Head of Programmes-Deputy Country Director / HoP-DCD

About CST

CST Ethiopia represents the overseas development and humanitarian agencies of the Catholic Church from England and Wales (CAFOD), Scotland (SCIAF), and Ireland (Trócaire) in Ethiopia. The three agencies have over 40 years’ of experience in international development and humanitarian response and are each members of worldwide networks, including Caritas Internationalis. Currently, the three agencies jointly operate a single, integrated country programme in Ethiopia through the legal entity CST Ethiopia. CST Ethiopia works in partnership with local church and non-church organisations, supporting communities in Addis Ababa, Afar, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray regions.

The CST Ethiopia main country office based in office Addis Ababa assumes overall responsibility for implementing the CST Ethiopia country programme, which currently focuses on resilient communities (sustainable livelihoods, humanitarian preparedness & response, and women empowerment), and ensure that the diverse location is united country model. CST Ethiopia works with a portfolio of approximately 20 local partner organisations throughout Ethiopia. The Head of Programmes- Localization & Partnership Coordinator’s position offers an opportunity for an experienced, dynamic and innovative individual to lead CST Ethiopia’s exciting and well-established programmes. 

Reporting to the Country Director (CD), this is a two years contract with possible extension and is based in Addis Ababa but with frequent travel to the programme locations. She/he will be responsible to lead and manage the localisation and partnership strategy of CST Ethiopia.The candidate will manage a programme team of at least eight staff, providing direct line management to five(1 Head of Office-Head of Programme -Tigray,2 Programme Managers, 1 MEAL Advisor, 1 Programme Support Officer), and will work in close collaboration with the Country Director, Head of Office-Head of Programme Tigray,Head of Finance and Compliance (HFC), Head of Operations( HoO), Business Development Manager  and  two Programme Accountants. The HoP-DCD is also part of the Country Management Team, together with the CD, Head of Operation, Head of Office-Head of Programme Tigray and Head of Finance and Compliance

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Assume strategic leadership and overall management oversight of CST Ethiopia’s programmes in Ethiopia, including planning, design, delivery, compliance, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, financial management, strategy development, institutional funding, internal head office coordination and communication, and external representation.
• Support the Country Director in defining a theory of change and future strategic direction for the CST Ethiopia country programme in key sectors (resilience programming, women’s empowerment, peacebuilding and social cohesion, food security, livelihoods, WASH, protection, SGBV), Localization and Partnership, relevant approaches (e.g. Market Systems Development, capacity building, MEAL, resilience, women’s empowerment, Nexus, integration and humanitarian and emergency preparedness).
• Lead the coordination of management and technical support, including of CST Ethiopia staff in-country and organisationally from CAFOD, SCIAF & Trócaire, as well as from outside the organisation, to ensure that programming meets international technical standards (e.g. SPHERE, IASC) and corresponds to work plans and budgets.
• Ensure that core organisational commitments to women’s empowerment integration, protection mainstreaming, safeguarding, accountability, the Core Humanitarian Standards, and partnership & localisation are embedded in CST Ethiopia programmes.
• Ensure that CST Ethiopia has clearly identified niches, which our added value contributes to our partners’ work, and that decisions are informed by sound analysis.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant policies and procedures of CST Ethiopia, CAFOD, SCIAF, Trócaire, donors and the government of Ethiopia.

Programme Development and Management: 

• Manage and deepen the current portfolio of thematic programmes under the resilient communities and women’s empowerment programmes, ensuring that the work responds to the local context, is underpinned by good governance and human rights and contributes the theory of change in line with the CST Ethiopia Country Strategic Plan.
• Oversee and ensure Results-Based Management practices with CST Ethiopia staff and partners in line with Trócaire’s RBM policies and guidelines.
• Ensure programming embeds, delivers and complies with safeguarding and accountability standards and that CST Ethi-opia and partners’ complaints and feedback mechanisms are in place and functioning.
• Ensure that different thematic areas of work are mutually reinforcing and contribute collectively to achieving country-level outcomes in line with an integrated programming approach.
• Maintain oversight and balance between long-term development programming, humanitarian preparedness and humanitarian response programming, guaranteeing each aspect of programming receives adequate and timely attention given current and projected circumstances.
• Lead the resilient communities (including humanitarian) and women’s empowerment staff in a process that clearly defines and delivers a resilience approach that promotes gender equality.
• Identify opportunities for programmes to promote policy and advocacy work, research and innovation.
• Ensure there is constant and open communication between the country programme team and the three head offices.
• Identify learning priorities within each programme and facilitate the sharing of this learning with partners, across programmes, and externally as appropriate.
• Work with the CD, Business Development Manager in Ethiopia and the funding units in HQs to secure Institutional Income and guarantee all programmes meet the donor's requirements. Ensure that relevant support is given to Programme staff and partners as needed to meet these requirements.
• Conduct regular Programme Management Meetings with all relevant CST Staff; coordinate with the HFC to ensure regular Programme Financial Management Meetings; ensure regular Teaming agreement meetings are conducted with CST Ethiopia staff and the three HQs; direct CST Ethiopia staff participation in HQ/organisational working groups across the three agencies; oversee and coordinate CST Ethiopia staff participation in external networks, e.g. clusters.

