About Us

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. We work in crises across 31 countries, providing emergencies and long-term assistance to millions of people every year. We stand up for people forced to flee, advocating their rights. NORCAP, our global provider of expertise, helps improve international and local ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crises. NRC also runs the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, a global leader in reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country.
Employment with NRC may lead to employment in or deployment to Regions, Countries, Areas or Offices that may be host to considerable health, safety and security risks. NRC takes this very seriously and we have procedures in place to reduce known risks, but will never be able to take away all risks. NRC requires staff members who travel on an international contract to the field to undergo an medical examination with our medical provider. Employees must produce a Health Clearance Certificate before departure stating that there are no relevant health concerns. If staff are unable to provide this, NRC reserves the right to terminate the Contract of Employment.

Context

Cameroon is affected by three parallel, complex humanitarian crises: in addition, the secondary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have further exacerbated the needs in country. Incursions by Armed Organized Groups (AOGs) in the Lack Chad Basin have resulted into 115,000 Nigerians seeking refuge in Cameroon and a further 322,000 Cameroonians as IDPs in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Cameroon’s Eastern regions are still home to nearly 300,000 refugees from the Central African Republic, and, the third crisis is the on-going violence in the two English-speaking regions of North-west and South-west where nearly one million Cameroonians have been displaced due to this crisis. NRC has been operational in Cameroon since April 2017, and currently has five field offices; Maroua and Kousseri in the Far North, Buea in the South-west, Bamenda in the North-west and Batouri in the East, as well as the capital office in Yaounde.

The programme portfolio includes five core competencies; ICLA (Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance), Livelihood and Food Security, WASH, Shelter and Education.

Role and responsibilities

The purpose of the Head of Programme position is to develop and ensure implementation of holistic high-quality programmes

Generic responsibilities:

1. Line management for Core Competence Specialists
2. Member of the Country Management Group (CMG)
3. Compliance with and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures
4. Provide programme input to Country Strategy and Plan of Action
5. Development of Core Competency strategies that are aligned to regional and global priorities and strategies
6. Development of holistic and needs based programmes, including cash-based interventions and market based programmes
7. Identify funding opportunities, develop funding strategies and forecasts
8. Grants management, BPO allocations and reporting to donors, including compliance with donor standards
9. Quality control, M&E and organizational learning
10. Capacity building of all technical staff
11. In-country representation
12. Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy

Specific responsibilities:

• Responsible for the Core Competence programmatic input to risk management frameworks and contingency plans
• Responsible for ensuring that Safe Programming is integrated into programme design and implementation, including being properly resourced
• Provide an enabling environment for the implementation of cash-based interventions, including multi-purpose cash assistance, emergency cash responses
• Lead the development of a fundraising strategy and build strategic relationships with donors

Competencies

Generic professional competencies for this position:

• Minimum 4 years’ experience from a senior management position in a humanitarian/ recovery context
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Core competency expertise
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Fluency in English and French, both written and verbal
• Knowledge of the context in Central Africa (Cameroon is an advantage)
• Experience in programme strategy development
• Experience in Project Cycle Management
• Experience in grants management
• Experience in M&E management
• Demonstrated knowledge of protection mainstreaming and Accountability to Affected Populations
• Demonstrated experience in representation and advocacy

Behavioural competencies:

• Strategic thinking
• Initiating action and change
• Influencing
• Handling insecure environments

What We Offer

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative

• 24 months fixed term contract renewable subject to funding
• Grade 11 in NRC scale
• Duty Station: Yaonde with 40% travelling
• An opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause
• A chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields

The role is open to national and international candidates who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.

Find the full job description here.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: 07/10/2021