Country Representative at Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

Job Description

• The purpose of this role is to lead CAFOD’s work and involvement in Nigeria, in line with CAFOD’s organisational strategy, Our Common Home. CAFOD’s programme work is underpinned by an Integral Ecology Programme Model, where Programme Strategies are developed with partners to focus on addressing the causes and symptoms of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation.
•  The scope of this post falls into the following broad functions:
  • Ownership and responsibility for the development and delivery of the Nigeria strategy, including having oversight of the programme portfolio and ensuring quality standards are met;
  • Internal and external representation
  • Accountability for resourcing, and financial and funding management
  • Risk & security management
  • Team management
  • Country Office management
• The post-holder is a member of the International Programme Group and they will lead CAFOD work in Nigeria.
• This role will work closely with other teams across CAFOD including; Programme Quality & Capacity Strengthening Team, Emergency Response and Support Team, Advocacy, Communications & Education Group, and Finance teams.
• The post holder will be expected to undertake frequent travel (up to 12 weeks per year).

Key Responsibilities
Development and effective delivery of the Nigeria strategy:

• Following CAFOD’s Integral Ecology Programme Model, manage the effective development, resourcing, delivery, monitoring and review of the core programme strategy. In particular:
• Ensure that the projects and programmes in the strategy are consistent with CAFOD’s organisational identity (Vision/Mission/Values, ethos, strategy and priorities).
• Ensure application of programme quality standards, including safeguarding, dignity and inclusion, and integration;
• Oversee the effective management of our partnership portfolio, placing particular attention to the quality of the relationships with partners (As per standards from CAFOD’s Partnership Policy).
• Accountable for ensuring capacity strengthening processes are in place, and developing opportunities for more systematic learning and sharing among partners and within CAFOD;
• Provide oversight of and support to the management of projects and programmes.
• Ensure that CAFOD responds appropriately to humanitarian crises and requests for humanitarian support.

Internal and external representation:
Act as the key/lead contact (can be delegated as appropriate) in Nigeria, in relationships with the Catholic Church, Caritas and CIDSE sister agencies, UN, and with national and international organisations, and relevant Governmental departments.

• In agreement with the Head of Region, act as the primary spokesperson internally and externally (e.g. media spokesperson; sign-off of communication/media-related material; etc) for CAFOD’s work in Nigeria;
• Maximise opportunities for co-operation around programmes, humanitarian, advocacy and fundraising, with sister agencies and other relevant actors.
• Ensure that the Nigeria team understands and acts upon organisational plans and priorities, and is proactively engaged with teams across CAFOD, and with supporter fundraising and communication processes;
• Participate in group and organisational fora and debates, contributing to direction setting, better understanding of organisational priorities, and stronger engagement with peers to facilitate learning and maximise opportunities across CAFOD.

Resource allocation, fundraising and finance management and accountability;

• Overall budget responsibility and oversight, including plan, manage, and regularly review budgets (staffing, office, programme, donor) in line with CAFOD’s financial policies and procedures.
• Ensure that core and donor funds are used in the most effective and prudent way, demonstrating good stewardship and compliance.
• Ensure annual country programme and/or project audits are undertaken as appropriate; in accordance with CAFOD’s financial guidelines; and in co-operation with the relevant finance teams.
• Ensure effective country/sub-regional engagement in supporter fundraising and communication processes.
• Ensure implementation and regular review of CAFOD’s funding strategy, including horizon scanning, networking and ensuring the country team is accessing and managing institutional funding in accordance with CAFOD’s strategic objectives, policies and procedures.

Risk management:

• Ensure country-level risk analysis is undertaken and documented during IEPM Core Programme Development and review processes, with risk mitigation actions incorporated into annual plans. This includes risk analysis around safety, access, dignity, inclusion, gender and supply chain management.
• Ensure partner and donor funding risk management processes are undertaken in accordance with CAFOD policies and procedures.

Security management:

• Undertake regular review of security risk, engaging with the relevant security co-ordination mechanisms.
• Ensure the Country Safety and Security Plan(s) are written, up-to-date and accessible.
• Lead on staff security and safety (including in-country crisis management), ensuring all necessary policies and procedures are in place and followed;
• Act as primary security manager for visitors to the country/sub-regional programme.
• Oversee the management of the CAFOD office, including ensuring legal compliance, maintenance and protection/security of the building, assets and support systems.
• Ensure provision of on-the-ground support to visitors.

Country office management:

• Ensure legal compliance (e.g. CAFOD’s registration in-country; tax legislation, etc.), keeping documentation up-to-date and secure, and ensuring registration-related documentation is shared with relevant teams (e.g. International Operations Team and Finance).
• Oversee the management of CAFOD office, including maintenance and protection/security of the building, assets, policies and support systems. This includes computer software and hardware, vehicles, bank accounts and procurement.

People management:

• Lead, manage, develop and support the team / team managers / direct reports by championing our purpose and values through; building strong and safe working relationships, setting SMART objectives and conducting performance reviews, nurturing staff career development. Encouraging collaborative ways of working and aiding staff to be adaptable to change whilst engaging with the external and internal context.

Safeguarding:

• Your role is responsible for ensuring that both you and your staff understand and implement minimums on programme quality into your work (related to safety, accessibility, dignity and inclusion) and that all safeguarding standards are upheld and reported on effectively.
• 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.
• This list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Person Specification
Essential Criteria:

• Understanding our context
• Understanding Catholic identity: I recognise the intrinsic dignity of every person and the importance of contributing to the common good
• Understanding CAFOD: I understand, demonstrate and actively support CAFOD’s vision, mission and values and what we aim to achieve
• Understanding international development: I have an understanding of the nature and causes of world poverty and how it affects different individuals, groups and communities. I have in-depth knowledge of development, humanitarian and nexus strategies and experience in working with these in fragile settings.

Working together:

• Managing ourselves: I am aware of my own development needs and take steps to address them. I am self-motivated, proactive and able to work independently
• Working with others: I embrace the culture of those we are working with to better understand their needs and perspectives
• Communicating: I actively listen to others; I keep colleagues informed of developments that may affect them. I have excellent communication skills and can articulate complex information to a range of audiences. I can represent the organisation with multiple stakeholders
• Looking outwards: I focus on how CAFOD can make a real difference to the lives of those in poor or marginalised communities.

Making change happen:

• Managing resources: I am clear about available resources and how they can be best used. I am careful in the use of resources, including other people’s time. I am experienced in the management of complex and demanding budgets.
• Achieving results: I have a clear sense of priorities. I keep focused on the work to be done. I have a track record of delivery in challenging circumstances.
• Managing our performance: I provide and seek regular constructive feedback on my performance
• Taking the lead: I take the lead in identifying solutions and making change happen. I lead my team by modelling expected behaviours. I demonstrate excellent leadership and management capabilities.

Job Specific Competencies

• Strong understanding and first-hand experience of effective and values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities.
• Strong understanding and considerable experience of international development and humanitarian programme management and related quality standards.
• Strong understanding of key Nigeria/West Africa political, economic, developmental and humanitarian trends.
• Strong understanding and first-hand experience of institutional funding priorities in Nigeria, trends and donor conditions. Proven ability to build effective donor relationships.
• Knowledge and first-hand experience of strategic risk management, mitigation and escalation.
• Proven experience of security management.
• Strong financial management understanding and first-hand experience.
• Ability and willingness to travel for approximately 12 weeks per year, sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous work experience in similar role in Nigeria.