Candidate Brief

Project Coordinator – Syria Resilience Project -

3 year fixed term contract

November 2016

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Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest you have shown in the role of Project Coordinator for the CARE

Syria Resilience Project, funded by UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).

This is a really exciting time to join CARE International UK and the Humanitarian

Programmes Team. Throughout the past year we have been supporting CARE country

offices in chronic, ongoing and rapid onset humanitarian emergencies. We have built strong

partnerships with other humanitarian actors and donors who believe that CARE can provide

quality assistance to those who need it most. We have managed to secure multimillion

grants and we are ambitious to grow even more. We respond in all major emergencies

across the globe, but we put additional resources and focus to the millions of people

affected by the conflict in Syria and in the MENA region.

We want you to bring your expertise in humanitarian programme management and

knowledge of DFID funded projects, your passion to support the ones who need it most and

your innovative ideas on how to do this in the most effective way. You will also contribute

with your knowledge of the region, and your skills in managing several stakeholders and

large and complex projects, cultivating fruitful relationships.

You will be provided with the resources to deliver and I can guarantee that every day you

will further develop your skills. You will work in a dynamic and successful team with

experienced staff from different backgrounds, as well as with expert teams across CARE.

You will be empowered to take true leadership of the project and tasked to deliver solid

results.

We believe strongly that people are key to our organisation and we want each one to thrive

within a highly successful and motivated team, while delivering results for the people that

CARE is accountable to assist.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Christos Papaioannou

Humanitarian Programme Manager

CARE International UK

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1. Background Information

CARE International – a global organisation fighting global poverty

CARE International operates in more than 90 countries around the world. We run poverty-fighting programmes and deliver life-saving aid in 79 developing countries. This work is supported by global policy and advocacy work, fundraising, and programme management provided by CARE offices in countries like the USA and the UK.

CARE International UK

CARE International UK was founded in 1985 and we are one of 14 full members of the global CARE International federation. We employ 120 staff and generate around £50 million a year for CARE’s poverty-fighting work.

As well as supporting CARE’s humanitarian and development work around the world, CARE International UK provides specific expertise in the areas of women’s economic empowerment, inclusive governance, humanitarian response (particularly shelter, and gender in emergencies), and engaging with the private sector. We also play a key role in CARE’s work engaging with and influencing policy-makers and decision-makers to tackle the structural causes of poverty and social injustice.

CARE’s programmes are implemented through CARE country offices which are supported with technical assistance and programme management by CARE members (including CARE International UK). We work in partnership with local organisations to deliver many of our programmes.

CARE is non-religious and non-political, allowing us to deliver humanitarian and development assistance to anyone in need regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, political view or sexual orientation.

You can find out more about our current strategy here

Humanitarian and Emergencies work

Every year, CARE responds to approximately 30 crises that affect the lives of around 12

million people around the world.

Before Disaster strikes

For poor, vulnerable communities, the impact of any emergency can destroy hard-won gains

in the fight against poverty. Good planning and preparation can save lives, reduce the

impact of disasters and help people recover more quickly.

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That’s why we help communities to plan for emergencies and reduce the risks of harmful

impacts from future disasters – such as by advising on how to build safer housing, or

supporting farmers to grow drought-resistant crops.

During an emergency

CARE’s dedicated resources for emergency response allow us to provide fast, effective relief

to communities in need as soon as a disaster strikes. With ongoing programmes in many of

the world’s most disaster-prone countries, CARE has emergency response experts already

on the ground, and additional emergency specialists ready to immediately deploy from

around the world.

We provide emergency food and other supplies, provide shelter, and ensure people have

access to water, sanitation and health care. We place special emphasis on meeting the

needs of women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by disasters.

After an emergency

After the emergency phase has passed, CARE works with communities to recover in the long

term. Our goal is to move as quickly as possible from emergency response to recovery and

sustained development. Instead of providing long-term handouts, we help people help

themselves, for example by supporting people to rebuild businesses, and farmers to

rehabilitate their farms.

We also provide psychosocial support, helping communities recover from trauma by re-

establishing communal activities and structures and promoting better coping mechanisms

through community activities.

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The job and the team

Within the Programme management team, the Humanitarian Programme Team (HPT)

manages CIUK’s Humanitarian project portfolio in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean

and the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA). The MENA region, with particular

humanitarian focus on the Syria regional response and Yemen, is key to the HPT and our

MENA programmes have been growing significantly, especially in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon,

Yemen and in Syria itself.

