Burundi: Programme Lead

Oxfam is convinced that people have the power to end poverty. All they need is an opportunity. Oxfam is committed to make sure everyone gets that chance. That is why we support local projects in developing countries, why we lobby governments and companies to listen to the poorest people, and why we campaign to involve both men and women in our work. Oxfam is a confederation of 17 organizations that works together to increase the impact of its long term development and humanitarian responses.

Oxfam Novib is looking for a

Programme Lead

for the Program:“Nyubahiriza” – “Respect me”

40 hours per week, Single Posting Position

Contract: 1 year, with possibility to extend

Duty station: Bujumbura, Burundi

The Program:“Nyubahiriza” – “Respect me”

Oxfam, Impunity Watch and CARE, three organizations with a long track record of supporting Burundians to build peace in their communities, have developed a new and exciting programme in response to a tender launched by the “Addressing Root Causes (ARC) Fund” of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). The programme is called “Nyubahiriza” or “Respect me”.

The “Nyubahiriza” programme will address three of the most important root causes, of the past and present insecurity and violence - in a conflict and gender-sensitive and youth-inclusive manner. In conjunction with local partners, community based organisations and local authorities the programme will implement innovative strategies aimed at (a) fostering social cohesion and collaboration among citizens and authorities to guarantee peace & security; (b) empowering youth to follow non-violent role models and livelihoods and (c) enabling women, men and youth in communities to participate in transitional justice processes and seek redress for historical injustices.

Objective of the position

The Nyubahiriza Programme Lead will provide overall technical and administrative leadership and expertise and ensure effective program delivery and scale up. S/he will also be responsible for overall project performance, management, and execution and ensure quality and timeliness of project deliverables within budget and compliance parameters. S/he is the external face of the Program and responsible for engagement with stakeholders, including (future) donors. The Programme Lead indirectly contributes to further developing Oxfam in Burundi’s programming on conflict transformation. The Programme Lead reports to the consortium steering committee and is line managed by the Oxfam Burundi Head of Programs.

Core responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Program and ensure that targets and objectives are achieved in line with program proposal, grant conditions and guidelines;
• Ensure internal integration of project activities through 1) an annual work plan and budgeting process, 2) creating/maintaining an effective project management team, 3) overseeing an effective monitoring and evaluation system; Coordination of planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the programme’s activities among consortium members and their local partners;
• Identify issues and risks related to the Program’s implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments;
• Carry overall responsibility over the program’s budget of approximately EUR 6 million, and directly manage the part of the budget allocated to Oxfam;
• Ensure effective communication between consortium partners and local partners;
• Recruit, induct, and line manage Oxfam staff involved in the programme and coordinate with the two other consortium members (CARE and Impunity Watch) on staffing;
• Facilitate relevant capacity development of program’s staff and local partners;
• Provide leadership of the lobby and advocacy components of the program, including through outreach to (international) stakeholders;
• Provide technical leadership on relevant thematic areas (i.e. conflict transformation, transitional justice, protection, gender, youth empowerment), to ensure high-quality programme delivery;
• Adapting plans flexibly within existing budgets, where required, to respond to key opportunities risks and challenges, and ensuring adherence to contractual agreement with donor;
• Ensure effective communication and productive collaboration with the donor and most specifically the Royal Dutch Embassy in Burundi;
• Take final responsibility for the program’s annual plans and reports;
• After program implementation is on course, identify opportunities and resources to upscale the program and lead the development of new proposals for donor funding;
• Ensure visibility of the Program and implementing partners towards donors and stakeholders;
• Regular liaison with Advisors, Lobbyists and Oxfam humanitarian staff based in other countries and affiliate back-offices, to ensure Oxfam’s humanitarian, lobby and development mandates are mutually reinforced.

Essential skills and experience

• Master’s degree in peace and conflict studies, human rights, international relations, political science, or other relevant fields;
• At least 7 years relevant work experience in the Great Lakes region (preferably in Burundi) or other (post) conflict countries in Africa with large international NGOs;
• At least 5 years management experience of complex and large-scale programmes, including coordination, planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning;
• Experience in leading consortia including international and local organisations;
• Demonstrated understanding of programming in the fields of i.e. conflict transformation, protection, gender, youth empowerment, transitional justice;
• Demonstrated understanding of (gendered) conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity and do no harm principles and practice;
• Demonstrated understanding of youth inclusive and gender transformative programming;
• Demonstrated experience in lobby and advocacy, preferably related to conflict transformation, protection and/or transitional justice;
• Demonstrated financial management, budgeting, expenditure tracking and financial reporting skills, with previous responsibility for projects/programs over Euro 5 million;
• Demonstrated experience in business development; successful experiences with fundraising from major institutional donors;
• Understanding of and commitment to promoting Oxfam's core values and key development principles, including gender justice, human rights, protection and participation;
• Proven people management skills, with experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams of staff belonging to different organisations.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with proven ability to build relationships with a diverse range of local, national and global stakeholders;
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to think strategically, innovatively and creatively to improve programme quality and to forge linkages between programs;
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, prioritise, meet deadlines, and hold self and others to account;
• Have proven experience with procurement procedures;
• Have proven experience with management of grants schemes and partnership with local organisations;
• Willingness and ability to travel in Burundi and occasionally abroad as needs arise;
• Excellent written and oral English and French language skills are obligatory. Knowledge of Kirundi is an asset.

We offer

Oxfam Novib is committed to providing a competitive, fair and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. The salary for this position is set at scale 10 with a range between € 3368-- and € 5183,-- gross per calendar month on the basis of a 40 hours work week. Additional allowances include 8% holiday and pension.

Interested? Your application must be received by 4th of May 2018 at the latest. Please submit your application with the Apply button.