INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

For

Right to Grow (R2G) Project Manager  

Country Office: Ethiopia

Work Base: Addis Ababa office (with a minimum of 60% travel and field level support)

Availability: As Soon As Possible

Salary Scale: EMS10

Length of Contract:   One year with a high possibility of extension (based on performance) 

Insurance - (Life, Group Personal Accident, and Medical Insurances are covered upon the organization policies).

Seniority Allowance – paid to depend on the years of service.

Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 40 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, and food security and livelihood. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Haiti and Somalia. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $50 million in programs, and approximately 1,700 staff based in in the various country offices, Head Quarter in New York City and Operational Centre in Nairobi. Additional growth is anticipated.Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where Nutrition, Health, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, MHPSS, Gender and Protection, are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience. We operate in 5 different regions with a portfolio of USD20 million of emergency and resilience building programs, research and innovation. Our country team has over 600 national staff working out of 17 field offices across Ethiopia. Our main donors in Ethiopia are BHA/USAID, BPRM, ECHO, Europaid, UNHCR, UNICEF, SIDA, GFFO, EHF, WFP and others.

Summary of position

• The position holder manages the Right to Grow (R2G) project (a 5-year project, implemented as a consortium and works very closely with the community, CSOs/CBOs, government and other stakeholders on nutrition and WASH advocacy. Action Against Hunger implements this project in two woredas of Waghimra zone, Amhara region and two woredas of East Hararghe zone, Oromia region) that is funded by the Dutch government. She/ He will be the primary responsible person to communicate with consortium partners, donors, and other stakeholders regarding this project. She/he is responsible for the overall cycle of the project management including assurance of effective and smooth activity implementation and budget utilization. The person represents Action Against Hunger and the R2G project on different coordination and advocacy platforms and liaises with various stakeholders including consortium partners, donors, and government authorities. The position holder will also be actively engaged in the national and regional ECSC-SUN movements/ platforms. The person works closely with Action Against Hunger’s regional office (HEARO) in sharing evidence-based inputs for advocacy efforts that can be done at regional and headquarter levels. 

The Right to Grow (R2G) Project Manager role’s purpose, engagement, and delivery are: 

Purpose

• Overseeing the smooth and effective implementation of the Right to Grow project. Providing all the required support, guidance and technical supervision for the field implementing team. Engage in different advocacy fora and play an active role in the national and regional ECSC-SUN coordination platforms by representing the R2G project and Action Against Hunger.  

Engagement

• The Right to Grow (R2G) Project Manager will have regular communication and coordination with field-based R2G project staff. The person closely communicates and works with the Country Director, Program Director, Nutrition & Health team, WASH team, and other departments (as required). The person communicates with Action Against Hunger’s regional office and headquarters, as needed, for different advocacy related works.
•  Externally, the person works closely with the other R2G consortium lead and member organizations, woreda, zonal, regional, and national government offices, local NGOs, CSOs/CBOs, and the targeted communities.

Delivery

• Develop detailed project implementation, spending, and monitoring plans and support the execution in a timely and quality manner. Support field, regional, and national advocacy activities including preparation of required materials/ products (presentations, internal briefing notes, policy briefs, banners, posters … etc.) for both internal and external use.

Essential job duties

Project Management (80%)

Activity Implementation

• Ensure quality and timely implementation of the R2G project in all the targeted woredas
• Ensure project activities are implemented in a cost-effective, consultative, participative and gender-sensitive manner and affirm Gender mainstreaming throughout the implementation process.
• Develop and regularly update detailed project implementation plan, procurement plan, communication & advocacy plan, budget utilization plan and MEAL plan to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
• Work closely with field coordinators, field project implementation team and other departments on the development of nutrition, WASH and other advocacy materials 
• Organize external meetings and events with communities, CSOs/CBOs, government and other stakeholders, including ensuring effective preparation for, scheduling, tracking and follow up for the R2G project
• Work closely with partners and government offices on Budget Management and Expenditure Tracking (BMET) activities

Budget Management

• Review the project’s budget regularly and make timely suggestions for realignment, adjustment and revision.
• Conduct regular budget follow up meetings with project implementing team and follow up action points
• Have a realistic and updated budget utilization plan/ forecast
• Ensure Procurements are raised and delivered in a timely manner

Reporting and Donor Communication

• Work on regular donor reports and any other reports/ project updates related to the R2G project.
• Work closely with Finance and Grants and Reporting team for a timely submission of all donor reports

Project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Work closely with capital and field MEAL staffs on regular MEAL activities related to the project
• Conduct regular program monitoring, collect evidence and inform programing and advocacy efforts accordingly
• Track results of policy and advocacy initiatives at the output and outcome levels. 

Team management

• Provide technical supervision to the Hararghe and Sekota based R2G implementation team (2 team leaders and 4 officers)
• Do regular staff coaching, on-the-job training, capacity building and performance monitoring/ evaluation in collaboration with the respective field coordinators 

Policy Research, Product Development and Advocacy Capacity Development (10%)

• Support Action Against Hunger Ethiopia mission with the development and targeted distribution of advocacy and policy products (e.g. briefing notes, key message documents, policy statements… etc.).
• Facilitate training on advocacy skill to program staffs and provide regular coaching to the field based R2G project implementation staffs
• Work on a five year advocacy strategy and action plan in line with the R2G project
• Actively engage in the ECSC SUN national and regional coordination platform discussions

Government Relations and Influencing (10%)

• Work closely with the R2G consortium lead and member organizations on the efforts to influence policies and strategies, promote WASH and nutrition financing in regional, national and international levels.
• Support relationship-building with Government offices at different levels and policy and decision makers relevant to delivering the R2G advocacy objectives.

Gender Equality Commitments  

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status. 
• Value and respect all cultures. 

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week in the duty station and/or areas of intervention/ during field visit. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required. Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic (at least 50% of the time) and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases. 

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in social science, development studies or related academic field.
• At least 5 years’ work experience in project management role for a non-governmental organization. Mandatory to have a minimum of 2 years’ work experience on a role that involves Advocacy in a non-governmental organization, preferably in the sectors of Nutrition and/or WASH.  

Required Skills & Competencies

• Proven skills and experience on project management
• Strong understanding of current lobbying and policy development landscape.
• Strong understanding on current gaps and challenges on the sectors of Nutrition and WASH
• Experience in successful policy and advocacy work, starting from gross root level
• Proven track record in drafting and contributing to a range of products (presentations, internal briefing notes, policy briefs, op-eds).
• Recognized capacity in translating complex information in a compelling and accessible way for non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to develop analytical evidence-based policy papers and reports.
• Excellent English language skills.
• Ability to provide or recommend solutions to problems; show flexibility to assume additional responsibilities
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, including ability to find, absorb, analyze and prioritize information from many different sources, and proven experience of strategy development.
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, including the presence to deal effectively with diverse constituencies including senior management
• Initiative in thought leadership, innovation and creativity.
• Ability to work and contribute positively in a team.
• Commitment to Action Against Hunger’s work and values.

How to Apply

APPLICATION PROCEDURE 

If you are interested, please send your application composed of none returnable CV, a Covering Letter with “Right to Grow (R2G) Project Manager  ” written in the subject line, and three references, applicants through Ethiojobs:

Through the given link

Deadline: Thursday, 04 February 2021

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be, communicated on and the selection process includes technical tests and an interview.