Localization and Partnership

• In collaboration with the CD and Trócaire Global Localization Hub, manage and follow up the Localization and Partnership strategy of CST Ethiopia
• Ensure that the Partnership Policy guides CST Ethiopia’s engagement with partners in Ethiopia and that all Programme staff are familiar with and implement the policy.
• Maintain oversight of the CST Ethiopia Partner portfolio; report to and make recommendations to the CMT about partner performance, potential, challenges, issues, etc.; lead where and when appropriate on the phase-out of partners in line with partnership policies and the identification, selection, onboarding, induction and support of new partners.
• Lead the capacity strengthening systems and mechanisms for CST Ethiopia current Partners and support CST Ethiopia team members in their roles in terms of partnership and capacity strengthening (coaching, provision of training, tools, etc..)
• Support the development of high-quality learning pieces of localization and partnership, in collaboration with the Localization Hub.
• Identify opportunities to share learning by partners and CST Ethiopia at relevant forums ( eg, Charter for Change, webinars, development journals, etc.)
• Work closely with the Business Development Manager to secure more funds to support the localization initiatives in Ethiopia.
• Reach out, develop and maintain strong relationships with CST Ethiopia partners and other local organizations in the country as well as relevant stakeholders.
• Organize learning opportunities/webinars on localization for CST Ethiopia staff, partners, and/or external stakeholdersLead on country-level reporting to key localization mechanisms, including the Charter 4 Change

Human Resource Management

• Line manages team members in line with organisational performance management frameworks, ensuring that all are clear on the change to which they are contributing and, on their roles, and responsibilities.
• Implement an effective performance management system in line with organisational policy; ensure performance management reviews occur formally twice a year, informally on a regurlar and ongoing basis.
• Support, mentor and coach the team members as part of their professional development and to help them to be highly effective in their work.
• Establish a team approach to programming, ensuring that programme staff work together to share learning and exchange skills.
• Ensure regular team meetings for information exchange and strategic discussions and facilitate the rolling out of organisational programme processes and policies within the country team.
• Ensure that all programme staff complete an induction process that equips them to confidently and effectively deliver on their role.

Finance, Administrative and Systems Management

• As a member of the country senior management team, support the CD and HFC to develop annual country budgets and participate in regular budget reviews and revisions.
• Organise and maintain regular team meetings together with the finance and programme teams to have oversight of programme budgets and to review and monitor expenditure of all programme partners in close coordination with the Head of Finance and Compliance, Programme Accountants, Head of Office-Head of Programme-Tigray, Programme staff and the Business Development Manager.
• In collaboration with the Head of Office-Head of Programme-Tigray, ensure regular visits by finance or programme staff to all programme partners and projects to review systems and programme and financial management and provide support to partners in line with Trócaire’s Partner Governance and Finance Policy.
• Ensure that all programme financial reports are produced on time and to a high standard with a precise analysis of budget variances.
• Provide the necessary support to the finance team/programme advisors to take appropriate actions if problems with financial management or organisational governance are identified.
• Jointly with the Business Development Manager ensure that finance/programme teams are familiar with internal, and where relevant external (e.g. donor), financial management guidelines and policies, including fraud policies, contract compliance and that these are adhered to strictly.
• Support the CD, Business Development Manager and Head of Office-Head of Programme-Tigray  to develop, implement and review an Institutional Funding Strategy for CST Ethiopia and in identifying possible funding opportunities.
• Maintain responsibility for organisational systems adoption, utilisation and compliance; ensure all programme, project, partners and all other relevant and/or necessary information is recorded and stored in Salesforce and Box.
• Responsible for and ensure financial management of projects, programmes and ancillary funds/costs on Agresso, ensuring all information is managed correctly on Agresso, Salesforce and Box
• Support necessary information management on CAFOD and SCIAF systems

Representation, Communication & Relationship Building

• Ensure effective representation of Trócaire’s programmes with local authorities, donors, working groups, clusters, task forces, and other members of the development, humanitarian and Catholic communities, in close coordination with the Country Director.
• Operating under the direction of the Country Director, lead on advocacy initiatives, as appropriate, to highlight the needs and rights of targeted and affected communities in Ethiopia.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key national and local partners, and coordinate with other development, humanitarian and peace actors, including INGOs, UN colleagues and government.
• Ensure establishment and maintenance of strong working relationships with local communities, community-based organisations and local authorities, as appropriate.

