Program Manager for Food Security / Livelihoods (FSL) and Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) / Програмний менеджер(ка) напрямку Food Security / Livelihoods (FSL) and Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA)

Location:         Kyiv, with travels to partner offices and project locations in Ukraine
Period:            Two years, extendable

ABOUT DKH

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) is a German non-government organization that renders humanitarian aid in 31 countries across the world. DKH supports people who are affected by natural disasters, war and displacement and who are not able to cope on their own in the emergency situation they find themselves in. The work is guided by the Humanitarian Principles and the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS). DKH focuses on locally-led responses by working through a global network of partner organizations. Fostering localized humanitarian action and an equal partnership approach lies at the very core of our work.

As DKH is not directly implementing humanitarian projects in Ukraine, it is committed to equitable and long-term partnerships, which strengthen local partner organizations’ administrative and technical capacities. DKH constantly seeks to facilitate mutual learning and capacity exchange, identify innovative and tailored models of cooperation, and shift power to partners and communities through the transfer of decision-making opportunities. 

DKH is part of the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V. (EWDE), an umbrella organization with a nationwide established Social Service Agency, one of the biggest welfare institutions in Germany.

WORK CONTEXT

DKH is opening its representation in Ukraine to work with government agencies, national partner organizations, and the wider humanitarian community to provide emergency response and resilience-building initiatives across the country.

DKH is already implementing humanitarian projects with selected civil society organisations in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Currently, large-scale programming is ongoing and more projects are in preparation stage. The DKH Representation will be operating from its office in Kyiv.

 Taking into account the elevated risks resulting from hostilities in certain regions of Ukraine and the volatile security situation in the whole of the country staff must comply with all DKH safety/security and safeguarding policies and procedures.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

The Program manager for FSL and CVA plays a key role in strategic planning,  partnership management in the CVA and FSL area, tailored technical support to the partner organisations (POs) and backstopping. It is a continuous effort to reinforce the relations with the local partner organisations and strengthen their capacities in CVA and FSL area while ensuring quality standards.

Reporting to the Head of Program Partnership, the Program manager will ensure relevant strategies are in place, provide contribution to the design of new projects/programs, as well as monitoring and tracking ongoing CVA and FSL interventions. In close coordination with the DKH Ukraine team and the Head of Program and Partnership, the Program manager is responsible to provide necessary technical and programmatic support to POs and ensure the project targets are achieved with highest technical standards, monitored, evaluated and timely reported.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reporting:      The Program manager will report directly to the Head of Program and Partnership.

Work implies frequent interaction with the followings: DKH Ukraine Staff, partners organizations and clusters.

Responsibilities: The following tasks shall be fulfilled.

1. Program Management and Strategic Planning

• Ensure sound program FSL and C&V strategies and relevant annual action plans are in place for DKH Ukraine, and support the partners with their program strategies in the FSL and CVA area, where needed,
• Support local partners throughout all CVA and FSL activity stages of the project cycle, from needs and markets assessment, through design and planning, to implementation, M&E and closure;
• Technical review of concept notes and proposals with CVA and/or FSL element and, where needed, assist partners with the drafting of project concepts and budgets
• Support the organization of inception meetings, kick off workshops, and partner review sessions which include CVA and/or FSL components, follow up the relevant action plans
• Ensure all CVA or FSL interventions are implemented according to the proposal, logical framework, work plans and budget;
• Closely monitor achievement against targets and ensure appropriate monitoring systems are in place
• Conduct periodic field visits to assist partners with programmatic quality and donor compliance
• Identify gaps and challenges in the management of CVA and/or FLS activities and actively support or advise local partners in undertaking action for their improvement (identify areas where DKH could provide capacity strengthening  support, if appropriate)
• Support partners in identifying programmatic risks as well as mitigation measures;
• Support partners in rolling out minimum requirements for data protection, supporting partners to safely collect, store, use, share and dispose of sensitive data
• Ensure that photos/case studies for all CVA and FSL activities are provided by partners with appropriate archiving procedures of DKH

