CARE Ethiopia Program

 CARE started working in Ethiopia in 1984 in response to severe drought and famine that devastated the population and claimed the lives of nearly one million people. Since then, the organization’s activities have expanded to address the root causes of poverty and vulnerability.

In 2008, CARE Ethiopia’s office moved from a project-based approach to a more focused and strategic program-based approach. Over the eight years since that transition, CARE Ethiopia has implemented a series of programs with successful outcomes, while simultaneously impacting the policies and practices of government, serving as a thought leader amongst NGOs, and bringing transformative change to rural communities. These broader and deeper impacts go beyond the direct impacts of its programs and are a result of CARE Ethiopia’s overall country strategy, which enables CARE to design for scale.

CARE Ethiopia works in various sectors but has particularly targeted the following: Food Security and Resilience; WASH+; Nutrition; Dignified Work; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Humanitarian Response as cross-cutting (focusing on the above sectors).

I.  JOB SUMMARY:

The purpose of the Program Manager (PM) position is to provide overall leadership and coordination for ensuring the implementation and accomplishment of the objectives of the WFP refugee project which will be implemented in consortium with IRC (Lead) and MCMDO.  In consultation with the supervisor and in collaboration with the program staff she/he develops period implementation plans and budget, allocates appropriate resources to accomplish the plan, secures qualified staff and ensures that an appropriate monitoring system is in place to track progress and deviations of program implementation. The position holder will also be responsible to cover livelihood related activities of the project including assessment and capacity building works.   To promote the highest level of staff performance the PM ensures that all supervisors provide coaching and counseling to the program staff.  He/she establishes and maintains effective working relationships with key government partners and NGOs working in the same geographic areas. 

II. RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS: 

Job Responsibility #1: Program Planning

§  Undertake program planning exercises engaging concerned teams and stakeholders setting the periodic implementation plans for the project in line with CARE’s and donor requirements 

§  With the program team analyzes past experiences and incorporate lessons learned in the area of refugee and host community in Gambella region, Livelihood status and opportunity including assessing possible value chain options. into the planning process; and based on past achievements adjusts program targets, strategies, and resources

§  Shares draft plans with program management team, staff and partners involved in the implementation and incorporate their input into the plan; besides ensure that all program staff have appropriate individual operational plans linked to program priorities;

§  Submits periodic plans as per established schedules to all program stakeholders. 

 Job Responsibility #2: Program Implementation

§  Organizes the implementation process of all set of targets planned for the program  with experts and other concerned staff working within program departments/section;

§  Ensures that all staff have updated monthly and quarterly implementation plans;

§  Periodically visits field activities and provide formal and informal feedback to the program staff.

§  Maintains ongoing communication with program stakeholder regarding program progress and challenges;

§  Provide capacity building support to partners implementing CARE’s core approaches under this project;

§  Continuously assesses program’s context, assumptions and changes in the working environment to ensure that the program focus, strategies and activities remain relevant and to proposed adjustments when needed.

§  Provide technical support for implementing partners

Job Responsibility #3: Program Budget Management 

§  In collaboration with program finance staff revise program budget and prepares periodic budgets based on program proposal and ensures compliance with donor requirements;

§  Ensures appropriate utilization of fund codes for charging budget expenditures;

§  Monitor monthly budget burn rates and make adjustment when needed.

Job Responsibility #4: Staff Management

§  Supervises, leads, guides, orients, coaches and provides ongoing feedback to program staff, recognizing and praising successes and pointing out failures that needing corrective measures.

§  Recommends or initiates personnel actions such as merit increases, other salary adjustments, promotions, transfers, terminations, and disciplinary actions including performance improvement plans;

§  Promotes and model a working style based on strict adherence to the organizational core values;

§  Completes all performance management activities including: performance planning, monitoring, and annual performance appraisals; 

Job Responsibility #5: Program Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

§Ensures that WFP refugee project under his/her supervision include an appropriate log-frame and baseline design;

§  Facilitates the  organization of monitoring system in collaboration with LDM manager to collect periodic data for tracking program performance and decision making;

§  Write monthly/quarterly/annual comprehensive and high quality program progress reports; besides, conducts quarterly and annual program review meeting to assess progress, adjust plans, and draw/disseminate lessons learned;

§  Implement audit recommendations related to the program.

§  Provide regular monitoring visit for implementation areas

Job Responsibility #6 Networking, Learning and Representation

§  Work closely  with implementation partner and IRC WFP project team

§  Establishes and maintain formal and informal communication mechanisms with GO/NGO stakeholders and; Participate in GO/NGO forums and share update for program staffs

 Job Responsibility #7 Any other duties assigned by supervisor coordinator:

•  Refugee and host community related livelihood and value chain assessment, TOR development, Assessment analysis and research works

III. PROBLEM SOLVING (Thinking Environment) 

All three levels of problem solving are pertinent for the position in one way or another. Since the incumbent deals with the management and coordination of the various day-to-day activities, development, implementation and maintenance of policies, procedures, objectives, short-and long-range planning of the program, he shall deal with all three levels of problem solving.

IV.  QUALIFICATIONS (KNOW HOW)

A) EDUCATION/TRAINING

Required:

§   MSC in livelihood or related development fields and equivalent combination of education and work experience.

 B) EXPERIENCE:

Required:

§   6-8 years’ experience in Livelihood and value chain  programs, out of which 2-3 years service in managerial level.

Desired:

§   Experience in development oriented NGO environment.

 C) TECHNICAL SKILLS

Required:

§  Proficiency in verbal and written English and Amharic languages; and Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;

§  Concept paper development, operational planning, budget planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, report writing;

§  Proficiency in standard office software packages;

§  Demonstrated leadership ability to inspire and empower others;

§  Demonstrated technical and managerial ability, sound judgment, ability to interact and work effectively with others at all levels;

§  Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, sensitivity to HIV/AIDS, transparent and participatory management. 

Desired:

§  Skills in organizing and facilitating training events. Expertise in one or more of the following program areas: food security, nutrition/health, water/sanitation, income generation, natural resources management and conservation especially with Gender & Rights Based Approach focus. 

D) COMPETENCIES

Respect, integrity, diversity, excellence, adaptability, stress tolerance, innovation, building partnership, communicating with impact, coaching, facilitating change, developing teams, information monitoring, planning and organizing, leading through vision and value.