Democratic Republic of the Congo: Representative

Position type and closing date

Non-family posting

The closing date for applications is 2 April 2018.

Contract duration: 2 years with possibility for extension.

Please note that applicants are required to obtain a church endorsement from the church to which they belong.

Background

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of churches in the Lutheran tradition comprising 143 member churches in 79 countries all over the world, representing 70.5 million Christians. World Service is the internationally recognized humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation, assisting people in need irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or gender. We implement programs worldwide, working with both local and international partners, helping communities achieve their full potential and advocate for their universal rights. Our partners include Lutheran Churches and their related agencies, the European Commission (ECHO), the US Government (BPRM) and UNHCR, with whom we are a key implementing partner. For additional information please see www.lutheranworld.org.

The LWF Country Program has established operations in DRC in 1994 as part of a regional office in Rwanda, but since 2002 has been a standalone program with the main office in Goma. The LWF DRC program is both involved in emergency response and recovery and implements programs in the fields of nutrition, food security, WASH, agroforestry and protection.

Purpose of the position

Provide overall leadership, representation and effective management of the Lutheran World Federation World Service country programs in DRC so as to achieve the intended results, outcomes and impacts for the focus groups and program participants of concern to LWF World Service.

This will include the formulation or adjustment of the Country Strategies and implementing it in an accountable and participatory manner in accordance with approved LWF World Service policies, manuals and guidelines, the Global LWF World Service Strategy.

The LWF DRC Representative is responsible for the implementation of the LWF DRC Country Program. The position will be based in Goma, DRC, and oversees the offices in Kisangani, Bunia, Beni and Kananga (Kasai Central).

Required Qualifications

University degree in development studies, agriculture, economics, social sciences or other relevant field.

Knowledge and Experience

Significant working experience at management level in humanitarian assistance or development oriented programs within an international environment and preferably with church-related or non-governmental organizations.

Experience in security risk management and incident response

Strong leadership, conceptual and analytical skills and demonstrated organizational, management and supervisory skills.

Knowledge and experience of cooperation with United Nations agencies, governmental agencies and international development cooperation in the field of humanitarian assistance, advocacy and human rights, sustainable development is essential.

Strong sense of integrity

Team-oriented, flexible and excellent communication skills.

Computer skills.

Broad knowledge of LWF, its member churches and related agencies desired.

Language Skills

French advanced written and oral skills

English advanced written and oral skills

Swahili would be an additional asset

Main Duties

On Leadership

Provides overall leadership and strengthening to the LWF World Service DRC Program;

Ensures effective leadership in all aspects of the LWF World Service accountability framework, including other accountability elements related to leadership and management, and adherence to the LWF Staff Code of Conduct regarding Abuse of Power and Sexual Exploitation, Fraud and Corruption;

Promotes, implements and upholds the vision, mission, core values and objectives of the Global World Service strategy, as well as the country strategy and other approved documents for the countries;

Facilitates and actively seeks to sharpen the profile of LWF World Service as an international humanitarian organization through continuously striving to improve the quality of the programs according to LWF World Service’s empowerment, rights-based and integrated approach;

Promotes and facilitates the establishment and strengthening of national and regional networks relevant to the LWF World Service strategy for the countries;

Heads and ensures the effective coordination and operation of the country management teams;

On Management

Programmatic work

Responsible for the planning, supervision, implementation, monitoring, documentation, administration and evaluation of the LWF World Service programs in accordance with LWF World Service policies, priorities, procedures and guidelines;

Ensures management systems in the country programs strengthen the smooth implementation of LWF World Service programmatic work and facilitate learning and capacity building in the program;

Promotes partnership and collaboration with affected populations and primary focus groups throughout the program cycle, as central to overall accountability;

Undertakes regular monitoring visits of program/project at sites in the region;

Makes proposals to the LWF World Service Communion Office for any changes in the program, including new opportunities for service, program changes to better meet needs and facilitate transition/localization to the respective local partners;

Ensures the timely, accurate and relevant reports are submitted according to requirements.

