Programme Development & Quality Specialist

Position Title: Programme Development & Quality Specialist

Supervised by: Head of Programme

Reporting to: Head of Programme

Duty Station: Yaounde – Cameroon

Area of Operation: Cameroon

Employment Period: 12 months

Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee): Expatriate or national contract

Salary & Benefits: G2

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 covers three main areas in 12 countries.

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 programme 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 4 divisions of the Southwest, with an office in Buea and a sub-office in Kumba. 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. In 2023, DRC has initiated an intervention in the Logone-et-Chari division in the Far North with a focus on addressing root causes of inter-community conflicts through peacebuilding and resilience programming. DRC works with several local partners in Cameroon and is increasing its financial support to local civil society organisations.

2. Overall purpose of the role:

Under the line management of the Head of Programme, and in close collaboration with the other members of the Programme team in Yaounde and programme field teams, the Programme Development & Quality Specialist is responsible for ensuring programmatic quality of DRC’s projects in Cameroon. This will entail coordinating processes to improve overall programme quality through a robust sectoral integrated approach, partnerships, improved MEAL systems and evidence-based lessons learned, as well as leading on the development of new concepts and project proposals.

3. Responsibilities:

• Programmatic quality assurance

– In coordination with the MEAL and technical coordinators, develops a strategy and ensures analysis and incorporation of lessons learned and reports/evaluations from past programming into ongoing projects and new designs.

– Based on identified needs and in coordination with technical coordinators, develops and contextualizes SOPs to support the implementation of activities.

– 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.

• Strategic positioning and fundraising

– In coordination with the Country Director and the Head of Programme, maps donors and monitors strategic opportunities.

– Represents the organization to external bodies (partners, clusters and donors) when needed.

– In close coordination with the Programme team in Yaounde and field teams, elaborates innovative programmatic concepts that make evolve DRC’s approaches and project implementation in Cameroon.

– Coordinates the development of project proposals in line with donor and DRC strategy in Cameroon.

– Works closely with Grants officer and Head of Programme to agree on retro-planning, timelines, and processes for proposal development processes.

– Supports needs analysis and needs assessments to define activities based on this analysis.

– Contributes to the development of projects’ logic and propose activities consistent with overall projects’ structure.

• 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 Development & Quality Specialist may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Head of Programme.

4. Required Qualifications

Mandatory:

• 3 to 5 years of experience in a programme or grants 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 non-governmental 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 and in French mandatory.
• 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.

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