Context/Background

NRC in Cameroun

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) started operating in the Far North region in 2017 and in the North West and South West regions since August 2018 to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations. In May 2019, NRC started operating in the East region with an ICLA project. In the Far North and the North West and South West Regions, NRC is implementing the following core competencies(cc):

• Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA),
• WASH,
• Shelter,
• Livelihoods and Food security (LFS),
• Education

1. Role and responsibilities

The purpose of the Shelter Programme Development Manager(PDM) is to be responsible for the design, development, and implementation of a Shelter programme in a start-up operation. While not considered a start-up, NRC Cameroon has not moved to a structure with CC Specialists. Part of the role of the PDM is to advise on when/if such a switch is possible, and under which circumstances.

The Shelter PDM has national coverage and is responsible for the programme direction, implementation, and quality across the three crises NRC Cameroon is responding to: Far North region, Northwest and Southwest regions, and the East.

The following is a brief description of the role:

Specific responsibilities

• Develop and plan procedures and tools for implementation of Shelter projects in line with proposals, strategies, and donor requirements
• Identify trends in conditions/standards and donor priorities and assess better ways to assist
• Monitor the Shelter projects and ensure high technical quality and synergies
• Monitor technical quality of Shelter projects and maintain transparency of implementation progress
• Scale up and diversify Shelter operational capacity (recruitment & capacity development)
• Promote the rights of people affected by displacement and explore, assess, and promote new and better ways to provide assistance
• Support and integrate Safe Programming and advocacy priorities into Shelter programme design
• Contribute to promoting integrated programming with other Core Competencies (cc) through systematic planning/cooperation with other CC PDMs
• Contribute programme suggestions to promote durable solutions
• Be actively involved with the Shelter working groups / Cluster (national and area level)

Critical interfaces

• Strategy and project planning: Head of Programme in Yaoundé, other PDMs
• Area operations: Area Managers in NW-SW and Far North
• Shelter Cluster at area and national level
• WASH PDM for matrix management of Shelter-WASH teams
• Education PDM for Shelter activities and learning environments
• ICLA PDM for HLP due diligence in Shelter programming
• LFS PDM for rapid response programming

1. Competencies

• Minimum 3 years of experience from a senior level project implementation position in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Emergency & protracted crisis Shelter assistance in rural and urban contexts
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Working proficiency, both written and verbal, in both English and French
• Knowledge of Cameroon is an advantage
• Implementation of Cash and Voucher approaches to support shelter outcomes
• Experience with shelter interventions for the private rental market in urban and peri-urban areas
• Livelihood and Market based approaches
• Strategic thinker with demonstrated experience with use of log frames and theory of changes.
• Behavioural competencies: Managing resources to optimize results; Empowering and building trust

Find link for more details JD-Shelter Programme Development Manager Cameroon Buea Revised.docx

Publication closing date: Monday 22nd August 2022

What We Offer

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative

• 12months contract with possibility of extension
• An opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause
• A chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply but we are also open to external applicants who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.

To apply as an internal candidate, click on the suitcase icon “I am an employee” on the top right of the page to be redirected to NRC’s internal career site

**Apply by completing all the system required fields of your experience in your application**

The International Rescue Committee is a global network with its headquarters in New York. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

The Awards Management Unit (AMU)

Established in January 2016, the Awards Management Unit (AMU) is a global department with the responsibility for identifying, securing, and managing all funding from statutory/government donors. The department is includes the following teams: Program and Award Support, Strategic Partnerships, Compliance and Policy, Business Development, and Training.

The AMU is a bridge between donors and country programs: providing expert technical advice to the country teams, while maintaining portfolio-level visibility to ensure consistency and compliance, and manage risk. This unit ensures that donor compliance policies and procedures are implemented consistently, and supports all staff working across the award management cycle for all restricted funding from global government sources.

The Crisis Response, Recovery and Development (CRRD) Department

The Crisis Response, Recovery and Development (CRRD) Department has a growing portfolio of humanitarian relief, post-crisis recovery, and development programs under their remit. This work focuses support in five key areas: ensuring safety from harm, improving health, increasing access to education, improving economic well-being and ensuring people have the power to influence decisions that affect their lives. In all these programs, there is a drive to address the unique needs of women and girls (who represent the majority of those displaced) – and the universal barriers they face.

The CRRD works across 6 regions globally, including West Africa, East Africa, Great Lakes, Middle East and North Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The regional teams are the links between country offices and key HQ departments, and aim to support and provide advice to country programs with a range of issues from strategic planning, business development to compliance, awards management and partnerships management.

The Purpose of the Role

The Program Development Advisor (PDA) supports West Africa country programs in securing funding for their programmes, through supporting and leading pursuit of new funding opportunities, in line with IRC’s Business Development Strategy. Support includes all phases of the business development process, from opportunity identification to contract signature, including pre-positioning, partnerships building, proposal development, and due diligence phases.

