National Staff Position
JOB TITLE: Programme Officer (Peace-building/Conflict Sensitivity)
LOCATION: Dili, Timor-Leste
DEPARTMENT: International Department
DATE: 31 July 2009
This is a position for a Timorese national. It is posted only in English because English proficiency is essential to this position.
Description of the unit/department
The International Department is based in Maynooth, Ireland and a number of overseas locations. It is comprised of 6 geographical regions, though this is currently being restructured into 5 regions.
There are several cross-organisational teams that are inextricably linked to the International Department, following the 6 themes of our Strategic Plan – Governance and Human rights, Building Sustainable Livelihoods, Environmental Justice, Preparing for and Responding to Emergencies, HIV and Gender.
Background to the role:
Trócaire is undergoing a process of focusing its work in overseas offices around the world and new systems and ways of working. The country office in Timor-Leste is linked to a regional office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Trócaire began funding partners in Timor-Leste in 2000. In 2006 Trócaire began a process of focusing its work in 25 priority countries and placing more staff overseas. Timor-Leste has been identified as a priority country and staff were first placed in-country in 2007. Programming expanded in 2008 with the decision of the Conflict Resolution Unit of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to focus its work on Timor-Leste and to look for civil society partners to engage with in this process. Trocaire’s regional plan for South East Asia poses conflict and impunity issues as important ones to work at from a regional perspective and programming in Timor-Leste is key to this.
Reporting to: Manager for Timor-Leste (to be confirmed)
Managing: N/A
Contract Duration: 1 year (with the possibility of renewal depending on donor funding)
Grade and scale: Based on experience, with reference to national staff salary scale shared by INGOs.
Location of position: Dili, Timor-Leste, with regular travel throughout the country and occasional travel outside the country
Scope of the Role: This position will involve developing and implementing Trócaire’s programming in Timor-Leste, focused particularly on issues of peace building. A major part of the Programme Officer’s role will also be providing support and assistance to funded partners.
Coordination, networking and advocacy will also be important aspects of this position.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
Project Cycle Management
Managing the full programme cycle including partner relations and support, appraisal of proposals, review of partner reports, monitoring and evaluation.
Preparation of MOU’s, funding transfers and communication with partners to ensure transparency accountability and effectiveness.
Partners
Identification of new partners, projects and areas of work Advice, mentoring and technical support as needed to partners based on a capacity development approach and joint planning with partners Facilitation of networking and connections between partners to enhance Trocaire’s programme approach Ensure that key organisational approaches and policies such as partnership, rights based work, strengthening of civil society and policy/advocacy are optimised in partners’ work and programmes. Hold partner and sectoral meetings as required.
Programme Quality, Accountability and Learning Capacity strengthening support to partners including day to day support and advice, mentoring, planning of training opportunities, and facilitation of technical support In collaboration with the Timor-Leste country team, and guided by the country Strategic Plans and Trocaire’s regional and global Strategic Plan, provide strategic direction to Trócaire’s work Ensure that programme and projects are approved, implemented, monitored and evaluated in line with Trocaire’s policies and project management system Integration of a conflict sensitive approach and facilitation of gender mainstreaming Development of country analysis on issues of conflict and impunity and participation in discussion of programming at a regional level Contribution to organisational learning by ensuring systematic documentation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting back of programme activities.
Development of programme documentation and sharing of lessons learned Building of links between Ireland and priority countries in the region Ensure that Trócaire organisational policies, standards and best practice are adhered to and inform the programme
Co-ordinate programme and project reviews and evaluations as required
Advocacy
Contribution to organisational campaigns, education and advocacy through provision of information from Timor-Leste Identification with and engagement in issues of concern and advocacy strategies for country-specific advocacy work
Liaison
To develop key relationships in-country regarding relevant issues such as peace building, conflict reduction, remembrance, reconciliation, and impunity, Enhancement of sectoral relationships at a country level Budgets Management of programme budget, Disbursement of funds to partners and recording that information.
Working with country team and other staff in the region to develop co-financing strategies and strategic relationships with key donors in order to ensure that funding of the partners is optimized
Person Specification – Essential (E)
(E) Qualification:
Relevant educational qualification with theoretical knowledge of the principles and practices of development
(E) Experience:
• Minimum two years experience in peacebuilding and conflict reduction in a partnership context Experience of the partnership model of development, particularly with an international NGO
• Experience in managing programme budgets
• Experience in cross-cutting programme issues such as conflict sensitivity and gender
• Familiarity with and sensitivity to the local church and the Caritas Confederation
(E) Skills:
• Fluent written and spoken English
• Fluent Bahasa Indonesia or Tetum
• Ability to think strategically, develop and implement plans, determine the resources needed to carry out plans
• Excellent organisational skills, including establishment and application of monitoring, evaluation and financial systems, and provision of high quality reports
• Good writing skills for a variety of readers including donors, public and other stakeholders Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Proven leadership and analytical skills
• Proven coordination and facilitation skills
• Computer literate Skills and experience in capacity building and mentoring of local organisations Networking and community organising skills
(E) Qualities:
• Values driven, actively committed to justice and addressing issues of inequality
• Ability to relate to local communities and individuals with limited resources in an empowering manner
• A team player
• Ability to plan and think strategically and proactively
• Ability to work in a self-starting manner
• Decision making abilities, including making decisions in times of crisis
Person Specification – Desirable (D)
(D) Experience:
• Post-secondary education in a relevant area Knowledge of Trócaire and its ways of working Policy and advocacy experience
• Knowledge of the Irish context and conflict and peace building issues in particular
• Knowledge of or experience in application of UN mechanisms such as human rights instruments, CEDAW and UN Security Council Resolution 1325
(D) Skills:
Ability to speak Portuguese
To make an application:
Submit a covering letter explaining why you are applying for this position and the unique contributions you would bring to this position Submit a detailed CV outlining your experience (both paid and voluntary) as well as your education.
Provide three references who can provide feedback on your previous work.
Submit documents by email to:
Kathryn Robertson
Assistant Regional Manager (based in Dili, Timor-Leste) Trócaire
Mobile: +670 734 7914
Email: krobertson@trocairetl.org
Skype: kathrynjkta
www.trocaire.org
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