Democratic Republic of the Congo: Reporting and Program Support Officer - DRC

ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of around 300 people working in North Kivu, South Kivu, Province Orientale, and Kinshasa. Mercy Corps' national office is in Goma with sub-field offices in Katwe, Mweso, Butembo (North Kivu), Bukavu (South Kivu), and Dungu (Province Orientale). Current Mercy Corps activities focus on the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in camps of internally displaced people, but also large-scale WASH infrastructure and service delivery development in urban centres. Mercy Corps also has Food Security, Economic Recovery/Development and Governance programmes, with an increasing shift towards transitional and integrated development programming. The DRC team has a strong commitment to providing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to development challenges, and is actively seeking and facilitating market-based solutions.

In 2008, Mercy Corps and USAID launched a project to rehabilitate and extend the municipal water system of Goma, which was degraded by decades of mismanagement and partially destroyed by lava flows from a 2002 volcanic eruption. The project was extended through financing from the EC Water Facility, the DFID Global Poverty Alleviation Fund, and private donors. In 2013, Mercy Corps signed a new $60M (USD) grant agreement with DFID to scale-up the Goma water project and extend it to the city of Bukavu. The programme, named IMAGINE, integrates infrastructure investments with governance, behaviour change, gender and water service delivery components with the aim to reduce diarrhea rates in children under 5-years.

The general approach of the IMAGINE programme is to link infrastructure investment with service delivery improvement. The programme involves designing, rehabilitating, extending and constructing city water and sanitation infrastructure as well as working to reform management structures to ensure that operations are managed profitably and sustainably. Building on the success of an earlier public-private pilot for the management of a water network extension north of the city of Goma, extensive studies were carried out to determine how to scale up the pilot, professionalise the service and ensure robust contracting. The outcome of these studies led Mercy Corps to facilitate the establishment of a dedicated DRC water utility company (Congo Maji Sarl) and a UK charity (E4i). The latter owns the former and, in doing so, the service delivery model is effectively a mission driven not-for-profit social business. The division of roles and responsibilities between Congo Maji and E4i are straightforward. Congo Maji is the water utility operator in the DRC, while E4i ensures the corporate governance of Congo Maji and provides Congo Maji with technical and management assistance. E4i is also chiefly responsible for determining strategy and providing future development opportunities for Congo Maji and any future ventures.

SECONDMENT TO E4I

The Programme Officer (PO) will be seconded by Mercy Corps to E4i. The reason for seconding the position is due to the following main reasons. Firstly, the financing of the position is initially linked to the IMAGINE programme, which is managed by Mercy Corps. Secondly, E4i is a new entity and it will take some time for the organization to establish and put in place the systems that would enable it to operate independently to the highest standards. The duration of the secondment has not been determined, but is not expected to go beyond the duration of the IMAGINE programme – i.e., August 2019.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The PO will support the E4i CEO in a number of programme development, coordination, quality assurance, and external communications roles to achieve the aims and objectives of the organization. S/he will at times work closely with the Executive Director of Congo Maji, as well as with the Delivery Managers of the IMAGINE programme, to support the successful implementation of activities on scope, on time and on budget.

S/he will assist the CEO with the formulation of strategy and the development of E4i and Congo Maji. This will involve identifying opportunities, preparing business propositions and engaging with investors/donors.

S/he will support the production of high quality and timely donor and internal reports including, but not limited to, bi-weekly programme updates, field quality control checklists/reports, and quarterly, annual, and final programme reports. S/he will also assist with the preparation of E4i board meetings and reports, as well as any other activities necessary to ensure transparency and accountability to the highest standards.

S/he will assist the CEO, and work closely with selected consultants, to put in place mechanisms that ensure that systems of administration, finance, HR, operations, quality control, reporting, customer relationship, and compliance are put in place.

S/he will also assist with internal and external communications: s/he will assist with meeting scheduling; minute taking and action point follow up. S/he will also prepare frequent correspondence letter drafts, and liaise with team members and administration staff accordingly. S/he may also be involved in writing papers, and monitoring and reporting on programme impact. S/he will coordinate and attend key coordination and advocacy meetings, as requested and prepare internal reports on those meetings.

