Programme Officer, Peace Building and Governance at Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

Contract Type: Fixed Term
Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Job Profile

• We are currently looking for a Programme Officer Governance and Peace Building to be based in Abuja, Nigeria.
• As part of the CAFOD Nigeria Programme Team, the programme officer will be responsible for the following:
  • Programme monitoring and development in line with the direction set by the Nigeria Country Strategy: in co-operation with partners, developing CAFOD supported long-term peacebuilding, Governance and Gender programmes;
  • Delivery of institutionally funded projects: provide operational guidance and oversight to the EU-funded project referenced above to ensure its implementation to the highest possible standard;
  • Managing effective relationships with partners: developing and nurturing partnerships and providing or facilitating capacity strengthening support, where appropriate;
  • Internal and external representation: of the Nigeria programme, in co-ordination with the Country Representative and country team, as appropriate;
  • Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects: developing and managing budgets, and monitoring expenditure in line with agreed parameters;
  • Systems and compliance: ensuring the effective use of CAFOD’s systems to share programme knowledge and inform decision making. This includes ensuring compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work, including donors compliance requirements, humanitarian and CAFOD codes of conduct and Child safeguarding policy;
  • Thematic focus : complement partners’ thematic understanding on peacebuilding, Governance and Gender, contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring about positive change, in line with CAFOD vision, mission and values.

Key Responsibilities
Programme management and development in line with the direction set by the Country Strategic Paper /Thematic Programme Framework:

• In co-operation with partners, develop and manage CAFOD-supported programmes (this includes long-term development, peace building, Governance and Gender), contributing to the development and contribute to the review of CAFOD’s Nigeria strategy and programme frameworks;
• Jointly responsible with partners for the effective planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation (including facilitating external evaluations) and reporting on programmes, in line with jointly agreed standards (programme cycle management) and donor requirements;
• In agreement with partners, jointly develop programme and project proposals and assess the existing capacities to manage and implement the work. This includes leading on preparation of funding applications and reports for external funders, in liaison with the Programme Development Funding Officer, Country Representative and the development of partner capacity development plans to address capacity issues;
• Set up and organize a robust monitoring, evaluation and accountability system that Promotes, captures and disseminates learning from partners and programmes, ensuring that this informs future programme development;
• Realise CAFOD’s principles by acting in line with CAFOD’s partnership standards, and by promoting and supporting partners’ adherence to jointly agreed accountability, gender, safeguarding children, supply chain management/procurement good practice, and other standards, as these emerge;
• Contribute, where appropriate and in agreement with partners, to advocacy and information work in support of partners efforts, with relevant stakeholders in the country, region and/or globally;
• Oversee and support (where appropriate) the work of Programme Accompaniers and consultants working on CAFOD-supported programmes;
• Respond to emergencies as they occur, as requested by the Country Representative, and in co-ordination with CAFOD’s Emergency Response Group;
• Keep up-to-date with development issues and trends, both within Nigeria or the peacebuilding sector, and more consistently engage with the governance and gender clusters / working groups;
• Monitor the political and security context to contribute to organisational and programme risk assessments and security plans

Managing effective relationships with partners:

• Develop, nurture and manage relationships with CAFOD’s partner organisations in line with the principles and standards set in our Partnership Policy, guidance and tools, and in agreement with the Programme Manager; This includes partnerships arising from the EU-funded project referenced above including local leaders, academic and research institutions, artists and media actors, CSOs and government actors.
• Work with partners to regularly assess the quality of the relationship, ensuring that effective communication channels are in place, and that any shortcomings are addressed;
• Invest in partners’ capacities, by jointly identifying needs, developing plans to strengthen capacities, identifying sources of support, and allocating resources. This can be through a facilitator or by direct provision of specific capacity strengthening support;
• Support partners in accessing the tools and support required to successfully implement capacity development plans;
• Organise (and where relevant accompany) partners’ visits.

Internal and external representation:

• In co-ordination with the Country Representative develop, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, including local government, national networks and other agencies working in Nigeria on peace-building and governance, as well as other sectors to ensure multisector integration and collaborative complementarity. This will include other Caritas/CIDSE agencies, Clusters or working groups and other forums as delegated by the Country Representative;
• In agreement with the Country Representative, contribute to the sustenance of relationships with relevant bi-lateral agencies, including technical focal points in the EU, DfID, USAID, The world bank, UNDP and others, seeking opportunities for programme funding, where applicable;
• Communicate with other teams within CAFOD to ensure that the programme, including the EU-funded project referenced above, is well understood, and that information is available for fundraising and other communication, including publications, media briefings, education, etc. This may involve participation in sessions/events with Supporters, communities of practice, working groups, etc., as agreed with the relevant manager.

Financial management and monitoring of programmes and projects:

• In close co-operation with the relevant roles in the finance and funding teams, prepare, manage and monitor budgets relating to both CAFOD and partner-led expenditure, as agreed with the Country Representative;
• Deliver the programme within agreed budgets or instigate motivated budget revisions according to evolving needs, in line with CAFOD’s finance guidelines and procedures;
• Develop relevant risk registers and monitor them in conjunction with the Country Representative;
• In collaboration with Finances, provide support to partners in interpreting and implementing donor and CAFOD financial compliance rules, guidelines and requirements
• Where appropriate, cooperate with finances to commission and manage (with partners) audits for programmes and projects;
• Carry out partner financial profiles and reviews, in co-operation with the finance team.

Systems and compliance:

• Effectively use CAFOD’s programme management information systems[2] to ensure programme and project information is up-to-date. This will include producing management information to support decision making;
• Ensure compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work.

Thematic focus:

• Complement partners’ thematic understanding on peacebuilding, governance and gender sectors contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring about positive change.
• Contributing to the delivery of CAFOD’s EU-funded project including ensuring a successful delivery of the project in line with donor compliance and hence strengthening CAFOD’s relationship with the EU nationally and globally.

Child Protection

• CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children, 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 and young people and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
• CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children, seeing these interests as paramount.

Key Competencies
Understanding our context:

• Understanding international development: Understanding and experience of international development and programme management and quality standards within this context

Working together:

• Communicating; Able to communicate with colleagues and partners at a distance
• Looking outwards; Understanding of effective and values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities.

Making change happen:

• Managing resources Computer literacy i.e. familiar with Microsoft word, excel and knowledge of information and database management; Budget monitoring skills
• Achieving results; Able to manage competing work demands

Job-specific Competencies

• Understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding work/projects, priorities, trends and donor conditions;
• Experience using programme cycle management tools effectively to deliver work within an agreed programme framework;
• Able and committed to working with and developing the capacity of local partners organisations/ National NGOs;
• Financial management understanding and experience;
• Ability and willingness to travel (approximately 12 weeks per year), sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk
• Fluency in spoken and written English, knowledge of French and Hausa languages will be an advantage.
• Thematic experience in Peace, peacebuilding, governance & rule of law, culture and interreligious tolerance.

Salary
NGN 7,225,395 - 8,851,110 per annum.