Project Development Officer

Project Development Officer, South Sudan

Department: Reporting
Position: Project Development Officer
Contract duration: 6 months (Renewable)
Location: Republic of South Sudan

I. Background on ACTED

ACTED is an independent international, private, non-partisan and non-profit organization that operates according to principles of strict neutrality, political and religious impartiality, and non discrimination.

ACTED was created in 1993 to support populations affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. Based in Paris, France, ACTED now operates in 30 countries worldwide, with over 200 international and 4000 national staff. ACTED has a 100 million € budget for over 350 projects spanning 8 sectors of intervention; including emergency relief, food security, health promotion , economic development, education & training, microfinance, local governance & institutional support, and cultural promotion. For more information, please visit our website at www.acted.org.

II. Country Profile

Capital Office : Khartoum National Staff : 125 (average May 2011) Areas : 2 (Western Darfur, Southern Darfur) On-going programmes : 10 Budget : 4.2 M

In 2005, ACTED began work in West Darfur. The objective was to respond to the humanitarian crisis through the rehabilitation of road networks and the promotion of water access and sanitation. In 2010, ACTED's mission in Sudan focused on ensuring emergency access to basic services, while also supporting early recovery and rehabilitation in both Darfur and South Sudan. In the Darfur region, ACTED continued to provide emergency water, sanitation and hygiene support in camp areas for internally displaced populations. The organization also expanded its support to vulnerable local communities in rural parts of West Darfur. In South Sudan, ACTED expanded its efforts to ensure access to basic services, such as water and sanitation services, and supported local efforts to increase agricultural production and food security in underserved areas. Sudan is undergoing historic changes. With the formal separation of the South on 9 July, 2011 will be a critical year for recovery and development throughout the country. With high needs and new opportunities for collaboration with a burgeoning government and private sector, ACTED is expanding significantly its intervention in South Sudan.

III. Position Profile

I. Functions in terms of AME

Project Cycle Management
Facilitate the development and implementation of project cycle management;
Partiicpate in developing a PCM guide, incl. tools and procedures to be used;
Train the staff to use the PCM guide and related tools and procedures, and notably follow up the implementation of the Project Management framework (PMF, ACTED PCM Tool) for all projects
Keep track of all projects and programmes monitoring and evaluation schedules and work with field staff to design and implement monitoring and evaluation procedures;

Information System
Work with all departments to follow up project and programmes databases incl. work on the nomenclature used (official names etc.);
Follow up the day-to-day workings of the AME Department, including reading weekly monitoring reports and follow-up;
Ensure that appraisal, monitoring and evaluation reports are made useful for fundraising and add to the general base of field knowledge in the country for all organisations working in the area;
Set up a Resource Centre at the capital office regularly updated with appropriate and relevant external and internal resources.
Diffuse information to other internal stakeholders through the intranet and the regional office
Participatory Appraisal, Monitoring and Evaluation
Ensure that local partners, when appropriate, engaged in appraisal for and/or with ACTED are trained and given advice in participatory approaches, minimalizing bias, and other key methodologies for information gathering;
Work with base and field staff to help design and improve adapted participatory appraisal mechanisms for the projects implemented in the country;

Departmental Follow-up
Manage the AME staff in cooperation with Area Coordinators and Programme Managers;
Follow up work plans, activities and their quality;
Work with the administrative departments to ensure that procedures are respected;
Solve problems and give professional guidance, specially for interns / volunteers;
Communicate regularly to the regional Coordination, Programme Managers and Coordinations on all activities;
II. Functions in terms of reporting

Ensuring the Production of Timely, Accurate and Analytical Reports for Donors
Understand and disseminate Donors guidelines ;
Liaise regularly with Area Coordinators, Programme Managers and technical staff to ensure the production of quality reports across areas and across Donors;
Work in close relation with AME Department to develop and incorporate more solid monitoring and evaluation components in reports;
Work in close relation with Finance Department to ensure greater coherence between financial and narrative reports, and ensure steady cash inflow based on the timeliness and quality of report submissions.
Work in close relation and communicate on a regular basis with HQ reporting department, notably on the basis of the monthly Reporting follow up
Developing Internal Coordination and Communication mechanisms
In relation with the project development manager and Country Director, ensure that all meetings are held and documented (capital coordination meetings, area coordination meetings, monthly coordination meetings, quarterly country coordination meetings);
Ensure in particular that reporting guidelines, formats, philosophy, deadlines for each project and donor is communicated clearly and standardized across the country for new and on-going projects;
Follow-up meetings at the field level and in the capital, between the bases and between the country programme and HQ/other ACTED operations through the ACTED Newsletter;
Draft agenda and minutes of country-wide meetings, with the assistance of the Reporting staff.
Developing an External Donor Relations Strategy
Update on a weekly and monthly basis the external relations database, which documents latest negotiations and proposal possibilities with a number of key donors;
Manage a team of Area Coordinators, Programme Managers and technical staff to ensure that proposals are developed in a cohesive and professional manner and in line with ACTED country strategy and donor requirements;
Act as point of contact for all Donor communication, including the organisation of and hosting of Donor visits in the field for projects s/he is in charge of
Developing an External Communication Strategy
Define the main target groups, activities, resources and partnerships needed;
Ensure continuum of PR activities, including formal presentations, engaging media for coverage on success stories, updating project-specific and regional fact sheets, and documenting publications featuring ACTED in the media ;
Identifying sources of funding for a more cohesive public information strategy in-country.
Assisting the Project Development Manager and Country Director in developing the country strategy, project proposals, addressing ad hoc donor requests or catalysing action on specific projects or components of projects

IV. Qualifications:

Postgraduate diploma in International Development and (or) relevant Master's level degree (anthropology, development studies, humanitarian aid, sociology);
Fluency in written and spoken English
Strong writing abilities and analytical skills
Skills in political science s or international relations
Ability to work efficiently under pressure
Previous experience in the humanitarian field, proposals development, and donor relations are required
Previous experience abroad is required

V. Conditions:
Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
Additional monthly living allowance
Free food and lodging provided at the organisation's guesthouse
Transportation costs covered, + luggage allowance
Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance


How to apply:

VI. Submission of applications:

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references  Ref : PDO/SSU/SA


No Fee

AJS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND AJS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.

SOME EMPLOYERS MAY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR APPLICATION.