Chargé(e) de Programme Senior

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve those in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various areas including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds who share its values and commitment to humanitarian service. The agency's processes and policies reflect its dedication to protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals, especially those who are most vulnerable. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where it operates.

Job Overview:
As a Senior Program Officer based in Bunia, the individual will play a crucial role in coordinating and implementing activities related to the fight against Ebola. This position specifically focuses on achieving project objectives in the areas of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (CREC). The Senior Program Officer will provide technical support to field teams and local partners to ensure that interventions are contextually appropriate, aligned with technical standards, and complementary to other project sectors. The role requires strong coordination skills, community mobilization expertise, technical supervision, and programmatic analysis to enhance the quality and coherence of nutritional activities implemented in targeted areas. The position involves significant travel to project implementation zones, with up to 80% of the time spent in the field, ensuring that the program meets its goals effectively and efficiently.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Program Officer will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring the implementation of project activities in accordance with the detailed project implementation plan, CRS quality standards, donor requirements, and humanitarian best practices. Key responsibilities include supporting the integration of project activities into CREC interventions to ensure a coherent multisectoral approach, organizing and supervising community awareness activities, educational sessions, and behavior change initiatives at the community level. The officer will also assist in capacity building for field teams, partners, and community relays on key messaging. Technical coordination with partners, local health authorities, and other stakeholders is essential to promote coherence in project approaches. The role includes supporting assessments, KAP surveys, and other data collection exercises related to community practices and behaviors, contributing to the monitoring of project indicators, and ensuring the quality of data collected in close collaboration with the MEAL team. Additionally, the officer will document activities, best practices, lessons learned, and case studies, and assist in preparing programmatic reports and technical updates in line with CRS and donor requirements. Ensuring the integration of accountability mechanisms to affected populations (AAP) in community awareness and engagement activities is also a critical responsibility, as is maintaining good coordination with other project sectors to ensure operational and technical coherence of interventions. The officer must ensure that project documentation is complete, compliant, and properly archived.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor's degree in international development, public health, community health, humanitarian studies, or a related field. Candidates must have a minimum of 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in implementing health activities, ideally in emergency or epidemic contexts. Experience working with national or international NGOs is essential, along with a background in community mobilization and health-related behavior change awareness. Candidates should demonstrate personal accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and a commitment to learning and improvement. Strong analytical skills and the ability to proactively solve problems are also required, along with excellent written and oral communication skills and proficiency in MS Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as international development, public health, community health, or humanitarian studies. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding of the complexities involved in humanitarian work and health interventions.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in the implementation of health activities, particularly in emergency or epidemic contexts. Candidates should have experience working with national or international NGOs, demonstrating a solid understanding of community mobilization and health-related behavior change initiatives. This level of experience is crucial for effectively managing the responsibilities associated with the role and ensuring successful project outcomes.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required, with proficiency in Swahili and relevant local languages being advantageous for effective communication within the project intervention area. The ability to communicate in multiple languages will enhance the officer's effectiveness in engaging with diverse community members and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position involves significant travel, with up to 80% of the time spent in project implementation areas. The role does not include supervisory responsibilities. The successful candidate is expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff, and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The anticipated duration of the assignment may be informed by a term limit based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency. CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where it operates.