Country Representative - Niger

ICRNEN

Job Description

Job Purpose

To lead CAFOD’s work and involvement in Nigerin line with CAFOD’s organisational strategyJust One World. The scope of the post falls into the following broad functions:

  • Ownership and responsibility for the implementation and ongoing development of the Niger strategy,as the local expression of CAFOD’s organisational strategyworking closely with and in support of partner organisations to build strong and mutually supportive partnerships
  • Effectiveinternal and external representationof the programme[1], both across CAFOD, and with key local and international stakeholders
  • Resourcing, financial and funding management and accountability, ensuring effective resourcing of theprogramme, strong financial management and stewardship of CAFOD and donor funds
  • Risk & security management, taking responsibility for any associated risks of operating within the programme, ensuring appropriate risk identification, mitigation, monitoring, escalation and resolution
  • Team management, leading on recruitment, management and support of staff
  • Office management, overseeing the effective management of CAFOD’s office and assets in the country; ensuring compliance with all relevant legal frameworks
  • Communication and Learning: Contributing to the strengthening of CAFOD’s institutional response to the challenges in Niger, through shared learning and information for development education

Job Scope

Responsible for managing staff in Niger with multiple partners and programmes; Manage staffing profile within agreed budget; Manage overall budgets, financial planning and authorisation of all expenditure at country level; Manage all financial matters including audits & financial risk at country level; Take responsibility for security management in Niger; Act as the legal representative and prime spokesperson for CAFOD in Niger

The Country Representativeis a member CAFOD’sInternational Development Group (IDG). In emergency responses leadership is exercised in conjunction with amember of theEmergency Response Group (ERG). She/he will be responsible for building effective working relationships with peers within the IDG as well as with colleagues in the ERG and Advocacy/Education Group. This is in order to develop and maintain horizontal links, and to foster learning between programmes, innovation, good practice, and fundraising within and between regions or areas of work. The role also has a number of cross-organisational functions linked to work with CAFOD’sParish Participation, SupporterFundraising, Finance, and Communications Groups.

Accountability

This role reports to the Deputy Head of Region(Africa) and directly manages the following:

  • Programme Officer - Nutrition
  • Programme Officer - DRR
  • Finance and Office Administrator

The post holder manages budgets and funding within the scope of her/his authority, and can act as either “implementing manager” or “corporate due diligence”.

Key Responsibilities

Development and effective delivery of the Niger strategy(35%)

  • Following CAFOD’s Country Strategy guidance, manage the implementation, resourcing, delivery, monitoring, review and ongoing development of thestrategy paper. 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) and are delivered according to appropriate quality standards
  • Develop appropriate Resource Development Plans (RDPs) for the effective delivery of the strategy;
  • Ensure that the strategy includes appropriate consideration of relevant humanitarian issues (particularly emergency response), and promotes coherence and integration
  • Oversee the effective management of our partnership portfolio, placing particular attention to the quality of the relationships with partners (CAFOD’s partnership standards[2]);this includes widening the portfolio within the limits of our capacity and around specific pieces of work or thematic issues
  • Ensure the effective development, implementation and monitoring of programme frameworks, annual plans and reports
  • Provide guidance and support to the management of projects and programmes. Depending on the particular team’s structure, this could be limited to overseeing the work to complement gaps and provide quality assurance, or to get directly involved in management of specific projects and programmes
  • Jointly (with relevant staff in the Emergency Response Group)ensure that CAFOD responds appropriately to requests for humanitarian support (particularly emergency responses), and that monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian programmes takes place in line with relevant standards

Internal and external representation (15%)

  • Act as the key/lead contact (can be delegated as appropriate) in Niger, in relationships with the Catholic Church, Caritas and CIDSE sister agencies, with national and international organisations, and relevant Governmental departments. In emergency response contexts, this responsibility is shared with (or could be taken by)a member of the Emergency Response Group;
  • Hold and maintain good relationship with the local church and Bishops’ Conference
  • Represent CAFOD at key regional meetings in and outside the country as may be agreed by the Deputy Head of Region (e.g. UK Sahel Working group, Caritas Internationalis’ Country Forum)
  • Represent CAFOD at coordination and relevant cluster and consortium meetings in-country, as well as act as the primary spokesperson externally, in agreement with the Deputy Head of Region
  • Maximise opportunities for co-operation around programmes, humanitarian, advocacy and fundraising, with sister agencies and other relevant actors
  • Ensure that the Nigerteam understands and acts upon organisational plans and priorities, and is proactively engaged with teams across CAFOD
  • Participate in divisional and organisational fora and debates (including the Country Representatives Forum), contributing to direction setting, better understanding of organisational and divisional priorities

Resource allocation, fundraising and finance management and accountability (25%)

  • Plan, manage, and review the Nigerprogramme budgets (programmes, office overheads, costs, including donor funded), in line with CAFOD’s financial policies and guidelines
  • Ensure that CAFOD and donor funds are used in the most effective and prudent way, demonstrating good stewardship and compliance with all CAFOD grant management processes, donor policies and procedures
  • In agreement with the Deputy Head of Region and in co-operation with the Emergency Response Group, ensure that the programme seeks funding (including in-country), in line with CAFOD’s strategic priorities and within workload capacity, engaging new and current donors.
  • Explore joint funding opportunities with sister agencies in-country and those not present in Niger
  • Ensure effective country engagement in supporter fundraising and communication processes; informing fundraising priorities, targets and messages.