Recognising the extremely high levels of need in Syria and INGOs’ collective responsibility to

address them, CARE has been increasing our efforts to ensure that we reach as many people

as possible. This is done with a combination of programmes, addressing urgent needs, as

well as ensuring that resilience is built and livelihoods are protected. In our several projects

CARE works with local and international partners to improve both the scale and quality of

the response. We are also providing technical expertise as global leaders in developing best

practice, tools, and resources. Through our Syria Programme we aim to establish a long-

term, collaborative effort to use livelihoods programming for a holistic, multi-faceted, multi-

donor response programme.

CARE’s Syria project portfolio is increasing and we are now looking for an experienced and

passionate professional to lead our DFID-funded Syria project from an HQ perspective. The

Syria Resilience Project (SRP) will be implemented by CARE International and its local NGO

partners. It will be funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID)

and has duration of four years.

The SRP is implemented and managed on a day to day basis by the Project Management

structures in the region, but all overall programme, contract, financial and consortium

management responsibility lies with CIUK. The Project Coordinator (PC) will ensure that all

these aspects are properly managed, linking with the Chief of Party and other management

roles.

The PC will be held accountable for carrying out a range of quality management functions

using CARE tools and systems and sector standards in support of the country and regional

teams to ensure effective contract management. S/he will work with support from technical

colleagues in CIUK, globally and in the region, to ensure that projects are implemented in

ways that are consistent with humanitarian accountability standards, demonstrate results,

and generate knowledge to support CARE International’s commitment to multiplying

impact. In so doing, they will ensure that CIUK’s engagement with DFID is characterised by

high level performance in terms of financial and narrative reporting requirements, Value for

Money (VfM), as well as delivery of other project outputs such as research reports, Results

compact, etc.

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As the Syria programme has strategic importance for CARE International globally, apart from

the overall management, supporting the project learning activities in coordination with

relevant key CIUK staff will be part of this role. In addition, there are considerable linkages

and synergies with other CARE International projects in the region and the post holder will

be expected to ensure a coordinated collaboration which allows CARE to leverage greater

impact and learning through these different projects.

This is a three-year Fixed Term Contract.

2. Specific Areas of Responsibility

Project management

Overall project lead in line with CIUK’s agreed procedures, Project Management

Guidelines and Project key documentation (Project Narrative, Budget, LogFrame,

Risk Matrix, etc.)

Ensure effective and timely start-up of project to enable effective narrative and

financial reporting

Monitor project implementation against contractual requirements including through

periodic visits to ensure Country Offices achieve timely and appropriate delivery of

project outputs/outcomes, including ensuring Core standards are being consistently

applied, Global Impact Indicators used and monitored, markers are up to date and

VfM indicators are being tracked and learnt from. Provide updates to DFID through

formal and informal reports maintaining the oversight and ensuring quality of

monitoring, evaluation and reporting in coordination with the PMU.

Ensure regular deliverable and progress tracking to support programme

management by the PMU, CARE Regional and Country offices.

Escalate any major risks to the Regional Manager’s attention.

Ensure timely and complete closure of projects in line with contractual requirements

and in support of post project learning and influencing agenda. Project needs to be

fully closed on the internal database and final evaluation report uploaded to CI

portal.

Compliance and financial management

Financial management of the contract, including fund transfer procedures,

maintaining records and producing consolidated financial management information,

ensuring compliance with the DFID contractual requirements, in coordination with

the Contracts and Finance Officer (CFO).

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Scrutinise the project’s expenditure for quarterly re-forecasts, including CIUK’s direct

cost recovery, in coordination with the Senior CFO; raise risks to Programme

Manager, for reporting at Project Risk meetings

Lead on all grant revisions and extensions

Ensure timely follow up of audit findings required of CIUK

Internal reporting on progress, financial status and risk, escalating any major risks to

the MENA Humanitarian Programme Team Leader and the Humanitarian Programme

Manager

Programme Quality, Accountability, Impact reporting and Knowledge management

generation

Ensure that the SRP is compliant with the CI Gender, Governance and Resilience

Markers throughout the project cycle

Ensure consistent and quality oversight of the SRP in line with the Common

Humanitarian Standard, internal and external humanitarian technical standards and

the Humanitarian Principles

Support the development of a robust M&E systems during the start-up phase of the

project drawing on support and expertise from CIUK / technical teams/ country

office MEAL advisors. CIUK core MEAL standards need to be used, markers kept up

to date, GIIs measured.

