The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, was established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war, and other conflicts. After passing a century, which it celebrated in 2019, it is now a global movement made up of 29 national member organizations which work in 120 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Program Manager will be the focal point for all thematic programmes; education, child protection, health and food security and livelihood thematic being implemented under Gambella Field Office. He/she will be responsible for maintaining technical oversight of the design and implementation of multisector education, child protection, FSL and health programme in both refugee and host community. The Program Manager will also ensure that SC’s Ethiopia Programme is aligned with Save the Children’s global strategies as well as national government and donor policies and strategies.

The position holder will contribute both to development of concept notes and proposals for education, protection and health projects in emergencies/development and  through consultation with SC CO and field team, government bodies, children, community, UNHCR, and RRS . In carrying out such duties and responsibilities, the position holder will liaise with RRS, UNHCR, regional Education Bureaus (REBs), Regional Health Bureau, schools, health facilities, MFI4 and other training institutions. He/she will collaborate with Cluster Coordination/Task Force members, donors, partners and SCI thematic team members to ensure SCI is well-positioned and represented. He/she will regularly monitor project activities and provide technical support to field staff to improve quality of project/program implementation.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Role Dimensions: Internally, have close communication with the Humanitarian unit, Child Protection, Education, Health and Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihood, Award, Finance, Logistics, Field operations manager, CO and field-based education team.

Externally, maintain good working relationship with donors, SC members, RRS, UNHCR, REBs, RHB, WEOs, education cluster, refugee education technical working group, international and local partners and participate in relevant other task force/coordination forums like Education, Child protection and health forums, cluster meetings and regional technical working groups.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Camp Coordinators, CPIMS+ coordinator, Health and Nutrition coordinator,  FSL Project Coordinator and Gender officer

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Program Implementation and Quality

• Facilitate effective supervision of the implementation of planned activities in the field office and ensure quality of program implementation.
• Provide overall field leadership and management role including field level ways of working, delivering results with accountability, regular field level coordination and field level leadership meetings.
• Facilitate and ensure integration of all programs with the local stakeholders including local government, community and NGOs working in the area.
• Facilitate participatory monitoring and evaluation of the program implementation.
• Ensure sustainability of the programs through thematic/programmatic approaches.
• Facilitate negotiation of smooth handover of completed programs to relevant bodies.
• Facilitate smooth phase out both by program and from the area as deemed necessary.
• Liaison and network with all local stakeholders to enhance relationship and program ownership and implementation.

Programme oversight and management

• In close coordination with the country office education/child protection, FSL, health team, participate in sector/sub-sector strategic planning and proposal development, as well as providing support to programme implementation through identifying best practices piloted/ tested in other places/ interventions.
• Coordinate regular management and technical support visits to field and project sites to support implementation and ensure that programming meets/exceeds international standards and corresponds to work plans and budgets.
• Ensure sage programing is well integrated with project activities, our programings are safe for childrens and our partners and beneficiaries are very well aware of our safe programing and child safeguarding policies and code of Conduct.
• Coordinate with other SC thematic areas and/or other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and that all assessments include a specific analysis of children’s needs.
• Participate in conceptualizing and designing cost effective, innovative and high quality programs in education,, child protection, FSL and health
• Support lead thematic advisors on assessments using SC assessment processes and tools and adapt the Assessment Tool as necessary.
• Develop feasible project implementation plans, including project budget for all education, child protection FSL and health projects under Gambella field office
• Ensure that programmes are implemented in ways that are responsive to the refugee community and children need, and are in line with Save the Children principles, values and strategic plan and Save the Children compliance procedures as well as common approaches. This includes working closely with the refugee committee, clusters / sub-clusters and coordination as well as government and non-governmental organizations that are legally operating in the refugee camp
• Identify critical issues in the implementation of SC Child protection, education and health programme/ projects in Gambella field office and initiates actions to address them.
• Initiate and facilitate changes and improvements on context specific implementation approaches and strategies for Education, protection FSL and health programmes in refugee and host communities
• Provide all the required supports from Gambella Field Office to develop multisector project/program concept notes, proposals, log frames, budget, work plan and relevant other essential documents and send them to CO technical team for final review and/ or incorporation into concept notes and proposals.
• Provide technical assistance to satellite offices/camps, districts and SC supported facilities in collaboration with the CO team, including building capacity of staff.
• Maintain good working relationship with awards, finance, PDU and his/her line manager
• Represent Save the Children Gambella field office programs and engage different platforms with partners by providing update information and best experiences with project implementation in the field office.

People Management and Development

• Work closely with HR and field office manager to ensure that all HR policies and guidelines for staff are understood by staff under the project and are adhered to.
• Ensure that camp coordinators and program teams possess the required competencies during recruitment or thereafter, including the revision and/or inclusion into their JDs and performance objectives
• Enhance staff performance through mutually agreed performance management plans, clarity of individual and collective roles and responsibilities; ensure a robust process of performance monitoring, learning & development initiatives and timely management actions
• Ensure staff under his/her supervision has annual and quarter performance objectives, staff performance reviewed and needed action is taken per the policy

Budget management

• Serve as overall programmatic budget holder for designated education, child protection FSL and health projects/programmes
• Follows up on budget utilization and project expenditure and makes periodic project budget revisions
• Prepare and compile annual plans, budgets, quarterly and annual reports for Education, protection and health programmes based on donors and partner’s requirement.
• Follow up on the efficient and effective programme budget utilization and expenditure of the Education , protection and health programmes
• Arrange weekly/monthly BVA/AIR meetings, identify challenges in spending and take appropriate and timely actions
• Make periodic programme and budget revisions as required for assigned Education, protection and health projects / programmes
• Review and verify financial reports
• Ensure effective and efficient utilization of project budget and other resources for intended purpose; follow up on budget utilization and project expenditure.
• Ensure that plans are implemented as per agreed and approved budgets,

Monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance

• Develop/adapt quality benchmarks for projects in consultation with CO education, child protection and health team
• In coordination with Education, protection and health team, design result-based monitoring and evaluation process for projects under his/her supervision
• Develop plan and checklists to monitor systematically implementation of projects.
• Regularly monitors projects for quality implementation and timeliness and follow up the implementation of field visit recommendations.
• Plan and facilitate periodic programme/ project reviews with partners and stakeholders.
• In coordination with MEAL team, facilitate baseline assessments, mid-term, and terminal evaluations.
• Ensure the proper utilization and use of SC monitoring and evaluation (MEAL) systems put in place
• Regularly follow-up and monitor programmes to ensure proper and efficient implementation.
• Prepare and compile quarterly and annual reports for education, protection and health programmes based on donors and partner’s requirement.
• Monitor the project progress as per set indicators and plan and compile challenges and lessons learned from the implementation of programmes,
• Develop TORs for assessment of baseline, midline, and end line.
• Based on outcome of monitoring, developing strategic recommendation to enable leadership decisions

Humanitarian Response Management

• Be familiar with, adhere to and implement the procedures and processes detailed in the Rules and Principles for humanitarian response.
• Contribute to the organizational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global SCI humanitarian goals, standards, and benchmarks.
• As needed, mount appropriate and timely response to in Emergencies, consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies and in close cooperation with CO education team or incoming surge teams
• Share information on emergency needs to meet potential new funding opportunities with PDU and work closely to coordinate the development of new funding opportunities.

Documentation, Learning and Advocacy

• Review and ensure quality of quarterly, biannual and annual education reports against project design, indicators and adhering to donor template and by collecting  data/ report from the field/camps and send them to the country office for final review well ahead of the deadline
• Contribute to regional education, child protection and health cluster coordination, refugee education, child protection and health technical working group & Task Force meetings in Gambella and update members about development with SC intervention
• Ensure proper documentation of experiences and lessons (including pictures and video documentation) learned in the course of project implementation for learning and knowledge management.
• Facilitate and participate in studies and reviews related to the education projects, with particular focus to Gambella refugee and host communities
• Facilitate and ensure dissemination of information and study/reviews
• Provide information/inputs to be used for SC information and communication materials.
• Carry out evidence based advocacy on thematic areas in collaboration with other sub-sectors to improve policy and practice that benefits children and boosts reputation of Save the Children
• Manage knowledge and experiences from the learning process and replicate good practices.
• Update member, donors and other stakeholders via skype, telephone, in person or though meetings/ workshops about SCI education, protection and health response in collaboration with the CO team

Collaboration and Networking

• Facilitates and enhances SC’s active involvement in networks and forums.
• Facilitates the establishment of links and good relationships with partner organizations and authorities.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for himself/herself (and their team), takes responsibility for his/her own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares his/her personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, his/her team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in Development Studies and other related field with minimum of 8 years’ experience (with 5 years’ multisector education, child protection, and FSL and health project management) experience in a corporate or NGO environment, preferably with education related experience in humanitarian context.
• Knowledge of national education, protection and health policies, and knowledge about refugee policy program, Humanitarian Core Minimum Standards and skills/capacity to analyse and interpret the policies
• Good proposal writing skill, project cycle management, report writing skill, basic computer skill (word, Excel, internet), training, coaching and facilitation skill, working experience in humanitarian setting with focus on children and youth, experience with program development and implementation,
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Experience of working successfully with senior managers in other parts of own organization or partner organizations to deliver major change
• Experience of successfully implementing changes to processes to improve and monitor quality standards and impact achieved
• Experience of managing and shaping programmes to deliver greater efficiency and effectiveness, and of strengthening implementation of financial control processes
• Solid budgeting skills and knowledge of key donor regulations
• Commitment to Save the Children values