Program Manager I – Accountability

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia's most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS' disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS's humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs and promotes equality and inclusion. 

Background: The Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) is a BHA/USAID funded emergency food assistance program that targets transitory or acute food insecure households through Vulnerability Based Targeting (VBT) processes led by JEOP consortium and accepted also by the government of Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management Commission (DRMC). Led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the JEOP consortium includes CARE Ethiopia, FH Ethiopia, ORDA Ethiopia, GOAL Ethiopia, Relief Society of Tigray (REST), and World Vision (WV). CRS implements through Church partners, Hararghe Catholic Secretariat (HCS) and Meki Catholic Secretariat (MCS). JEOP is implemented in Amhara, Oromia, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray regions and Dire Dawa administration. 

Position: Program Manager I – Accountability

Job Grade: 9

Duty Station: CRS Ethiopia/Addis Ababa

Required number: 1

Employment term: Definite term (i.e. up to June 30, 2027)

Application deadline: August 29, 2024

Job Summary: 

As part of the JEOP MEAL team with a position titled Program Manager I – Accountability, based in Addis Ababa, you will facilitate achievement of JEOP objectives through leading accountability activities and provide technical guidance to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the JEOP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. You will lead the JEOP team at CRS and consortium partners level in setting up and implementing Feedback Compliant and Response Mechanisms (FCRM) that are accessible to community members, project participants and other stakeholders. Your role involves coordinating feedback and complaints coming through   multiple channels including the JEOP established channels, the Country Program hotline, post distribution monitoring survey, routine field monitoring and ensuring timely and coordinated responses including information and referral linkages are provided. In addition, you will analyze feedback data to identify trends, issues, and areas for improvement to ensure that insights from accountability efforts are used for program improvement and system enhancement. You will also serve as a key resource person in during proposal development and ensure JEOP comply with donor requirements and   agency wide MEAL policy and procedure pertinent to   accountability to affected population

Job Responsibilities:

Implementation and monitoring of accountability activities 

• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Manage and ensure consistent implementation of accountability initiatives within JEOP throughout relevant project cycles - project design, start-up, implementation and close-out - to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, USAID-BHA requirements, and good practices. 
• Supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Ensure project team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools. 
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources

Capacity building 

• Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support accountability systems implementation. 
• Effectively manage talent and supervise; manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plan, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct report.

Reporting and learning 

• Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements. Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices

• Ensure all feedback across channels is effectively fed into a wider accountability data management system. Present JEOP accountability data to JEOP PMs – in report and presentation format.

• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. 
• Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate accountability performance data. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles. 
• Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development in accountability, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.

Partnership

• Help identify, assess, and strengthen partnerships relevant to JEOP in the areas of Accountability to Affected People (AAP), applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.

• Build strong professional relationship and support to JEOP consortium and partners 

• Work hand in hand with the JEOP units to harmonize efforts and avoid duplication 

Scope: Supervises the Senior Project Officer - Accountability.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master's Degree in the field of international relations, economics, management, social accountability, international development, or another related field with 5 years of relevant work experience. Professional training on accountability and protection principles is an added advantage. 
• Minimum of five years of work experience in setting up and implementing accountability systems with international NGO. 
• Progressive experience in a field related to accountability, preferably in emergency context is highly desirable
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement. 
• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience in contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• MEAL skills and experience
• Proficient in using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), using data visual tools, Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Personal Skills 

• Ability to work under pressure and deliver results in fast-paced emergency environment 

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local partners and culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills

Female applicants and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. CRS is committed to maintaining a diverse talented workforce. 

Required/Desired Foreign Language: English as working language oral and one or more Ethiopian language of the JEOP implementation regions (Amharic, Afan Orom, and Tigrigna)  

Travel Required: 50% by road and air across Amhara, Oromia, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray, Afar, and Dire Dawa City Administration (subject to need and flexible to family commitments). 

Key Working Relationships: 

Supervisory: Supervises one Senior Project Officer – Accountability position 

Internal: MEAL-ICT4D unit, Safeguarding staff, Communications Manager, Compliance and Risk Monitoring Unit, Supply Chain staff

External:  Accountability and MEAL staff across JEOP consortium, community help desk members, contractors, technology companies, other INGOs & NGOs.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

How To Apply

If you are ready to take on this rewarding opportunity and make a difference in the lives of others, you may fill out the application form through this link:https://form.jotform.com/242314070672550and attach your up-to-date CV on/before the application deadline of August 29, 2024. You will be contacted only if selected for a written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted. These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only