Maintain oversight of the roll out of M&E and the data it is generating in association

with M&E staff

Supporting the planning, generation and use of learning from the SRP to support the

multiplying impact work of CARE Syria, UK and other CI technical and advocacy.

Working in partnership with the project management trainee and communication

team, contribute one story/ blog per annum to be used externally.

Complete concise back to office reports within one week of returning from visits.

Deliver one brown bag lunch (internal CIUK information meeting) on programming /

lessons from the SRP per annum.

Relationship management - internal

Work collaboratively across the department particularly with other Programme

Coordinators for MENA. Work actively with the Humanitarian Programme Team

Lead – MENA and Humanitarian Programme Manager.

Invest in understanding the CARE in-country programming context (strategies) of

which the specific project is a part

Work closely with the colleagues from all any technical team as required: Gender in

Emergencies, Resilience, Women’s Economic Empowerment and Inclusive

Governance, etc. as well as colleagues working on humanitarian advocacy and

communications

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Liaise with colleagues from other CARE Member Partners working on similar in-

country programming

Relationship management - external

Focal point for ultimate relationship with the DFID Syria Programme team and

responsible for all contractual and official correspondence with them

Ensure good working relationships with DFID in the UK and in country in association

with the country offices involved

Support the development of strong working relationships by the CARE Country

Offices with national organisations and local partners (existing and new) involved in

the SRP

Be an effective team member

Contribute towards the development of the team’s annual operating plan and

develop an annual individual operating plan

Contribute to annual budget development and regular reviews of team income and

expenditure levels

Contribute to team and departmental meetings ensuring that information on Syria is

proactively shared and opportunities for greater CIUK engagement are known

Support and provide cover for fellow team members as and when needed

Take part in the Humanitarian Team out of hours roster

- Any additional duties as may be reasonably required by a senior manager within the

scope of the above.

- This document forms part of the post holder’s contractual terms and conditions of

employment.

- The document is not an exhaustive list of core elements of the role. This job

description is a working document and may be amended from time to time by mutual

agreement.

Data Protection

The post holder hereby agrees not to disclose any confidential or sensitive information to a

third party or outside organisation except where required to do so by law.

Health and Safety

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The post holder agrees to abide by CIUK’s Health and Safety principles and code of conduct

and to take all reasonable steps to ensure both their own safety in the work place as well as

that of their colleagues.

Equal Opportunities

The post holder agrees to promote and uphold the principles of equal opportunities in

accordance with CIUK’s Equal Opportunities Statement and all related policies.

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Person Specification

Essential Desirable

Education/

Qualifications

Relevant degree or equivalent alternative

levels of experience and training.

Experience of successful management of

complex grants and commercial contracts

Masters degree in

relevant subject.

Prince 2 or similar

project management

qualification

Skills / Abilities Experience of successfully managing

humanitarian/development DFID funded

projects in the MENA region and/or other

complex environments

Experience and proven understanding of

resilience and livelihoods programming and

gender issues, and ability to deliver gender

sensitive programming

Knowledge of CHS, SPHERE and other quality

and accountability tools, as well as

humanitarian principles

Proven experience of working with and through

local partners, focusing on capacity sharing and

development

Strong MEAL and Value for Money skills.

Excellent verbal and writing skills in English

Excellent networking, negotiations and

representation skills to different audiences

Ability to speak Arabic

Experience of remote

management

methodologies

Experience /

Understanding

Relevant, minimum five-years work experience

in agencies with humanitarian capacity

including some experience overseas

Experience in starting up and rolling out large

scale projects

Very good knowledge and experience of the

Syria regional or MENA context

Understanding and experience of risk

management in a complex, conflict context,

including counter-terrorism and anti-fraud and

corruption regulations

A strong understanding or experience of HQ -

based (remote) management of overseas

projects.

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Awareness of current debates and issues in

humanitarian response

Other Able and willing to undertake periodic

international travel (up to 30% of work time) to

the region

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Application Process

To apply please send your completed application form via email to

jobs@careinternational.org quoting C847 in the subject line

or

Via post to Human Resources Department, CARE International UK, 9th floor, 89 Albert

Embankment, London SE1 7TP.

Closing date: Wednesday 23 November 2016

Interview date: Week beginning 5 December 2016

For further information please visit

www.careinternational.org.uk

Twitter: @careintuk

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