Programme Officer (PO)- Economic Empowerment Theme

VACANCY ADVERTISEMENT PUBLISHED ON KANTIPUR DAILY NEWSPAPER ON 26TH Dec. 2014

PROGRAMME OFFICER

(Economic Empowerment Theme) 

INTRODUCTION: The IM Swedish Development Partner (IM), formerly known as Swedish Organization for Individual Relief (SOIR-IM) is a Swedish International Development INGO working in 11 countries worldwide. Since 2010, it has been working in Nepal as a legally registered INGO with its country office in Nepal and expanding its operations from 2015 onwards.

POSITION: Programme Officer (PO)- Economic Empowerment Theme is a senior and core position with permanent employment contract, and based in IM Nepal Country Office, Kathmandu. The PO performs his/her duties under supervision and technical guidance of Country Director and coordinate closely with finance and program staffs. The successful candidate ia expected to start job from 1 March 2015.

SALARY: IM Nepal Office rules; can be negotiable depending on candidate's relevant experiences/qualifications.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCES: 

• Postgraduate degree in sustainable agriculture or alternative livelihood or rural development or related discipline. 
• A minimum 10 years of professional experiences on patnership portfolio and proramme/projects management in international organizations (INGOs) and/or bilateral donor-funded projects as program officer/coordinator/manager or similar capacity. Demonstrated progressive and successful experiences in managing agriculture/livelihood/food security and skill development projects from rights-based perspective and demonstra experiences in evidence-based advocacy for ESC rights of marginalized communities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Be primary contact person to partner organizations for economic eipowerment theme and national advocacy.
• Be responsible for partnership portfolio management of assigned partners ensuring a complete project cycle management processes from appraising partners and proiect proposals, capacity building of partners, technical support/guidance, monitoring, evaluating, analyzing and reporting of operational performances & results, and closure of projects following IM’s planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PME-R) guidelines.
• Be responsible for organizational development of assigned partners to develop them as accountable civil society organizations (CSOs).
• Ensure thematic coordination, networking, and advocacy with like-minded state and non-state stakeholders.
• Promote programmatic synergies among IM’s working thames-economic empowerment, education, & CSOs
• Enhance learning within IM and among partners, external stakeholders of best practices of IM and its partners

 Note: Before applying in this position,applicant MUST review the full “Position Description" Document available through People2People or AIN’s wabsite: www.people2people.com.np or www.ain.org.np 

 Please send a motivational letter, and updated CV with clear mentioning date of birth and 3 professional referees to People2People Pvt. Ltd. via email: application@people2people.com.np no Later than 10 January 2015 Saturday. For more information, please contact P2P via email or call at 01- 5539788/01-5539746. IM strives for equal employment opportunity. Qualified candidates from highly marginalized ethnic minorities and marginalized Dalits are encouraged to apply. For more information about IM please visit global.manniskohjalp.se. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview processes during 3rd week of Jan. till 1st week of Feb. 2015.

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POSITION DESCRIPTION 

POSITION: Programme Officer (PO)- Economic Empowerment Theme 

INTRODUCTION

The IM Swedish Development Partner (in short it is called IM) formerly known as Swedish Organization for Individual Relief (SOIR-IM) is a Swedish International Development NGO working in the field of economic empowerment, education, health, strengthening civil society organizations (CSOs) in 11 countries worldwide. IM has been supporting Nepal’s development and humanitarian efforts since 1980 through Nepali partners. Since 2010, it has been working in Nepal as a legal registered INGO having its own country office in Nepal with its five staff members. IM Swedish Development Partner (IM)’s mission is to fight and expose poverty and exclusions in our working countries (refer our web: global.manniskohjalp.se). IM is a growing development organization in Nepal and expanding its programs and operations from 2015 with expected Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) funding for Nepal with more focus towards sustainable and rights-based development interventions. Our strategic focus in 2015–2017 for Nepal is supporting Nepalese NGOs in the sectors of economic empowerment, quality education and strengthening Nepali CSOs. Currently we partner with 5 NGOs and are expanding our professional development partners’ portfolios from 2015 onwards. We support our partner organizations financially as well as facilitate their organizational and capacity development processes to develop them as accountable CSOs. IM seeks to appoint urgently an experienced and qualified Programme Officer- Economic Empowerment Theme for its Country Office in Kathmandu, Nepal. IM promotes good working, development and learning environment for its staffs. 

POSITION

The position of Programme Officer (PO) is a senior and core position with permanent employment contract after successful completion of probationary period of 6 months, and based in IM Nepal Country Office, Kathmandu. PO performs his/her duties under the close supervision and technical guidance of Country Director-Nepal, and in accordance with technical inputs from IM Head Office-Sweden and South Asia Regional Office-India. The PO coordinates and works closely with program and other staffs of Nepal Country Office, and Regional Office and Head Office. The successful candidate is expected to start the job from 1 March 2015.  

SUPERVISION

Supervised by: Country Director-Nepal 

Supervises: None

Coordination with: Senior Finance Officer, Head of Programs, Other Program Staffs, and South Asia Regional Office-India and Head Office-Sweden

WORKING FIELD

The Programme Officer operates at the IM Nepal Country Office, Kathmandu, Nepal with a role to contribute to the fulfilment of the strategic and operational plans for the IM Nepal Office interventions and programme/projects of economic empowerment and national advocacy.

