International Programme Officer (IPO) – East Africa Region Mid level

• Job title: International Programme Officer (IPO)
• Location: Nairobi
• Department: IO Programmes and Innovation Department
• Reporting line: To the Head of the IO Programmes & Innovation Department, with a technical reporting line to the Deputy Regional Director

Operational Context

The position is part of the General Programmes Unit in the IO Programmes & Innovation (P&I) Department. As such, it is also part of the Global Programmes Team which consists of the Programmes Departments of the IO and JRS USA.

The P&I Department and the Joint Programmes Team provide global programmatic support to JRS countries and manage programmatic knowledge & learning, to help JRS have a meaningful and effective impact. They do so in response to increased levels of displacement and in the context of JRS’s Strategic Framework.

The IO P&I Department consists of a General Programmes Unit, a MEAL Unit, a Grants Unit, a Reconciliation Unit, and an Education & Livelihoods Unit. The International Programme Officers in the General Programmes Unit each support one or more Regions.

At the same time, the position collaborates closely with the East Africa Regional Office team, which consists of a Regional Director (RD), a Deputy RD (DRD), a Finance Officer, a Regional Education Coordinator, and a Regional MHPSS Officer (among others).

While the position’s formal reporting line is to the IO, the person has a technical reporting line to the DRD who will provide input on the Performance Evaluation.

Purpose of the Position

1) To coordinate programmatic support & resources from JRS’s Joint Programmes Team and the Regional Office programmes staff, to help ensure that each JRS Country Office receives sufficient and relevant support.

2) To support the Country Programme Officers (CPOs) with the development of 3-year programmatic strategies, the design of annual programmatic plans, and funding strategies.

3) To act as a coordination body between the IO resource mobilisation staff and the Country Offices.

4) To represent programmatic instances from the Region in the Joint PGR Team and at the IO.

The position can achieve this purpose as a member of the Joint Programmes Team and through the coordination of a regional Programmes Community of Practice (CoP), composed of the Country Programmes and Grants Officers, the Regional Education Coordinator, and the Regional MHPSS Officer.

Key responsibilities

· Coordinate a Programmes CoP in the Region.

· Support the Countries with 3-year strategic planning.

· Support the Countries with the development of annual programme plans, including through the revision of drafts and coordination of feedback from the Joint PGR Team.

· In collaboration with relevant colleagues, support the Country Offices with the preparation of Terms of Reference for project assessments and evaluations.

· Support the planning of capacity building workshops.

· Compose half-yearly updates about the programmatic situation in the countries.

· Act as point of contact and sounding board for the Region on global strategic priorities and provide guidance to IO Departments on matters of critical interest to the Region.

· Liaise between the CPOs and JRS Global, including by referring programmes-related matters of the countries in the Region to relevant colleagues on the Joint PGR Team and in the RO, and by representing their programmes at international JRS meetings.

· Support the CPOs with their funding strategies and the mapping of funding gaps.

· For funding sourced through the IO, contribute to grant/funding applications and reports, and ensure that all necessary documentation is submitted to the Grants Unit or the Comms & Fundraising Department for submission to funders.

· For funding sourced through the RO, support the Country Offices with agreed upon concept notes, funding proposals, and reports.

· Support the country teams with the preparation and review of institutional funding proposals (ECHO, UNHCR…)

· Oversee compliance of Country Offices with programme-related recommendations of the Strengthening Country Operations project (SCO).

· Have monthly coordination meetings as required with each CPO.

· Have monthly coordination meetings with the DRD (who focuses on Operations and supervises the RO staff including the Regional EDU Coordinator and MHPSS Officer) to discuss relevant programmes-related issues in the countries.

· Have quarterly meetings with the RD to discuss relevant programmes issues.

· Participate in IO staff meetings, in the IO Programmes & Innovation Department Meetings, in the Joint Programmes Meetings, and in Regional Office staff meetings.

· Provide input on the Performance Evaluation of CPOs, who report to the Country Directors.

· Develop and maintain regular contact and good professional relationships with Regional and Country Office staff.

Required qualification and competencies.

· At least five (5) years of practical work experience with humanitarian/development programming and with donor-funded programmes, particularly with INGOs in a similar setting

· Familiarity with templates and procedures used by foundations and institutional donors such as the EU and UN agencies particularly UNHCR

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and Access

· Excellent proficiency in written and verbal English; working knowledge of French

· Excellent communication and presentation capacities, able to persuasively articulate JRS’s message and impact to external audiences

· Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multi-cultural, international, professional environment

· Demonstrated experience and commitment to working with displaced communities

· Ability to innovate in a changing environment and promote creativity within the organisation

· Strong analytical, strategic-thinking and planning skills

Desirable

· Previous working experience with CRM, grants and programmes systems is an advantage

· Previous working experience with faith-based organisations is an asset

Travel

· The position will require travel to JRS locations in the field (30%)

Core values and ethics

· Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision and values; the ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’s role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity;

· High integrity, honesty and confidentiality; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations and information;

· Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as a core value

Tagged as: JRS, Kenya