Project manager DRC/DDG Guinea

Do you have experience working on social cohesion, socio-economic recovery or conflict prevention issues? Are you motivated by the challenge of working with a diverse range of stakeholders, from the Mano River Union, to national border authorities and community representatives and are you fluent in French? Then the Danish Refugee Council/Danish Demining Group are looking for you.

Background

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an independent, non-profit organization (NGO), founded on the basis of humanitarian principles, and human rights based approach, to secure the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and to promote long term solutions to the problems of forced displacement. DRC has been working in Guinea since 2008 and its interventions are based out of its office in Nzérékoré. DRC is implementing several projects in Guinea which focus on Ebola prevention, socio-economic recovery, conflict prevention and food security.

Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a specialized unit within DRC which implements mine action and armed violence reduction (AVR) programmes. DDG has operated in West Africa since 2013 with a focus on community-driven approaches to armed violence reduction (AVR). DDG has programmes in Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The MRU region faces numerous critical challenges including conflicts related to ethnic tensions, poverty, land and access to natural resources. While borders offer great opportunities in terms of cross-border trade, they also increase security risks among the neighbouring countries. Border authorities in the region have important training needs but typically lack resources and coordination. Additionally, issues related to extortion, corruption and abuse of power continue, which affect economic development in the region. In addition, the Ebola outbreak has exacerbated existing social tensions.
DRC and DDG have developed a joint project to strengthen the capacity and resilience of communities and border authorities in four zones affected by Ebola in Guinea. The joint project is designed to strengthen security and socio-economic resilience in border communities in 4 zones affected by Ebola. As this is a joint DRC/DDG project, the Project Manager will report to both DRC and DDG Senior Management within the region. The team is composed of approximately 35 employees (based in Guinea, Mali, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire). Project field operations cover 4 border zones and 16 border crossings involving 4 countries (Guinea, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia).

The needs assessment and start up phases of the project have been completed and activities will focus on:

• Capacity development of communities and border authorities, including the Mano River Union field staff
• Restoring trust and building social cohesion in border areas affected by Ebola
• Promoting socio-economic recovery
• Preventing conflict and promoting community safety

Purpose

The Project Manager is responsible for managing this 10-month EU funded cross-border project, and ensuring both quality content and delivery.

Chain of command

The project manager will report to the country director DRC Guinée who is based in Nzérékoré. He/she will ensure close coordination with the DDG Armed Violence Reduction Technical Advisor. He/she will manage supervisors and agents in the four countries and he will be assisted by the administrative teams of Nzérékoré and the other three countries. He will receive technical, programmatic and ad-hoc support from DRC colleagues from the different countries, from the regional office in Abidjan and from the head-office in Copenhagen.

Key Responsibilities
Management:

• Harmonize the approach and implementation of activities in the four countries in connection with other ongoing programs. The coordination role will be particularly important in case of closure of borders between the countries of operation
• Strengthen the analytical capacity and understanding of markets and agricultural sectors in the borders to contribute to poverty reduction by improving the income and food security in a safe and protective environment
• Support to producers’ groups, value chain actors, etc…
• Support to veterinary services, vaccinations, animal husbandry
• Mentor and line-manage project staff and field operations covering 4 border zones and 16 border crossings involving 4 countries (Guinea, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia)
• Promote organisational learning and collaboration between the project and related DRC/DDG initiatives.
• Developing new Food Security and Livelihoods projects:

Coordination and external representation:

• Co-ordinate and work with relevant state-level government authorities, local government institutions, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations and local communities in order to ensure the smooth execution of project activities. This includes Mano River Union regional representatives and their local teams based in border areas (Unites Conjointes)
• Act as representative for the DRC/DDG project in Guinea, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali towards government authorities, donors, partners, UN agencies and international and local NGOs and various local co-ordination forums
• Ensure effective collaboration with DRC and DDG management and related technical advisors for the fully integrated project
• Develop and implement mechanisms to monitor project performance, in consultation with project stakeholders, against work plans and project targets.
• Ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with DRC/DDG and EU policies/procedures.
• Line manage DRC/DDG project implementation team and support staff, and consultants
• Work in close coordination with AVR technical advisor and DRC Guinea Country Director based in Nzerekore

Funding and Grants sustainability:

• Responsible for budget monitoring, financial management and expenses control including compliance with minimum DRC/DDG and donor requirements and ensuring that the necessary systems are in place.
• Supervise the preparation and implementation of sub-contracts related to baseline surveys, end-line surveys, evaluations and any other activities that may need to be sub-contracted to an external supplier of works, services and goods.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Participate in all project reviews and provide technical support for independent evaluations and audits.
• Prepare internal reports, donor’s reports and local authorities’ reports regular and ad hoc reports, as needed
• Preparation of internal reports, donor’s reports and local authorities’ reports.
• Data collection and compilation, according to the project monitoring tools and procedures
  Security
• Attentive and responsive to the security situation on a daily basis and responsible to ensure the communication with the programme staff members.
• Responsible for following DRC Security procedures and at the programmes level in both countries, including Chapter 19 & 20 of the Operations Handbook.
• Ensures that security incidents at the program level are reported to the Country Director

Required Qualifications

• University degree relevant subject (post graduate degree preferred)
• Master’s degree in agronomy or equivalent in the fields or rural development and / or agronomy a plus
• A minimum of 6 years of work experience in project formulation, implementation, coordination and/or management in complex environments.
• 2 + years related experience in Food Security/Livelihoods programming a plus
• Minimum 3 years professional experience in one or several field of experience relevant to the project (irrigation, Farmers Field Schools, Livestock management…)
• Significant experience in engaging with national authorities and donors. Capacity to advocate, liaise and coordinate with various actors.
• Significant experience in participatory community development or local governance is essential.
• Direct operational experience in conflict-affected or post-conflict countries and/or broad knowledge of themes relevant to conflict and/or post-conflict is a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team and work with a minimum of guidance.
• Excellent French and English spoken & written skills
• Demonstrable experience of M&E and beneficiary accountability
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Previous experience in West Africa an asset.

Conditions

Availability*: January 2016Duty station:Nzérékoré, Guinea with frequent travel to project sites in remote border areas of GuineaDuration: 10 months with possibility of extension, subject to performance*Contract*: Level A9. This is a Non Family Duty post. Salary, benefits and other conditions are offered in
accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk

HOW TO APPLY:

Apply before: November 15th 2015

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button hereor go to www.drc.dk and find Current Vacancies. All applicants should send a cover letter and an updated CV no longer than four pages, both in the same language as the vacancy note.