Deputy Country Director - CAR

Tracking Code: 218783-927

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operational in the Central African Republic (CAR) since September 2007. With offices in the Bangui and in Bouar, Bambari, and Bangassou, Mercy Corps works to integrate short-term humanitarian assistance with programs to strengthen community resilience and support market-led economic development, with a cross-cutting accent on governance and gender. Mercy Corps takes a sustainable approach to its programming, seeking to change behaviors and create institutions to foster long-term development in the sectors of protection, governance, civil society capacity building, water/sanitation, and food security. Funding comes from a range of donors including the European Commission, OFDA, US Department of State, DFID, the United Nations, FIDA, and private donations. By addressing a number of overlapping and associated needs within a wide range of activities, Mercy Corps in CAR takes an integrated approach to ensure the greatest possible impact.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

 The Deputy Country Director (DCD) will work closely with the Country Director (CD) and program team to lead new program development and ensure effective program coordination and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance and accountability in close collaboration with the operations team. The position will be based in Bangui, with regular travel to the field sites (up to 25%). S/he will help represent the Mercy Corps programs to donors, other NGOs and stakeholders, thematic clusters, relevant government authorities, and other program partners.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Development

• Lead the identification of new initiatives and opportunities that respond to identified needs and the country strategy, in coordination with the Country Director and Program Managers, as well as the Regional Program Director, headquarters-based Senior Program Officer, Technical Advisors and other relevant staff.
• Plan and lead the country team to assess the needs for program design, evaluate, analyze and further develop a multi-year country specific strategic plan for CAR, in line with the regional value propositions and MC global strategy.
• Lead the development of solicited and unsolicited proposals and concept notes.

Coordination and Representation

• Establish close and productive relationships with donors, national government authorities, and cluster members (UN and NGO) in CAR, in close coordination with the Country Director. 
• Represent Mercy Corps at all relevant coordination meetings in Bangui (SE/HDPT Coordination Meetings, Clusters, etc.) and increasingly play a lead role in other advocacy and coordination bodies.
• Coordinate with other NGOs in Bangui to consolidate Mercy Corps’ comparative advantage, while identifying new strategic partnerships.

Program Coordination

• Provide leadership in all aspects of program coordination to ensure consistent quality, including the incorporation of cross-cutting themes, quality data analysis, lessons learned and best practices.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles, values, global strategic roadmap, and CAR country strategy. 
• Work with Program Directors and Managers to monitor adherence to grant agreements, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations;
• Support Program Managers to oversee performance of partners, sub-grantees, and technical contractors and adhere to MC’s Minimum Standards for Program Management.
• Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites for monitoring, quality control and program staff mentoring and coaching.
• Build up programs’ staff capacity and ensure effective and qualitative program implementation

Program Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation, quality data collection and analysis systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, encouraging consistency across programs.
• Provide ongoing training and guidance to staff on M&E best practices.

Program Reporting

• Ensure that donor reports produced by the Programs team that effectively demonstrate the impact of Mercy Corps’ program interventions.
• Review all reports to ensure a high-quality product (in either English or French, depending on the donor).

Program Support Operations

• Work closely with the Operations Manager and Finance Manager to ensure that operational and financial management systems are responsive to program needs and that program staff are adhering to both donor and Mercy Corps’ procedures and regulations.

Security

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to ensure that programs are contributing to and responding to safety and security plans and procedures.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities.

Other

• Conduct him/herself professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

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 Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our 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: All program manager across CAR and well as M&E Staff.

ACCOUNTABILITY: 

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: All program staff, both national and expatriate in CAR; HQ-based program, operations, recruiting, human resources, finance, and technical support teams. 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: 

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development or other relevant field. MA/S preferred.
• At least five years’ overseas experience, including at least 3 years in a senior management position.
• Experience managing humanitarian relief and/or transitional programs in areas affected by insecurity and conflict.
• Previous experience working in Francophone Africa is strongly preferred.
• Proven track record in program design, proposal writing and development, and donor reporting.
• Trained and knowledgeable in design, monitoring, and evaluation concepts and methodologies. M&E experience should include conducting assessments and surveys, program design using a logical framework approach, selecting indicators, implementing monitoring plans, coordinating evaluations and data analysis.
• Experience supervising international and national staff, starting up programs and working in difficult environments.
• Experience managing programs in relevant technical area(s) including, Participatory Community Development, Livelihoods, Agriculture, Health, Water and Sanitation, Economic Recovery, Women’s Empowerment and GBV programming, Peace-building, Civil Society Capacity Building and Youth.
• Knowledge of major donor requirements and compliance issues.
• Strong management skills with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and    cooperatively with team members.
• History of working effectively with host country government, national and international NGO partners, and collaborating with other actors, including the private sector.
• Solid knowledge of and experience with security protocols is essential.
• Fluency in written and oral French and English is required.
• Knowledge and experience of the CAR context, along with Sango, is an advantage.

SUCCESS FACTORS: 

A successful candidate will be conscientious, with excellent judgment and will display an entrepreneurial spirit that is both creative and flexible. She will combine strong communication skills, creativity, initiative, participatory leadership and tactful decisiveness to assist in the development and implementation of Mercy Corps’ country strategy. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The individual will be a strategic thinker able to bring ideas to implementation in growing program operations. She will have exceptional proposal development skills and an outstanding ability to design, implement and manage innovative programs that respond to current needs and reinforce the future program structure of Mercy Corps in the country. An interest and ability to travel and work in very remote environments, and awareness of and sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles is required. She must have the confidence and humility to work effectively with a large variety of people who will be diverse culturally, economically and in social status – as well as be sensitive to political and cultural nuance - be able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations while working as part of a team and coordinate with project personnel. A even temperament and a good sense of humor are appreciated.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The Central African Republic is a nation of 4.6 million people, ranked as one of the poorest nations in the world, with an average life expectancy of only 39 years. Bangui is a capital city of about 700,000 inhabitants. It has grown more insecure following the overthrow of the previous government by the Séléka coalition last March. In previous years, Bangui was generally free of any serious threats towards international or national staff, outside of petty theft. However, carjacking and targeted looting do occur on occasion. Hospitals and access to quality health care is very limited. Malaria is prevalent. It is estimated that 7-8% of the population may be HIV positive. Suitable group housing is available, but electricity and clean water are sometimes sporadic.

This position is unaccompanied for spouses and/or children and includes hardship allowance and R&R benefits.

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

Job Location: Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic

Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

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