Description of the Unit/Department

CST Ethiopia represents the overseas development and humanitarian agencies of the Catholic Church from England and Wales (CAFOD), Scotland (SCIAF), and Ireland (Trócaire) in Ethiopia. The three agencies have over 40 years’ of experience in international development and humanitarian response and are each members of worldwide networks, including Caritas Internationalis. Currently, the three agencies jointly operate a single, integrated country programme in Ethiopia through the legal entity CST Ethiopia.

CST Ethiopia is implementing a country strategic plan focused on two programmes – Women’s Empowerment and Resilient Communities, which integrates sustainable livelihoods, humanitarian and other (e.g. peacebuilding) programming.

CST Ethiopia has opened a branch office in Mekelle, Tigray since December 2022 to address the high need of target community, to provide responses closely to the community and to build the capacity of local Partners with whom we work.

This role will be based in Tigray to manage the resilience projects assigned by the organization and support CST Ethiopia Mekelle team in terms of building the capacity of CST Partners to deliver the projects as per the donor’s regulation and to the expected standards in effective, efficient, and timely manner.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, CST Ethiopia offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Scope of Role

The Resilient Communities Programme Officer/RCPO reports to Head of CST Ethiopia office in Mekelle. The RCPO is an important role in the CST Ethiopia Mekelle branch and works closely with the Resilient Communities Programme team, GBV Response Programme team, Livelihood officer, MEL-officer, Finance and Administration team, DCD-Head of Programmes, other CST Staff, partners and other stakeholders to:

• Provide technical support on key Resilient Communities Programme topics  

• Monitor projects and support Partners on M&E activities

• Follow up and review the financial Management of projects

• Ensure that records of documents of projects are properly administrated and saved  

• Perform other duties relevant to the Job description

Commitment to Safeguarding Programme Participants from Exploitation and Abuse  :

CST Ethiopia is committed to Safeguarding people within our programmes from Exploitation and Abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) that outlines the expected behaviour and responsibility of all staff, consultants, and other organisational representatives. Any candidate offered a job with CST Ethiopia will be expected to sign CST, i.e. Trócaire’s, Safeguarding Policies, Global Code of Conduct and other integrity policies within a month of joining CST as an appendices to their contract of employment. All employees of CST must agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Provide technical support to Programme Partners (50%)

• Build and maintain excellent relationships with partner staff.

• Build technical capacity of partners on sustainable resilient capacity building through on-the-job training, monitoring visits, workshops, exchange visits and formal technical training.

•  In conjunction with the Head of CST Ethiopia office build the technical capacity of partners on Market System Development and Women Empowerment and other key humanitarian standard approaches through on-the-job training, monitoring visits, workshops, exchange visits and formal technical training.

• Support partner staff to develop project proposals, budgets and work plans that meet programme objectives.

• Mentor and guide partner staff in planning, implementation, documentation, and monitoring of activities especially sustainable resilient communities building activities.

•  Build organisational capacity of partners through the CST/Trócaire Partner Capacity Assessment and support process ensuring plans are drafted and implemented effectively.

• Support partners to adopt a women’s empowerment approach to all project activities.

• Support Partners to integrate the concept of Nexus (Humanitarian Response, Development, and Peace) in projects. 

• Support partner organisations to comply with Trócaire’s Child Protection and Safeguarding for International Programmes policies through policy development and roll-out.

• Engage with the Resilient Communities Programme Manager/RCPM on new project designs related to resilient communities’ programme and get technical support from the RCPM and ensure that they comply with the CST Ethiopia Country strategy.

Monitoring and Evaluation (15%)

• In coordination with the Head of CST Ethiopia Office and MEAL officer, ensure timely and accurate M&E of activities to ensure the partner projects remain on track and aligned to the programme outcomes and targets.

• Provide guidance and support to partners on the effective use of Results Based Management.

• Ensure all assigned partners are using the programme M&E guide. 

• Conduct frequent field visits to all Resilient Communities Programme project implementing partners, ensuring project activities are on track and providing support and feedback on implementation. Visits should average 5-7 days.

