The Institutional Capacity Strengthening Advisor will take a technical lead on all CARE DFSA effort to develop and build the implementation capacity of PSNP implementing institutions and the social accountability activities of the program. S/he works to systematically identify institutional capacity gaps, in collaboration with other DFSA advisors, field office staffs and project partners. The position holder plays key role in the facilitation of SA activities and development of short and long term capacity building plan in the operational Regions, Zones and woredas. S/he will directly report to the Program Manager and will have dotted line supervisory roles to field level staffs working on capacity building. The advisor is also responsible to extract, document best practices from implementation woredas and connect to DFSA partners in different regions to share lessons and experiences.

 Roles and Responsibilities

 Provide technical assistance for institutional strengthening (planning and implementation) (50%)

• Lead the design and implementation of institutional capacity strengthening, partnership and accountability mechanisms of the project;
• Provide quality technical support to SPIR-DFSA field offices and government counter parts;
• Participates in SPIR DFSA detailed implementation planning (DIP), and annual reviews, to ensure that systematic relationships are identified and nurtured; and proper capacity building components for key institutional gaps are planned for throughout the life of the project;
• Establish all necessary relationships with partners and government to ensure that major capacity gaps are systematically identified and addressed removed in a way that can facilitate mutual respect and ownership/buy-in for evidence based and sound practices and lessons.
• Work closely with program staffs to ensure that review meeting is planned and executed in a manner that adds value to the project and enhances mutual respect and accountability;
• Support with the implementation of appropriate monitoring systems and provide/compile report on program activities that relate to capacity building, partnership and accountability;
• Conduct capacity assessment and based on the findings advise or plan for consortium partners to develop key competencies and skills to produce quality results and nurture commitments to apply new skills;
• Provide support, guidance and training to program staff to understand the basic guidelines and best practices that promote and support mutually supportive partnerships and contribution to a more enabling environment for accountability;
• Ensure DFSA incorporates innovative, empowering and cost effective practices and mechanisms that have potential for transformation, learning and scaling up.
• Monitor progress and provide on-going feedback and recommendations to project management.
• Proactively engage with the learning agenda partners to identify and explore learning opportunities and issues;
• Closely works with the Program Quality and Learning (PQL) unit to ensure that monitoring evaluation systems are in-sync with global agendas and needs, as required.
• Advise and ensure technical area initiatives are consistent with respectful and sustainable partnership principles.
• Ensure the intentionally inclusion of gender mainstreaming approaches in the capacity building trainings.

 Partnership and accountability (20%)

• Ensures productive relationships are established and maintained with all consortium partners, governmental and non-governmental organizations at all levels and with expert institutions;
• Continuously monitor the ‘heart beat’ of strategic partners (including the beneficiaries of the project) and devise mechanisms to ensure feedbacks feed into accountability of all institutions horizontally and vertically;
• Proactively develop and maintain a good learning platform with all stakeholders and ensure that good practices are shared widely;

 Learning, documentation and sharing (15%)

• Identify, record and share lessons on program processes, practices and results with internal staffs, consortium partners and other stakeholders;
• Organize opportunities and forums for experience sharing and learning;
• Prepare and maintain up to date information on the capacity building activities, results and community based accountability systems of each operational area;
• Prepare reports as deemed necessary.

 Leadership and representation (10%)

• Contribute to transparent, participatory, supportive and accountable management and decision making processes;
• Actively participate and support programmatic coordination and synergy;
• Contribute to a healthy working environment;
• Contribute to cohesive team spirit among staff and partners, while ensuring the achievement of the program objectives;
• As necessary, support the recruitment and motivation of informed, skilled and efficient team; and contribute to staff development strategies;
• Represent CARE and other consortium partners on government coordination meetings at different levels;
• Exhibit and model behaviors consistent with CARE's principles, values, vision, mission and a good sense of ownership and leadership for gender equity and empowerment;
• Proactively seek feedback, work towards improving working conditions and relations and solve issues brought to her/his attention promptly. Maintain effective and positive communications internally, with consortium partner staffs and other stakeholders at all levels;
• Pay attention to ensuring that the project implementation process and standards are at internationally recognized higher standards and are accountable to beneficiaries and to actively engage beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of the project initiatives.

 Perform other duties as assigned (5%)

 GENDER EQUALITY

• The Project Team Leader will be responsible for ensuring that gender equality and diversity values are upheld in the recruitment, orientation, performance assessment and management of staff.
• Provide adequate time to staff to participate in gender sensitivity workshops and related events.

Job Requirements

Qualifications

 Education/Training

Required: Master's Degree in Social Science, Institutional capacity building or related fields

Experience

Required:

• 4 years of relevant experience plus with post graduate degree in partnership and/or accountability; out of which 4-5 years in public relations and other similar role
• NGO Experience

Desired:

• Interdisciplinary experience in programs of different nature and previous work experience on PSNP, food security program, DFAP, agriculture extension is a plus.

 Technical Skills

Required:

• Excellent planning, organizational, analytical and decision making skills
• Proficiency in computer (Word, Excel & Access)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Amharic (Afan Oromo language skill is considered a plus)
• Ability to work harmoniously with people of different educational, cultural and technical backgrounds
• Excellent- demonstrated analytical skill in the field of partnership, understanding of different stakeholders and a progressive worldview of mutual respect, downward accountability, social justice and equality
• Effective interpersonal skills, maturity, intuitive, tact and a high sense of responsibility

Desired:

• Demonstrable technical and managerial ability, sound judgment and prior engagement on multi-lateral or large scale capacity building programs
• Proven training and facilitation skills;
• Expertise in assessment, analysis and report writing.

 Competencies: CARE core values (respect, accountability, courage, and excellence), building partnerships, and managing performance for success, initiating action, interpersonal skills, contributing to team success, pro-active problem solving and organizing, good temperament and good sense of humor.

Contacts/Key Relationships:

S/he will also be expected to have productive and professional relations with various technical and operation staff in the 3 consortium organizations: WVI, CARE and ORDA.

How to Apply

CARE Ethiopia is committed to preventing all unwanted behavior at work. This includes sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, and child abuse. We expect everyone who works for us to share this commitment by understanding and working within the CARE Safeguarding Policy and related framework. CARE Ethiopia has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners.

CARE Ethiopia reserves the right to seek information from job applicants’ current and/or previous employers about incidents of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment the applicant may have been found guilty to have committed or about which an investigation was in the process of being carried out at the time of the termination of the applicant’s employment with that employer.

By submitting the application, the job applicant confirms that s/he has no objection to CARE Ethiopia requesting the information specified above. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.

If you are interested to be part of our dynamic team, exciting work environment and contribute to CARE Ethiopia’s mission and vision, please send your CV (not more than 3 pages) and cover letter (not more than one page) through Ethio Jobs 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Passionate and dedicated candidates who meet the requirement are strongly encouraged to apply, especially women!

CARE seeks to improve the lives of the most marginalized, particularly women and girls. Our diversity is our strength. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.