Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

Cordaid is an internationally operating value-based emergency relief and development organisation, working in and on fragility. Cordaid is a member of the international Catholic networks Caritas and CIDSE and we are active in worldwide civil society networks. We work in around 20 countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

For the Cordaid Country office in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cordaid is looking for a Programme Director (5 to 6 months maternity cover as of September 2024)

Cordaid in DRC

See Democratic Republic of the Congo – Cordaid International for further details.

Introduction

The Cordaid programme in DRC has started to work in 2000 (but with previous organisation names has been in DRC for 50 years). DRC has been affected by war and conflicts for decades. Internationally Cordaid is currently working in the following areas of expertise: health, education, security and justice, economic resilience and humanitarian aid. We have one main office in Kinshasa, and other regional offices in Goma, Bukavu and Bunia. For Goma we are looking for an experienced Programme Director with a strong management and leadership capacity as well as a profound knowledge of the technical aspects of the job.

Position and responsibility

The DRC Programme Director is responsible of the direct line management of project managers as well as the fundraising, programme design, technical support to ensure quality implementation, standardization, monitoring and evaluation of all activities of the DRC Country Office to be implementing in accordance with Cordaid’s strategy and donor rules. As Programme Director you will be directly line managed by the Country Director.

General objective of the posting

As a member of the Country Executive Team, you will provide overall strategic direction, leadership, and management of the Country Office’s programming to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of large and complex programming. Your leadership, management and knowledge will enable Cordaid DRC to deliver high-quality programming and continuously work towards improving the impact of its programming.

Specific objectives

• Network Representation: creates and maintains partner relationships with local authorities and with strategic partner organizations working in the same field as Cordaid with the purpose to achieve the programme results.
• Programme strategy: in collaboration with the Country Director, Regional Director, Financial Director, Human Resources Director and several Programme Managers, determines the general programme strategies within the integrated country strategy and its multi-annual plan, ensuring synergy between the different programme units.
• Programme Management and Fundraising: shared responsibility for the fundraising strategy, regular checks on open tenders and other potential opportunities in Country and supports the programme managers in identifying funding opportunities and preparing proposals.
• Lead high-quality project design appropriate to scope, context, and technical requirements of large and complex projects. Coordinate planning of activities across projects from different sectors to ensure integration of programme interventions and efficiency in implementation.
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyse and respond quickly to deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning.
• Planning and reporting: Ensure the timely implementation of projects, find solutions for eventual deviations, monitor the results, and assure quality reports according to the donor standards.
• Human Resources Management: Manage staff under his/her supervision according to the culture, policies, and procedures of Cordaid, ensuring the productivity, perspectives and satisfaction of these staffs.
• Staff capacity building: Coach, train and support project managers and advisors.
• Gender implementation of the Gender Action Plan in collaboration with Gender Advisor.

Qualifications

• University degree with proven knowledge of the following areas: public health, social development.
• Minimum of ten years project management experience in a development and/or humanitarian assistance area with preference in Africa.
• Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, budget development and management, and programme reporting for diverse audiences.
• Proven skills in leadership and supervision, with an ability to work effectively and efficiently in a challenging, complex work environment.
• Must be familiar with international donors’ rules, regulations and policies including EU, USAID, World Bank, Global Fund.
• Ability to work long hours in stressful environments, insecure, unstable and / or rigorous.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French.
• Commitment to the mission and goals of the Cordaid programme and the security policy.

Specifics of station

The Programme Director will be based in Goma (single posting) but will spend some of her/his working time on the ground to monitor the implementation of the program. The safety and security situation in DRC remains volatile but is constantly monitored by Cordaid and appropriate policies are in place.

Contract information

This position is for a period of 5 to 6 months as maternity cover starting beginning of September 2024. We offer a Cordaid contract with a competitive salary and a benefit package which includes Rest & Recuperation (one time), a comprehensive insurance cover, social security and pension contribution, a holiday allowance, 13th month, hardship allowance and cost of living allowance.