required by the local government, donors, CRS regional or headquarters management.
Budgeting, Financial Planning and Compliance
• Working closely with local partners, ensure timely and appropriate expense forecasting and liquidation (especially for vendor payments) to avoid program stoppage and ensure optimal use of project resources.
• Review local partner financial reports against narrative reports and against project implementation plans, and give feedback prior to CP approval of expenses.
• Assist local partners in timely and appropriate preparation of requests for operational advances to.
• Regularly review and analyze trends in financial reports, with support from HoP.
• Ensure grant management compliance (adherence to CRS’ sub-recipient financial management policy, etc.) based on guidance/feedback from HoP and Operations department.
• Manage the project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) plan, with particular emphasis on accountability and transparency. Lead in-field learning events, debriefs, etc. and ensure documentation and sharing of lessons learned. Ensure prompt collection, analysis, and sharing of all project data, especially commodity/market monitoring.
• Manage the project’s Protection Mainstreaming plan.
• Ensure the appropriate use of ICT tools for project implementation (barcode scanning) and monitoring; report and address (if applicable) issues encountered during their use (with support from HoP and CRS/Guinea’s IT Manager).
• Conduct period reviews of paper vouchers, market supply, vendors, etc. to check against electronic reports.
• Draft timely and high-quality donor narrative reports, indicator tracking tables, baseline and final evaluation reports, as well as other reports needed/required by the local government, donors, CRS regional or headquarters management.
Budgeting, Financial Planning and Compliance
• Working closely with local partners, ensure timely and appropriate expense forecasting and liquidation (especially for vendor payments) to avoid program stoppage and ensure optimal use of project resources.
• Review local partner financial reports against narrative reports and against project implementation plans, and give feedback prior to CP approval of expenses.
• Assist local partners in timely and appropriate preparation of requests for operational advances to.
• Regularly review and analyze trends in financial reports, with support from HoP.
• Ensure grant management compliance (adherence to CRS’ sub-recipient financial management policy, etc.) based on guidance/feedback from HoP and Operations department.
Representation, Coordination, Communication and Security Management
• Communicate regularly with local actors and stakeholders re: project progress, and generally represent CRS in relevant coordination meetings.
• Assist in the coordination of visits of CRS, donor and partner staff as needed to program sites.
• Personally adhere to, and ensure team’s adherence to, CRS/Guinea and project-specific security guidelines in Conakry and the field; proactively raise security concerns with Head of Programs and Head of Operations.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
• Communicate regularly with local actors and stakeholders re: project progress, and generally represent CRS in relevant coordination meetings.
• Assist in the coordination of visits of CRS, donor and partner staff as needed to program sites.
• Personally adhere to, and ensure team’s adherence to, CRS/Guinea and project-specific security guidelines in Conakry and the field; proactively raise security concerns with Head of Programs and Head of Operations.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internal: HoP, HoOPs, CR, Finance Manager; Ebola Regional Food Security Manager, DRD/PQ, Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) technical advisors for food security and market-based assistance.
External: OCPH (Caritas Guinea), WFP, Ministry of Agriculture, and other INGOs working on the Ebola Response, Relevant GOG Departments.
Supervisory responsibilities: The Food Security Manager will directly supervise two national Project Officers.
Internal: HoP, HoOPs, CR, Finance Manager; Ebola Regional Food Security Manager, DRD/PQ, Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) technical advisors for food security and market-based assistance.
External: OCPH (Caritas Guinea), WFP, Ministry of Agriculture, and other INGOs working on the Ebola Response, Relevant GOG Departments.
Supervisory responsibilities: The Food Security Manager will directly supervise two national Project Officers.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s Degree in Economics, Agriculture, Public Health, International Development, or related field.
- At least 3 years international program management experience; previous experience managing emergency/recovery projects. Strong preference for a candidate with experience using market-based modalities in emergency/recovery contexts.
- Demonstrated strong ability with project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc.
- Strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point); experience in ICT4D/E (especially iForm) is strongly preferred.
- Experience with capacity strengthening and partnership building, especially with local Church partners.
- Knowledge of Sphere emergency guidelines, including MEAL guidelines and best practices.
- Ability and willingness to work and live in a challenging and potentially unstable environment.
- The targeted implementing area (Forest Region) is comprised of a variety of religious, ethnic, and livelihoods groups. Underlying tensions periodically erupt into violence, especially around election time. The Food Security Manager must have a commitment to and proven track record in managing accountable, transparent, and inclusive programming in complex contexts.
- Ability to work independently, but also coordinate effectively as part of a team.
- Ability to lead a multi-cultural team with a high level of respect for local culture.
- Preferred: Familiarity with USG donors and guidelines.
Physical Requirements/Environment: The position will be based in Conakry, Guinea, with frequent travel to Nzerekore where CRS is establishing a sub-office. Additional travel will be within Nzerekore and Macenta sub-prefectures in the Forest Region is required. In Nzerekore, CRS has office space on-site with local partner OCPH and is currently setting up a guest house. UN flights operate four times per week between Nzerekore and Conakry.
This is a non-dependent post.
Foreign Language Required: Professional proficiency in English and French.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
EOE/M/F/D/V