The PDA supports business development in the IRC’s West Africa region, which comprises country programs in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Key Working Relationships

Reports to the Senior Program Development Advisor, West Africa. Works closely with team members of Regional Program and Award Support, Business Development, and across all teams within Awards Management Unit, Crisis Response Recovery and Development Department, Finance, and other key departments within IRC. Donor and partner point of contact as applicable per region.

Key accountabilities

• Help drive business development in the region by providing effective proposal support, ranging from proposal management to comprehensive support and quality assurance.

• Support in building IRC’s visibility with donors, peers, and partners.

• Coordinate proposal development, including sharing initial assessment of new opportunities, preparing timelines, ensuring the proposal team adheres to deadlines, supporting recruitment, assisting in budget development, ensuring document completion, organizing meetings and compiling notes, and drafting and proofreading proposal sections.

• Support country programs in increasing local ownership of projects in alignment with IRC’s partnership strategy, through growing IRC’s collaboration with and support to local organisations in West Africa countries.

• Collaborate with technical units, country offices, and other colleagues to support conceptualization of winning programme and bid designs for new project activities and/or amendments to current projects.

• Coordinate and communicate with consortium partners with consortium partners. Compile inputs from proposal team members, including consultants and partners. Identify partners, consultants, and other proposal development support as needed.

• Provide quality assurance and quality compliance support on proposals. Ensure responsiveness to and compliance with solicitation documents and with IRC’s requirements.

• Collaborate with country programs to successfully position for new funding opportunities. Lead and assist in the identification, tracking and updating of new business opportunities across a variety of technical sectors and donors.

• Lead or support pre-positioning for specific opportunities, including facilitating technical brainstorming, partner and competitor landscape analysis and win theme sessions with technical and country staff.

• Facilitate the identification of consultants and/or additional support for opportunities in collaboration with the country team.

• Facilitate internal post-submission debrief sessions with country teams, technical units, regional team and other relevant stakeholders to collect lessons learned.

• Work with regional program support team colleagues to incorporate lessons learned from implementation at the proposal stage.

• Maintain complete and accurate electronic files, including final submission packages.

Other Responsibilities (5%)

• Contribute to AMU and regional strategic priorities and initiatives.

• Liaise with communications and external relations staff to inform IRC media products as needed.

• Participate in special projects as needed and other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Experience of working on new funding opportunities in humanitarian and international development with a range of multilateral and bilateral donors (USAID, US Department of State, FCDO, EU and ECHO, GFFO, BMZ, Sida, SDC, World Bank, etc.), as well as experience collaborating with local partner organizations.

• Experience in developing and supporting humanitarian and development proposals for NGOs

• Experience with strategies and proposal processes of key government/statutory donors – US, UK, EU, German, Scandinavian, etc.

• Experience in collaborating with and supporting national and community-based partners

• Experience in proposal budgeting a plus

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively collaborate across a variety of relationships in a multicultural environment

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate equally effectively with colleagues in remote and diverse teams, including as team leader for proposals

• Clear, compelling writing skills

• Ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively

• Ability to travel within West Africa (approximately 20% of time)

• Fluency in English and French. Proficiency in German is an asset

• Candidates who are from the region and/or have significant experience in the region are strongly encouraged to apply.

Experience:

• Experience in working at a distance and supporting country-based staff

• Experience writing, reviewing and editing proposals and excellent attention to detail

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation

The IRC started operations in Cameroon in 2016 to respond to the increasing concerns for people affected by violence linked to Boko Haram, in the Far North of the country. Assistance to displaced populations extends across the Far North, delivering lifesaving programming to increase access to water and improving hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash programming to enable poor families to meet basic needs and improve food security, and protection programming, including meeting specific needs of women and girls. Following the increasing crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, the IRC expanded its operations into the South West region in August 2018, delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations. The IRC’s field offices are located in Maroua and Kousseri in the Far North, Buea in the South-West, and a representation office in Yaounde.

IRC Cameroon is committed in its Strategic Action Plan 100 to continue to provide essential humanitarian services, with a focus on safety in communities and ensuring affected populations can meet their basic needs, whilst also building the resilience of beneficiaries, especially women and girls. IRC Cameroon is funded by European and American donors.

Job Overview:

The Grants Coordinator is responsible for the oversight and management for the Grants and Partnership Unit. The Grants Coordinator reports directly to the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) and supervises one Senior Grants Manager, and the partnership manager.

Key in the country and HQ relationships are with the program technical leads, Deputy Director of Finance, Field Coordinators, Award Management Unit, and donors. The Grants Coordinator provides strategic guidance and support to the country office on issues of program development, grants/sub-grants management and compliance, and donor relations. S/he leads proposal development processes and supports variety of aspects of projects cycle management, including information management, problem analysis, evidence-based program design, negotiation with donors and partners, grant and sub- grant monitoring and modifications, reporting, and grant closure.

