Head of CST Mekelle Office & Head of Programmes, Tigray Region – CST Ethiopia

Development and Project Management, Legal

CST Ethiopia

CAFOD, SCIAF and Trόcaire (CST) represent the official development agencies of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. In Ethiopia, the three agencies work together to help reduce poverty, promote development and respond to humanitarian emergencies with the Catholic Church as well as local and international NGO partners. 

Trócaire (on behalf of CAFOD, SCIAF and Trocaire) is coordinating a Humanitarian capacity-strengthening project, SCORE (Strengthening the Humanitarian Capacity of Local Organisations to Respond Effectively in Emergencies) that will be implemented within 18-month project period.

CST is currently looking for competent candidate for the position of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer who will base in CST’s office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The role will report to the Capacity Building Coordinator.

• Assume responsibility and overall day to day management and running of the CST Mekelle Office, Tigray Region.
• Assume strategic leadership and overall management oversight of CST Ethiopia’s programmes in Tigray, including planning, design, delivery, compliance, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, financial management, strategy development, institutional funding, internal head office coordination and communication, and external representation. 
• Work in close collaboration with the DCD/Head of Programs RoE, to define a theory of change and future strategic direction for the CST Ethiopia Tigray programme in key sectors (resilience programming, women empowerment, peacebuilding and social cohesion, food security, livelihoods, WASH, protection, SGBV), partnerships and approaches (e.g., Market Systems Development, capacity building, MEAL, resilience, women’s empowerment, integration and humanitarian and emergency preparedness).
• Ensure that CST Ethiopia has clearly identified niches, which our added value contributes to our partners’ work, and that decisions are informed by sound analysis.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant policies and procedures of CST Ethiopia, CAFOD, SCIAF, Trócaire, donors and the government of Ethiopia.

• Manage and deepen the current portfolio of thematic programmes under the resilient communities and women’s empowerment programmes that focuses on protection programming in Tigray, ensuring that the work responds to the local context, and contributes the theory of change in line with the CST Ethiopia Country Strategic Plan.
• Ensure that different thematic areas of work are mutually reinforcing and contribute collectively to achieving country-level outcomes in line with an integrated programming approach.
• Maintain oversight and balance between long-term development programming, humanitarian preparedness, and humanitarian response programming, guaranteeing each aspect of programming receives adequate and timely attention given current and projected circumstances. 
• Lead the resilient communities (including humanitarian) and women’s empowerment staff (including the protection team) in a process that clearly defines and delivers a resilience approach that promotes gender equality. 
• Ensure that all programmes effectively promote a women’s empowerment approach throughout the programme cycle. 
• Identify learning priorities within each programme and facilitate the sharing of this learning with partners, across programmes, and externally as appropriate. 
• Work with the CD, DCD, Head of Finance & Compliance, Business Development Manager in Ethiopia and the funding units in HQs to secure Institutional Income and guarantee all programmes meet the donor’s requirements. Ensure that relevant support is given to Programme staff and partners as needed to meet these requirements.
• Conduct regular Programme Management Meetings with all relevant Mekelle based CST staff; coordinate with the DCD to conduct joint country level technical programme meetings for learning and experience sharing, and oversee and coordinate CST Ethiopia staff participation in external networks, e.g., clusters.

• Provide technical support to the CST Ethiopia team to ensure that programmes and projects are designed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated within the Trócaire Programme Management and Accountability Framework (PMAG). 
• Support the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Advisor to have a systematic approach to targeting and reporting programme participant numbers that is specific and explicit.
• Provide the necessary support to the country team to undertake analysis (contextual/poverty/power/etc.) that informs appropriate programme and project strategies, location, and target population. 
• Ensure that HQ-based Teams are aware of and engaged in the programme design process to create synergies across organisations and country programmes and that advice from the Programme Teams is considered and applied where appropriate by CST Ethiopia programmes and projects.

