Project Concern International Chief of Party, Pastoral Areas Resilience Activity Jobs in Ethiopia

Project Concern International Chief of Party, Pastoral Areas Resilience Activity Jobs in Ethiopia

Closing date: 30 Sep 2019

Project Concern International (PCI) is recruiting for a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the Pastoral Areas Resilience Activity (PARA), an anticipated multi-million dollar, US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project in Ethiopia that will improve resilience to enhance food security and inclusive economic growth.

This multifaceted activity is expected to be a major component in USAID’s contribution to improving Ethiopia’s ability to withstand major shocks in the pastoral regions, a critical element on the journey to self-reliance.

PARA’s core activities will target 250,000 households (approximately 1.5 million people) in 30 or more selected districts (woredas) of Oromia, Somali, Afar and potentially South Omo.

Specifically, the project will tackle the root causes of vulnerability for lowlands households to improve their capacity to withstand and recover from climate and conflict related shocks and stresses.

These include weak disaster risk management capacity at different levels, limited livelihood diversification options, poor livestock and crop productivity and market linkages and low levels of nutrition.

Implementation will focus on systems change, with a strong learning component to ensure interventions are adapted per the latest analysis and research.

PARA will be one piece to the larger puzzle of building the resilience of Ethiopia’s pastoral populations, and partnerships with other implementers, donors, the GoE and the private sector will be essential to reach the scale needed for real systems change.

The COP is responsible for the overall implementation of the project, and s/he provides technical and administrative supervision to the project.

The COP will oversee coordination with key stakeholders (including the GOM, civil society, the private sector, and others) and lead preparation and oversight of sub-agreements with partner organizations.

Additionally, the COP will be responsible for communications with USAID, for publicly representing the project, and for liaising with the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) and other institutions/stakeholders on issues related to food security, inclusive economic growth, nutrition, and resilience in Ethiopia, particularly in USAID’s tentative priority woredas for its upcoming Lowlands Resilience Project, in which PARA will be an important activity.

The COP will also serve as PCI’s Country Representative in Ethiopia. This is a full-time position contingent on funding. The anticipated start date will be October 1, 2019.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Provide an integrated vision for this complex, multi-sectoral project, and lead execution of inter-related activities in disaster risk management, diversification of economic opportunities, production and marketing, nutrition, and crisis response.

Provide strategic leadership through vision, continuous improvement of quality, innovation and establishing a results-driven-management system.

Mentor senior technical staff to develop standard operating guidelines, quality assurance and control systems, milestones, successful startup and efficient technical service delivery mechanisms.

Provide strategic, technical and administrative oversight for all activities to cost-effectively achieve project objectives.

Oversee partners’ and sub-grantees’ performance by establishing accountability mechanisms in program, finance, and data quality management.

Establish a culture of evidence-based decision-making and data driven analytics through a well-developed monitoring and evaluation system.

Oversee and manage the operational, financial, HR, and administrative needs of the project and PCI Ethiopia including budget management, high-quality program and financial reporting, and grant/contract compliance.

Develop systems to identify operational risks and their management and to reduce risks in project implementation.

Assure good financial management of the project (e.g. budget execution, program-finance linkages, monitoring and reporting processes and procurement systems) and adhere to PCI and USAID financial policies and procedures.

Oversee total compliance to PCI and USG regulations in all aspects of program implementation.

Lead in establishing excellent communication protocols and working relationships with GOE, donors, partners and other stakeholders.

Establish a work culture that respects and prioritizes the needs of communities, especially the most vulnerable.

Lead in managing human resources through recruitment, mentoring, setting performance objectives, rewarding and training project team members.

Actively engage in PCI’s effort to embed innovation and support the project team in doing so as well.

Required Qualifications:

Demonstrated delivery of strong results in a COP role.

Experience in Ethiopia required.

Masters or post-graduate degree in a related field.

Minimum of 15 years of professional experience, and minimum of 7 years of senior management experience, with progressively increasing responsibilities managing complex, multi-million-dollar food security, agriculture, nutrition, disaster risk reduction, and crisis response.

Experience managing complex, multi-million-dollar contracts and/or cooperative agreements funded by USG.

Demonstrated understanding of the pastoral and agro-pastoral context in Ethiopia required, with significant experience working in lowland pastoral areas in Ethiopia highly desirable.

Relevant technical expertise in food security, agriculture, nutrition, disaster risk reduction, and crisis response.

Experience working with senior government officials and building consensus among diverse actors, including NGOs (local and international), representatives of civil society, the private sector and USAID partners.

Demonstrated abilities in USAID reporting, budgeting, procurement, and project management, including monitoring and evaluation.

Excellent understanding and familiarity with USG donor regulations.

Proven leadership skills and demonstrated experience recruiting, developing, and managing/mentoring staff.

Development philosophy in keeping with PCI’s mission, vision, core values and approach to integrated, community-driven programming.

Excellent analytical and self-motivation skills; excellent advocacy and persuasion skills; able to think critically.

Strong financial management abilities.

Fluency (verbal and written) in English.

About PCI:

Founded in 1961, PCI is an international non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing health, ending hunger, overcoming hardship, and advance women and girls around the world.

In 2018, PCI served more than 12 million people in 15 countries across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. During the past 50 years, the organization has served millions more in 14 additional countries.

PCI has five decades of experience and demonstrated impact in long-term development and community health, and 40 years of experience managing large-scale US Government (USG) grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.

It manages a portfolio of integrated programming that includes significant projects addressing reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health; food, nutrition, and livelihood security; HIV/AIDS; other diseases; water, sanitation, and hygiene; and humanitarian assistance/disaster risk reduction programs.

How to Apply:


Project Concern International Chief of Party, Pastoral Areas Resilience Activity Jobs in Ethiopia