Job Title: Programme Officer - Participation/Girl-led/Cash, Karo Kura
Reporting Lines: Reports to the Senior Programme Manager
Location: Freetown, with regular visits to the Provinces
Contract: 2.5 years Fixed Contract (Subject to Probationary Period)
The Programme Officer plays a central role in the execution of programme strategy designed to achieve Purposeful’s mission. This includes responsibility for developing partnerships with grassroots organisations and making funding recommendations to the Board of Directors; supporting the organisational development of grantee-partners through supportive interactions; and documenting the lessons learned in supporting community driven change.
The role also requires piloting cash-grants initiative with grassroots girls and allies in specific communities. In order to execute responsibilities effectively, the Programme Officer must maintain an in-depth knowledge of the priorities and strategies of Purposeful grant-making, learning and evaluation, as well as advocacy programmes and develop a deep knowledge around adolescent girls.
The role requires a young and dynamic, preferably female individual, with a wealth of experience in managing people from diverse backgrounds.
PARTNERSHIPS MANAGEMENT
- Manage grant-making for a cohort of partners by conducting the required due diligence to make funding recommendations to the Board of Directors
- Provide technical support and guidance to partners in developing budgets and implementation plans; monitor implementation of programmes, paying attention to efficacy of programmes to achieve stated goals
- Support partners to meet both financial and narrative reporting requirements
- Conduct quarterly support visits to understand context, partner strengths and challenges, and to support and monitor implementation of programmes
- Collaborate with other team members in the assessment of partner capacity and in planning accompaniment strategies
- Accompany grantee-partners in their organisational development by identifying and using effective approaches, tools, and opportunities
- Facilitate opportunities to network grantee-partners for sharing, learning and collaboration
- Document activities and shares effective practices across grantee partners and across portfolios.
PARTICIPATION/GIRL-LED CASH
- Oversight for the implementation of the girl-led participatory grant-making programme
- Work with team to identify, select and train adolescent girls to serve on the panel
- Support creative process to invite expressions of interest from adolescent girls’ programmes and opening up channels to marginalised girls
- Organise all sessions for the panel to gather and engage with girl-led groups that seek funding and support
- Provide back-up support to the panel as they complete the review process
- Manage and coordinates capacity-building training to grassroots girls and allies depending on each individual need
- Support selected groups to work with mentors to manage their funds and document their programmes
- Conduct support visits to girl-led groups, to support, observe and serve as a resource
- Support girl-led groups to use creative approaches to report on what they did and what they achieved
- Develop a platform for networking among girl recipients of grants to share learning and experiences
- Document both the process and outcomes of the girl-led grant-making for others to learn
LEARNING AND INSIGHTS
- Collaborate with the appropriate staff and with grantee-partners to capture learning and insights
- Work with Population Council in carrying out all programme design and adaptation through research, insights and evidence
- Guide grantee-partner efforts to capture information, interpret findings, and synthesise lessons learned
- Work with other team members to ensure documentation of programme learning outcomes (case studies, photos, lessons learnt, etc.) with effective information management system
- Facilitate learning and reflection processes with grantee-partners, support them to use insights to improve their programmes
- Stay abreast of issues related to adolescent girls, movement-building, and, community development, by reviewing publications, and attending related conferences, meetings, and other events
- Ensure timely submission of high quality narrative reports to Line Manager
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION
- Respond to information needs and requests of the Country Manager and Senior Programme Manager
- Participate in meetings related to life skills
- Maintain and develop relationships with peer organisations and other key stakeholders as necessary to support grantee-partners and support the goals of Purposeful
- Contribute to ongoing efforts to share knowledge with internal and external stakeholders. Represent Purposeful, as assigned, including making presentations at conferences and other fora
SAFEGUARDING
- Participate in annual training on safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Liaise with Purposeful and Partner Safeguarding Focal Persons to undertake safeguarding assessment and maintain all safeguarding procedures and standards at the safe spaces
- Ensure that safeguarding policy and procedures are followed on all activities that include girls
- Conduct review of grantee-partner safeguarding policies, procedures, reporting and follow-up on reported cases. Share any observed risks or concerns to the Safeguarding Officer
OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED
- Supervise Purposeful Fellows, as assigned
- Lead special projects or take on additional tasks as assigned
- You may occasionally be required to work on weekends and/or public holidays, for which time off in lieu will be granted
- Bachelor’s degree or Masters in relevant field.
- At least 2-3 years of NGO experience related work/field
- Experience with and understanding of adolescent girl-centered programming, community-based organisations, and social change.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills in English, with ability to provide succinct summaries of high volumes of complex information
- Intellectual curiosity, analysis and synthesis
- Computer literate (MS Office: WORD, EXCEL, PP, e-mail, Internet)
- Conceptual thinking skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically, set goals and objectives and execute strategy
- Ability to network and collaborate with government ministries, NGOs and other stakeholders
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and work under pressure, efficient task prioritisation and time management
- Strong coordination, training and facilitation skills
- Ability to maintain regular contact and meaningful communication with a wide range of grantee-partners and other collaborators
- Competency in project management with demonstrated ability to maintain balanced perspective between the big picture and the details
- Dedicated to upholding the values and approaches that define Purposeful’s work
- Committed to Purposeful’s mission and values
- Believe in and support our feminist values
- Good sense of humour
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