• Ensure that all programmes are implemented within a clear M&E framework that includes regular (field) monitoring by the Programme Advisors and -Officers, supported by technical advice from the MEAL Officer. 
• Monitor the standardised reporting system for all programme partners in Tigray, in line with organisational policy and any institutional funding requirements inclusive of grants and contracts.
• Support the CD and DCD-Head of Programmes RoE in the development of the annual Country Report.
• Work with the Head of Finance & Compliance and relevant Programme Accountants and Advisors/Officers to proactively manage the programme budget.
• Lead and support the Resilient Communities Programme officer and Humanitarian Advisor in the implementation of CST Ethiopia’s humanitarian response strategy and emergency preparedness plan (EPP), humanitarian programming, and continually monitor the humanitarian and projected situation of affected communities in Tigray, Ethiopia. 
• Lead and support the Protection Manager on providing safe and ontime services using the survivor centred approach to women and girls at risk in Tigray and that all the experiences and approaches harmonize at CST Ethiopia level.
• Ensure the outlining of a strategy and mobilising of response to sudden-onset emergencies, as required. 
• Actively engage and participate on CMT meetings and ensure the CMT and Head Office are well informed on issues related to humanitarian response and long-term development programming in Tigray, Ethiopia.

• Ensure that all programmes are evaluated according to CST Ethiopia / Trócaire’s evaluation policy and that learning from evaluations is disseminated to relevant stakeholders and incorporated into new programme design.
• Promote evaluation methodologies that foster internalisation of learning, and where possible, promote elements of peer review and evaluation, including with Partners.

• Line manages team members in line with organisational performance management frameworks, ensuring that all are clear on the change to which they are contributing and, on their roles, and responsibilities. 
• Implement an effective performance management system in line with organisational policy; ensure performance management reviews occur formally twice a year, informally on a regular and ongoing basis. 
• Support, mentor, and coach the team members as part of their professional development and to help them to be highly effective in their work. 
• Establish a team approach to programming, ensuring that programme staff work together to share learning and exchange skills. 
• Ensure regular team meetings for information exchange and strategic discussions and facilitate the rolling out of organisational programme processes and policies within the country team.
• Ensure that all programme staff complete an induction process that equips them to deliver on their roles confidently and effectively. 
• Support Operation Manager/Human Resource Officer on the recruitment  process of staff that are going to be based in Mekelle CST Ethiopia office.

• As a member of the country management team, support the CD and Head of Finance and Compliance to develop annual country budgets and participate in regular budget reviews and revisions.
• Organise and maintain regular team meetings together with the finance and programme teams to ensure oversight of programme budgets and review and monitor expenditure of all programme partners in close coordination with the Head of Finance & Compliance, relevant Programme Accountants, Programme staff, and the Business Development Manager. 
• Provide the necessary support to the finance team/programme advisors to take appropriate actions if problems with financial management or organisational governance are identified.
• Maintain responsibility for organisational systems adoption, utilisation, and compliance; ensure all programme, project, partners and all other relevant and/or necessary information is recorded and stored in Salesforce and Box.
• Responsible for and ensure financial management of projects, programmes, and ancillary funds/costs on Agresso, ensuring all information is managed correctly on Agresso, Salesforce and Box. 
• Support necessary information management on CAFOD and SCIAF systems.

• Ensure a proactive and strategic approach to the management of the Ethiopia Partner Portfolio.
• Ensure that the partnership policy guides CST Ethiopia’s engagement with partners in Ethiopia and that all programme staff are familiar with and implement the policy. 
• Support programme staff to develop partner capacity building/support plans for Partners, created using the Trócaire Partner Capacity Building Framework and having corresponding monitoring and review elements for each partner. 
• Together with the Head of Finance & Compliance, ensure that programme and finance staff adopt a joint approach to partner support. 
• In close coordination with the CD, liaise with other Caritas/CIDSE/other like-minded agencies to avoid duplication, reduce transaction costs for partners and collaborate on capacity building, programming, or advocacy initiatives.
• Maintain oversight of the CST Ethiopia Partner portfolio; report to and make recommendations to the CMT about partner performance, potential, challenges, issues, etc.; lead where and when appropriate on the phase-out of partners in line with partnership policies and the identification, selection, onboarding, induction, and support of new partners. 

