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 save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing 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 welcomes candidates from the regions in which it operates, reflecting its dedication to diversity and inclusion in its workforce.

Job Overview:
As a Senior Program Officer in Bunia, you will play a crucial role in coordinating and implementing activities related to the fight against Ebola. This position specifically contributes to achieving project objectives in the areas of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). You will provide technical support to field teams and local partners to ensure interventions are contextually appropriate, aligned with technical standards, and complementary to other project sectors. Your skills in coordination, community mobilization, technical supervision, and programmatic analysis will enhance the quality and coherence of nutritional activities implemented in targeted areas. This role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and effective communication with various stakeholders, including communities, partners, and local authorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities include 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. You will support the integration of project activities into WASH and IPC interventions to ensure a coherent multisectoral approach. Organizing and supervising community awareness activities, educational sessions, and behavior change initiatives at the community level will be essential. You will also assist in capacity building for field teams, partners, and community relays on key messages. Technical coordination with partners, local health authorities, and other stakeholders will be necessary to promote coherence in project approaches. Additionally, you will support assessments, KAP surveys, and other data collection exercises related to community practices and behaviors, contribute to monitoring project indicators, and ensure the quality of data collected in close collaboration with the MEAL team. Documenting activities, best practices, lessons learned, and case studies will also be part of your responsibilities, along with preparing programmatic reports and technical updates in line with CRS and donor requirements. Ensuring the integration of accountability mechanisms towards affected populations (AAP) in community awareness activities is crucial, as is maintaining good coordination with other project sectors to ensure operational and technical coherence of interventions. Lastly, you will 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. A minimum of 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in implementing WASH and/or health activities, ideally in emergency or epidemic contexts, is essential. Experience working with national or international NGOs, community mobilization, and health-related behavior change initiatives is also required. Candidates should demonstrate personal accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, collaboration skills, and a commitment to learning and improvement.

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 crucial for understanding the complexities of the humanitarian context and the specific needs of the populations served.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in the implementation of WASH and health activities, particularly in emergency or epidemic situations. Experience with national or international NGOs is highly desirable, as is a background in community mobilization and health behavior change initiatives. This level of experience is necessary to effectively manage the responsibilities of the role and to contribute to the overall success of the project.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required, with proficiency in Swahili and relevant local languages being advantageous for effective communication within the project intervention area. This linguistic capability is essential for engaging with community members and stakeholders effectively.

Additional Notes:
The position involves significant travel, with up to 80% of time spent in project implementation areas. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this role. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff, and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate will be expected to sign and adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates, and all offers are contingent on the selected candidate's ability to legally work in the position's location.