| JOB TITLE | Project Officer |
| DEPARTMENT | Wealth Creation Team |
| GRADE | B2/LEII |
| LOCATION | Kinshasa |
1. BACKGROUND
DRC is the third largest country in Africa and the fourth most populous, with some of the worst poverty indicators in the world. It is currently second from the bottom of the Human Development Index and off track on all the MDGs. Despite this the DRC remains significantly under-aided.
DFID thinks that what happens in the DRC matters for the country itself, but is also of regional and global importance. It has vast mineral wealth and huge water resources, but decades of conflict and corruption have left it chronically unstable, lacking infrastructure and social services, and created one of the world’s most intractable civilian protection crises characterised by alarming levels of sexual and gender based violence. Tackling this will require addressing the underlying causes of conflict and fragility, transforming the nature of the state and strengthening state-citizen relationships. Through 2011 this challenge will be compounded as DRC faces short term political uncertainty whilst preparing for national elections.
Despite these significant challenges, DFID believes the DRC has the potential to be an economic powerhouse and a force for peace and stability at the heart of the continent. Progress here will bring enormous benefits to millions of poor people in the Congo, its neighbours and the wider world. Helping turn it in that direction is a core goal of our proposals for a new country programme. Our aim is to strengthen the impact of our programme without lowering its level of ambition. We want to make a major contribution to thinking and good practice in state building and stabilisation, and do so in a way that clearly demonstrates that we can do this in ways that provide real value for money.
DRC is one of the toughest aid environments in the world, but in spite of this DFID DRC has built a high impact programme bringing crucial benefits to millions of Congolese. The new Country Operational Plan (COP) builds on that success, combining proven initiatives in improving basic services and infrastructure, and empowering communities, with bold reform initiatives aimed at promoting growth, state building, tackling the causes of conflict and transforming governance. Strong linkages are made between pillars, to create synergies and improve value for money, with a high level of innovation across all the pillars. Women and children are at the heart of the COP.
2. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
The Project Officer will report to a B1 Deputy Programme Manager in the Wealth Creation Team.
3. MAIN ACTIVITIES
The Project Officer will work on the Wealth Creation Team’s water and sanitation (WASH) and roads programmes as well as climate and environment issues.
Financial, risk and value for money management
- Ensure that finance, risks and value for money are managed in accordance to DFID’s rules and procedures
- Support the team with preparation of financial forecasts, contracts and payments
- Inform advisers and team leader of potential high risk spend, corruption and fraud issues
Programme management
- Ensure that DFID DRC programmes are managed in accordance with project cycle management principles and DFID’s rules and procedures
- Share relevant information with colleagues to contribute to dissemination of good practice
- Manage contracts with suppliers to ensure value for money
Information management and communications
- Manage a project cycle management tracker
- Contribute to corporate reporting, including leading on the team’s updates to the DFID DRC results framework
- Provide inputs to corporate correspondence as required
- Manage records to a high standard to ensure an effective audit trail
- Produce high quality documents in plain English as required
- Ensure that DFID project documents are published in line with DFID’s Transparency Guarantee
- Work with external partners to ensure they provide accurate forecasting, stick to agreed payment schedules, actively manage risks and produce reports on time
- Work with advisers to ensure they provide comments and inputs where needed
Work with DFID’s Procurement Group, Finance and Corporate Performance Division and other relevant departments to deliver excellent programme and financial management and corporate compliance
4. DECISION MAKING
Decision–making will usually be confined within broad operational directives, but there is a need for initiative, discretion and creativity in this role. You need to be a self starter and very organised.
5. PERSONAL QUALITIES EXPECTED
The overall purpose of the post is to provide sound and effective programme and financial management for the WASH and roads programmes. This will require working closely with the Deputy Programme Manager, two advisers and a team leader, as well as the Departmental Finance Officer, the Deputy Head Programmes, and central DFID departments. The post therefore requires excellent team working and communication skills. Patience and diplomacy are also essential characteristics for this role as the post holder will be in regular contact with a wide range of internal and external customers.
The role requires excellent time management and planning and delivery of work. The postholder will be a self-starter who is able to actively manage their workload to complete tasks to deadlines and avoid unforeseen emergencies, but also to respond flexibly to urgent priorities when they do arise.
The role requires an excellent grasp of IT applications such as Word and Excel as well as record management. The postholder will receive training in the use of DFID’s financial management system.
Successful candidates should have a good knowledge of English and be willing to learn more.
6. COMPETENCIES EXPECTED
The post holder is expected to demonstrate level 1 behaviours across all competencies and level 2 behaviours in:
- Planning and Delivery of Work
- Analysis and Use of Information
- Working with Others
- Communicating with Others
- Organisational Awareness
- Managing Change
Monthly Basis Salary for this position varies between $1,269.00 and $1,662.00. Transport, Leave, Bonus, 13th month, family and housing allowances are paid in addition.
NB: We do not need CVs at this stage. Complete the Application Form in English and email it to the following email address ([email protected]) by Wednesday 01 August 2012.
Lieu : Kinshasa
