Senior Project Officer at International Alert: (Deadline 05 May 2024)

Job Title

Senior Project Officer

Line Supervisor

Project Manager (Functional manager, based in DRC) and Programme Manager (hierarchical manager, based in Rwanda)

Staff Management

None

Place of work

Kigali – Rwanda, with regular field trips to Rubavu, Rusizi and Nyaruguru districts

Job Classification

Framework for collaboration

Grade

3.2

Duration of the contract

12-month fixed-term contract with possibility of renewal

Salary

Competitive and in line with Alert’s salary grid in Rwanda

International Alert and Mupaka Shamba Letu Project

International Alert (Alert) is an international organisation headquartered in the United Kingdom that works to build peace by working with local civil society organisations through research, advocacy, capacity building, inclusive dialogue and political and civic participation. Alert often works in collaboration with other national and international partners to deliver its projects.

Alert has embarked into the implementation of a second phase of Mupaka Shamba Letu (MSL II) project. In this project, Alert will work with local partners, each of whom will have a long experience of working on issues of cross border trade in the following border regions:

• Goma (DRC) / Rubavu (Rwanda)
• Bukavu (DRC) / Rusizi (Rwanda)
• Uvira (DRC) /Gatumba (Burundi)
• Kamanyola (DRC) /Bugarama (Rwanda)
• Akanyaru (Rwanda) / Mparamirundi (Burundi)
• Nemba (Rwanda) / Kirundo (Burundi)
• Ruhwa (Rwanda) / Cibitoke (Burundi)

The goal of the project is to Strengthen peace and stability in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The project focuses on strengthening the role that women and youth traders living in these border communities can play in facilitating greater understanding between communities, through cross border trade.

The specific objective of the project is to strengthen the capacities of women and youth small-scale cross-border traders in border areas of DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi to jointly challenge gender dynamics that contribute to conflict in their communities and the wider region and use their influence to promote greater social cohesion and regional cooperation.

Focusing on four border crossing points, the project aims to achieve two key results:

1. Social cohesion in cross border communities is strengthened by the contribution of private sector actors at various levels
2. Trade, regional integration and economic development are more inclusive and context sensitive

Purpose of the position

The purpose of this position is to support the implementation of the second phase of the Mupaka Shamba Letu project with the support of partner organizations, Platforms of Cross-Border Traders (PCTs) of Rwanda as well as the private sector federation to strengthen peace, social cohesion and stability in the region.

The Senior Project Officer (SPO) is therefore responsible for the management of the project partners in Rwanda, the implementation of strategic activities and capacity building of local project stakeholders, operational monitoring in the field as well as the collection and feedback of information.

The Senior Project Officer collaborates with Alert’s Admin/Finance and M&E team to ensure proper support for local stakeholders involved in the project and compliance with Alert and donor rules and procedures by implementing partners.

The Senior Project Officer will work under the supervision of the Programme Manager of International Alert Rwanda and in close collaboration with team members in DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.

Job description

1. Contribute to the effective management and implementation of project activities

• Take the lead on the planning and monitoring of the implementation of Alert’s activities in the Rwanda,
• Provide guidance and support to implementing partners, MFIs and Platforms of Cross-Border Traders (PCTs) in Rwanda according to their contracts, work plans and project strategies
• Contribute to the in-depth analysis of needs and context; contribute to the adaptation of the project’s approaches to the context and needs in Rwanda;
• Participate in relevant coordination mechanisms in the field of cross-border trade, gender promotion and peacebuilding in Rwanda;

2. In collaboration with Alert Rwanda and MSL II project teams, contribute to the establishment and implementation of appropriate systems and procedures for the implementation of the project in Rwanda

• Support the project partners in Rwanda in respecting and applying the administrative, logistical and financial procedures of Alert and the donors and that they respect the laws in force in Rwanda;
• Approve the ToR for the activities of the project partners in Rwanda according to the annual plans and budgets approved by Alert;

Contribute to the implementation of the project’s strategic approaches and provide technical expertise

• Assist Alert and MSL II teams in Rwanda in the management of the project by providing necessary advice in the field of small-scale cross-border trade;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the strategy and activities for the inclusion of “conflict and gender sensitivity” in all activities in Rwanda
• Contribute to the process of identifying and selecting key partners for the implementation of the project in Rwanda;
• Support the work of consultants and other technical experts in the project in Rwanda;
• Support participatory engagement (budgeting, prioritization, implementation) between authorities, PCTs and local communities;
• Ensure the implementation of the various commitments made during the various workshops, forums and strategic meetings in Rwanda