1. Technical Guidance and Quality Assurance:

• Champion the DKH technical guidelines on CVA and FSL with particular focus on needs assessments, market assessments, response analysis, financial service provider procurement and contracting and post distribution monitoring
• Review and contribute to the development of all partners’ SOPS and tools, particularly all distribution and post distribution tools/assessments/studies, ensure they are in line with DKH SOPs and DKH guidelines
• Provide technical guidance to the partners in carrying out cash feasibility studies advising on appropriateness and feasibility of CVA and FSL activities
• Carry out real time monitoring to identify early any operational challenges and areas of improvement for ongoing
• Observe that effective, transparent and responsive compliance mechanisms are in place, and gender and inclusiveness considerations are upheld throughout the project-cycle.
• Work closely with MEAL Expert to check the CVA and/or FSL statistics, indicators, consolidate CVA and/or FSL activities analysis, and exchange with partners the data analysis results
• Advise on and support market system analysis and market-based programming to improve the functioning of critical markets, including financial or technical support to supply chain participants, infrastructure and services.
• Contribute to guide Third-Party Monitoring efforts linked to CVA and/or FSL (from ToR design, to data-collection, analysis, and report review)
• Support partners incorporating new technologies in CVA and/or FSL in the region

1. Coordination and Representation

• Represent DKH in Cash Working Groups, Food Security and Livelihoods and other relevant cluster/Working Group meetings;
• Ensure adherence to cluster/WG recommendations and country specific standards (such as on basic criteria, transfer value and frequencies, minimum expenditure baskets etc.) in DKH supported projects
• Facilitate the attendance of local partner organisations in these meetings regularly and independently;
• Promote collaboration of all project stakeholders in the field, from DKH staff and local partner staff to targeted communities and local authorities and institutions active in the same area of operation;

1. Capacity Strengthening

• In the close collaboration with Head of Operations, and Partners Capacity Sharing assess organisational capacity of local partner organisations and identify capacity needs in a participatory manner,
• Design and manage capacity strengthening framework for CVA and FSL for partners with most appropriate methodologies (training, coaching, providing resources, peer to peer support etc.) and monitoring tools for following the progress and measuring the impact of the capacity strengthening efforts of DKH UKR

DKH has a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, fraud, and related malpractices. The Program manager (CVA/Livelihoods) is expected to hold DKH and partners to account, report any suspected case, identify potential risks and ensure required accountability processes are in-place;

DKH reserves the right to alter the responsibilities according to programmatic demands and needs in line with the objectives of the country programme.

QUALIFICATION, EXPERTISE, AND SKILLS

Education and Experience:

• At least 5+ years of experience in managing and/or coordinating projects in the field of humanitarian assistance; Out of which at least 3+ years specifically on projects related to CVA and FSL.
• Solid background in food security and livelihood and demonstrated knowledge in the use of cash in emergencies is required
• First-hand knowledge and understanding of Multi Sectoral or Sectoral Cash&Voucher Assistance
• University degree in a relevant field is required, post graduate degree is preferred.
• Experience in working with local partner organizations based on equal partnership principle and in providing technical and other backstopping support is highly preferred
• Basic expertise in data analysis and information management is required
• Experience in digital payment systems preferred
• Strong and proven report writing skills
• Sound knowledge of and skills in project cycle management, needs assessment, project planning, proposal writing, and monitoring & evaluation; incl. extensive experience in grant management, especially the revision and control of related reporting
• Experience in emergency relief, with special emphasis on the following sectors: Food Security and Livelihoods (other relevant experience can be considered);
• Good understanding of humanitarian principles and other key principles of international NGOs including accountability, impartiality, neutrality, independence; As well as being familiar with the Core Humanitarian Standards
• Knowledge of and experience in rules and regulations as well as implementation of back donor funded projects
• Languages: Fluent in written and spoken English and Ukrainian

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with colleagues, partners, and donors.
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner

• Proactively working with excellent problem-solving skills
• Good at facilitation and training skills

• Excellent coaching and mentoring skills, ability to listen, to organize and to present information, views and concepts in a concise, understandable and interesting way for a variety of audiences, both written and oral

• Experience in communicating in a professional way with donors and other stakeholders in a politically and culturally sensitive environment
• Team player with outstanding personal attitude: especially sense of responsibility, diplomacy, concern for quality, result orientation
• Outstanding personal values: integrity, commitment, respect for diversity, patience, and sense of humour.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

DKH team members are expected to support all efforts for increased accountability towards the beneficiaries while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of projects.

APPLICATION

Kindly apply by sending your motivation letter and CV without any further attachments by email to the Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe in the Ukraine office [email protected], using the reference “Position / title Name_Surname”, in the subject of your e–mail. Further questions regarding the role kindly address to [email protected].

Closing date: 30/11/23. Only candidates residing in the country will be considered and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Diversity is important to us. We welcome applications from people regardless of their ethnic, national or social background, gender, disability, age or sexual identity.