• Ensure effective representation of Trócaire’s programmes with local authorities, donors, working groups, clusters, task forces, and other members of the development, humanitarian, and Catholic communities, in close coordination with the Country Director.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key regional and local partners, and coordinate with other development, humanitarian, and peace actors, including INGOs, UN colleagues and government.
• Ensure the establishment and maintenance of strong working relationships with local communities, community-based organisations, and local authorities, as appropriate.

• Gauge and monitor external (e.g., Government of Ethiopia) influences on policy and advocacy in Ethiopia; recommend courses of action to the CMT safeguarding CST Ethiopia, the three agencies, partners, staff, and local communities maintaining a fiduciary responsibility to the organisation. 
• Support the CD and the programme teams to drive an evidence-based agenda around advocacy at the country level, when and where appropriate, pro-actively (and internationally where appropriate), informed by a contextually relevant political and power analysis, as well as a thorough risk analysis regarding sensitive messaging.
• Support programme staff to embed advocacy within programme strategies and oversee country level advocacy initiatives, which complements desired outcomes of programme strategies, where and when possible and appropriate. 
• Support the CST Ethiopia team to ensure organisational communications channels (online, offline) are being used to promote/highlight CST Ethiopia’s work, as well as to support HQ and organisational initiatives.
• Support the CD and staff to respond to organisational needs for materials or to host visits related to organisational level policy, advocacy, campaigns, development education, fundraising and communications. 

• Take responsibility for Risk Management at a programme level, ensuring that programme staff can analyse and respond to risk at project and programme levels and that programme level risks are captured and managed as part of a country risk management strategy.

Other

• Willingness to travel within country and internationally including travel to HQ in Ireland, UK, and Scotland.

• Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. More information on Trócaire’s safeguarding policies available here.

• We welcome diverse applicants to join our inclusive workforce.
• Trócaire is an equal opportunities employer. We are an organisation that embraces diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds to bring their experiences and perspectives to Trócaire. 
• Diversity and Inclusion statement available here.

Location: Mekelle, Ethiopia (The position is based at the CST Mekelle office with the opportunity to travel to the CST Ethiopia main office in Addis Ababa for a maximum of 3-4 days per month to attend Country Management Team (CMT) monthly meetings and other commitments)

Division: International

Travel Overseas: Required

Contract Duration: Fixed Term – 2 years

Essential Requirements

Qualifications

• Third level qualification in Development, Humanitarian, or related field of study.
• Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area, or significant experience beyond that outlined below. 

Experience

• At least eight years of demonstrable experience in the management of development programmes of substantial scale, including in international settings.
• At least five years’ experience of leading, managing or supporting teams in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong team-working skills and experience and playing a leadership role in ensuring cohesiveness, inclusion, and development of staff at all levels.
• Thorough understanding of safeguarding and accountability considerations in development work.
• In-depth understanding of programming in a partnership model, working in a partnership-based NGO.
• Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies, and techniques, including results-based management, rights-based approach, resilience, and participatory methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience of promoting gender equity through programming and within an international organisation. 
• Demonstrable experience of working to attract institutional donor funding and of managing large and complex donor grants and contracts.
• Experience of working with management information systems.

Skills

• Excellent leadership skills.
• Ability to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement a clear country level strategy in the context of organisational strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-cultural teams of national and international staff well, and to implement performance management effectively.
• Ability to coach and help others develop in their professional lives.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills and demonstrated ability in using these with internal stakeholders (CST Ethiopia and HQ staff in different locations) and external stakeholders (partners, Church, donors, host government etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial systems on a significant scale, in development and humanitarian contexts.
• Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Competent in Microsoft packages (Word, Excel).
• Fluency (written and spoken) in English.

Qualities

• Understanding of an empathy with, the role of the Catholic Church in development.
• A strong commitment to the work of justice and an empathy with the ethos and work of CST Ethiopia.
• A strong commitment and demonstrated ability to maintain adherence to humanitarian principles, including principles of impartiality and neutrality, especially related to the development, implementation, reporting and resourcing of programmes in diverse geographic, cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic regions and communities.

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