Policy, Advocacy and Programme Communications

• Gauge and monitor external (e.g., Government of Ethiopia) influences on policy and advocacy in Ethiopia; recommend courses of action to the CMT safeguarding CST Ethiopia, the three agencies, partners, staff, and local communities maintaining a fiduciary responsibility to the organisation.
• Support the CD and the programme teams to drive an evidence-based agenda around advocacy at the country level, when and where appropriate, pro-actively (and internationally where appropriate), informed by a contextually relevant political and power analysis, as well as a thorough risk analysis regarding sensitive messaging.
• Support programme staff to embed advocacy within programme strategies and oversee country level advocacy initiatives, which complements desired outcomes of programme strategies, where and when possible and appropriate.
• Support the CST Ethiopia team to ensure organisational communications channels (online, offline) are being used to promote/highlight CST Ethiopia’s work, as well as to support HQ and organisational initiatives.
• Support the CD and staff to respond to organisational needs for materials or to host visits related to organisational level policy, advocacy, campaigns, development education, fundraising and communications.

Risk Management

• Take responsibility for Risk Management at a programme level, ensuring that programme staff can analyse and respond to risk at project and programme levels and that programme level risks are captured and managed as part of a country risk management strategy.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a core member of the Country Management Team
• The approval of various related processes, ensuring correct following of procedures and that supporting documentation is uploaded (key IT platforms include Agresso, Sales Force, Box).
• Fulfil all other reasonable duties, tasks and responsibilities requested by the Country Director or JAGG.
• Deputise the Country Director whenever She/he is not around.

Requirements

Essential Requirements

Qualifications

• Third level qualification in Development, Humanitarian, or related field of study.
• Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area, or significant experience beyond that outlined below.

 Experience

• At least ten years of demonstrable experience in the management of development programmes of substantial scale, including in international settings.
• At least five years’ experience of leading, managing or supporting teams in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong team-working skills and experience and playing a leadership role in ensuring cohesiveness, inclusion, and development of staff at all levels.
• Thorough understanding of safeguarding and accountability considerations in development work.
• In-depth understanding of programming in a partnership model, working in a partnership-based NGO.
• Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies, and techniques, including results-based management, rights-based approach, resilience, and participatory methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience of promoting gender equity through programming and within an international organisation. 
• Demonstrable experience of working to attract institutional donor funding and of managing large and complex donor grants and contracts.
• Demonstrated experience of working with local organizations in transformative processes that strengthened their capacities, voice and influence and level of funding
• Familiarity and affiliation with localization policy instruments (eg. Grand Bargain) and familiarity with current debates on localization.
• Training/capacity building in a multi-cultural environment
• Experience of working with management information systems.

Skills

• Excellent leadership skills.
• Ability to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement a clear country level strategy in the context of organisational strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-cultural teams of national and international staff well, and to implement performance management effectively.
• Ability to coach and help others develop in their professional lives.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills and demonstrated ability in using these with internal stakeholders (CST Ethiopia and HQ staff in different locations) and external stakeholders (partners, Church, donors, host government etc.).
• Keen interest and excitement in sustainable development and capacity strengthening
• Experience working with civil society partners and good understanding of partnership approach.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial systems on a significant scale, in development and humanitarian contexts.
• Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Competent in Microsoft packages (Word, Excel).
• Fluency (written and spoken) in English.

Qualities

• Understanding of an empathy with, the role of the Catholic Church in development.
• A strong commitment to the work of justice and an empathy with the ethos and work of CST Ethiopia.
• A strong commitment and demonstrated ability to maintain adherence to humanitarian principles, including principles of impartiality and neutrality, especially related to the development, implementation, reporting and resourcing of programmes in diverse geographic, cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic regions and communities.

Other

• Cross cultural communication skill
• Willingness to travel within country and internationally including travel to HQ in Ireland, UK, and Scotland.

Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children & Adults

Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. More information on Trócaire’s safeguarding policies available here.

Diversity and inclusion

We welcome diverse applicants to join our inclusive workforce.

Trócaire is an equal opportunities employer. We are an organisation that embraces diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds to bring their experiences and perspectives to Trócaire.

Diversity and Inclusion statement available here.