PURPOSE 

The position has the following purposes: 

The purpose of the position as Programme Officer is to meet the following organisational needs:

1. To manage all stages of partnership portfolio management including technical support and guidance to the partners at field and advocacy works at national level  

2. To contribute to the overall IM Nepal operations with delivering plans, reports, strategies, learning etc. to Country Office, South Asia Regional Office-India, Head Office-Sweden  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The position requires the following responsibilities: 

• Be the primary contact person to an assigned number of partner organisations under economic empowerment theme and national advocacy initiatives.
• Be responsible for overall partnership portfolio management of assigned partners ensuring a complete project cycle management (PCM) processes from appraising partners and project proposals, initiation of technical support and guidance, monitoring, evaluating, analysing and reporting of operational performance and results, capacity building of partners and closure of projects following IM’s planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PME-R) guidelines in close consultation and coordination with country director, finance and other program staffs.
• Ensure relevant and adequate internal and external communications from IM Nepal Office about the partner organisations and their interventions and achievements. 

MANDATE

The position requires the following mandates: 

Partnership portfolio management and overall organizational development of assigned partners to make them an accountable civil society organizations (CSOs) under economic empowerment theme and national advocacy initiatives

WORKING  TASKS 

The position requires the following working tasks: 

• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge about the assigned partner organisations and their strategies, operations and activities, results and other achievements, challenges, strengths, areas of improvement, needs and gaps, overall level of financial management and continuous organisational development of partners.
• Keep dialogue, provide technical support and facilitation to the partner organisations to support them in their challenges related to project management, thematic understanding and overall organizational development without interfering ownership of their operations and responsibilities. 
• Ensure the completion of activities and documentation required in accordance with the established Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PME-R) guidelines of IM Swedish Development Partner. 
• Review and evaluate partners’ proposals on new interventions, projects and activities, or modifications in current projects, activities and budget in close coordination with senior finance officer. 
• In dialogue with the partner organisations develop plans for sustainability and closure of IM projects. 
• Ensure thematic coordination, networking, and advocacy with like-minded government and non-governmental stakeholders at national level.  
• Promote programmatic synergy among IM’s working themes of economic empowerment,  education, and strengthening civil society organizations 
• Contribute to IM Nepal Country, Regional and Head offices with periodical reports with specific data from each partner organisations. 
• Develop and maintain relevant information about the partner organisations and their interventions and achievements to be used for communication to IM internal and external stakeholders.
• Facilitate partners to mainstream gender equality and climate/environmental sensitivity in their economic empowerment programming/strategies/interventions.
• Enhance learning within IM and among partners, and external stakeholders about the IM partner’s interventions, IM and partners added values and best practices

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES 

The position requires the following qualifications: 

Education: 

Postgraduate degree in sustainable agriculture or alternative livelihood or rural development studies/social sciences or related discipline.

Work experience: 

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experiences on programme/projects management in international development organizations (INGOs) and/or bilateral donor funded projects/programmes at field and national level as programme officer/coordinator/manager along with demonstrated progressive and successful experiences in managing agriculture/livelihood/food security and skill development interventions from rights-based approach (perspective) as well as demonstrated experiences in evidence-based advocacy initiatives on economic, social and cultural rights of marginalized communities at national, regional, district levels. 
• Demonstrated experience and good skills in project planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting and facilitation skills for partners’ capacity building and organizational development.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret, and assess project proposals, reports, and financial information.
• Very good understanding of human rights-based approach/perspectives with special focus towards promotion of economic, social and culture (ESC) rights of marginalized communities in line with international human rights instruments and national legislations related to ESC rights, and organizational development of partners to develop them as accountable CSOs 
• Working experience with local/regional partners (CSOs) from mid-western and western terrain and hill regions, and national level will be an advantage.  

Skills:

• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English and Nepali, and working knowledge of local dialects of western and mid-western terrain regions is an advantage.
• Excellent computer skills in the Microsoft Office applications Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and internet based communications. 

Personal characteristics and skills:

• Sensitivity to diversity, equality, and economic, social, cultural human rights.
• Demonstrated facilitation skills, analytical and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated reliability and high level of integrity.
• Solid judgement and critical thinking ability.
• Excellent communication, and coordination skills within IM and partners.
• Good interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and effectively as a team within IM, and with partner organisations and other relevant external stakeholders. 
• Well-organized, thorough and with an attention to details and accuracy.
• Ability to prioritize the tasks and flexible to modify priorities as needed. 

Personal commitment 

Strong personal commitment to the values and mission of IM to fight and expose poverty and exclusions, to democracy, to the respect for human rights, and the equal value and dignity of all human beings.  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary range for the position:  

Salary will be as per IM Nepal Country office rules and regulations and can be negotiable depending on the candidate’s relevant experiences and qualifications. 

Vacation:

Vacations days in accordance with IM Nepal Office rules and regulations and practices.

Insurance:

Coverage of medical and accidental insurances schemes in accordance with IM Nepal Country Office regulations and practice.

Other benefits:

Pension fund, festivity allowances and gratuity etc. are in accordance with IM Nepal Country Office rules and as per labour law of Nepal.

HOW TO APPLY  

Please send a personal motivational letter, and updated CV including a clear mentioning of date of birth and names of 3 professional referees from employers to People2People Pvt. Ltd. via email: application@people2people.com.np no later than 10 January, 2015 / Saturday.

For more information about the position please contact People2People Pvt. Ltd. via email or phone: 01 – 5539788 / 5539746. 

IM reserves all the rights to reject/dismiss this recruitment process without assigning any reasons to applicants. IM strives to offer equal employment opportunity. Qualified candidates from highly marginalized ethnic minorities and marginalized Dalit’s are encouraged to apply.

For more information about IM Swedish Development Partner please visit global.manniskohjalp.se 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further processes during 3rd week of January till 1st week of February 2015.