Economic Recovery (ECREC) Coordinator

Job title: Economic Recovery (ECREC) Coordinator

Line Manager: Head of Programme (HoP)

Technical line manager: Regional ECREC Coordinator

Duty Station: Yaounde with frequent field visits

Area of Operation: Adamawa, East and Southwest regions

Duration: 1 year

Type of contract: Expatriate

Salary & Benefits: G1 band

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1. Background

DRC has been operating in West Africa since 1998. The DRC West Africa, North Africa, and Latin America Regional Office is based in Dakar, Senegal, and covers twelve countries outside of Senegal. The Cameroon country office opened in 2018 and currently includes a coordination office in the capital Yaoundé, an area office in Buea covering the Northwest and Southwest regions, and an area office in Meiganga covering the Adamaoua and East regions.

DRC Cameroon implements several projects in its operational areas with strong ECREC components (including food security and livelihoods activities) and other sectoral activities (protection and shelter/NFIs) for which a protection mainstreaming approach is promoted. We are looking for an experienced humanitarian professional with excellent knowledge in the economic recovery (ECREC) sector and project implementation skills to lead our ECREC strategic approach in Cameroon.

2. Purpose

The ECREC Coordinator works in close collaboration with the coordination team of DRC Cameroon based in Yaounde as well as the ECREC/programme teams based in the two intervention areas. The two primary objectives of the role are as follows:

• Provide technical support to operational teams through capacity building and close coaching/monitoring of programme implementation for all ECREC activities across the three ECREC core sectors food security, livelihoods, and financial inclusion,
• Provide technical support to operational teams through capacity building and close coaching/monitoring of programme implementation for all cash and voucher assistance (CVA) activities and market systems approaches (MSA) across DRC’s sectors.
• Supervise the development and implementation of the Country ECREC strategy and support capacity and portfolio development.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

Coordination and representation

• Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical experts on ECREC, CVA, MSA and other related issues
• Represent DRC at relevant coordination meetings and clusters/working groups
• Ensure good representation and reputation of ECREC sector at all levels
• Disseminate information internally on sector-wide developments at country level
• Keep abreast of relevant activities implemented by other organisations in Cameroon and ensure complementarity of DRC’s interventions, and assess possibilities collaboration with HoP
• Coordinate with DRC counterparts in other countries of the region and beyond and take active part in DRC internal workshops and events organised on topics related to the ECREC sector.

General programming & operations

• Develop/update Country ECREC Strategy and disseminate to field teams
• Ensure the monitoring and technical supervision of quality of ECREC interventions
• Provide support to Programme Managers in implementing ECREC components of programme while ensure respect of project proposal/logframe, budget, workplan and MEAL plan
• Conduct evaluation of needs in capacity building and training of programme/ECREC teams and deliver appropriate trainings/development training curriculum
• Support quality data collection and management for ECREC data through close collaboration with MEAL teams
• Provide support to field teams in strengthening capacity of partner CSOs
• Ensure quality and compliance with minimum standards in the implementation of ECREC activities (DRC’s and global guidance/standards)
• Ensure adaptive transfer value based on social safety nets value and/or MEB for DRC’s cash transfers.

Programme development

• Lead on the development of proposals for ECREC activities in coordination with Area Managers, Programme Managers, other Technical Coordinators and the Head of Programme
• Assist in developing programme workplans and budgets for new proposals
• Contribute to the development of programme monitoring tools for ECREC activities and ensure capturing of lessons learned
• Ensure new proposals respect international and national food security/early recovery cluster and cash working group standards, DRC ECREC guidance and other global best practices
• Support the HoP and CD in donor relationship management to obtain new funding for DRC’s programming in Cameroon
• Provide inputs into programme reports .

As coordinator, the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Responsible for coordinating the country ECREC strategy
• Responsible for supporting the programme quality of ECREC operations within Cameroon
• Technical line management responsibility towards the ECREC teams in the field
• Collaboration and coordination with Regional ECREC Coordinator and contribute to regional and global ECREC activities
• Any other ad hoc tasks upon request of HoP or CD.

4. Required Qualifications

Essential experience and technical expertise :

• At least 5 years of practical experience in the humanitarian sector and in the thematic of food security, livelihoods
• Strong experience in implementing cash-based assistance interventions
• Practical experience and up to date knowledge in:

o Concepts, methodologies and effective ways of supporting livelihoods in relation to key DRC activities: employability, income generation and support for entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, support and development of technical and interpersonal skills, development of value chains, etc.

o Current trends in the area of economic recovery: building self-sufficiency, graduation focus, private and public partnerships, and innovative approaches

o Concepts, evaluation methodologies and design of cash-based assistance programmes

o Market assessment and analysis, ability to support the development of market-based programs

Proven experience in programme planning and proposal development including budgeting

Experience with providing direct and remote technical support to operational teams

Experience in working with local partners, local authorities and other INGOs in consortium

Full professional proficiency in English and in French, including excellent writing skills in both languages

• Experience in facilitating training in the following sectors: VSLA, IGA business development, entrepreneurship etc
• Good understanding of the Central African/Cameroonian context would be added value.

Education

• Master’s degree in political science, international development, economic studies or other relevant field
• Any other relevant professional training.

5. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Excellent writing, proof-reading, and communication skills;
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills;
• Strong ability to adapt, take initiative and work in a multicultural environment;
• Interest for humanitarian sector and donor’s environment;
• Listening, analytical and synthesis skills;
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required;
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace.

6. General regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request;
• Ability to work in a team and a good sense of humour.