Job Title: Program Manager, ECFAP-East Program

Reports to: Head of Programming

The duration of the project if six months

About CRS: 

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS has been working in Cameroon since 1961, with the main office in the capital Yaoundé. The current portfolio is largely health and emergencies oriented. Two health programs funded by USAID/PEPFAR and the Global Fund (as a sub recipient to the Government of Cameroon) provide services to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Emergency programs improve WASH and school and health infrastructure among refugees from the Central African Republic in East Cameroon. CRS is also implementing a program to provide health services to urban refugees in Yaoundé and Douala. In addition, CRS is supporting the Church’s National Justice and Peace program as well as programming in the Far North of the country through a program for inter-religious dialogue.

Background: 

The North, East and Adamaoua regions of Cameroon currently host 234,500 refugees, with 99,000 of which arrived prior to 2014.  UNCHR reports that almost all refugees who arrived after 2014, as well as 18 percent of refugees who arrived before, are dependent on food aid. UNHCR’s RRRP 2016 notes while GAM has improved in the past two years, recent SENS shows that this oscillates from 4-15%, even after nutrition programming activities conducted by various organizations.  Acute malnutrition rates especially among children are still high, causing child morbidity and mortality.An August 2015 SMART survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF also reveals that GAM in the East at 4.8 percent, making it second next to the Far North Region.  This data is further supported by other assessments conducted by WFP, FAO, and UNICEF. Meanwhile, recent post distribution monitoring (PDM) in the East and Adamaoua showed that the majority of CAR refugees have an acceptable food consumption score, their continued dependence on food assistance, poor dietary diversity, and practice of negative strategies suggest that they remain highly vulnerable.

CRS Cameroon has been awarded a 6-month project (a pilot) with the World Food Program (WFP) to be implemented in the Gado refugee site in Eastern Cameroon. This project, called the Emergency Cash-Based Food Assistance Program (ECFAP) for Populations Affected by the CAR Crisis in the East Region of Cameroon, aims to improve food access and nutritional status for refugees and/or IDPs in thetargeted regions through cash-transfer food assistance. 

Job Summary: 

CRS is looking for a Program Manager (PM) for the Emergency Cash-Based Food Assistance Program (ECFAP). The Program Manager will be responsible for ensuring the quality of CRS Cameroon emergency programming, including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, budget management, and narrative and financial reporting. S/he will lead the development of appropriate training, assessment and monitoring tools for the program. His/her work includesfrequent field travel to monitor program activities and provide technical support as required, review reports submitted by program team and provide feedback, compile progress reports for submission to project donorand CRS/HQ and overall coordination of the project activities. The PM will coordinate day-to-day activities and supervise the ECFAP program team,some of whom will be based remotely, monitoring the program budget, and ensure timely submission of reports to CRS and the donor. (S) He will also be responsible for ensuring activities align with the projected budget and with CRS and donor guidelines.The PM will ensure that programs are consistent with CRS protection and gender policies and compliant with donor regulations. S/he will ensure that at a minimum, programming “do no harm” to the children, men and women; that programming includes appropriate sensitization around concepts of protection, including child protection, and gender; and that where appropriate, programming is gender transformative. 

Specific Responsibilities:

Program Quality: 

• Responsible for leading the planning, implementation, and monitoring of all program activities.
• Ensure program's strategic objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards. 
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting by CRS and donors.
• Ensure that regulations of the WFP funding mechanism that are binding in the implementation of the cash-based food assistance project are strictly adhered to.
• Use appropriate project management tools to plan, review and track progress on project implementation as well as on the utilization of project resources.
• Develop milestones reports and human interest stories about the project’s achievements
• Ensure the integration of gender and protection component in the project as required.

Administrative and Financial Management: 

• Manage the program budgets, including tracking of financial resources and monthly spending trends, using approved Agency standards based on CRS guiding principles and Catholic social teaching;
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of program finances and progress status, review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis. 
• Ensure compliance with internal CRS’ and other donor requirements.
• Ensure that all relevant documents, correspondence, and e-mails are properly maintained according to the established filing system.
• Ensure program staff are in compliance with all CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies. 
• Work closely with the finance department to ensure financial management of partners is meeting quality standards.
• Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and payments. 

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Lead the development of, and provide oversight to internal monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure high quality programming, including developing the indicators, and tools for verification and reporting.
• Lead design and implementation of surveys, assessments, and evaluations.
• Lead monthly monitoring visits to beneficiary communities.
• Facilitate quarterly consultation forums with refugees and health partners.
• Conduct ad-hoc visits and meetings with all stakeholders.
• Track program performance against indicators.
• Facilitate feedback, learning, and information sharing among all project stakeholders.

Partnerships and Collaboration:

• Become familiar with CRS partnership principles.
• Establish and foster productive relations with Caritas entities 
• When appropriate, seek strategic partnership opportunities with other NGOs to apply for donor funds;

General 

• Represent CRS to partners, Church officials, donors, and other NGOs as required or directed.
• Assist CRS/Cameroon to maintain visible presence and working relationships with international and local donors, local and national government officials, and partners.
• Perform other duties as requested by the Head of Programming or other members of the management team.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in project management, especially around cash-based food security and nutrition
• A strong background in monitoring and evaluation (M&E), with a demonstrated ability to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Proven ability to conceive and manage systems and procedures.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook required. Knowledge in other data management software is of added advantage.
• Proven ability to think strategically. 
• Ability to manage a team, and flexibility to work in high pressure environment.
• Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility. 
• High level of integrity and accountability.
• Experience of working with international NGOs an advantage
• Fluency in speaking, reading and writing both English and French is an advantage.
• Willingness to learn additional technical skills. 

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

• Serves with Integrity 
• Models Stewardship 
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships 
• Promotes Learning 

Supervisory Relationships: MEAL/Project Officer, Project Assistants

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Head of Programs, Program Manager/Emergency, HoOps, Finance Manager, Country Representative

External: partner staff, international and local non-governmental organizations, and relevant government representatives, project participants

Application Process

Applications should include a cover letter, CV and the application form.

Applications can be submitted electronically at crscameroon@crs.org, specifying "Program Manager" in the email subject line; or by mail at the following address:

Country representative,

BP 1851, Yaoundé, Cameron.

Deadline for submission: March 11, 2016.

Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will not be considered.