PROJECT OFFICER – CARE Ethiopia

Development and Project Management

CARE Ethiopia

CARE Ethiopia

CARE started working in Ethiopia in 1984 in response to severe drought and famine that devastated the population and claimed the lives of nearly one million people. Since then, the organization’s activities have expanded to address the root causes of poverty and vulnerability.

In 2008, CARE Ethiopia’s office moved from a project-based approach to a more focused and strategic program-based approach. Over the eight years since that transition, CARE Ethiopia has implemented a series of programs with successful outcomes, while simultaneously impacting the policies and practices of government, serving as a thought leader amongst NGOs, and bringing transformative change to rural communities. These broader and deeper impacts go beyond the direct impacts of its programs and are a result of CARE Ethiopia’s overall country strategy, which enables CARE to design for scale.

CARE Ethiopia works in various sectors but has particularly targeted the following:

·         Food Security and Resilience

·         WASH         

·         Nutrition

 

·         Sexual and Reproductive Health and

 

·         Emergency Response as cross-cutting (focusing on the above sectors).

JOB SUMMARY:

The uplift her project aims to contribute to the improved health and well-being of the most vulnerable adolescent girls in Ethiopia, in particular Out Of School and schools-school adolescent girls and boys in Oromia region by addressing the drivers of gender inequality and contributing to the reduction of poverty through economic empowerment. The project will be implemented in 12 woredas of the east and west Hararghe zones of the Oromiya region.

The purpose of the Project officer position is to effectively implement the assigned project component activities in intervention woredas. In collaboration with other team members of the project, He/she oversees the proper implementation of the assigned component of the program, He/she is also responsible for assisting the project manager in project designing, planning, budget preparation, reporting and so on. S/he will support planning and implementation efforts for Uplift Her project under the direct supervision of the project manager. S/he will provide management, filed visit and collaboration/networking and technical support to project staff under her/his supervision (Facilitator For Empowerments), monitor progress against plans and report against agreed schedules. The post holder will ensure the project receives technical and operational support to ensure quality programming and intended impact. S/he will support documentation of learning for wider organizational use and will ensure smooth partnerships with the government , community and other non-government organizations working in the project implementation area in networking including field visit and  joint supportive supervision . She/ He is accountable for the project performance at the implementation woreda level.

II. RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS: 

Job Responsibility 1:  Planning and Implementation of Project Activities (30%)

• Ensure that planning and implementation of the project activities are in accordance with the program principles, approaches, and procedures of the organization.
• Direct implementation of the UH project activities in the assigned project areas
• Provides technical assistance and support to other team members of the project.
• Support the development of a detailed implementation plan (DIP) in accordance with the project proposal.
• Provides support to front-line staff (EFF) for the effective implementation of the project activities as per the set plan of action and quality expected.
• Ensures targeting for project beneficiaries is made in a participatory manner.
• Facilitate periodic reviews to follow up on the status of the project against the DIP with frontline staff (EFF) monthly at the woreda level. 
• Support project staff under her/his supervision (FFEs) in the timely identification of implementation challenges and their resolutions with appropriate strategies.
• Closely work with the M&E officer to ensure the measurable impact of SRH and nutrition-related activities and a robust M&E system is in place.
• Provide close support to the assessments carried out in project operational areas.
• Work closely with the field team, woreda, and kebele level partners to implement adolescent SRH and nutrition activities as per the DIP and monitor and evaluate the project activities.
• Support communication with cooperating agencies and implementing partners on project progress, fund utilization, and challenges.
• Support the project team to ensure project compliance with all CARE policies and procedures (including all CI members and CARE Ethiopia) and donor rules and regulations.

Job Responsibility #2:  Program Quality Assurance and budget management (25%)

• Ensure that the project employs appropriate programmatic approaches based on project Performance Measurement Framework, Logic model and CARE’s Gender equality framework, programming  principles, and relevant guidelines.
• Identify technical assistance requirements and work with the project manager to ensure the project receives the specific technical support it requires.
• Utilize appropriate management tools and technical guidance to achieve the intended impact.
• Share relevant information with other CARE Ethiopia long-term development interventions being implemented in the same FO.
• Assist the project manager to facilitate appropriate budget management and utilization in compliance with donor and CARE rules and regulations.
• Support the project manager to appropriately revise budgets as required.
• Assist the project manager in monthly monitoring of burn rates and identification of appropriate corrective action to address low/high burn rates.

