Project Officer at International Alert

JOB DESCRIPTION

Project Officer – Mupaka Shamba Letu II Project

Title of post: Project Officer

Reports to: Deputy Project Manager based in Rwanda

Management responsibility: None

Job location: Kigali – Rwanda, with regular field visits to Rusizi, Rubavu and Nyaruguru Districts as well as DRC and Burundi

Grade: 4.2

Duration of contract: 1 year with possibility of renewal

Type of position: National

International Alert and Mupaka Shamba Letu Project

International Alert (Alert) is an international organisation headquartered in the United Kingdom that works to build peace by working with local civil society organisations through research, advocacy, capacity building, inclusive dialogue and political and civic participation. Alert often works in collaboration with other national and international partners to deliver its projects.

Alert has embarked into the implementation of a second phase of Mupaka Shamba Letu (MSL II) project. In this project, Alert will work with local partners, each of whom will have a long experience of working on issues of cross border trade in 4 border regions:

• Goma (DRC) / Rubavu (Rwanda)
• Bukavu (DRC) / Rusizi (Rwanda)
• Uvira (DRC) /Gatumba (Burundi)
• Kamanyola (DRC) /Bugarama (Rwanda)
• Akanyaru (Rwanda) / Mparamirundi (Burundi)
• Nemba (Rwanda) / Kirundo (Burundi)
• Ruhwa (Rwanda) / Cibitoke (Burundi)

The goal of the project is to strengthen peace and stability in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The project focuses on strengthening the role that women and youth traders living in these border communities can play in facilitating greater understanding between communities, through cross border trade.

The specific objective of the project is to strengthen the capacities of women and youth small-scale cross-border traders in border areas of DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi to jointly challenge gender dynamics that contribute to conflict in their communities and the wider region and use their influence to promote greater social cohesion and regional cooperation.

Focusing on four border crossing points, the project aims to achieve two key results:

1. Social cohesion in cross border communities is strengthened by the contribution of private sector actors at various levels,
2. Trade, regional integration and economic development are more inclusive and context sensitive.

Job purpose

The purpose of this position is to support the implementation of the second phase of the Mupaka Shamba Letu project by accompanying a partner organization and the Platform of Cross-Border Traders (PCT) operating in Gisenyi in Rubavu, Kamembe and Bugarama in Rusizi and Akanyaru in Nyaruguru; and by working with the private sector federation to strengthen peace, social cohesion and stability in the region.

The Project Officer (PO) supports the project partners working in Rwanda in the implementation of key project activities and capacity building of local project actors, operational monitoring in the field as well as information collection and feedback. The Project Officer will work under the supervision of the Deputy Project Manager based in Rwanda as well as with the Communication and Advocacy Officer.

Duties and responsibilities

1. Support the implementation of project activities

• Participate in the various planning sessions of the project activities and in their implementation in Rwanda.
• Monitor the implementation of the activities of an implementing partner and Platforms of Cross-Border Traders (PCT) in Rwanda according to their contracts, work plan and project strategies.
• Participate in exercises related to the in-depth analysis of needs and context by providing elements on the project sites in Rwanda that allow the project to adjust the project's approaches to the context and needs particular project sites in Rwanda.
• In coordination with the DPM, which is the focal point of the project in North Kivu in DRC, support the coordination, strategic engagement and active participation of state actors and the private sector in the project;

2. Support the project team in the implementation of appropriate systems and procedures for the implementation of the project in Rwanda

• Support project partners in the respect and application of the administrative, logistical and financial procedures of Alert, the donors, with supervision from DPM based in Rwanda;
• Work with partners in Rwanda to finalize the ToRs and approve them under the supervision of the DMP, based on the annual plans and budgets approved by Alert;

3. Support the implementation of the project's strategic approaches

• Contribute to the implementation of the strategy and activities for the inclusion of "conflict and gender sensitivity" in all activities;
• Assist the DPM to facilitate the work of consultants and other technical experts in the project in Rwanda;
• Support the administrative and logistical organization of the various workshops, forums and strategic meetings of the project.

