ASPIRE Program-Mekelle

Program Summary

The ASPIRE Program is a unique career-building opportunity for individuals who are passionate about relief and development work and have the skills, attitude and approach to excel in positions with CRS. This structured and intentional field-based learning program is designed to prepare participants for positions of greater responsibility with CRS.

Under the supervision of experienced staff, participants actively support CRS’ relief and/or development projects over a 12-month period while building foundational skills in programming and operations. Through the foundational training, participants gain experience in project management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), project design and proposal development, partnership and capacity strengthening, supply chain, human resources and more.

To complement the core training, each participant also hones their skills in a specific area that aligns with their career objectives and strategically?positions them for onward employment with CRS.

Primary Responsibilities

Under the supervision of an experienced staff member and in collaboration with CRS partners, the ASPIRE participant will support programming and operations as follows:

Project Management

• Support implementation of current projects (e.g. participate in planning/review workshops, support activity implementation in the field)
• Support appropriate management of cash and in-kind resources (e.g. monitor/analyze spending on project budgets, prepare cash forecasts, participate in financial reporting to donors, support commodity management).
• Support timely and accurate reporting (e.g. review/synthesize data to report on project indicators, draft/edit narrative reports).
• Support communication-related activities for country program and projects (e.g. draft program summaries, annual reports, partnership newsletters, social media content and webpage updates).

Project Design and Proposal Development

• Support project design (e.g. participate in needs assessments and problem identification, stakeholder analysis, development of concept notes)
• Support proposal development (e.g. participate in design workshops, draft sections of technical narratives and budgets, package/edit proposals for submission).

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

Support MEAL activities in:

·        Project design (e.g. support data collection, needs assessments, gender analysis, gap analysis, development of results frameworks, Proframes, theories of change, evaluation plans, performance management plans).

·        Project start-up (e.g. support baseline assessments, development of MEAL manuals and accountability mechanisms)

·        Project implementation (e.g. prepare survey instruments using ICT4D, support collection of monitoring data, prepare donor reports, organize learning events, document learning)

·        Project close-out (e.g. draft final reports, support final evaluations and knowledge management activities).

Partnership & Capacity Strengthening

• Support CRS partners with project management, project design and MEAL
• Support partnership strengthening and capacity building (e.g. participate in partnership reflection workshops, partner assessments and monitoring visits).

Finance, Supply Chain, HR, Compliance

·        Support strong financial management by analyzing budgets, monitoring & forecasting spending, reviewing supporting documentation for financial transactions by CRS and sub-recipients.

·        Support supply chain and procurement by assisting with inventory counts, data collection, bid analysis and vendor selection, contracting, receipt and warehousing of goods.

·        Support human resources by preparing job descriptions, reviewing applications/shortlisting candidates.

·        Support audit and compliance by reviewing internal controls, systems for fraud prevention, studying CRS policies and donor regulations.

·        Support staff safety by reviewing security protocols and manuals, updating as needed.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: CRS Country Representative, Head of Programming, Head of Operations, Program Managers, Finance, Supply Chain and HR staff

External: CRS partner organizations

Required Qualifications

•     Bachelor’s degree relevant to the NGO sector.

•     Graduated within 60 months of program start date (degree conferred between Oct 2019 – Oct 2024)

•     Excellent speaking and writing skills in English.

•     Citizen of Ethiopia.

•     Willingness to travel (up to 25% of the time)

•     Willing to be based in field offices during and after the program.

•     Excels in collaborative, multicultural environments.

•     Strong analytical, problem-solving, and research skills

•     Agile, proactive, results-oriented

•     Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion including gender equality.

•     Women & Person with disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

•     Knowledge of local language(s)

Agency-wide Respect, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Competencies

Based on the mission, values, and guiding principles of the agency, CRS REDI competencies are to be exemplified by all staff in fulfillment of his or her respective roles and responsibilities.

• Personal Accountability
• Acts with Integrity
• Builds and Maintains Trust
• Collaborates with Others
• Open to Learn
• Strategic Mindset
• Develops and Recognizes Others
• Leads Change

How To Apply

ASPIRE Program has officially launched and is actively accepting applications. If you are interested in this fellowship program, apply HERE.     

You can also visit the ASPIRE program for more information and learning sessions recommended for applicants. 

The online application will be open until June 30, 2024. Please feel free to engage with our team by participating in one of the online information sessions.