Deputy Country Representative/Programming at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in 93 countries around the world.  CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality.  CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs.  Therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to our approach in every country in which CRS operates.

CRS came to Nigeria in 1960 to provide humanitarian assistance in collaboration with the Catholic Church until it was requested to leave during the Biafran War.  In 1999, CRS opened an office in Nigeria, and greatly expanded HIV/AIDS programming through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2004.  Programmatic areas in Nigeria have since expanded to include all 3 Strategic Program Areas (SPAs) health, agriculture and humanitarian response & recovery as well as cross cutting efforts in capacity building and governance.  CRS in Nigeria is currently implementing two large USAID-funded programs, SHARE & SMILE, focusing on agriculture-livelihoods and orphans and vulnerable children respectively. 

Additionally, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding CRS in Nigeria to pilot a commercially sustainable cassava seed system project where farmers purchase improved quality stems and adopt improved agricultural practices without incentive.  The CORE Group Polio Project, which is a centrally-funded USAID program aimed at eradicating polio, has funded polio programming in Yobe and housed the Secretariat within CRS.  The health team is also continuing work in HIV and AIDS as a sub-recipient with Global Fund and is looking to expand into malaria.  Nigeria was identified as a “Top 12” country for business development based on the many opportunities and the great need with over 100 million people surviving on less than $1.25 per day.

Job Summary
The Deputy Country Representative/Programming (DCR) for CRS/Nigeria is responsible for managing the country program portfolio, anticipating appropriate opportunities for funding in-line with the country and Agency strategy, and ensuring effective partnerships – especially with Church partners – to reach program objectives.  The DCR will lead the programming team with clear planning and priorities then monitor and evaluate progress against those plans.  In this position the DCR will play a key role in promoting teamwork, collaboration, adherence to CRS programming principles, and learning across program teams as well as collaboration between operations and programming.  The DCR is a critical member of the Leadership Team (LT) as well as the Management Team (MT) in the Top 12 country program (CP).

Required Qualifications And Experience

• Master’s Degree in International Development or a relevant technical area such as Health, Agriculture, or Emergency response.
• Minimum 5 years of international development experience managing and implementing multi-faceted programs in developing countries.
• Experience with participatory methods and partnerships required. Demonstrated capacity and experience with institutional strengthening of local civil society and government agencies.
• Experience leading business development, including proposal development, coordination, and positioning.
• Knowledge of key donor regulations.
• Proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams.
• Proven experience in building and maintaining institutional linkages required.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving gender equality and gender responsiveness in programming and operations.
• Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility.
• Demonstrated personal accountability and driven to serve others.
• Understanding of and experience with faith-based organizations, local church structures, and accompaniment and capacity-building principles in local partnerships highly desired.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally as required.