Program Officer-Jijiga

arche noVa (AN) is a German NGO founded in 1992, working in humanitarian aid/emergency, transitional and development contexts in 16 countries all over the world.

AN expertise is in WASH sector, livelihood and DRR with a wide range of activities to support local communities: construction and rehabilitation of sustainable water structures, installation of filtering systems to improve water quality, hygiene promotion, latrine construction/rehabilitation, promotion of alternative livelihoods and climate- smart agriculture, capacity building of target communities and Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives among others.

Since 2012, arche noVa has consolidated its presence in the Eastern African region through a Coordination Development Office which supports activities in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Somaliland and Sudan.

arche noVa has a Programm Officer vacancy based in Jijiga-Ethiopia, with field missions to fields in

Ethiopia project sites in support of the Country Lead.

Location: Jijiga frequent travel to Project sites in Somali region, Ethiopia

**Contract Duration:**1st October 2024-30th September 2025

Direct Line Manager: arche noVa Country Lead, Ethiopia

JOB DESCRIPTION

Objective 1: Programme Planning and Management for Ethiopia

• Assist the Country Lead to ensure compliance with projects proposals, donor requirements and arche noVa Policies, Standards, Procedures and Guidelines in Ethiopia.
• Overall coordination of projects, program development and proposal writing for Ethiopia.
• Check and comment monthly activity reports presented by arche noVa partners.
• Coordinate the monthly activity check with the financial reports submitted every month by the partners to the Country Lead
• Support the Country Lead to have the required supporting documents (for example procurements, training reports, beneficiary training lists, beneficiary distribution lists, etc) and, in case, request them to the partners.
• Reporting to the Lead Country on current issues on a weekly basis (or more frequently, on an ad hoc basis, in the case of urgent matters arising unexpectedly).
• Keeping track of deadlines for the projects of reference and informing the relevant partner Project Managers, as well as Administration Supervisors, accordingly, with an overview of relevant actions to be undertaken.

Objective 2: Quality Management and Impact orientation

• Ensure Project deliverables meet quality standards and expectations using the Bill of Quantity ( BoQ) and standard designs approved and Share with the Partner.
• Oversee all aspects of the projects and support the partners to be responsible for the quality of project delivered and outputs.
• Build the capacity of the partners teams through training and on-the-job coaching and provide feedback regularly and appropriately to them.
• Set project objectives and targets in collaboration with local partners (update timetable/chronogram, financial forecast, operative plan) and guide partner staff towards programmatic achievement.
• Ensure an effective MEAL system is in place and in use for all activities and projects and oversee continual improvement in assessment and communication of impact.

Objective 3: Coordination & Communication

• Facilitating communication between partners in the field, Ethiopia office and HQ.
• Contribute to the timely preparation and submission of reports (whether monthly, quarterly, annually or with ad hoc deadlines) to donors and arche noVa HQ in coordination with Country Lead
• Participate to meetings in Ethiopia in the field (if requested) with WASH cluster, Steering Committees.
• Be available to go to the field to realize monitoring missions using appropriate tools and instruments to collect data and information from partners, beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
• Be able to draft Term of Reference and manage external consultants, monitors performance, review outputs and recommend corrective actions when needed to the partners.
• Collect successful/human stories and pictures regarding beneficiaries and to elaborate communicational material if requested by the Public Relation Department of arche noVa.

Objective 4: Risk Management

• Prepare and report potential risks and issues to the country lead.
• Report incidents /Security updates from field.
• Backstopping in line with arche noVa risk management strategies to minimize Project risks.
• Escalate risks/issues to country lead as needed.

Objective 5: Monitoring of the Project

• Monitor project progress and track milestones using appropriate tools developed in collaboration with MEALteam.

• Prepare and maintain comprehensive project documentation, plans, and reports (monthly, interim and final reports).

• Communicate regularly with filed level partner staff, stakeholders regarding project status, risks, and any other issues.

  Job Description

• University Degree in Project Management / Business Management/ International Relations/ or other relevant field.

• Five (5) years professional experience, with at least 3 years’ professional experience as a project Coordinator/Officer or in a Comparable position

Desirable Skills

• Prior experience in NGOs/INGOs
• Knowledge of community mobilization and participatory approaches
• Extensive experience and recognized expertise in models and methods of training, facilitation and capacity building and Project Management
• Exceptional organization, time management and attention to details
• Good writing skills
• Willingness to travel frequently to field locations
• Flexibility, ability to work under stress and capacity to meet tight deadlines
• Able to work in an autonomous way and under pressure
• Fluent in English
• Fluent in Somali language
• Strong computer skills
• Available to travel in remote areas in Somali region, Ethiopia
• Knowledge of Somali region.
• Commitment to and understanding of arche nova’s values
• Team player, flexible, patient
• Familiarity with WASH, livelihood, food security programs in under-developed and complex environments
• Knowledge of the East Africa context.
• Previous experience in Ethiopia is an added advantage
• Proven gender awareness and sensitivity