Job Title: Project Manager, Africa Department (CR / XCEPT Research, and Programme Development)- Conciliation Resources

Published · Updated

Location: Nairobi, with occasional travel
Reporting to: TBC
Duration: Fixed-term consultancy contract: 12 months, January-December 2023
Responsible for: Project consultants

Conciliation Resources

Conciliation Resources is an independent international organization working with people in conflict to prevent violence, resolve conflicts and promote peaceful societies. We believe that building sustainable peace takes time. We provide practical support to help people affected by violent conflict achieve lasting peace. We draw on our shared experiences to improve peacebuilding policies and practice worldwide.

Africa Department

Conciliation Resources has been working to support peacebuilding in Africa for almost two decades, working with people affected by violent conflict to support inclusive and multiple paths to peace. The Africa Department is made up of three programmes – the East and Central Africa, Horn of Africa, and West Africa Programmes – and a Department team. The Africa Department has staff and consultants based in the UK, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, and we are in the process of opening a branch office/hub in Nairobi.

CR / XCEPT research project

Cross-border Conflict, Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) is a consortium research programme funded by the UK Government and led by Chemonics UK. As part of XCEPT, CR is leading a research project on Promoting peaceful pastoralism.

Job Purpose

The post-holder is responsible for managing, coordinating and supporting delivery of the CR / XCEPT project, and leading on design and development of related projects in and across the Africa Department.

Scope and responsibility

The post-holder is responsible for overseeing and coordinating delivery of the full project cycle of the CR / XCEPT research project, including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, narrative and financial reporting, and project completion. They represent the project and CR in relevant meetings with a range of interlocutors, and act as a resource to various partners engaged in the project.

The post-holder also supports strategic and programme development and resourcing for CR’s Africa Department and its Africa Programmes, and manages consultants and volunteers. The post is based in Nairobi and may involve occasional travel within the region.

Tasks and Responsibilities

a. Strategy and planning

Lead on CR / XCEPT project planning:

● coordinate strategic project oversight through regular consultation with the CR / XCEPT Steering Committee
● act as Conciliation Resources’ primary point of contact for the XCEPT consortium
● attend and coordinate CR staff participation in consortium and donor coordination meetings

Contribute to the Africa Department’s strategic and operational planning processes and support and coordinate the design and development of Africa programme projects emerging from CR / XCEPT and more broadly.

b. Project management

Manage delivery of the CR / XCEPT project, as well as other projects in consultation with the Africa Department Programme Manager and Programme Teams:

  • coordinate effective communication and collaboration between relevant CR staff and external consultants
  • organize, oversee and keep track of work plans and deadlines; ensure staff, partners and consultants are clear on their tasks, deliverables and timelines; and track progress and oversee implementation
  • organize and facilitate quarterly CR / XCEPT Steering Committee meetings, and other consultations
  • draft and manage Terms of Reference and contracts with external consultants and service providers
  • lead on CR / XCEPT monthly narrative progress reporting, and support other narrative reporting requirements as agreed
  • coordinate and support the planning and delivery of CR / XCEPT project activities, including agenda-setting, logistics, budget management and financial processing
  • ensure all project activities comply with relevant Duty of Care obligations, with particular emphasis on keeping people safe
  • coordinate and support the design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning, and information management systems

c. Policy, analysis and publications

Coordinate and support the production of written and digital outputs for the CR / XCEPT project:

  • logistics, liaising with contributors and editors, service providers and output contributors, coordinating work plans in line with project timelines
  • budget management and financial processing for CR / XCEPT outputs
  • Co-ordinate learning and documentation of lessons and good practices from CR/XCEPT research between the three Africa programmes and with RAP.
  • identify opportunities for programme development emerging from CR / XCEPT research Support Africa Department policy and analysis activities, as agreed with the Africa Department

Programme Manager:

  • gender- and conflict sensitivity for selected Africa programme projects
  • selected Africa Department learning activities
  • keep abreast of relevant political, social, economic and security developments
  • Editing and proof reading of department or programmes publications/briefs

d. Uptake, representation and networking

Lead on coordinating and organizing uptake, representation and networking for the CR / XCEPT project:

  • organizing online policy briefing sessions with the UK Government, and other policy and practitioner audiences
  • organizing outreach events – including logistics, agenda, briefing speakers and participants, and donor and consortium liaison
  • organizing regular exchanges between relevant CR staff, consultants and partners
  • scoping donor interest in new research and programming

Support or lead on Africa Department uptake, representation and networking activities, as agreed with
the Africa Department Programme Manager:

  • liaison with donors, governments, and other relevant groups and individuals
  • communication and advocacy strategies, activities and content
  • updating CR’s website

e. Finance

Lead on overseeing budgeting, financial management and reporting for the CR / XCEPT project:

  • Allocate and track the spend of funds for CR staff, partners and external consultants for the delivery of project activities and outputs
  • Consolidate and evidence all spending across the CR /XCEPT project and invoice the donor on a quarterly basis with accompanying documentation
  • Ensure the CR / XCEPT project budget is up to date, and provide monthly reforecasts for the donor

Lead on or support selected Africa Department financial responsibilities, under the guidance of the Africa Department Programme Manager, and the Africa Department and Programme Directors:

  • play a leading role in developing new funding and partnership opportunities, drafting proposals, and building relationships with donors – including where these emerge from CR / XCEPT
  • play a prominent role in budget development and financial management for specific projects
  • maintain appropriate project documentation and filing systems in accordance with Africa

Department administrative and financial systems and policies

g. Other

Perform additional tasks, consistent with the skills and expertise of the post-holder, as agreed with the Africa Department Manager and Africa Department Director.
Apply CR’s core values to all work and develop them within the organization, including through signing and adhering to Conciliation Resources’ Code of Conduct.

Person Specification

Essential knowledge, skills and experience

  • Substantial experience of project management including project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and narrative and financial reporting.
  • Experience of delivering a research programme, ideally as part of a consortium and on issues related to pastoralism, climate change and conflict management.
  • Demonstrable experience of preparing, managing and monitoring budgets, local partners’ activities and of financial and narrative reporting to donors.
  • Experience of planning, running, and facilitating effective meetings, briefings and workshops (online and in-person).
  • Experience of producing, or supporting the production of, research outputs intended for an international policymaker audience.
  • Experience of developing new project ideas, building relationships with donors and writing proposals and budgets to secure new funds.
  • Appreciation of confidentiality, political sensitivity and the complexities of working in a situation of unresolved conflict or political transition.
  • Excellent spoken and written English and French.
  • Experience of and sensitivity to communicating with multicultural and diverse audiences (including senior government officials, politicians, opposition groups, national and local NGOs and conflict affected communities).
  • Knowledge of African social and political landscape and its conflicts, ideally through experience of living or working in the region.
  • Right to work in Kenya

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience

  • Post-graduate study or equivalent by experience in conflict resolution, international relations, development studies, international humanitarian law, gender, peace and security or other related fields.
  • Experience of working in a conflict-affected area, and experience of hostile environment training or willingness to undertake hostile environment training.
  • Spoken or written knowledge of key local languages in CR programme contexts in Africa
  • Knowledge and experience of peace mediation and dialogue processes, including formal track 1 and local community dialogue and reconciliation processes

For more information: https://www.c-r.org/project-manager-africa-department-cr-xcept-research-and-programme-development

You may also like...