Program Manager I – Communications & Learning Manager, Zimbabwe
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Location: Zimbabwe (Harare)
Closing date: 07 Sep 2008
Job Description
Req. No.: I 08 070
Background:
CRS has worked in Zimbabwe since 1989 and its $50 million program currently serves more than one million beneficiaries. As the country enters its tenth year of economic recession, the government is increasingly unable to maintain public services. The health system, water and sanitation system, infrastructure, and agricultural extension services are deteriorating at a rapid pace. Two results have been an increase in the number of water-borne disease outbreaks, including cholera, and increased community vulnerability to natural disasters, such as flooding and drought. In addition, Zimbabweans continue to suffer from the negative effects of Operation Murambatsvina, a 2005 government ?clean-up? in which 700,000 people lost their homes or livelihoods. CRS is among seven NGOs who have responded to the increased urban vulnerability created by this operation. In addition, CRS manages two protection projects, one rural and one urban that help community members prepare and protect themselves from current and future shocks. In the case of a major national emergency, CRS Zimbabwe plans to respond in partnership with the Church and in preparation, it is working to develop the Church?s emergency response capacity.
As part of the agency-wide effort to be an industry leader in emergencies and HIV/AIDS, to meet the growing needs of Zimbabwean communities through a spectrum of other projects and to communicate the accomplishments, challenges to partners, donors – internally and to the general public, as well as to learn from the experiences in providing the assistance and share lessons learned / best practices, CRS Zimbabwe requires a competent Communications & Learning Manager.
BASIC FUNCTION
Develop innovative, appropriate and cost effective means to inform on CRS/ZW programming and collaboration with partners, viz. the Church, and donors. Document, write and disseminate lessons learned and innovations in all segments of programming undertaken by CRS/ZW departments and CRS/ZW partner organizations. Know the quality of results being achieved, link M&E with management decision-making to ensure that the application of learning is taking place, ensure that results meet CRS and donors? expectations, and improve the country program?s (CP) ability to address questions relating to program cost-effectiveness. Assist HOP in the preparation of a new SPP.
Specific Responsibilities
1. Work across all programming areas (OVC-HIV/AIDS, Emergency and Protection, C-SAFE food program, Justice & Peace, Livelihood Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Management Quality), with the Church and other partner organizations in support of their information, documentation and dissemination efforts.
2. In close collaboration with SARO?s regional Manager for Learning and M&E, assist in developing and implementing approaches to institutionalize learning within the CP including organizational learning systems, documentation and dissemination of lessons learned.
3. Provide leadership to the advancement of learning in the CP, encourage information exchange, build capacity of the programming departments to serve as a community of learning.
4. upports the CP to document success stories, lessons learned, and prepare required reports including monthly OverOps and weekly Tuesday reports, annual program statements and other forms of publications to advance CRS/ZW & SARO?s strategic interests and advance learning within the agency. Produce and distribute project updates, provide support in developing quarterly progress reports and reports for donors.
5. Support CP to provide technical assistance to partners to enhance their documentation and dissemination of successes, lessons learned and incorporate best practices into their programming activities. Assist CRS/ZW departments and CRS/ZW partner organizations to plan and implement documentation and dissemination initiatives as a means of coordinating the sharing of program innovations, sound practices, and research findings. Work closely with regional-based TA in this respect.
6. Support CP to dialogue with key donors, viz. USAID, to ensure that M&E activities are meaningful and achievable, coordinate the design and writing of M&E systems for project proposals and RFAs.
7. Provide hands-on technical assistance to CP staff in designing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on both publicly and privately-funded projects. Ensure accuracy and editorial correctness of the reports.
8. Facilitate internal information sharing among CRS/ZW departments and lessons learned among CRS/ZW partners.
9. Develop outside contacts to facilitate this work.
10. Upon request of CR, assist in the organization and reception of visitors to CRS/ZW, prepare briefings for the visitors and their itineraries.
DOCUMENTATION:
1. Collaborate with appropriate CRS/ZW teams in obtaining required information, data, data analysis;
2. Collect data and analysis from other projects;
3. Maintain hard copies and electronic copies in a safe and secure location;
4. Develop easy retrieval system and maintain a complete and updated inventory of all reports and documents maintained;
DISSEMINATION
1. Keep abreast of opportunities to disseminate information on CRS/ZW, lessons learned, sound practices, and innovations;
OTHER TASKS
Liaise with:
1. Operations Research, in planning of dissemination of M&E results and research findings.
2. HIV&AIDS program units, to enhance efforts to involve children in documentation and dissemination efforts.
3. Justice and Peace building/Global Solidarity Manager, to promote local and global solidarity initiatives.
4. Livelihood Security Departments, regarding integrated programming efforts with HIV/AIDS program.
As and when appropriate:
1. Document outcomes from the C-Safe project, analyze and disseminate to the staff and others to advance programming interests in this sector.
KEY CONTACTS: CR and Senior Management Team members, other program and non programming staff; A wide variety of NGOs, both national and international, for information sharing and relationship building; UN Agencies, donors and government; Academic institutions, journal publishers, newsletter editors, etc.; Regional Office for technical guidance.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: The position requires a Masters degree in a related field and three years experience in development and/or emergency programming.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
The following competencies are necessary:
1. Effective and proven writing skills in English (English ? Mother tongue).
2. Knowledge of CRS programming.
3. Analytical and information-seeking skills.
4. Oral fact-finding, presentation and communication skills.
5. Experience in coordinating activities.
6 Experience in networking and public relations.
7. Familiarity with principles and current approaches to learning and M&E or relief and development programs using both quantitative and qualitative methods
8. M&E field experience ? skilled in collecting, analyzing and synthesizing data.
9. Understanding of knowledge processes such as organizational learning and development.
10. Ability to manage knowledge and information via online databases, collaborative technologies and web-based services.
11. Skilled in influencing and obtaining cooperation of individuals not under supervisory control, able to work as a member of a multinational team.
12. Computer Skills: Microsoft applications, databases.
Vacancies Contact
To apply for this position please visit the Catholic Relief Services website at www.crs.org/about/careers. Regrettably, email submissions can not be accepted.
Reference Code: RW_7GBNLS-16