This position is based in Yaounde with frequent trips to field sites. The Grants Coordinator will work collaboratively with the IRC’s senior management team, the technical coordinators, finance, supply chain, HR, and field management.

Responsibilities:

Program & Business Development

• Lead coordination of proposal development process from Go/No-Go to final submission, gathering input from Technical Coordinators (TCs), M&E staff, Field Coordinators, Deputy Directors of Programs and Operations (DDP/DDO), Finance, Technical Advisors, and ensuring proper review at the Regional and HQ levels.

• Lead coordination of the strategic evaluation & drafting of go-no-go decisions.

• Ensure management of review process through IRC’s electronic grants database, OTIS.

• Work closely with the DDP in supporting facilitation of program design meetings, travelling to field sites & program activities in order to ensure high quality design processes.

• Lead in drafting of non-technical sections of proposals, budget narratives, editing of proposals and review against solicitation requirements and donor rules & guidelines in collaboration with the regional Program Development team.

• In liaison with the West Africa Regional Office and HQ, ensure proposals meet internal standards, including use of IRC’s Outcomes Evidence Framework (OEF) Theories of Change, in line with IRC Cameroon’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP), IMPACT Standards and donor compliance.

• Conduct review of proposal budgets for donor responsiveness and matching technical narrative.

• Act as focal point with donors in-country for the proposal development process.

• Working closely with the DDP, provide inputs to program development strategy through conducting donor mapping, analysis of upcoming opportunities, IRC’s competitive strategy, and updating the program development workplan.

Grants Management & Program Support

• Oversee the grants team in their coordination and management of the grant cycle, from kick-off to close-out, including working with the Field Coordinators and Project Leads for grant/project meetings and budget versus actual (BVA) meetings and ensure communication and follow-up with SMT on issues raised.

• Ensure sound management of reporting requirements, including timely and quality submission to donors.

• Ensure support is provided to field offices for management of project cycle and compliance requirements as per donor agreements.

• Oversee and support the use of spending management tools such as FM01 and BVA for the proper monitoring and the successful implementation of programs and early warning in case of obstacles or challenges.

• Oversee the identification and training of project managers/leads and departmental focal points for each project to ensure the effective and systematic use and implementation of all tools and steps of the Project Cycle Meetings (PCM), ensure updates and dissemination of key reporting, guidance and information tools related to PCM (i.e. project dashboards, updates on actions plans, updates on reporting plans, BVA etc.);

• Conduct regular spot checks and field visits to accessible project sites to work with and support Technical Coordinators (TCs) and Project Managers (PMs) in the effective implementation of PCM tools.

Communications & Representation

• Ensure implementation of in-country communication strategy, managing Grants & Communications Manager to produce external communications materials for use in in-country advocacy and business development efforts.

• Support in-country engagement with donors and key stakeholders.

• Support representation in sectoral, cluster working groups or thematic/ad hoc humanitarian coordination meetings as needed.

Donor Compliance

• Act as focal point with donors in-country on grants management issues for ongoing, past, and potential future projects.

• Review donor agreements and coordinate their review with the relevant IRC HQ office; liaise with the Cameroon Compliance Coordinator as necessary for adherence to donor regulations.

• Ensure that partnership and sub-grant related administrative processes and procedures are consistently implemented throughout the program, including pre-award compliance checks, agreements, and disbursements and reporting.

• Ensure comprehensive grant files are maintained up to date and are available for use by key staff.

Management and Capacity Building

• Supervise the senior grants manager, the partnership manager and provide on-the-job training, discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback regarding performance.

• Support the training and capacity building to all IRC and local partner staff on program reporting, donor compliance, and IRC program specific requirements.

• Work closely with the DDP in developing capacity building plans for the larger Program team.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in international affairs, development or related subject; Masters preferred.

• At least five years of experience working in project and/or grants management and proposal/business development/design in an INGO or similar environment

• International experience with preference in West or Central Africa

• Prior knowledge of donor regulations (UN, USAID (BHA), ECHO, FCDO, Irish Aid, SIDA, GFFO, SDC, etc.)

• Prior demonstrated success in developing projects and writing proposals for range of donors

• Good communicator with strong organizational, time management and analytical skills

• Excellent inter-personal, cultural and diplomatic skills

• Strong writing and editing skills with close attention to detail

• Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements

• Strong capacity to mentor and build capacity of staff

• Ability to juggle competing priorities, meet demanding deadlines and work under pressure in unstable security environment

• Full written and spoken fluency in French and English

• Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite

• IRC experience is an asset

Working Environment

Security: Yaounde is currently security level yellow and has no curfew in place. Maroua and Kousseri are security level orange and the IRC has a curfew in place, while Buea is level red with a curfew in place. The situation is calm though there remains a risk of terrorist attack and kidnap.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC is equal opportunity employer, considered all the candidates on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran or disability.