Program Manager Mali

Oxfam Novib is a world-wide development organization that mobilizes the power of people against poverty.

In Mali Oxfam Novib works together with Oxfam GB, Oxfam America and Oxfam in Belgium, under overall leadership of OGB as Managing affiliate.

Oxfams program in Mali is based on the Joint Country Analysis Strategy (JCAS). The program covers: (1) sustainable livelihoods in rural areas and improvement of food security of the most vulnerable population; (II) quality education in a safe and non-violent environment; (III) citizen involvement and good governance, regarding the fair and transparent monitoring of economic and social policies and (IV) humanitarian and emergency response.

Within this Oxfam program, Oxfam Novib focuses on citizen involvement/good governance, covering access to justice, empowerment of CSOs, promotion of youth and women political participation and transparency in the management of mineral recourses and on quality education encompassing programs on sexual education and sexual reproductive health, quality of education and Wash in schools.

Several of these programs are externally funded. Oxfam Novib aims to build and seek funding for more such programs.

Oxfam Novib is currently looking for a:

Program Manager Mali

Good governance and Essential services

40 hours a week

Based in Bamako/Mali

Objective of the position

The Program Manger leads in designing effective development programmes in relation to Mali that help achieve Oxfam's objectives, and contribute towards setting the strategic direction. He/she ensures quality delivery of a number of externally funded programs related to governance and active citizenship and essential services in Mali. The Program Manager contributes to updating the Oxfam International Joint Country Analysis and Strategy (JCAS) for Mali and to ensuring delivery of the Oxfam Novib component of this program. The Program Manager fosters co-operation between Oxfam affiliates as an active Oxfam Novib member of the Oxfam Mali Country Leadership Team. The Program Manager for Mali reports to the Oxfam Novib Regional Manager for Southern and West Africa in The Hague.

Main tasks

• As the Oxfam Novib (ON) Program Manager for Mali, you represent Oxfam Novib on the Oxfam Mali Country Leadership Team (CLT), you contribute to updating the Oxfam Mali joint analysis and strategy and are responsible to ensure delivery of the Oxfam Novib part of it. You lead for Oxfam Novib in developing and taking forward the Mali transition plan in the context of Oxfam's move to a One Oxfam Program in Mali, to be managed by Oxfam Great Britain on behalf of the Oxfam confederation with Oxfam Novib as a stakeholder supporting the Mali program.
• You monitor the progress of the Oxfam Mali strategy and annual plan, including planning and monitoring, reporting, evaluation and learning (MEL) aspects, related to both the management of the Oxfam Novib Mali budget for partner support and program development at program and project level, and the development and management of externally funded programs.

• You are responsible for ensuring a programmatic approach in your team, preparing with other internal and external stakeholders programs and proposals which would be attractive to institutional donors. You ensure quality delivery and contract management of existing externally funded programs in Mali and on ES and GG multi country/regional programs. In terms of delivery, you coordinate the programme in relation to the projects within it. You are responsible to ensure quality of the programme including through consultation and checking activities with other relevant departments as needed.

• You are accountable for accomplishing programme and project objectives, quality contract management (including financial management) and managing potential constraints such as: costs, time, scope and quality.
• As needed, you develop good working relations with relevant government officials and embassies and other relevant donors in Mali. You represent ON in relevant fora and donor meetings in relation to Mali specifically in good governance and essential services.
• You line manage and are responsible for HR tasks in relation to ON staff members working on the programme and related projects based in Mali. This role includes providing guidance and steering, conducting annual performance reviews, liaising as needed with the HR department, coordinating and advising on the recruitment and selection of new staff. You ensure adherence of the ON programme to agreed Oxfam policies and standards for program, projects, program management, finance and HR.
• You contribute to strengthening the quality of good governance and essential services programs, cooperating closely with the other Oxfams in Mali; you appraise proposals for approval, and monitor expenses by Oxfam Novib's local partners within the programme and projects. You coordinate the planning, implementation and monitoring of program and project activities. You maintain direct contacts with partners for the monitoring, evaluation and development of their programmes and their organisational capacities. You are responsible for ensuring the correct registration in the ONL administrative system and (digital) archiving of project activities.
• You ensure that narrative and financial reporting and audits of the partners and projects you support are carried out in line with donor requirements and Oxfam Novib policies and routing procedures. You maintain sound relationships with donors at operational level. You work closely with the Financial Officer, the Institutional Funding Officer and the Program Officers on this.
• You oversee the different (donor) budgets, and liaise directly with the relevant Institutional Funding Officers, Programme Officers and the Finance officers on financial matters regarding the budget/proposal; be accountable on budget variances, accountability and appropriateness of budget spending.
• You provide a steer to program officers on their respective programs and you ensure linking and learning happens between the members of the team, and within the organization. You also promote linking & learning between counterparts and key stakeholders.

• As needed you ensure delivery of information required regarding your programs (and related projects) to the different Oxfam Novib HQ departments, to the other OGB, and to donors. You are responsible for communication activities in order to consult and inform appropriate parties.

You have

• A university level education in relevant field.
• Experience in management and participatory strategy development, particularly in good governance and essential services, in fragile states/situations or conflict affected contexts;
• Proven analytical skills and the capacity to think strategically, including the ability to think beyond the country programme context and to act within a regional and global perspective;
• Experience in representing an organisation at the level of partners, government agencies, private sector organisations, and donors at senior level;
• Experience in policy and advocacy work at local, national and international level, preferably in good governance and essential services;
• Financial management skills to monitor the operational budget;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate, influence and negotiate;
• Excellent communication skills in French and English;
• Experience in contract management of donor funded projects.

We offer

A local contract with a competitive, fair and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. The position is graded in a C1 level; the provisional classification salary is between 18,709,109,- CFA and 22,866,688,- CFA gross per month based on a 40-hour week.

More information and application procedure

Are you interested in this position? Send your application in writing, including a motivation letter and curriculum vitae and mentioning reference number 5-259 tojobs@oxfamnovib.nl to the attention of Frans Pakvis, HR advisor, before July 7, 2014. Information on position is available with Aletta van der Woude, SAWA Regional Director, + 31-70-3421978/ +31-6-30458473.