Deputy Programme Manager (Early Warning and Early Action) – Concern Worldwide

Job Description

Organization:	Concern Worldwide
Job Title:	Deputy Programme Manager – Early Warning and Early Action
Salary:	€35,087 – €38,986
Based in Country:	Sudan
Contract Type:	Unaccompanied Fixed Term International Contract
Closing Date:	13/10/2021

ERNE Deputy Programme Manager – Early Warning and Early Action, Sudan

About the role: 

This is a 24 month, new role with unaccompanied terms based in West Kordofan with a salary of Grade 2 (€35,087 – €38,986).

Your purpose:

You will lead the implementation of the EWEA component of the project Enhance Resilience Nutrition Emergency (ERNE) funded by ECHO in South and West Kordofan, and provide technical support and supervision of other project with EWEA components. You will provide strategic guidance and technical assistance to the programme team on EWEA interventions in Concern WW Sudan. You will also be responsible to support the Programme Manager in the overall management of the ERNE programme.

You will report to:

Programme Manager ERNE.

You will work closely with Area Coordinators, Food Security & Livelihood Advisor and other advisors to support the EWEA component in all programmes.

You will be responsible for:

EWEA Coordinator and Officers for ERNE programme

Designing and development of EWEA in Concern’s programme:

• Working with Concern’s HQ-based Early Warning Early Action Adviser to provide technical advice to the Programme Team and SMT on strategic direction for EWEA for Concern Sudan operation, including adjusting Concern Sudan EWEA strategy as per the changing context of Sudan.
• Implement targeting activities from vulnerability assessments already implemented as well as lead future risk and vulnerability analysis for Concern Sudan operation areas; suggest interventions according to the most common risks, and their prioritizations according to the impacts and frequency of hazards, their causes and consequences on the most vulnerable.
• Coordinate existing EWEA strategies with other stakeholders, donors, INGOs, UN Agencies and adjust the plan according to the needs.
• Ensure EWEA strategy is properly integrated in Concern Sudan Programming across all sectors (Health, Nutrition, FSL, WASH, NFI/Shelter, Emergency Response) and programme team understands the strategy and the roll out plan.
• Support the programme development and strategic design in relation to EWEA by contributing in proposal development, technical inputs, and related coordination with Dublin – Strategy Advocacy and Learning (SAL) Team members.

Operationalising Early Warning System:

• Provide technical support in setting up indicators for Early Warning (EW) information, including sources of information and frequency of monitoring (indicators can be local, national and international level), using various primary and secondary data
• Coordinate and supervise the implementation of all EW watch/monitoring activities in accordance with the strategic plan, project/programme plans. This includes data collection, analysis and dissemination of information in close cooperation with MEAL Team. (E.g. monitor of food prices, animals, market flow, trade, movement of people, etc.)
• Ensure that EW information is periodically monitored, displaced and disseminated in community, state and federal level according to covered by the action/projects
• Technically support each relevant field team/project, ensuring that they are able to monitor the right information at the right time. Technical support must be provided in the context of climate change, resilience in disaster prone locations, and can be across sectors (health, nutrition, food security and livelihoods, WASH, NFI/shelter)
• Provide all necessary information to the Area Coordinators and PDs in the decision-making processes to determine where the thresholds are for triggering early action.
• Lead the process of adjustment of indicators, thresholds in relation to the changing context
• Liaise closely with the Project Managers, FSL, Cash, Health and Nutrition, and Wash Advisors to agree on best intervention modality in view of the identified foreseen crisis and based on local context
• Analyse weaknesses of project staff in relation to EWEA knowledge and skills, and develop a capacity building plan (coaching, mentoring, and in-house training) to improve quality service delivery

Early Action to reduce vulnerability:

• Where possible, look to integrate EWEA and CMAM Surge systems.
• Provide necessary technical guidelines and recommendations on the most appropriate transfer mechanism, preparedness including beneficiary selection, developing framework agreements, risk management and monitoring.
• Coordinate cash transfer, food assistance or other transfer modalities according to the set plan and objective with the project teams
• Ensure reporting of response is done on time with the close coordination and support of project team, Grants Manager and MEAL Team.
• Provide support for the MEAL Team in post-distribution monitoring and incorporate feedback from beneficiaries, partners for inform programme performance
• Develop strong working relationships across the organisation with programme teams to ensure that team members deliver response efficiently and effective.