Due to the nature of E4i and Congo Maji, which are continually evolving, tasks and emphasis may change over time. Regular reviews may thus be required to adjust the position accordingly. S/he may also be required to travel to Bukavu/Kinshasa for field trips as well as internationally (no more than 20% of time is anticipated during the first 6 months).

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the development of concept notes and proposals with an emphasis on blended finance, public-private-partnerships, public infrastructure finance and performance-based investments;
• Provide administration and technical support for internal and external communications and reporting requirements as per customer, board, investor/donors and Mercy Corps requirements;
• Support key external and internal meetings, as per demand/need;
• Liaise with Congo Maji, IMAGINE and Mercy Corps staff to facilitate the implementation of quality control monitoring tools and surveys, including but not limited to, responding to information requests, developing quality control checklists and producing field reports);
• Contribute to the design and drafting of communications material (board reports, annual reports, social media, speeches, editorials, press releases, website content, newsletters, drafting success stories, and any other).

Programme Quality Monitoring:

• Coordinate with the team to ensure that the IMAGINE Programme File is kept up to date and meets minimum programme management standards;
• Coordinate with the team to ensure sound and regular workplan management and follow-up;
• Coordinate with the Programme to ensure a sound exchange of information and a sound implementation of joint activities with other components;
• Ensure budget follow-up and projections;
• Ensure regular back-ups and correct filing of documentation;
• Support development and implementation of programme policies, protocols and systems;
• Work with program staff to integrate quality monitoring processes based on protocols into programme implementation, including internal and external reviews of programme quality;
• Ensure that program information shared with stakeholders is presented in languages, formats and media that are appropriate for, accessible to, and can be understood by the target population;
• Review Quality Assurance Charters and provide constructive feedback;
• Provide review on multisectorial tools, ToRs, Study TDRs, questionnaires, plans, analysis, etc

Partnership, Representation and Coordination:

• Contribute to identifying, building and maintaining collaborative partnerships with consumer groups, civil society, investors, donors, local governments, private sectors and other stakeholders and maintain a view to identify and obtain future financial investments;
• Assist in developing, presenting and defending E4i and Congo Maji strategy and activities to high ranking stakeholders, including consumer groups, authorities, investors and donors;
• Contribute to developing MoUs/contracts with REGIDESO, Government and implementing partners;

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Customers Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our customers/beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: CEO E4i

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Congo Maji Sarl staff/IMAGINE WSD team members, IMAGINE Programme Delivery Managers, Mercy Corps DRC/HQ administration/finance staff.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred) in one of the following: Business Administration, Public Policy, Humanitarian Aid, Governance, International Development or other related field;
• 5 years of experience with European, US institutional donors and private donors, including grant management, DFID funded initiatives desirable;
• Experience in Public-Private Partnership and Development Business activities in the sector of utility services;
• Track record winning funding opportunities (individually or as part of a successful team);
• Field experience in conflict and development environments, including demonstrable knowledge of DRC
• Exposure to gender, protection, and conflict mitigation and management programmes;
• Ability to work in a team environment with moderate to high levels of insecurity and significant restrictions on personal movement;
• Fluent English and fluent French are required, Swahili is desirable. Excellent written French is required.
• Ability to deliver high quality reports within short deadlines;
• Ability to multi-task and juggle several tasks and relationships at one time;
• Excellent communication skills, experience in representing an organization;
• Demonstrated proficiency with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project) is required;
• Proven ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams and with technical and administrative staff and consultants.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful candidate will have an ability to work independently, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, and be proactive in communications and development of professional relationships. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in the region. S/he will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal, relationship and cross-cultural communication skills especially in high stress environments are essential for success. S/he will be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps; have the ability to creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations with patience, dynamism, tenacity and a good sense of humour.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is an unaccompanied post based in Goma (DRC). Travel to field sites (estimated up to 20%) Bunia, Bukavu, and Kinshasa will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. Some international travel may also be necessary.

Living in Goma is comfortable, although water and electricity can be unstable. Outside Goma, travel can be dangerous and unpredictable due to armed forces and rebel activity.

While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Goma, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices. There are a number of health services available with evacuation options for serious illnesses. There's reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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