The DRC WASH Consortium, led by Concern Worldwide, seeks a Programme Quality Coordinator, based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is an exciting role which acts as the lead on WASH programming for a £24m, 5-year rural WASH programme funded by DFID. The role also includes significant elements of external coordination and strategic positioning within the DRC WASH sector. The overall purpose of the role of the DRC WASH Consortium Programme Quality Coordinator is to:

• Coordinate programme quality across the different agencies of the Consortium (Action Contre le Faim (ACF); Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED); Catholic Relief Services (CRS); Concern Worldwide; and Solidarités International), ensuring the Consortium implements approaches which represent current best practice for WASH in DRC.
• Coordinate monitoring, evaluation and research in order to assess the results of implementation.
• Guide learning and strategic development by revising approaches based on results.
• Contribute to sector influencing by spreading improved approaches.

Full details are below and in the attached job description. Note that this is an accompanied position based in Kinshasa. Applications should be made by 13 Jan 2016 via the Concern Worldwide website: jobs.concern.net/VacancyDetail.aspx?VacancyUID=000000002495


Details:

Job Purpose:

The purpose of the role of the DRC WASH Consortium Programme Quality Coordinator is to:

• Coordinate programme quality across the different agencies of the Consortium, ensuring the Consortium implements approaches which represent current best practice for WASH in DRC.
• Coordinate monitoring, evaluation and research in order to assess the results of implementation.
• Guide learning and strategic development by revising approaches based on results.
• Contribute to sector influencing by spreading improved approaches.

The Consortium comprises the following agencies: Action Contre le Faim (ACF); Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED); Catholic Relief Services (CRS); Concern Worldwide; and Solidarités International.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

General Responsibilities:
• Provide technical support and evidence based recommendations to the Consortium board and Consortium members in the development and delivery of the consortium programme.
• Ensure that harmonisation of agreed technical standards is adhered to by Consortium members at operational level.
• Coordinate and support effective monitoring and evaluation of the Consortium programme according to the agreed Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
• Develop an in-depth understanding and analysis of the WASH technical landscape in DRC including the processes related to the legal and policy framework governing the WASH sector and standards, evolving institutional roles and responsibilities on relevant issues.
• Participate actively in sector technical discussions and influencing the formulation of technical standards on behalf of the Consortium.
• Contribute to institutional learning and providing advice on specific WASH technical, community participation and hygiene promotion issues in line with international best practice and emergent government standards, representing the agreed joint position of the consortium members in this regard.
• Lead on overall internal technical reviews and evaluation of the Consortium’s collective strategy, and the associated proposals and reporting.
• Provide programmatic guidance for external Technical Reviews, workshops and events organised by the Consortium to share experiences and influence the sector. This can include development of workshop context, liaison with external contributors, leading the content of reports.
• Provide the technical content for external publications such as briefing notes, conference papers and workshop reports.
• Lead narrative and programmatic reporting to the donor.
• Lead the development and implementation of a systematic approach to ensuring Value for Money.

Programme coordination and ensuring quality within the Consortium
• Establish strong working relationships with all Consortium members and develop an in-depth understanding of their activities, support needs and strengths of each agency related to their WASH technical work within the Consortium programme.
• Participate in Consortium Governance Board meetings and provide guidance and feedback to the Governance Board and individual Consortium members on the standardisation, best practice and improvement of WASH methodologies within the consortium, in line with agreed technical standards of the Consortium and international best practice.
• Lead on assuring the continued harmonisation of technical standards and WASH methodologies and approaches across the five Consortium members as these evolve during the Consortium Programme.
• Develop or commission the necessary programme guidelines and tools to ensure harmonisation of the Consortium approach.
• Support the strategic direction of the Consortium from a programme feasibility perspective.
• Coordinate the Consortium Programmes Technical Working Group, to ensure joint learning, research and other WASH initiatives are implemented as per the individual proposals of the agencies.
• Review programme budgets and activity plans of member agencies on a quarterly and annual basis (in collaboration with Grant Compliance Manager and Director).
• Lead the compilation of programme activity plans for the lead agency, Board and donor as required (six-monthly and annual basis).

Monitoring, evaluation, research and learning
• Lead on the harmonisation of relevant data collection tools and the compilation of data into one database. This database should be current, compatible with and available to all relevant stakeholders including the Consortium members, the government, UNICEF and WASH Cluster focal points.
• Conduct regular field visits to Consortium implementation areas to provide technical guidance and advice and monitor compliance with agreed technical standards and operational modalities. These visits will include external actors such as government actors, donors, UNICEF and others.
• Ensure the use of the Consortium Monitoring and Evaluation framework and lead on the compilation of relevant data feeding into this framework
• Lead on evaluation of Consortium WASH methodologies and approaches to generate a strong evidence base for programme design and review as well as for advocacy on technical issues
• Design, commission and manage operational research on key WASH sustainability issues for the Consortium and the wider WASH sector. This includes managing consultants and teams of consultants and coordinating in-country research activities with Consortium member agencies.
• Organise and facilitate regular programme monitoring reviews, including leading on peer reviews, in line with the consortium M&E framework, and in coordination with consortium members
• In conjunction with the Consortium Director, ensure programme learning is fed into consortium planning processes at all levels, with specific focus on documenting programme innovations.

Capacity building and training
• Participate in, support or lead relevant capacity building initiatives and workshops targeting Consortium members, government partners or national organisations working in partnership with Consortium members and as agreed within the overall strategy of the Consortium.
• Advise Consortium members on capacity building of relevant sector stakeholders including different levels of government.

Other responsibilities
• Lead technical and programme input into proposals and reporting processes.
• Direct budget management for specific areas in addition to contributions for overall budget review and management.
• Representation at other national and international fora as required and relevant.
• Monitor the public health situation in DRC and flag potential risks of epidemics and other risks to public health.
• To deputise for the Consortium Director and Communications, Learning and Advocacy Coordinator when necessary.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential:
• Relevant Qualification in a WASH related discipline (engineering; environmental health; public health, etc.)
• 3-5 years of experience senior management or coordination of WASH programmes in development contexts, humanitarian experience also relevant.
• Knowledge of current best practice in WASH programme approaches including life-cycle costs analysis, support to community management, social marketing and behaviour change approaches.
• Fluent written and spoken French and English skills with demonstrable experience of writing proposals and reports for a variety of audiences including government, donors and INGOs.
• Experience in carrying out assessments, quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation.
• Practical technical experience in design and construction of a variety of water and sanitation facilities with a focus on rural and peri-urban contexts.
• Previous experience of working within a Consortium model or network of organisations.
• Proven experience in developing proposals and reports for institutional donors.
• Sound IT skills, including MS Excel for data handling and analysis
• Experience of designing and commissioning research and managing consultants.

General
• Strong communication, information management and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent facilitation and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding and commitment of the importance of gender in development programme delivery.
• An understanding of accountability as applied within humanitarian and development programming.
• Understanding of the DRC context and experience of working in similar contexts.