COUNTRY DIRECTOR

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR)

Reference:
Country:
Job Title:

MM/CD/CAR
Central African Republic (CAR)
Country Director (CD)

Contract Grade:
D
Contract Length:
1 or 2 years, depending on preference
Date needed By:
As soon as possible
New Post or Replacement:
Replacement
Accompanied / Unaccompanied:
Unaccompanied
Exact Job Location:
Bangui, with frequent travel to field locations
Reports To:
Regional Director (RD)
Responsible For:
Coordinators

Country Management Team including two Area

Liaises With:

Regional Director, Desk Officer, Emergency

Directorate, Human Resources, Strategy Advocacy
& Learning (SAL), UN, Donors, (I)NGOs, Partner
NGOs & Government of CAR

Programme Description:
Concern has been operational in Central African Republic since March 2014.
Concerns strategy for the Central African Republic aligns with the current UN
Strategic Response Plan for CAR which has as its main purpose to alleviate and
prevent suffering of conflict-affected people by provision of life-saving
humanitarian, multi-sectorial packages, access to basic services, protection of the
most vulnerable, and restoration of community resilience. The crisis in CAR has
severely affected the livelihoods and living conditions of over 50% of the population
resulting in a significant reduction of income and access to food. The destruction of
infrastructure has left large parts of the rural populations without access to clean
drinking water. In response to this, Concern is delivering a cross-sectorial response
encompassing food security, livelihoods and WASH interventions.
With a team of 99 people (11 international and 88 local staff) and a total budget for
2015 of 3,754,376, the country program covers three locations: Ombella Mpoko
prefecture, Lobaye prefecture and most recently, Ouaka prefecture in the west of
the country (Kouango). Concern plays an active role in the various coordination
mechanisms established in country. By operating in the most underserved areas,
Concern is able to address the issues of the affected people able to advocate for
increased assistance where needed.
The Concern CAR programme is relatively new and the latest country where
Concern has started a humanitarian intervention. Concern has presence in CAR
since mid-2014 in response to the humanitarian crisis due to conflict and is
currently implementing livelihoods, food security and WASH activities in both Bangui
and Ombella MPoko prefectures (south-west CAR) and more recently implementing
livelihoods health and nutrition activities in the Ombella MPoko prefecture and

Kouango.
Concern is actively participating in the cluster coordination and a
member of the NGO forum of which Concern also has a seat in the steering
committee. The CAR programme is in a dynamic context that requires continuous
adaptation of the strategic planning frameworks and new area and sector
assessments and the possibility of expansion to other geographic areas.
Job Purpose:
The Country Director (CD) is responsible for strategic and
programme development, security management and overall management and
coordination of Concerns emergency & development programmes in CAR,
responding to the humanitarian crisis in line with Concern Worldwide organisational
specific strategies, policies and procedures.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
To lead on the strategic planning for CAR, in particular, align a new country strategic
plan with the global strategy & objectives in particular addressing emergency needs
of Internally Displaced People (IDPs), returnees & host populations affected by the
CAR crisis.
Have overall responsibility for strategic management of the programme, in
particular preparing for & effectively responding to emergency humanitarian
situations in CAR.
To manage, develop & implement a coherent country programme in line with
organizational policies and procedures.
Create and maintains a shared vision amongst all Concern staff and ensure
programme quality oversight in the development of all programmes.
Ongoing developing and management of the funding strategy for the country
programme.
Maintain an awareness of the current humanitarian, economic, political and social
situation within CAR, and the broader Region.
Overall responsibility for security management: ensuring that the security situation
is reviewed constantly, Security Management Plans (SMPs) are updated as
necessary and that staff are aware of security procedures and comply with them.
Representation of Concern in CAR, maintaining coordination and networking
relationships with the government, donors and other development actors in the
country; this includes representation on the NGO Forum (CCO) & be available for the
NGO Forums steering committee & consequently the Humanitarian Coordination
Team (HCT).
Seeking useful areas of collaboration with other international community actors
such as INGOs, networks, and in particular Concerns Strategic partner the Alliance
2015.
Responsible for staff management and development, including training and focus on
programme quality such as project design, proposal & report writing, monitoring
and evaluation and other key areas.

Provide general management support to direct reports and be familiar and ensure
all staff and visitors comply with Concern worldwide staff Code of Conduct, the
Programme Participant Protection Policy (4Ps), Anti-Fraud Policy and the Dchas
Code of Conduct on Images and Messages.
Ensure that support systems (IT, Finance, HR/Administration, Logistics and
Transport) are in place and functioning in accordance with best practice and
organizational policy and procedures in order to ensure transparency and
accountability to government, donors and other relevant stakeholders.
Oversee the Finance Function across the country programme with overall
responsibility for budgeting, reporting and monitoring of all income and
expenditure.
Overseeing the HR Function across the country programme and ensure that policies
and procedures reflect global policies.
Ensuring all internal and external reports are sent to Regional Desk at head office in
a timely fashion and adhering to high standards of quality and maintain good,
regular and open communication with the Regional Director and Desk Officer for the
Central Africa Region.
Contribute to organizational learning through liaison with other organizations and
Concern fields and sharing lessons learned.
Perform any other related duties as assigned by the Regional Director or his / her
delegate

PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:
Essential:
At least 5 years overseas experience in management and coordination of
humanitarian interventions and emergency response with at least 3 years
experience in a senior management position.
Experience in insecure and complex contexts and environments.
Effective oral and written French and English language skills as demonstrated
in the ability to write reports as required by donors
Strong leadership skills and ability to manage change effectively.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with an ability/confidence to
engage and represent Concern at public forums, media and donors.
Strong interpersonal, motivational, communication and coordination skills.
Highly developed listening and conflict resolution skills.
Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity.
Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines.
Good coaching, facilitation and capacity-building skills.
Desirable:

Previous Concern experience at a management level.

Masters degree in Humanitarian Assistance, Development Studies or
equivalent;
Experience of working in Francophone Africa an advantage.
Experience in starting up new country programmes
Affinity with organisational values, mission and vision, commitment to
humanitarian principles
Familiar with UN coordination mechanisms (cluster approach)
MS Office Professional
Experience of managing major donor grants such as ECHO, OFDA, Irish Aid,
DFID, CHF
All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net
by the closing date. CVs should be no more than 4 pages in length.
Due to the urgency of this position as well as the on-going nature of this recruitment
process, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts
before the closing date.
Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international,
humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and
working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the
worlds poorest countries.
Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy
which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme
participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff,
consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards
of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the
organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day
conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concerns core values and mission.
Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the
Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as
an appendix to their contract of employment.
By signing the Programme
Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates
acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff
Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to
conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.
Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year.
Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is
conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer
do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person,
groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US
Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals
and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List). Any offer of
employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made
pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional
information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in
our Head Office.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications

from all sections of the community.