Job Responsibility #3: Reporting, documentation, capacity building, and Staff Supervision (30%)

• Support the development of appropriate tracking and reporting formats together with the M&E specialist.
• Collect and compile weekly, monthly, and quarterly performance reports from project staff under her/his supervision (FFEs) and share them with the Project manager and M&E specialist.
• Collects monthly and quarterly performance reports from project staff , stakeholders and project  source documents .
• Compiles quarterly and annual reports for government and other partners at respective intervention woredas.
• Prepare high-quality progress reports of the performance of project activities.
• Conduct data quality verification and monitor the quality and reliability of the reports collected from project staff under her/his supervision (FFEs).
• Develop a plan, budget, and timeline for implementing planned capacity building activities by the program. Proactively develop and maintain a robust learning platform with all grassroots stakeholders and ensure that good Practices are shared widely.
• Prepare and maintain  information on the capacity building activities, results, and community-based accountability systems (Feedback and accountability Mechanism )of the assigned operational area.
• Keep herself/himself updated about recent developments in assigned technical areas and related issues.
• Identify training and other institutional development needs of staff under her/his supervision, and partner organizations to implement effective development programs.
• Arrange trainings, workshops, seminars, study tours and experience sharing visits that are related to the needs of project and staffs under her/his supervision.
• Support and engage in collection, documentation and dissemination of best practices, assessments/case studies and lessons and share them with her/his supervisor and M&E specialist.
• Assist in the preparation of project reports and documents per donor and/or CARE reporting schedules and formats.
• Supervise, coach, and provide technical support to project staff under her/his supervision (FFEs).
• Ensures that summary of meetings, seminars or workshops attended by project staff is written, well documented and shared with others.
• Complete all CARE performance management activities including PAR, performance planning, monitoring, and semi-annual and annual performance appraisals for direct reporters.
• Support delivery of staff capacity development plans and related training

Job Responsibility #4: Partnership, networking, and accountability (10%)

• Ensure productive relationships are established and maintained with all government, non-governmental, and community-based organizations at the woreda and kebele level.
• Closely work with government institutions, CBOs, and communities at woreda and kebele levels to ensure adequate linkages are established.
• Ensure active participation of relevant humanitarian actors and structures in designing, planning, implementation and monitoring of projects (especially community members and government partners)
• Ensure all project events are well planned and known about by local stakeholders and concerned community members and beneficiaries.
• Actively participate in sexual and reproductive health, and nutrition forums to facilitate learning and scaling up of good practices woreda and zonal level
• Introduce FAM system and monitor it’s functionality.

Job Responsibility #: Other (5%)

• Perform other duties as assigned.

PROBLEM SOLVING (Thinking Environment)

Two or one levels of problem-solving apply to the incumbent. But category numbers two and three are most applicable to this position because, the incumbent must use interpolative skills to pick and choose the right strategy to address a given problem and also has to deal with variable situations, which need analysis, problem definition, and development of alternative solutions.  

IV . GENDER EQUALITY

• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and PSEAH (safeguarding),

VI.  QUALIFICATIONS and Skills

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Required:

• BSc degree in Sociology, Psychology, Public Health or equivalent combination of education

Desired

• Masters in Sociology, Psychology, Public Health or equivalent combination of education!

EXPERIENCE and technical skills

Required:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in project and management and relevant experience preferably with an NGO setting with the following competency
• Have technical background and knowledge in ASRH and nutrition, gender, livelihoods and demonstrated work experience in respective programs.
• Familiarity with relevant standards and guidelines for ASRHN, Gender, livelihoods
• Proficiency in verbal and written English,
• Experience in budget planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing.
• Proficiency in standard office software package
• Good interpersonal communication skills and ability to effectively liaise with government, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Understanding of the importance of gender, adolescent, youth, and social inclusion
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of gender, equity, diversity, inclusion and PSHEA (safeguarding) through previous positions or programming experience.

Desired:

• Actual grassroots experience, working with communities and CSOs.
• Knowledge of local languages
• Skills in organizing and facilitating training events.

COMPETENCIES

• Respect, accountability, courage, excellence, building partnership, stress tolerance, solving problem-solving, managing performance for success, communicating with impact, innovation, planning, and monitoring.

VII. CONTACTS/KEY RELATIONSHIPS.

• The Project officer will have working relations with the Project Manager, partner, and other CARE staff in respective woredas and projects.

XIII.  WORKING CONDITIONS AND LEVEL OF TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Three positions are required for the project. The duty base of a position will be either at any of the intervention woredas of the project in West Hararghe Zone (Mieso, Chiro, Shanan Dhugo, Gemechis, Gumbi Bordode, and Doba). Each position requires 25 – 30% of travel to the respective intervention Woredas and kebeles in each Zone under her/his supervision.

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