Program Quality Coordinator (readvert)

• Position Title: Program Quality Coordinator
• Supervised by: Area Manager
• Reporting to: Head of Program
• Duty Station: Buea – Southwest region – Cameroon
• Area of Operation: Southwest region – Cameroon
• Employment Period: 12 months
• Type of Contract: Expatriate or National Contract
• Salary & Benefits: Non Management.G1

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

The West and Central Africa, North Africa and Latin America (WANALA) region has 73 bases spread around three main areas in 12 countries: 43 in West Africa (former WARO), 11 in North Africa (former NARO) and 19 in the Americas.

Under the leadership of the regional office in Dakar and closely linked to interventions in neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), DRC began operations in Cameroon in 2018 by responding to the humanitarian needs of refugees from CAR and vulnerable Cameroonians in the Adamaoua region. Currently, DRC operates a regional office in Meiganga and two sub-offices in Djohong (Adamaoua region) and Garoua-Boulai (Eastern region). Interventions focus on finding durable solutions for the most vulnerable, using the holistic approach of graduation to improve both protection and economic recovery. Interventions include identifying key protection risks and inter-population conflicts to identify social cohesion and conflict resolution projects that will bring communities together. The Emergency Mobile Team (EMPACT) established DRC’s program presence in the Southwest region in late 2018 to address the needs of forcibly displaced people in the context of the Anglophone crisis, beginning humanitarian activities in January 2019. DRC operates in the Meme and Fako divisions, with an office in Buea. Programming focuses in rural and hard-to-reach areas to meet people’s basic needs for food, shelter, and NFIs, while improving the protection environment and providing income generation opportunities.

2. Overall purpose of the role:

Under the line management of the Area Manager, and in close collaboration with the Programme Managers (ECREC, Protection and MEAL team), as well as with the Coordination Team in Yaoundé Country Office (Head of Programme, MEAL, technical coordinators), the Programme Quality Coordinator is responsible for:

• The area project proposal development processes, (including budget development with support from DRC finance team).
• Technical support on the quality of DRC Cameroon programming in support of the programme

coordination team (HOP, MEAL, technical coordinators).

• Programmatic quality assurance of DRC projects in the Southwest and Northwest Regions.
• Area level grants management including donor compliance and coordination of report drafting.
• Support for the management of local partnership and compliance processes.

3. Responsibilities:

Project Proposal Design and Development:

• Support the DRC Area and Country programmatic strategies and project proposal development processes through effective collaboration with the Programme Managers and coordination with the Coordination Team in the Country Office, following and respecting mutually agreed deadlines.
• Provide guidance to the field teams on requirements included in donor guidelines.
• Work closely with Grants- officer and HOP in coordination office to agree on retro-planning, timelines, and processes for proposal development processes.
• Support needs analysis and needs assessments to define activities based on this analysis.
• Contribute to the development of projects’ logic and propose activities consistent with overall projects’ structure.
• Organize regular project development meetings in area level and consultations with external partners as required and needed.
• Support the budget development processes in collaboration with the support services/finance department.

Programmatic Quality Assurance:

• Ensure analysis and incorporation of lessons learned and other reports/evaluations etc. from past programming into ongoing projects and new designs.
• Provide technical support, guidance, and tools to base programme teams for implementation and during the proposal development processes.
• Coordinate meetings, brainstorming sessions and ensure communication between all parties involved in the project proposals.
• Ensure the management of information related to the activities, in close collaboration with the MEAL Programme Manager.
• Propose in coordination with the MEAL Specialist and the technical coordinators, a strategy for the collection, analysis and sharing of learning and good practices within the organization’s programmes and ensures its application through the development and monitoring of tools.
• Based on identified needs and in coordination with the technical coordinators, develop and contextualize SOPs to guide the implementation of activities
• Conduct Field Visits as necessary.
• Participation to monthly BFU meetings and ensure, in collaboration with the PM, the accuracy of the forecasted expenses related to activities.
• Coordinate donor report drafting and incorporation of feedback from Coordination Office to finalise reports and annexes.

Contract and partnerships management:

• Support partnership capacity assessments of local implementing partners, as appropriate.
• Ensure, in collaboration with the Programme Managers, that donor and DRC guidelines and deadlines are known by project teams of local partners.
• Oversee the signing and registration of partnership contracts.
• Ensure the quality of reports and amendments as per donor regulations.
• Oversees the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships with national NGOs.

In addition to the above, the Programme Quality Coordinator may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Area Manager.

4. Required Qualifications

Mandatory:

• At least 5 years of experience in similar position.
• Master’s degree in social sciences, political science, international relations, humanitarian or development studies, or any other field relevant to the position.
• Proven experience in project development and/or project implementation within an international humanitarian nongovernmental organization
• Knowledge of Protection, Economic Recovery, Food Security and Livelihoods, Emergency programming.
• Knowledge of donor rules and procedures.
• Proven experience in writing project proposals and donor reports.
• Excellent budgeting skills and financial literacy.
• Proven experience in external representation (donors, clusters).
• Proven experience working with local partners.
• Excellent coordination skills and ability to work with multiple stakeholders simultaneously.
• Excellent writing and oral skills in English.
• Excellent interpersonal and coordination skills.
• Ability to deliver quality work within deadlines.
• Perfect command of the office pack

Desirable:

• Previous work experience in Central or West Africa.
• Experience in capacity building and training.
• Working knowledge of French language is an asset.

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
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humour

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