Project officer for Education and Economic Development
Source: Agence d'Aide à la Coopération Technique et au Développement (ACTED) - France
| Deadline: | 16 Nov 2007 |
| Organisation: | Agence d'Aide à la Coopération Technique et au Développement (ACTED) - France |
| Location: | Jordan |
| Type: | permanent |
| Salary: | TBA (000's USD) |
| Description: | Position: Project Officer for Education and Economic Development
Contract duration: 6 months Location: Iraq and Jordan based in Amman Starting date: Immediate I. Background: ACTED (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development) is an independent international NGO based in Paris. It is a private and apolitical non-profit organisation. Since its foundation in 1993, ACTED's mission has been to save lives, assist vulnerable people and bring hope for a better future to those in need. Every year ACTED implements approx. 150 projects in 7 zones of intervention in Central and South Asia, Middle-East, Balkans, Central America/ Caribbean and Central Africa. With a network of almost 2,500 staff working in 16 countries, one of ACTED's long-term objectives is to contribute to poverty alleviation by providing support to victims of disasters, both man made and natural. II. Post Profile: 1. ASSIGNMENT The Project Officer is in charge of the management, supervision and development of Education and Economic Development activities of ACTED Iraq. The Project Officer is based in Amman, with displacements to KRG and Kuwait. The five main tasks comprise: - Supervise the project cycle management - Ensure external representation for ACTED in relevant sectors - Manage the project staff and security - Provide technical expertise - Identify best practises and capitalize experience - 2. GENERAL FUNCTIONS Supervise the project Cycle management Project implementation: Plan the various stages of project implementation; Guide the implementation of the project and the methods of follow-up; Manage project finances, logistics and materials; Liaise with all internal and external counterparts of the project; Assess the activities undertaken and ensure efficient use of resources; Project reporting requirements: Set up a clear timeline of reports to be submitted to project Donors; Draft narrative reports and contribute to the development of financial reports through regular budgetary follow up; Ensure adherence to FLAT procedures. More generally, communicate systematically to the relevant Country Director or Area Coordinator on project progress and planning. Ensure external representation of ACTED in relevant sectors Representation vis-à-vis provincial authorities: Participate in technical and sectoral meetings to ensure visibility amongst local authorities; Representation vis-à-vis Donors: Participate in technical and sectoral Donor meetings and pass relevant information to the Country Director; Representation vis-à-vis international organisations: Participate in technical and sectoral meetings and working groups involving NGOs and UN Agencies (OCHA, PNUD, UNICEF, FAO, etc.) and all other inter-governmental institutions; Contribute to the creation of reports, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as the confidentiality of internal information as required; More generally, the project manager is expected to contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of ACTED's mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors. Provide Relevant Technical Expertise Ensure that technical quality and standards are considered during project implementation: Collect technical information and analyse associated opportunities and risks; Identify relevant technical authorities and partners, and propose formal partnership and/or contracts. Undertake quality control: Analyse technical added-value and project impact; Set up technical evaluation exercises during and following implementation. Oversee Project Staff and Security Guide and direct project staff: Organise and lead project coordination meetings; Prepare and follow work plans with each project member; Ensure a positive working environment and good team dynamics (solve out potential conflicts); Promote team working conditions in the limit of private life; Adapt the organigramme and ToRs of project personnel according to the project development; Undertake regular appraisals of directly supervised colleagues and pass appraisal forms to the Country or Area Administrator with recommendations (new position, changes to contract or salary etc.); Ensure a building of capacity amongst technical staff in the relevant sectors. Contribute to the recruitment of expatriate staff: When requested by HQ, undertake interviews to assess technical abilities of expatriate candidates living in the country. Oversee staff security: In cooperation with the relevant Security Officer, monitor the local security situation and inform the Country Director or Area Coordinator and Country or Area Security Officer of developments through regular written reports; Contribute to the updating of the security guidelines in the project area of intervention; Ensure that security procedures are respected by each member of the project team. Identify Best Practices and Lessons Learned Collect information and tools employed for project implementation; Draft memos detailing lessons learned and best practices identified during the project; Share such memos with internal and external partners; Communicate such information to the Country Director or Area Coordinator, to Regional Support Offices and to HQ Reporting Department. ANNEX: SPECIFICS In view of the specific context of ACTED Iraq mission, the present Annex aims at providing, in addition and in relation to the general functions, some specific (and non-exhaustive) details on priority tasks to be undertaken: 1. Supervise the Project Cycle Management 1.1. Project implementation Ensure the compliance to FLAT, Finance, Logistic and Administration procedures Communicate regularly with the CD on activities progress, planning and problems Launch of sectoral assessments Prepare methodology notes in liaison with the AME Unit Implement the activities according to objectives, deadlines and quality standards, with a close and interactive communication with field bases Report and solve any problem of implementation Identify funding opportunities, prepare concept notes and proposals Ensure that financial and logistics duties are adequately undertaken by the respective departments regarding supervised activities 1.2. Project reporting requirements Prepare and update the biweekly work plan Update the PMF for the relevant activities Provide information to the weekly/monthly coordination meetings, donor reports and articles for press review/website Establish a monthly/quarterly internal program review 2. Ensure external representation of ACTED in relevant sectors 2.1. With provincial authorities: Ensure that the project staff is participating to sectoral meetings in Southern Iraq 2.2. With other humanitarian actors Prepare and update the requested documentation of the working groups (matrix, tables, flash appeals, etc.) Meet with other humanitarian actors involved in similar activities Update the ACTED external contact list and sectoral background note 3. Provide Relevant Technical Expertise 3.1. Undertake quality control Collect field technical reports from the project staff and provide feedback Update the monitoring and quality control tools developed with AME Unit 4. Oversee Project Staff and Security 4.1. Guide and direct project staff Manage the "Education and Economic Development Unit" in Amman in liaison with the direction Prepare and follow up the biweekly work plans with project members 4.2. Contribute to the recruitment of national staff Undertake interviews to assess technical abilities of candidates Participate to the selection of candidates with the CD and the administrator 4.3. Train and support the project staff Support the project staff on a daily basis Train the project staff through Kuwait Coordination Meetings and sharing of technical information Ensure the capacity building of the staff 5. Identify best practises and capitalize experience Collect background documentation and reports (external reports and analyses, UN CAPs, SPHERE, HAP, external assessments and surveys, fact sheets, maps etc.) Contribute to improve the capacity of national staff, local partners, local authorities III. Qualifications and skills At least 1-2 years of professional experience in humanitarian and/or development organisations; Master degree preferably in a development related field Diplomacy is required for all interactions. Impartiality, objectivity and confidentiality are imperative Good organizational and communication skills with international and national staff Flexibility and adaptability are essential, as well as the ability to plan, take initiative and organize work independently. Excellent communication and drafting skills in English Knowledge of the region an asset Cross-cultural sensitivity and flexibility required Ability to operate Microsoft Office Ability to work under pressure. IV. Conditions: Transportation, housing, and food ensured by ACTED Repatriation insurance + accident + care in France ensured by ACTED salary according to profile and experience + perdiem To apply send CV + cover letter and a writing sample at jobs@acted.org (ref: PO/JO/AN) |
