Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
Job Title: Deputy Country Representative/Programming, Nigeria
Requisition Number: I2266
Location: Nigeria/Abuja
Band: E
FLSA: Exempt
Reports To: Country Representative
Background:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in 93 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs. Therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to our approach in every country in which CRS operates.
CRS came to Nigeria in 1960 to provide humanitarian assistance in collaboration with the Catholic Church until it was requested to leave during the Biafran War. In 1999, CRS opened an office in Nigeria, and greatly expanded HIV/AIDS programming through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2004. Programmatic areas in Nigeria have since expanded to include all 3 Strategic Program Areas (SPAs) health, agriculture and humanitarian response & recovery as well as cross cutting efforts in capacity building and governance. CRS in Nigeria is currently implementing two large USAID-funded programs, SHARE & SMILE, focusing on agriculture-livelihoods and orphans and vulnerable children respectively.
Additionally, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding CRS in Nigeria to pilot a commercially sustainable cassava seed system project where farmers purchase improved quality stems and adopt improved agricultural practices without incentive. The CORE Group Polio Project, which is a centrally-funded USAID program aimed at eradicating polio, has funded polio programming in Yobe and housed the Secretariat within CRS. The health team is also continuing work in HIV and AIDS as a sub-recipient with Global Fund and is looking to expand into malaria. Nigeria was identified as a “Top 12” country for business development based on the many opportunities and the great need with over 100 million people surviving on less than $1.25 per day.
Job Summary:
The Deputy Country Representative/Programming (DCR) for CRS/Nigeria is responsible for managing the country program portfolio, anticipating appropriate opportunities for funding in-line with the country and Agency strategy, and ensuring effective partnerships – especially with Church partners – to reach program objectives. The DCR will lead the programming team with clear planning and priorities then monitor and evaluate progress against those plans. In this position the DCR will play a key role in promoting teamwork, collaboration, adherence to CRS programming principles, and learning across program teams as well as collaboration between operations and programming. The DCR is a critical member of the Leadership Team (LT) as well as the Management Team (MT) in the Top 12 country program (CP).
Specific Responsibilities:
Program Quality and Growth:
The DCR will ensure that all CP activities are effectively and efficiently contributing to strategic objectives and results are achieved according to expected technical quality standards.
Ensure that vision and plans for the program are innovative and are in-line with CRS Agency and CP strategies.
Investigate, vet (in collaboration with Country Representative (CR), Business Development (BD) Program Manager (PM), and develop Cross Sector Engagement (CSE) relationships with business community, government, research, and hospitals in-line with CP and Agency strategy.
Coordinate capture planning and proposal development processes in compliance with CRS’s best practices and guidance in collaboration with the BD PM.
Oversee, in collaboration with sectoral teams, periodic technical reviews and manage changes in program direction and focus in collaboration with partners, donors, and larger CRS technical experts.
The DCR, in collaboration with the programming team, will provide guidance and oversight to partners and other collaborating agencies to ensure that lessons of sound practice are documented and disseminated.
In collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator, oversee the development and management of the CP’s monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) system, using data analysis as the basis for measuring performance, and ensure that learning is incorporated into evolving program plans. Collaborate with Regional and Headquarters technical staff to identify and implement appropriate ICT4D solutions to improve timeliness and quality of M&E and project implementation.
Ensure that CP program interventions are developed within the framework of Integral Human Development (IHD) and complementary to other programs, including government and church.
Ensure effective gender-mainstreaming in both programming and management aspects of implementation.
In collaboration with the programming and project-specific teams, ensure delivery of quality training, technical assistance and administrative and financial support to all partner agencies, including the selection and coordination of consultants.
Collaborate with Regional and HQ Advisors to promote sharing of learning and identify relevant innovations.
Together with the Country Representative, oversee the Agency’s response to emergencies in the country, giving particular attention to program quality including as it relates to do no harm/peacebuilding, strategy and proposal development and implementation.
Management and Administration:
Promote coordination and cooperation between programming and operations staff including working closely with the HoOps to ensure stewardship of resources and appropriate budget management of projects, collaboration in forecasting and other business processes.
Ensure accurate and timely management and reporting on financial and material resources.
Ensure staff compliance with all CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations.
Approve CP expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors, according to Agency policies and procedures and donor regulations.
Assist the CP Leadership Team in the development of the Annual Programming Plan.
Representation and Partnership:
Maintain and strengthen partnership, collaboration and communication with Catholic Church entities, especially the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) as related to their development activities.
Provide leadership and guidance for programming staff to ensure strong Church partnership relations and capacity strengthening support, in-line with HQ and Regional initiatives.
In collaboration with CR, act as CP contact to donor and other local and international stakeholders.
In collaboration with CR and BD PM, strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies as well as stakeholder groupings, including technical working groups, such as the INGO Forum, the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), food security, and emergency coordination.
Ensure that institutional capacity strengthening and service provision align with CRS partnership principles and Agency priorities.
Human Resource Management:
Lead, manage, and supervise programming team staff. This includes supervision of COPs for consortium programs unless otherwise stipulated by the donor.
Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with CRS’ performance management system and mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
Ensure high quality staff members are recruited at all levels.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
Serves with Integrity
Models Stewardship
Cultivates Constructive Relationships
Promotes Learning
Job Requirements
Required Experience: 5-7 year(s)
Competencies:
Builds and leads effective teams
Definition: Promotes and guides teamwork among staff and partners as the fundamental approach to achieving CRS’s program goals.
Supervises and Develops Program Staff
Definition: Supports the performance and professional development of staff.
Focuses on Quality
Definition: Establish systems that support program quality via agency principles and standards, compliance, learning and innovation.
Leads growth in programs
Definition: Engages staff and partners in the development and growth of programs in line with the country strategy and CRS guiding principles.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal:
Country Representative, Head of Operations, BD PM, MEAL Coordinator, CoPs, Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality and Growth, Regional, Africa-wide, and HQ Technical Advisors, other programming staff including HoPs from other CPs, Programming Unit Heads, MEAL Advisor, and Finance Manager.
External:
Church (Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria – CCFN, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria – CSN, Diocesan and other implementing partners, etc.), USG (USAID, CDC, etc.) and other donors, Government of Nigeria (National Planning Commission, relevant Ministries, etc.) Primary Recipient and other GF partners, consortium partners (current and potential), NGO network members, and CSE.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Master’s Degree in International Development or a relevant technical area such as Health, Agriculture, or Emergency response.
Minimum 5 years of international development experience managing and implementing multi-faceted programs in developing countries.
Experience with participatory methods and partnerships required. Demonstrated capacity and experience with institutional strengthening of local civil society and government agencies.
Experience leading business development, including proposal development, coordination, and positioning.
Knowledge of key donor regulations.
Proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams.
Proven experience in building and maintaining institutional linkages required.
Demonstrated commitment to improving gender equality and gender responsiveness in programming and operations.
Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility.
Demonstrated personal accountability and driven to serve others.
Understanding of and experience with faith-based organizations, local church structures, and accompaniment and capacity-building principles in local partnerships highly desired.
Ability to travel nationally and internationally as required.
Disclaimer:
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
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