• Conduct at least quarterly field visits to all Resilient Communities Programme partners receiving institutional funding ensuring project activities are on track and providing support and feedback on implementation. Visits should average 5-7 days

Financial Management (15%)

• With the Programme Accountant, review partner budgets and financial reports and ensure compliance with CST Ethiopia and donor policies and procedures.

• In conjunction with the Programme Accountant monitor the Minimum Requirements for all designated partners.

• In collaboration with Head of CST Ethiopia office in Mekelle, DCD-Head of Programmes, and Business Development Manager seek for additional IF funding for Tigray.

• Delivers institutionally funded projects within agreed budgets. 

• Monitor budget expenditure monthly for project you are responsible for. 

• Preparation and timely transfer of grants to partners.

• Conduct joint monitoring visits with the Programme accountant. 

Administration and Knowledge Management (10%)

• Ensure accurate records for the projects are kept in line with Trócaire and donor guideline in both hard and soft form (Salesforce) 

• Provide logistical support for programme activities and events.

• Document and share learning with partners, CST staff and externally where appropriate.

• Collect case studies and provide content demonstrating the impact of the projects for donor reports and other publications.

• Co-ordinate and provide administrative support for MSD, Protection mainstreaming, Conflict Sensitivity, and other key International. humanitarian standard trainings

• Support the Head of CST Ethiopia office on preparing different events like Governance meetings, Technical Working Group, start up project events and the likes. 

• Provide administrative support to the Head of CST Ethiopia Office as required, including for summaries, contracts, project closure and partner and project files.

 Other (10%)

• Participate in Programme Management team meetings, programme annual review meetings and any other meetings as required.

• Networking with other INGOs, Church structures and other local NGOs as assigned by the Head of CST Ethiopia Office.

• Attend relevant forums and taskforces in Tigray in relation to Resilient Communities Programme and inform the Head of CST Ethiopia Office for actions. 

• national clusters. 

•  Provide guidance to other programmes on issues related to sustainable agriculture and other technical areas as assigned by the Head of CST Ethiopia Office.

• Conduct 121 meeting with line Manager at least twice a year.

• Undertake any and all other duties as may be assigned by the Head of CST Ethiopia Office  or DCD-Head of Programmes that are consistent with the nature of the job, its level of responsibility and requirements of the CST country programme

Reporting: Head of CST Ethiopia Mekelle Office

Managing: No direct line management; Partner management required

Team: CST Ethiopia Programme Team 

Contact type:  Fixed Term Contract 

Contract Duration: 24 months 

Job Requirements

Qualification

• Minimum first degree in Social Science/Natural Science, Agriculture and Development Studies.

Experience

• Minimum of 8 years experiences in related NGO work. 

• Demonstrates understanding of the different Livelihood and Food security contexts of Ethiopia including relevant policies.

• Demonstrates knowledge of programme cycle management. 

• Demonstrates knowledge on Protection mainstreaming and integration of livelihood programmes to Humanitarian Response and Women Empowerment programme. 

• Practical experience of monitoring and managing budgets.

Skills

• Managing resources; deliver projects with an agreed budget; manage time and resource efficiently; make effective use of ICT 

• Achieving results; delivers work within the context of an agreed programme framework; use programme cycle management tools effectively. 

• Taking the lead; able to travel unaccompanied within the country. 

• Manage own personal growth and development.

• Working with others; build collaborative relationships with staff and partners.

• Communicating; fluent written and spoken English 

• Looking outwards; works with and build capacity of local partner organizations; carries partner capacity assessment and identifies support need.

• Excellent communication and change management skills. 

• Computer literacy, including Excel, Work and Outlook 

Qualities

• Strong commitment to principles of partnership, solidarity, social justice, and localisation

• Good interpersonal relationships and teamwork skills in a multi-cultural environment

• Proactive, participatory and result oriented approach to work.

• Excellent networking skills with the ability to establish good relationships, confident in engaging with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders. 

• Constructively critical, and analytical 

• Entrepreneurial, affinity to creativity and innovations 

• Open minded and flexible in approach 

• Effective communication 

• Cross cultural sensitivity

•  Readiness to work outside of the framed job description.

• Strong Project Management Qualification

Other

• Availability to work outside normal hours to meet deadlines and travel within the Tigray and outside when necessary and sometimes on short notice.

• Tigrayan language skills are desirable.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply through link: CLICK HERE