Reporting, monitoring and evaluation of partners based in Rwanda

• Participate in brainstorming and planning sessions
• Take the lead in ensuring that the narrative and financial reports of the project partners in Rwanda are submitted on time and comply with the rules and procedures of Alert and the donors; give constructive feedback to partner organizations’ activity reports
• Carry out field visits in Rubavu (Poids Lourd and La Corniche border posts), Rusizi (Rusizi 1&2, Bugarama and Ruhwa border posts) and Nyaruguru (Akanyaru border post) in Rwanda; assist partners in data collection and maintenance of M&E tools;
• Participate in and support the different types of evaluations and studies to be carried out during the life of the project in Rwanda and participate in the drafting of the annual and final report.

Other Responsibilities – Internal Coordination

• Contribute to and attend weekly meetings of Alert’s staff in Rwanda for implementation monitoring;
• Actively participate in project team meetings and other necessary meetings.
• Participate in internal learning and experience exchange activities;
• Work closely with the MSL II Project Manager to complete any relevant tasks;

This job description is not a complete list of the duties and responsibilities associated with this position, but a general indication of the duties and responsibilities and will serve as a guide for performing the job. Any other necessary and relevant responsibilities will be assigned under the recommendation of the supervisor, based on the needs of the project/organization

1. ESSENTIAL

Education and experience

• Masters’s degree in social sciences, rural development, economics, political science, international relations, law or a similar field must be obtained.
• At least 5 years’ experience in supervising community recovery, peacebuilding, gender, regional integration projects including monitoring and budget planning.
• Proven experience of at least 3 years in the field of social cohesion through the economic empowerment of women, women/gender in community processes, youth, traumatic healing, business, in a decision-making position.
• Experience in economic recovery, VSLAs and cooperatives, financial inclusion, SMEs, working with private sector federations, participatory action research, and strengthening women and youth in decision-making.
• Substantial professional experience in the implementation of cross-border projects particularly between DRC, Rwanda and Burundi
• Ability to cultivate and maintain open and non-discriminatory professional relationships with communities, public administrations and representatives of other operational organizations in the project implementation environment.
• Experience in collaboration and coordination in the development and entrepreneurship sector and in the implementation and monitoring of activities with authorities and stakeholders at local, provincial and national levels.

Knowledge and skills

• Demonstrate strong personal integrity and know how to enforce the integrity of the organization.
• Have a sense of fairness and justice, and a high level of organizational loyalty.
• Demonstrated ability to work in an objective and apolitical manner.
• Able to develop good interpersonal relationships, and to work in a multidisciplinary environment and in cultural diversity.
• Perfect command of English required with a professional level in French
• Good ability in drafting different documents.
• Be sensitive to the gender approach and have a good understanding of the practical application of this concept.
• Ability to meet deadlines, strong ability to organize work, manage urgent competing priorities and a high level of autonomy.
• Proficient in the following software: WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT, OUTLOOK and Internet.

Personal suitability

• Ability to work under pressure and with autonomy while maintaining the ethos of the organization and maintaining the quality of work.
• Able and willing to make proactive decisions and adapt them when necessary.
• Ability to tactfully manage conflicts, strong diplomatic communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to perform duties independently with minimal technical support.

2. Desirable

• Substantial professional experience in overseeing projects focused on social cohesion, women’s economic and community empowerment.
• Have direct skills and experience in facilitating various training workshops, organizing high-level forums and workshops
• Have direct experience in the execution of projects using a gender-based approach, social cohesion and entrepreneurship.
• Knowledge of written and spoken English will be considered an advantage as well as the ability to speak the local languages of DRC and Burundi, mainly Swahili and Kirundi.
• Be methodical and perfectionist, know how to organize your work in particular by respecting priorities and deadlines.
• Have a practical mind, know how to identify problems and propose alternative solutions that are positive for all concerned, and in a better time.
• Experience in written reporting of project-related activities.
• Excellent knowledge of other Microsoft Office products. Good IT knowledge.
• Commitment to Alert’s approach and values, particularly regarding the needs of conflict-affected populations.
• Ability to think strategically.