Social Protection Policy Advisor to the PS MINALOC at Cowater International: (Deadline 1 March 2024)

Social Protection Policy Advisor to the PS MINALOC at Cowater International: (Deadline 1 March 2024)

KEY INFORMATION

Job Title: Social Protection Policy Advisor to the PS MINALOC

Sector: Social Protection; Governance; International Development

Position Type: Full time

Duration/Level of Effort: Fixed Term until March 2026.

Position Location: Kigali, Rwanda

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

The FCDO has been a key partner in developing Rwanda’s social protection sector since the inception of the Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP) in 2008.

The Exiting Poverty in Rwanda (EPR) Programme is the third phase of support and aims support people to exit poverty at the same time as protecting Rwanda’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens in the future.  A main focus will be on influencing the wider policy context for social protection (SP), strengthening systems and building capacity and building long-term sustainability.

FCDO’s support in this phase will go beyond the VUP programme to provide essential financial and technical assistance to support Rwanda to establish a robust, domestically financed, inclusive and comprehensive SP sector. The Technical Assistance (TA) Facility is therefore designed to support the effective implementation of its Social Protection Sector Strategic Plan (SP-SSP) and ultimately a strengthened national social protection system. To do so, the TA Facility provides technical expertise and capacity building to the Government of Rwanda, specifically the Ministry of Local Governments (MINALOC) and the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) and supports the delivery of FCDO’s EPR programme.

The intended outcome of EPR is to enhance the resilience of vulnerable men, women and children and of the social protection system that helps sustain them. To achieve this outcome, the EPR TA facility will contribute towards the following outputs:

• Developing institutional capacity and strengthening systems for evidence-based planning, strategic sector management, and effective SP service delivery enhanced.
• Improving access to more effective core social protection programmes for selected vulnerable groups to more effective core social security instruments.
• Design of a shock-responsive social protection (SR-SP) component together with operational guidelines and a system for implementing SR-SP established.
• Strengthening linkages between SP and complementary services that enable sustainable graduation from extreme poverty strengthened.

The TA Facility is now recruiting a Social Protection Policy Advisor to support the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government. The post holder will be based in MINALOC.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

In this full-time role, the Social Protection Policy Advisor will work with MINALOC team and EPR TA Facility team to ensure that the project delivers against its identified outcomes and outputs, efficiently and effectively by contributing to and delivering against an agreed work plan, reporting to the PS and EPR Team Leader.  He or she will build strong working relationships with MINALOC senior management involved in the design and management and monitoring of social protection policy and strategy.

Roles and responsibilities

Technical (policy analysis, advice and capacity building on Social Protection):

• Provide high-level social protection policy advice to social protection decision makers in MINALOC, supporting the Permanent Secretary in particular.
• Provide technical advice on the development of new social protection interventions in line with the Sector Strategic Plan and Social Protection Policy. This will include interventions such as graduation packages, shock-responsive social protection, nutrition and vulnerability focused social protection instruments and categorical grants.
• Conduct strategic analysis, write and contribute to policy papers which contribute to the strengthening of the social protection sector in Rwanda in line with the SP-SSP and Social Protection Policy.
• Provide support to the Sector Working Group, committees and secretariat in the areas of planning and budgeting, targeting and results framework and lesson learning, including preparing reports to the SWG meetings, producing recommendations on improving M&E systems and targets.
• Act as a focal point for the EPR TA Facility within MINALOC, coordinating TA Facility interventions which impact on MINALOC and ensuring that MINALOC is aware of progress in the implementation of the TA Facility workplans.
• Track progress against the Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) as described in the MOU between FCDO and the Government of Rwanda.

Operational:

• Strategic support to the Permanent Secretary in partnership engagement and following up implementation of agreed actions.
• Work with international and local SP specialists and specialist organisations to build a network of contracts who can be used to provide capacity building to MINALOC.
• Maintain strong working relationships with Government of Rwanda counterparts. Counterparts will include the Permanent Secretary, Minister of State and the Directors General for Social Protection and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Contribute to annual work plans, participating in strategic teamwork planning sessions and writing relevant sections of the work plan as necessary.
• Contribute to donor reporting, including quarterly and annual reports, annual reviews and ad hoc requests for information, as required.
• Write strategic brief notes to the Permanent Secretary on social protection for decision making.
• Coordinate and facilitate daily function of Permanent Secretary’s office 

Qualifications and Skills Requirements: 

• Relevant Degree in Public policy, public administration, Economics, Development studies and social sciences. Relevant post-graduate courses or masters’ degree preferred.
• At least 5 years’ experience in Rwanda’s socio-economic governance with knowledge of social policy evolution in Rwanda
• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of specific Social Protection policy, programme, and implementation issues in Rwanda.
• Strong analytical skills, political awareness, and experience of working closely with government officials, including at Ministerial level.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to gain trust, build strong collaborative working relationships and effectively engage with high level stakeholders (with government).
• Demonstrated ability to provide advanced capacity building, including through coaching and mentorship.
• Excellent presentation skills
• Excellent report writing skills
• Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply on or before 1 March 2024.

For your application to be considered, please follow the link here and upload your documents your CV and Covering Letter with the files saved in the following format: Candidate Last Name, First Name – Social Protection Policy Advisor to PS MINALOC.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

ABOUT US

Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company founded in 1985. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada and with corporate hubs in Montreal, Canada, Brussels, Belgium, and London UK. Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.

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