Job Title: Program Assistant, Emergency Cash-Based Food Assistance Program (ECFAP)

Department/Country: Programs/Cameroon

Contract/Duration: Full time position, 6 months with possibility of extension

Job Location:  Gado site, BetareOya/Garoua-Boulai – East region

Reports to: Program Manager, Program Officer

About CRS: 

Catholic Relief Services (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. 

CRS Cameroon has been awarded a 6-month project (a pilot) with the World Food Program (WFP) to beimplemented in the Gadorefugee 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 improvefoodaccess and nutritionalstatus for refugees and/or IDPs in the targetedregionsthrough cash-transferfood assistance. ECFAP willbeimplementedfrom February-July 2016. 

Job Summary: 

CRS requires four (04) program assistants who will be supporting all program activities within ECFAP, as well as provide necessary administrative, finance, and logistical support to the program team. Program assistants will be based in Betare-Oya, and will have frequent travel to Gado site (target site) during the program implementation period.

Main responsibility:

Assist the Program Manager and MEAL Program Officers in the programmatic, administrative and financial management of projects, in collaboration with the various team members.

Specific Responsibilities

Programming 

• Assist the Program Manager and Officers in planning program activities on the field. 
• Prepare for and assist the program team during field visits, including organizing beneficiary meetings/discussions, sharing information, etc.
• Assist in setting up a reporting mechanisms for beneficiaries of the program. Receive complaints, reports from the field.
• Ensure that program team is informed of feedback gathered from the field.
• Participate in periodic meetings for planning and program monitoring

Administration, Finance, and Logistics 

• Check that financial report, invoices, receipts and other documents are accurate and valid before submission to the finance department. 
• Plan for and provide administrative, finance, and logistical support inall program activities.
• Prepare and submit the requisition for approval
• Assist in the preparation of all necessary documentation for the various program activities
• Receive / provide information / requested by beneficiaries and/or other stakeholders.
• Receive complaints from partners and find solutions in consultation with the department.
• Monitor the progress of reports of program and partners activities.
• Manage internal and external correspondence of the program.

Other 

• Perform other tasks deemed useful to the smooth running of the section and the office in general at the request of his supervisors

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Training in Management or equivalent or a High School Degree or university degree in relevant field preferred
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in social or humanitarian assistance programs.
• Experience in implementation of humanitarian projects funded by international donors is desirable, with experience of at least 1 year of working in an emergency 
• Demonstrated experience working on refugee-related projects
• Have at least three years’ experience in administrative and financial management of projects
• Excellent computer skills (Windows , Word , Excel , Access)
• have good writing skills
• Good knowledge, spoken and written French; knowledge of English an advantage.
• Good organizational skills and management
• Ability to work under pressure and within strict timetables
• Good work ethic and sense of responsibility
• Good interpersonal, cultural sensitivity, diplomacy and flexibility
• Good communication skills 
• Ability to work under pressure and tight schedules, and under minimal supervision 
• Ability to collaborate and work with different types of people. 
• Knowledge of local languages would be an asset
• High level of integrity and accountability.
• Driving License: category A, preferable

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): 

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

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

Emergency Competencies

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

• Communicates strategically under pressure.
• Manages stress and complexity.
• Actively promotes safety and security.

Key Working Relationships: Program Manager, MEAL Program Officers

Required Travel: Regular trips in the surrounding villages of the place of sub- office location

Work Environment: Gado, Betare-Oya, and Garoua-Boulai are situated at the Department of Lom and Djerem, in the Eastern Region Cameroon. These are communities of Cameroon along the border with CAR.They are localities with limited infrastructure, and where electrical blackouts are frequent. Internet service is also limited. Markets offer a variety of goods, and there are several local restaurants.

Application Process

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

Applications can be submitted electronically at crscameroon@crs.org, specifying "Project Assistant" 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.