Myanmar: Social Cohension Program Manager

Position: Paid job

Location: Myanmar (Yangon with frequent travel to field)

Starting date: June 2017

Duration: 12 months with possible extension

Management: line manager Country Director, expected close cooperation with Head of Operation and M&E Officer, managing team of project coordinator up to 5 Field Officers

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech NGO founded 1992. PIN is currently the largest NGO in Central and Eastern Europe, working in 20 countries in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa, in both humanitarian and development actions. PIN helps people in emergencies, both in crises of war as well as in areas affected by natural disasters, and in places where it is hard for people to break out of the vicious circle of poverty without support. PIN deal with longer-term problems overseas such as the shortage of safe water, restricted access to good-quality education and health services or environmental degradation. Development cooperation and humanitarian work comprises efforts to help people in their attempts to escape poverty and ensure further development. PIN is member of “Alliance 2015” (www.alliance2015.org)

PIN is working in Myanmar since 2006 and established the office in 2012, with program areas primarily focused on knowledge transfer, skills development and support to local initiatives. Through its Civil Society Program, PIN supports civil society organizations that play a critical role in bridging the gap between communities and local governments and contribute to policy dialogue and the strengthening of a democratic culture based on human rights. Other programs include a Social Cohesion Program, which aims at promoting civil action in communities affected by inter-communal violence in Kayin, Mon and Rakhine States; and a Child Protection Program, through which community-based and school-based child protection mechanisms are set up in Mandalay region, Sagaing region and Shan State.

Social Cohesion Program in Myanmar began in early 2015 and seeks to address communal violence by working alongside communities, CSOs and civil society and religious leaders to raise awareness and share the skills needed for harmonious living (stress and anger management, non-violent communication, critical thinking skills etc.) and creating opportunities for shared experience to increase trust and confidence, while lowering fear and stereotypes.

Building on PIN’s history and established networks with civil society in Myanmar, this programme brings a peacebuilding lens to create opportunities for positive engagement and a better understanding of the interdependence healthy communities must have to survive and thrive.

Working mainly with communities in Rakhine, Mon and Kayin states, the program works both at the grassroots and civil society leadership levels to mobilize and empower local communities, particularly women and youth leaders, to bridge divides and gain the skills necessary to find win-win solutions for issues common to all groups. With an increased awareness and understanding of the benefits of diversity, communities can begin to work towards solutions that build on existing, common strengths. Activities include: training community leaders (in systems thinking, situation analysis, community dialogue, participatory decision-making processes etc.), supporting civil society initiatives through sub-grants, identifying and working closely with a handful of civil society organizations to increase their capacity for analysis, community project design, and managing projects, supporting networks and information sharing for best practices and lessons learned.

Main responsibilities:

• Manages and supervises implementation of PIN´s social cohesion program.
• Ensures all aspects of project cycle management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, financial management, etc.
• Builds up, leads and motivates the social cohesion program team.
• Implements continuous training program for team members to increase their capacities
• Works closely with implementing partners and chairs the Project Steering Committee
• Ensures that the issues such social cohesion and conflict mitigation practices are effectively mainstreamed throughout other PIN´s programs in Myanmar.
• Ensures compliance with all given guidelines and procedures, both internal (PIN’s) and those of other donors (incl. procurement, accounting, contract approvals, reporting, visibility, etc.).
• Oversees financial management of the assigned projects together with Finance Officer, incl. budget follow-up, cash-flow and spending.
• Regularly represents PIN at coordination groups and communicates with all relevant stakeholders, including LNGOs, INGOs and IOs, regarding the outputs of the program.
• Supports identification of new projects and fundraising (new proposal writing, PR, networking).
• Other relevant assignments corresponding to actual needs of the program.

Main requirements:

• Relevant academic education in social cohesion/peacebuilding or Development Studies
• Demonstrated analytical skills about community-related problems and conflict resolution
• Strong ability to analyze the local situation and solve problems together with the team and with implementing partners.
• Experience in implementation of Social Cohesion related projects (preferably in South East Asia) is an advantage
• Experience in staff management and working with local partners and government institutions
• At least 3 years of experience with designing and result-based management of development programs
• Excellent written and spoken English knowledge
• Excellent communication, managerial, networking and facilitation skills
• Ability to work in multicultural, multireligious and multiethnic team
• Good knowledge of Myanmar context
• Proactive, detail oriented and highly organized with ability to multi-task
• Experience with capacity building of national staff is advantage

PIN offers:

• Friendly, participatory and results-oriented working environment with extensive opportunities for professional development
• Work in a dynamic and motivated team
• Work experience with professional and flexible NGO, the largest one in Central-Eastern Europe.
• Salary according to PIN salary scale, start-up 2 540 – 2 660 USD (before taxation, including per diems)
• Financial bonuses based on performance twice a year.
• Induction training in Prague.
• 2 flights to home country covered per year
• Costs of visas and vaccination covered
• 25 days of paid leave per year
• Medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online
• Travel insurance
• Housing allowance

Interested applicants for the position should send their CV and cover letter as soon as possible via green button "**APPLY**" on following link: https://inhiro.com/job/id/11344. As a subject please use "**SOCIAL COHESION PROGRAM MANAGER**".

Please note that only the short-listed candidates will be contacted. Thank you.