Monitoring and evaluation of EWEA Component

• Monitor and evaluate the technical performance of the interventions and share findings with programme management and SMT.
• Synthesise, document and share practical evidence and learning in close coordination with project managers, and MEAL Team.
• Support operational research undertaken within Concern programmes (MEAL Team) – in collaboration with field teams and research partners in particular linked to conflict sensitivity.

Capacity Building of Concern Staff and Partners on EWEA

• Assess capacity of Concern staff and partners and provide technical training and on-job support to implement EWEA.
• Share learning resources and organise discussion sessions for continuous learning.

Representation, Coordination and Networking

• Support and develop relationships with other agencies, including research institutes, technical working groups and represent Concern at national level.
• Support the development of community based Early Warning Systems and linkages between community structures and humanitarian actors.
• Represent Concern at state and when necessary national level cash working groups.
• Coordinate with all TAs proper integration of EWEA in other relevant projects/programmes.
• Participate in the integration of EWEA component of all sector activities (health, nutrition, WASH, FSL, shelter/NFI) during planning and implementation of programming
• Participate in the development and roll out of baseline studies, internal activity planning, evaluation, and review meetings to increase integration of EWEA in all function of the programming
• Propose reorientation of programming where possible and feasible to meet EWEA needs
• Actively participate in team planning, coordination meetings, and initiate timely support

Staff and programme management:

• Manage staff working on EWEA in ERNE project and help improve performance.
• Act as Programme Manager in absence of PM.

Accountability

In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS):

• actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E);
• work with relevant colleagues to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed;
• work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme participants and communities.

All other tasks relating to his/her functions which may be required by the supervisor

Skills and Experience Required:

Essential:

• A minimum of five years’ experience working with an international NGO.
• A degree in social, economics, food security, entrepreneurship, business, finance or related field.
• Experience in establishing or contributing to sub-Saharan early warning systems, including analysing large data sets of early warning information
• Experience in setting up EWEA systems in both rural and urban setting (Middle East, Sub-Saharan countries is essential)
• Strong cash programming background with adequate market assessment background
• Experience in capacity building and training of national staff on EWEA systems (market monitoring, cash transfer, accountability mechanisms, PDM etc.)
• Experience in working through integrated, multi-sectoral programmes including social protection, livelihoods, nutrition, health, and WASH. Familiarity with social and behaviour change approaches.
• A strong understanding of inequality issues in relation to food security and livelihoods programmes.
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills; works well as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Adaptable to evolving work priorities and schedules.
• Willing to travel in remote locations min. 60% of working time.
• Excellent English communication skills (writing/speaking)
• Keen to learn and promote learning.

Desirable:

Experience in

• various approaches and tools used in market and cash transfer programmes such as market and value chain analysis, income generating activities, community-based saving and loan groups, and business and vocational training.
• measuring the impact of Market-Based Programmes e.g. through multi item indicators such as the material deprivation index.
• Arabic language skills, previous work experience in Sudan

All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date. CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length. 

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short-listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them.  In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment.   By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.

Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year.  Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).  Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant.  For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.  Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.Documents

• 2021 T&C’s Band 2 Unaccompanied.pdf (24.14 KB)
• Deputy Programme Manager – EWEA ERNE Sudan.pdf (40.49 KB)

About Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty. In Sudan, Concern is working in West Darfur, South & West Kordofan states implementing programmes in Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Health and Nutrition, WASH sectors while also responding to emergencies that may arise.

Concern Worldwide is Ireland’s largest aid and humanitarian agency. Since its foundation 50 years ago it has worked in 50 countries. According to its latest annual report, Concern helped 28.6 million of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people in 2019, while responding to 82 emergencies in 24 countries. 

What is the meaning of concern worldwide?

Concern Worldwide (often referred to as Concern) is Ireland’s largest aid and humanitarian agency. … Concern aims to help those living in the world’s poorest countries. Concern is engaged in long-term development work, in addition to emergency relief in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

Location: 52-55Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2

For jobs from Concern Worldwide visit: Concern Worldwide Jobs Page