4. Reporting, monitoring and evaluation of partners based in Rwanda

• Participate and initiate/ contribute to reporting in brainstorming and planning sessions in Rwanda;
• Support partners in the preparation of quality periodic narrative and financial reports that comply with the rules and procedures of Alert and the donors; give constructive and timely feedback to partner organizations’ activity reports;
• Collect monthly success stories in Rwanda with the support of M&E and DPM;
• Carry out field visits in project sites in Rwanda; assist partners in data collection and maintenance of M&E tools;
• Assist the DPM in the preparation and organization of the different types of evaluations and studies to be carried out during the life of the project in Rwanda and participate in the drafting of the annual and final report.

5. Other Responsibilities – Internal Coordination

• Contribute to and attend monthly meetings of Alert's staff in Rwanda for implementation monitoring;
• Actively participate in project team meetings and other necessary meetings;
• Participate in internal learning activities and exchange of experiences;
• Collaborate closely with the Deputy Project Manager and Project Manager to complete any relevant tasks

Travel requirements

The job is based in Kigali with regular travel to 7 targeted borders between DRC, Burundi and Rwanda. Occasional regional travel to participate in advocacy events and to take part in Alert’s annual meetings.

Person specification

Essential requirements

• Hold a university degree in social sciences, rural development, economics, business, political science, international relations, law or a similar field
• At least 3 years' experience in supervising community recovery, peacebuilding, gender promotion projects including monitoring and planning.
• Proven experience of at least 3 years in the field of social cohesion through the economic empowerment of women, women/gender in community processes, youth, traumatic healing, business, decision-making position.
• Experience in economic recovery, VSLAs and cooperatives, financial inclusion, SMEs, working with private sector federations, participatory action research, and strengthening women and youth in decision-making.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain open and non-discriminatory professional relationships with communities, public administrations and representatives of other operational organizations in the project implementation environment.
• Experience in collaboration and coordination in the development and entrepreneurship sector and in the implementation and monitoring of activities with authorities and stakeholders at local, provincial and national levels.

Knowledge and skills

• Demonstrate strong personal integrity and know how to enforce the integrity of the organization. Have a sense of fairness and justice, and a high level of organizational loyalty.
• Demonstrated ability to work in an objective and apolitical manner.
• Able to develop good interpersonal relationships, and to work in a multidisciplinary environment and in cultural diversity.
• Perfect command of English required with a professional level in French and good ability in drafting different documents.
• Be sensitive to the gender approach and have a good understanding of the practical application of this concept.
• Ability to meet deadlines, strong ability to organize work, manage urgent competing priorities and a high level of autonomy.
• Proficient in the following software: WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT, OUTLOOK and Internet.

Personal qualities

• Ability to work under pressure and with autonomy while maintaining the ethos of the organization and maintaining the quality of work.
• Able and willing to make proactive decisions and adapt them when necessary.
• Ability to tactfully manage conflicts, strong diplomatic communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to perform duties independently with minimal technical support.

Desirable requirements

• Substantial professional experience in overseeing projects focused on social cohesion, women's economic and community empowerment.
• Have direct skills and experience in facilitating various training workshops, organizing high-level forums and workshops
• Knowledge of spoken Kirundi and Swahili will be considered an advantage as spoken language in Burundi and Eastern DRC respectively.
• Have direct experience in the execution of projects using a gender-based approach, social cohesion and entrepreneurship.
• Be methodical and perfectionist, knowing how to organize your work in particular by respecting priorities and deadlines.
• Have a practical mind, know how to identify problems and propose alternative solutions that are positive for all concerned, and in a better time.
• Experience in written reporting of project-related activities.
• Excellent knowledge of other Microsoft Office products. Good IT knowledge.
• Commitment to Alert's approach and values, particularly regarding the needs of conflict-affected populations.
• Ability to think strategically.

Each application should consist only of the following documents: 

• A cover letter that explains why you are the ideal candidate for the position as well as what has motivated you to apply for the position.
• A curriculum vitae that clearly respond to the education, experience and essential skills mentioned in the table above.

Application form and CV for the post should be send by email only no later than 05 May 2024 to Rwanda@international-alert.org. Please mention the following reference in the subject heading of your email: Application for Project Officer position.

Please note that the following:

• This is a local position.
• Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, you can assume that your application has, on this occasion, been unsuccessful.”