Human Resources

Acts as the direct supervisor of the Grants Manager, Operation Manager and the 3 Program Managers;

Ensures that new staff are provided with thorough orientation to the LWF’s priorities and guiding principles as a humanitarian organization, the LWF World Service field program and the project to which they are assigned;

Develops staffing plans and in accordance with LWF policies and procedures supervises all matters pertaining to LWF World Service program national and international personnel;

Monitors and addresses security matters and informs the LWF World Service Communion Office. Ensure that security plans are development and implemented for all levels of field staff and visitors to the program;

Ensures that recruitment is gender-sensitive with the goal of gender balance within the staff, both in terms of numbers and levels of responsibility and ensuring that the skills of national staff are developed and utilized to the fullest extent possible for the furtherance of the program;

Prioritizes staff development and continual learning for staff of the country programs and, as applicable, implementing partners and ACT (Action by Churches Together) Alliance members.

Fundraising and Finance

Supervises the implementation of approved projects within the agreed budgets and subject to the availability of funds, including timely reporting;

Ensures complementarity and close working relations between finance and program staff;

Ensures efficient financial management of the program activities and administration, including effective internal control systems to promote financial accountability, and ensures that the financial transactions are conducted in accordance with the relevant LWF priorities and LWF World Service procedures;

Actively engages in negotiations with U.N. agencies, bilateral donors, and other potential additional funding sources in order to increase local fundraising in a competitive environment.

On Program

Ensures all emergency response and humanitarian interventions are undertaken in accordance with the LWF World Service policies and guidelines, and with guidelines, policies and procedures of the ACT Alliance, specifically concerning the Code of Conduct, Sphere and Core Humanitarian Standard;

Ensures that the different approaches stated in the World Service Global Strategy be incorporated into the projects, programs and policies of the Country Program;

Ensures that an integrated, rights-based empowerment approach is used in all interventions;

Addresses, monitors and documents environmentally sound project implementation and in accordance with LWF’s Guiding Principles for Sustainable Development, other relevant LWF World Service polices and guidelines and internationally agreed standards;

Mainstreams gender and implements gender sensitivity in program measures;

Works in close collaboration with local partners based on mutual accountability, trust and respect;

Promotes accountability especially to the disaster affected population in all LWF World Service emergency and development responses This includes facilitating localization of the LWF Global accountability framework and developing Complaints and Response mechanisms in the Country Program.

On Relations

Maintains a close working and consultative relationship with LWF member churches and other appropriate ecumenical and/or faith-based partners through frequent informal coordination and collaboration;

Plays an active role in the ACT Alliance forums, ensuring participation in strategic discussions, joint planning and implementation and providing support where possible;

Maintains the requisite consultative relationships with the relevant governmental authorities, national organizations and coordinates contacts with voluntary agencies engaged in rendering assistance related to the program objectives of LWF World Service;

Maintains close communication and cooperation with LWF’s Related Agencies and their local and regional offices;

Fosters and maintains good coordination and collaboration with international and bilateral cooperating and co‑financing partners, particularly with U.N., governments and their agencies and other international and national NGOs, and promotes the Principles of Partnership (PoP);

Carries out cooperation with the relevant Area Secretary in Department for Mission and Development (DMD) in the Geneva Communion Office on issues related to LWF member churches in the region.

Major Challenges

To ensure the stability and effectiveness of the program in a highly unpredictable and insecure context, particularly in relation to conflict, logistics and security constraints.

The Representative has to ensure the program remains vibrant, of high quality, is well-funded and develops its reputation as a reliable and effective partner for the focus groups, UN agencies, LWF Related Agencies, Institutional donors, other NGO partners and the Government.

To apply please follow the link:https://lutheranworld.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk0flrt?cjb_hash=O_IRli68&apply_now=true