Job Title: Program Manager II- Countering Violent Extremism and Conflict Specialist, Benin

Job Location: Parakou, Northern Benin

Reports to: Chief of Party

Salary Grade: 10

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

About CRS Benin

CRS has been present in Benin since 1958 and has long-standing relationships throughout the country with ecclesiastical and non-ecclesiastical partners, the government and local communities. The CRS program in Benin has a growing and diversified funding base with projects in education, health, nutrition, microfinance, agriculture, food security and livelihoods, water, sanitation and hygiene, emergencies and social cohesion. CRS has offices in Cotonou and Parakou.

Job Summary: 

You will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the Country Program (CP) conflict mitigation programming, particularly for large and complex projects, ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its conflict mitigation programming.

With a budget of US$30-40 million and a duration of five years, the objective of the USAID/Benin Northern Economic Livelihoods for Youth, Women, and Vulnerable Populations (NELY) Activity is to improve the economic livelihoods of rural and urban youth and women in northern Benin, including specific local interventions that aim to improve purchasing power, develop self-sufficiency and enhance inclusion in the modern economic market by introducing relevant technologies, establishing partnerships with the private sector and seeking solutions that engage vulnerable young men and women. The activity will also contribute to the wider effort to prevent conflict in northern Benin and strengthen social cohesion.

CRS is recruiting a Conflict Expert in the Countering Violent Extremism to support the NELY program. A key member of the NELY program management team supervised by the Chief of Party, the Conflict Expert in the countering Violent Extremism will be responsible for leading the design and implementation of program activities aimed at strengthening governance, conflict prevention and mitigation, inter-community trust and community reintegration approaches. The specialist will supervise technical and program staff involved in implementing these activities. He/she will also contribute to rapid and targeted conflict analyses at national and departmental level, as well as to conflict-sensitive gender and social inclusion analysis conducted during the start-up phase and will ensure that conflict-sensitivity and gender assessments are ongoing in the project’s target localities. He/she will contribute to bi-weekly, quarterly, annual and final progress reports, and establish and maintain strong working relationships with local authorities and civil society stakeholders in northern Benin.

The Conflict Expert in the countering Violent Extremism position will be based in Parakou, with regular project-funded travel to the four departments of the northern sub-regions.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance and technical oversight of all new and existing projects in the area of social cohesion, youth entrepreneurship of the CP program throughout the project cycle to ensure that project design, start-up, implementation and closure are in line with CRS principles and quality standards, donor guidelines and industry best practices.
•  Manage and implement all activities throughout the relevant project cycles – project design, start-up, implementation, and closure – to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements and best practice. Ensure that project team and partner staff use appropriate systems and tools.
• Oversees activities related to Outcome 2 in close collaboration with the Head of Mission and participates as a member of the management team.
•  Lead directly to the development and implementation of high-quality, effective activities under Outcome 2, and oversees their implementation by field staff and partners.
• Contributes to rapid and targeted conflict analyses at national and departmental level, as well as to the conflict-sensitive gender and social inclusion analysis conducted at start-up, and
•  Contribute to adaptive management and CLA activities and provide substantial written contributions to bi-weekly, quarterly, annual, and final progress reports for USAID.
• Contributes to the development of requests for proposals for contracted grants (GUC) to be issued for activities that contribute to Outcome 2: strengthening governance, conflict prevention and mitigation, inter-community trust and community reintegration approaches. Participates in the selection of GUC beneficiaries and ensures effective technical monitoring of GUC-funded activities for Outcome 2;
•  Develops and facilitates training of trainers for staff and partners on conflict sensitivity, conflict prevention and resolution, and CVE programming approaches.
• Identifies other relevant technical assistance (TA) needs of partners and/or government counterparts and provides/organizes TA through training, mentoring and continuing education.
• Effectively manage talent for project staff(s) and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically adapt individual development plans and complete performance management for direct reports.
•  Contribute to the proactive search for new funding opportunities to ensure the growth of the portfolio in line with agency, regional, and country program strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in Benin per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Ensure that project expenditures are made in a timely and appropriate manner, in accordance with financial plans, and that project material sources are used and managed effectively.
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and supervision, ensure efficient use of project resources.
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs. Through planning and supervision, ensure efficient use of project resources.
• Manage and mitigate risks. Ensure compliance with donor grants, including overseeing budgets, partner finances and administration, and reporting to donor. Monitor the operation of the project system and implement measures to ensure consistency of service delivery with established policies, procedures and service standards.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to CP and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree or its international equivalent in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, sociology, anthropology, political science, behavioral/social sciences, international development, human development, or another related field.
• At least five (5) or more years of relevant experience in complex development projects, including prevention or countering violent extremism, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, community resilience, governance, reintegration, improving the livelihoods of women and youth, inclusive development, or other related fields.
• Technical expertise in preventing and countering violent extremism, peace and security, conflict mitigation, conflict sensitivity, community engagement, youth engagement and empowerment, and/or local governance and service delivery  Experience working with USAID or other donor programs in northern Benin is preferred.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages – Proficient in French and English.

Travel – 30% of time in the project zone

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented

 Preferred Qualifications

• Eight (8) years or more experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Entrepreneurship and SILC Project Officer, MEAL Project Officer, Social Cohesion Project Officer, Environmental Management Officer.

Key Working Relationships: Direct work with project partners.

Internal: CRS Program Director, MEAL team, country representative, head of operations, finance, procurement and administration staff, regional technical advisors.

External: NELY consortium partners, USAID Benin, local authorities

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer