Local Governance and Decentralization Advisor

The Local Governance and Decentralization Advisor will lead IRC’s engagement with local government structures (ETDs – Entités Territoriales Décentralisées) in DRC, as part of its Community-Driven Development and Local Governance program (program called “Tuungane”, meaning “let’s unite” in Swahili). This program is the largest of its kind within the IRC network globally and will support approximately 1800 villages and 20 local government structures (ETDs). It seeks to empower communities to have a greater voice and control over their own development, and to increasingly hold local government institutions and service providers accountable for the provision of basic services. The program is implemented in the context of ongoing decentralization reforms in DRC.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Design
• Lead the design of the ETD component of the program strategy, aimed at strengthening the capacity of ETDs to manage local development in their areas, coordinate with different line ministries and other institutions, and demonstrate greater accountability and responsiveness to community priorities;
• Ensure that IRC’s engagement with local government structures continuously reflects and supports the legally mandated roles and responsibilities attributed to these institutions;
• Develop tools and training manuals for all activities related to working with local government structures;
• Ensure that the overall program strategy and all program tools are harmonized with interventions by the Ministry of Decentralization and other actors (such as other ministries, UNDP, BTC, etc.).

Implementation, Quality Assurance and Contribution to Learning
• Train provincial and field based staff on strategies for engaging with local government structures;
• Ensure the quality of all local government related activities through follow-on trainings and ongoing mentoring, regular field visits, systematic and well-documented lessons learned reviews, and a detailed quantitative and qualitative monitoring dataset;
• Contribute to IRC’s global learning by regularly documenting lessons learned.
• This position is planned to have a national counterpart. A key task of the Local Governance and Decentralization Advisor will be to recruit and work closely with the national coordinator, including coaching and training as needed so as to ensure full handover of the position’s responsibilities.

Advocacy and Representation
• Stay abreast of decentralization-related developments at the national and provincial levels and carry out analysis of decentralization policies and plans as they emerge;
• Contribute to formulating and implementing IRC’s contribution to on-going decentralization debates at national and provincial levels, including the development of research and policy papers.


The Local Governance and Decentralization Coordinator will report to the Director of Governance Programs and ensure the supervision of up to 6 Local Technical Assistants in two target areas.

REQUIREMENTS
• A proven and successful track record working in local governance or decentralization programming (i.e. 3-5 years experience)
• Strong analytical skills on local governance issues, including comprehensive of integrating actors, drivers, and incentives in program design and delivery
• Experience in training staff and ensuring program quality
• Previous experience in DRC a strong advantage
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Personable and confident in dealing with local government officials
• Capable of working well autonomously as well as in a team
• Fluent in French; Working knowledge of English

SPECIFIC SECURITY SITUATION/HOUSING
Lubumbashi is usually quiet and relatively safe. Individual housing is provided to staff with dependents in duty station. This is an accompanied position. Extensive travel (up to 50%) between program sites as well as to Kinshasa is required.

How to apply

Please apply at http://tbe.taleo.net/NA2/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&rid=6965