Risk and Security management (10%)

  • Ensurerisk analysis is undertaken and documented with mitigation actions incorporated into annual plans;
  • Ensure the Country Security and Safety Plan(s) within the line of responsibility are written, up-to-date and accessible, with (a) Standard Operating Procedures developed as appropriate to reflect specific security risks, and (b) contingency plans that include medical evacuation, relocation/evacuation and hibernation;
  • Ensure project and programme-level risk registers are developed, with risk mitigation actions appropriately incorporated into project and programme design;
  • Undertake security risk mapping, engaging with the relevant security co-ordination mechanisms;
  • Provide security updates at regular intervals when required; ensure significant issues are promptly escalated to the Deputy Head of Region.
  • 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; provide security briefing to visiting CAFOD staff, volunteers and those on CAFOD assignment

Staff management (10%)

  • Lead on the recruitment and management of staff according to CAFOD’s management standards, so that staff are empowered, and the effectiveness of the team is maximised;
  • Lead, manage and support direct reports (and staff under shared management arrangements), including ensuring completion of probation, setting objectives, organising regular 1:1 meetings, conducting annual performance reviews, providing coaching, and ensuring team members have individual development plans. The post-holder may be required to manage volunteers and staff remotely;
  • Ensure that all necessary policies and procedures are in place and followed by staff in terms of security, procurement, vehicle management, gender, child protection, use of equipment, medical cover, local terms and conditions.

Country office management (5%)

  • 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(s), including maintenance and protection/security of the building, assets and support systems.
  • Ensure provision of on-the-ground support to visitors(from within or outside CAFOD), in line with previously agreed plans, or within reason.

Notes:

  1. 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;
  2. If considered useful and appropriate, specific percentages per function/areas of responsibilitycan be assigned by agreement between the post holder and his/her line manager.

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

Essential
Understanding our context
A Understanding Catholic identity:able to work within faith based structures
B Understanding CAFOD: committed to and understands Vision, Mission, and Values
C Understanding international development; able to manage programmes inhumanitarian and development contexts; understands NGOs, related quality standards and one or more of the programme areas: Food Security, Livelihoods, Nutrition, Disaster Risk Reduction, Natural Resources Management, Governance, Gender / Working together
D Managing ourselves: sets an example of what to achieve, proactively tackles issues
E Working with others: manages conflict appropriately; can operate in complex structures; understands accountability in humanitarian and development work; builds effective donor relationships.
F Communicating: provides a vision and a clear sense of priorities for the team,
G Looking outwards; Strong understanding of effective values-based partnership work between northern and southern organisations and communities / Making change happen
H Managing resources; Makes effective use of ICT, particularly for distance and cross cultural communication
I Achieving results; Sets an example of what can be achieved, and provides a clear sense of priorities for the team
J Managing our performance: committed to good management practice and able to manage change
K Taking the lead; Leads a team to manage complex programmes in development/humanitarian context; able to cope under pressure; dedicated support to team / Job-specific competencies
I.Strong understanding of key country political, economic, developmental, humanitarian and funding trends.
II.Excellent knowledge of security and risk management, mitigation and escalation.
III. Strong financial management ability
IV.Able and willing to travel for approximately 12 weeks per year, sometimes at short notice and to areas of potential risk
V.Fluent spoken and written French and English


Terms & conditions

Contract / A fixed term 3 year national contract
Salary / Starting salary: 17,760,494 CFA with 10 annual increments up to 21,756,605.76 CFA
Hours / 35 hours per week. Normal CAFOD office hours are 8:00 to 4:00 with one hour for lunch. This post will require some weekend and evening work for which time off in lieu may be taken.
Holidays / 34 days including official holidays and CAFOD days at Christmas/Easter.
Notice period / 3 months either way after completion of the probationary period.
Pensions / There is an optional contributory pension scheme (10% employer and 5% employee contribution). Alternatively, CAFOD will make a similar contribution to a Personal Pension Plan.
Other benefits / Life Assurance, Employee Assistance Programme and the Right to Buy Annual Leave of up to 10 additional days.
Access / We are committed to making every reasonable adjustment to the workplace or working arrangements so as to accommodate people with disabilities.
Location / The post will be based at CAFOD’s Office in Niamey, Niger

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to child protection.

Additional information

25th May 2016

CAFOD

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales.We work with more than 300 partners in over 30 countries across the world to bring hope, compassion and solidarity to poor communities, standing side by side with them to end poverty and injustice. Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching and the experiences and hopes of people living in poverty, CAFOD strives for a safe, sustainable and peaceful world. We work with people of all faiths and none.

International Programme

The International Programme comprises the International Development Group (IDG), Emergency Response Group (ERG) and the Advocacy and Education Group (AEG). Its purpose is to have a lasting impact on poverty and injustice through development and humanitarian programmes (including advocacy), in collaboration with our partners. The International Programme will promote learning, strengthen and empower communities and people in need regardless of their race, gender, religion or politics, and build links between CAFOD supporters and partners overseas.

International Development Group

In close co-operation with partners,[[1]] the International Development Group is responsible for developing and implementing effective programmes that bring about lasting positive impact on poverty and injustice, tackling the root causes that affect the poorest and most disadvantaged people. The Group does this by implementing CAFOD’s organisational strategy Just One World in our different country/sub-regional programmes, and particularly by putting CAFOD’s partnership principles in practice (partnership standards) [2].

Team

The post will be based at CAFOD’s Office in Niamey, Niger

25th May 2016

[1]The references to“the programme”in this Job Description reflect CAFOD’s intention and commitment to deliver through an integrated approach. Therefore, “the programme” includes long-term development, emergency response and advocacy.

[2] These standards are defined and explained in CAFOD’s partnership policy.

[[1]] See CAFOD’s partnership policy