Deputy Chief of Party - International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee, IRC, is bidding on a USAID RFA for the FANIKISHA Institution Strengthening Project in Kenya.

The FANIKISHA project aims to improve the health status and well-being of Kenyan citizens through improving the capacity of national Kenyan CSOs to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of smaller affiliate CSOs. The RFA response is due 26 April 2011 and the project is anticipated to start 1 August 2011 and run for 5 years. The anticipated budget range is $38m to $44m.

*Position is contingent upon award of contract.

Scope of work

The DCOP is responsible for ensuring that the project is implemented in accordance with the cooperative agreement, and all applicable USAID and USG regulations.

The DCOP will focus on the sub-granting, monitoring & evaluation and compliance aspects of this program, while deputizing for the COP whenever necessary on core management and representation functions. The DCOP will work closely with the USAID in-country Mission to provide project updates, discuss strategies, obstacles, performance plans, and indicator success.

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop, implement and monitor appropriate sub-granting mechanisms for the project in full compliance with IRC and USAID regulations;
• Develop and implement a detailed and cost-efficient monitoring framework for the project;
• Ensure timely reporting of all sub-grantees and monitoring structures to ensure timely, informative and relevant data is provided to USAID and other stakeholders as appropriate;
• Lead the provision of technical expertise in the domains of monitoring and evaluation, financial compliance and sub-granting processes;
• Manage project staff working on sub-granting, compliance and monitoring & evaluation functions;
• Liaise with external evaluators and auditors to ensure full transparency regarding the project;
• Support and deputize for the COP as needed in terms of representation, coordination, management and other functions.
• Provide financial and technical management to ensure the best use of resources by preparing sound budgets, monitoring project expenses, and ensuring timely submission of financial reports to the donor;
• Ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with the cooperative agreement, donor regulations, and internationally recognized quality standards;
• Ensure that Project initiatives adequately address the needs of the most vulnerable beneficiary population in the most cost-effective manner;
• Forge and maintain solid cooperation with partner organizations and government officials;
• Manage project properties according to IRC and USAID regulations.

Requirements

• Masters degree required;
• Minimum of five years of overseas management experience;
• Strong background in sub-granting, compliance and monitoring systems;
• Knowledge of institution strengthening and/or public health background an advantage;
• Proven leadership and strategic planning capabilities;
• Experience managing large teams and working in tandem with local and international partners;
• Demonstrated budget management ability;
• Previous experience with USAID-funded projects strongly desirable;
• Effective and persuasive writing and public speaking;
• Proven sound judgment and decision-making skills;
• Computer Literate in MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook);

Position reports to the Chief of Party.

Specific Security Situation/Housing: Family post.

How to apply

Please apply online: www.ircjobs.org

or http://tbe.taleo.net/NA2/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&rid=6974

Closing date: 28 May 2011

Chief of Party - International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee, IRC, is bidding on a USAID RFA for the FANIKISHA Institution Strengthening Project in Kenya.

The FANIKISHA project aims to improve the health status and well-being of Kenyan citizens through improving the capacity of national Kenyan CSOs to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of smaller affiliate CSOs.

The RFA response is due 26 April 2011 and the project is anticipated to start 1 August 2011 and run for 5 years.

The anticipated budget range is $38m to $44m.

*Position is contingent upon award of contract.

Scope of work

The COP is responsible for ensuring that the project is implemented in accordance with the cooperative agreement, and all applicable USAID and USG regulations. The COP will be the primary representational link with USAID staff.

The COP will work closely with the USAID in-country Mission to provide project updates, discuss strategies, obstacles, performance plans, and indicator success. The COP will liaise with USAID contracting officers, technical support staff and outside contractors.

The COP will represent the project to all key stakeholders, government officials and donors at coordination fora and other related seminars and meetings. The COP will ensure that project initiatives adequately address the needs of the beneficiary population in the most cost-effective manner.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide leadership and direction, define and implement activities to achieve the greatest coverage and impact possible;
• Prepare in coordination with key project staff strategic work-plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation plans, financial projections and tools for evaluation;
• Manage the overall project by planning, monitoring and evaluating project activities in accordance with the cooperative agreement;
• Lead the provision of technical expertise in the domain of institution strengthening;
• Identify short-term technical assistance needs and arrange for the provision of needed assistance; Manage sub-agreement partners; ensure coordinated inputs and technical/managerial quality from all partners/collaborators;
• Provide financial and technical management to ensure the best use of resources by preparing sound budgets, monitoring project expenses, and ensuring timely submission of financial reports to the donor;
• Ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with the cooperative agreement, donor regulations, and internationally recognized quality standards;
• Ensure that Project initiatives adequately address the needs of the most vulnerable beneficiary population in the most cost-effective manner;
• Report to USAID through both formal and informal debriefings, annual and semi-annual reports;
• Maintain an on-going dialogue with the USAID AOTR and timely respond to AOTR's inquiries;
• Forge and maintain solid cooperation with partner organizations and government officials;
• Manage external relations by representing the project and the organization in the public and ensuring the distribution of information about project achievements and lesson learned;
• Manage project properties according to IRC and USAID regulations.

Requirements

• Masters degree required, PhD preferred;
• Minimum of ten years of overseas management experience;
• Strong background in institution building and/or civil society development;
• Public health background preferred;
• Proven leadership and strategic planning capabilities;
• Experience managing large teams and working in tandem with local and international partners;
• Demonstrated budget management ability;
• Previous experience as USAID Chief of Party or Deputy Chief of Party desirable;
• Effective and persuasive writing and public speaking;
• Proven sound judgment and decision-making skills;
• Computer Literate in MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook);

Position reports to the Country Director, Kenya.

Specific Security Situation/Housing: Family post.

How to apply

Please apply online: www.ircjobs.org or

http://tbe.taleo.net/NA2/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&rid=6973

Closing date: 28 May 2011

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