Challenge Fund Field Officer

Purnima: UK Support to Post-Earthquake Recovery in Nepal

Terms of Reference: Challenge Fund Field Officer (CFFO)

Background: 

Purnima is a five-year programme (2017-2022) funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by Mott MacDonald. The objective is long-term positive change in the lives of people in earthquake-affected regions of Nepal. The programme will work in four of the worst affected districts (Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot, and Rasuwa) through five Output Areas:  

• Inclusive planning at local level through technical assistance to government agencies.  
• Reconstruction of rural infrastructure, including water supply, foot trails, footbridges, and schools.  
• Stimulation of economic growth opportunities through private sector development in relation to construction, including access to finance, innovation, and skills.  
• Mobilization of Challenge Fund (CF) to support interventions for socioeconomic wellbeing of vulnerable groups to ensure that no-one is left behind in the reconstruction effort.  
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning. 

Our vision for the programme is not just to reconstruct earthquake-damaged infrastructure. We believe that the situation in post-earthquake Nepal provides an opportunity to ‘build back better’, infrastructure, social inclusivity and economic opportunities. Our objective is to ensure that no one is left behind in the reconstruction process, and we will target the most vulnerable population in all activities. The infrastructure will be selected through a participatory planning process, by working closely with Gaunpalikas and Wards.  The project aims to strengthen the ability of local government to deliver inclusive services and infrastructure at a local level. We will link our interventions in a systematic and coherent way to rebuild rural infrastructure and increase the socio-economic wellbeing and resilience of the most vulnerable groups. The specific vulnerable groups that we will target under the challenge fund component include persons with disabilities, the elderly, vulnerable single women (especially Dalit), Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) after resettlement, and extremely poor and food insecure people from remote areas. 

We will ensure that our activities are consistent with local needs and priorities, and will coordinate with other government and partner programmes, so that we work together towards a common vision. We will work with government especially with local government agencies, civil society, NGOs, private sector and other relevant stakeholders and development partners.  

The Challenge Fund: 

To support Post-Earthquake Reconstruction in Nepal, the Purnima programme includes a Challenge Fund which is set to fund interventions ensuring no-one is left behind in the reconstruction effort and to promote transformational change for women and girls.

It is recognised that not all will benefit equally from the reconstruction activities or other components of the overall programme. Under the Vulnerability Window, the Challenge Fund aims to ensure that the most vulnerable and excluded members of earthquake affected communities are not left behind. Special consideration is given to groups that may be left out of the reconstruction process as the households in these groups are restricted to contribute labour. Labour-poor households include households with senior citizens, households with members having a disability, and households with single women and children without external sources of income. 

The Challenge Fund will also work through a second window to support transformational change for women and girls through grants in three thematic areas—political, economic and social. A transformation approach involves engaging with the process of reversing unequal gender power dynamics, tackling discriminatory social norms and engaging with political structures, actors and ways of working to transform the lives of women and girls.                 

Job description: 

Purnima is seeking two full time Challenge Fund Field Officers (CFFO) to work as a team members of the Challenge Fund. The position will be based in Gorkha (also covering Dhading) and Nuwakot (also covering Rasuwa) District. The CFFO will directly work and report to District Coordinators. However, s/he need to work in consultation and coordination with Purnima Palika Planning Advisors, Challenge Fund Manager and CF Finance Coordinator in order to smoothly implement the Challenge fund supported projects/activities in the districts / Palikas.   

The CFFO is fully responsible to provide required support to implementing-partners of the Challenge Fund Programme in their assigned district. S/he is the focal point to Grant Recipient and Challenge Fund Team, where the program gets started. S/he is also responsible for the program implementation management. The position involves intense travel in project implementation areas or working Palikas. 

Main responsibilities of CFFO will be: 

• Work with the District Coordinator in developing and implementing the Challenge Fund implementation plan for the district.
• Assist the District Coordinator in developing, maintaining and reviewing monthly, quarterly, and annual programme progress under the Challenge Fund Component. 
• Monitor field level progress and expenses by Grant Recipient and give input where necessary, seek support from functional experts where required.
• Oversee the data collection related to programmatic interventions as set by the CF.
• Ensure that monthly progress report, quarterly progress reports are prepared by Grant Recipient and submitted to Purnima Challenge Fund Team in a timely fashion. 
• Conduct field visits as per the monthly visit plan and review project’s overall performance providing qualitative input to Grant Recipient as necessary. 
• Perform other project related duties as and when necessary on the direction of his/her supervisor. 

CANDIDATE PROFILE, QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

Profile:  Candidates will possess experience in field level project activities implementation working with the public sector, private sector, non-government sector and informal sectors. Candidates who have prior experience in bilateral and/or multilateral donor funded development programs at grass root level will be prioritized. Mott MacDonald is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from socially marginalized groups, including women candidates.    

Education:  Candidates will have at least a Bachelor’s degree in social science, agriculture, or economics. Higher degree will be preferred.   

Experience:  Candidates will have a minimum 5 years of field level project management experience. Substantial experience with DFID funded programme in Nepal will be highly preferred. 

Language:   Full proficiency in the Nepali language, other relevant local languages preferred. Fluent in written and spoken English is preferred.  

Computer skills:  Fully computer literate in MS Office including Word, Excel and Power Point.  

Salary: Salary will be commensurate according to qualification and experience of the selected candidate.

How to Apply 

Interested candidates can post their updated CV and covering letter to purnimaapplications@mottmac.com by 30 September 2018. Please clearly state the district that you want apply for. E-mails received after the stipulated date will not be entertained.