Job Title: Programme Manager – Irish Aid

Company: Gorta T/A Self Help Africa (SHA)

Location: Ireland

Contract type: Three-year fixed term contract, full-time

Salary: €50,000 – 55,000

Reports to: Director of International Programmes

About Self Help Africa

Established in 1984, Self Help Africa is an international development organisation dedicated to addressing hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change. We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long-term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.

We are driven by our vision for sustainable livelihoods and healthy lives for all in a changing climate, along with our core values of Impact, Innovation and Community. These values foster a culture of collaboration, inclusivity and a shared commitment to making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.

Self Help Africa’s current Irish Aid funded programme comprises 10 projects delivered in 7 countries (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia) in addition to Development Education activities implemented in Ireland.

Seven projects focus primarily on Sustainable Food Systems such as strengthening dairy production in Ethiopia, cassava production in Kenya and production of drought tolerant crops in Zambia. Three projects focus primarily on Sustainable Landscapes with activities to restore and protect threatened ecosystems: mangrove forests in the Gambia, the Lake Bunyoni catchment area in Uganda, and Kafue flats in Zambia. The programme started in 2023 and will end in December 2027.

Job Purpose:

This key role in the International Programmes Directorate involves leading the Irish Aid Programme, working closely with our country and Global Office teams in the day-to-day effective implementation of the Irish Aid funded portfolio of projects in the country programme portfolio, ensuring the highest standards are achieved in implementation, reporting, information management and internal and external communications.

The postholder will be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely records are maintained on the web-based platforms and will prepare reports, analyse data, solve problems and take corrective action as part of an international team across different countries and cultures. The role requires flexibility and adaptability as the nature of support requirements can and will change.

Key Responsibilities:

Programme Management/coordination

Lead on effective grant management/coordination of the portfolio of Irish Aid projects and annual Irish Aid report, liaising with country programmes and technical advisors; staying abreast of Irish Aid programme cycle management and compliance guidelines; develop programme documentation and relevant materials that appropriately communicate outcomes, impact and learnings; coordinate inputs from technical advisors.
Lead on the performance management of Irish Aid funded programmes including quarterly grant review processes (assessing spend, progress, output and outcome monitoring); maintain records and update MIS database.
Programme Oversight Committee management
Schedule meetings and prepare documents for meetings of the Irish Aid Programme Oversight Committee
Write up minutes and follow up on agreed actions.

Relationship Management

Ensure all reports and documents required by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are accurate, of high quality and submitted on time.
Respond to any other requests by or communication from DFA.
Maintain regular contact with the DFA Partner Lead and Grant Manager.
Engage in DFA events and coordinate attendance of colleagues to represent technical specialisms.
Liaise with technical advisors, Global Office finance colleagues and the global M&E team to ensure technical advice/support is provided to project teams/country teams as needed and that any issues identified are addressed.
Maintain regular contact with Programme Co-ordinators and Regional Directors.

Donor Compliance

Monitor DFA guidelines and share updates with relevant colleagues.
Ensure project teams and Global Office staff comply with Irish Aid compliance requirements, providing advice on this as needed.

Communications

Work with the Communications team to avail of opportunities to promote SHA’s work.
Extract ‘evidence of impact’, stories of change and case studies from our programmes and extract stories from assigned countries to share with Communications, Fundraising and Programme Funding.
Prepare briefing papers as required on assigned country programmes, coordinating input from the Technical Advisory Team.
Work with country teams to develop case studies based on examples of good practice from programmes.

Reporting & Learning

Review project narrative reports, results reports and monitor expenditure. Coordinate report reviews by Global Office colleagues.
Lead on annual reporting to Irish Aid and on any other required Irish Aid submissions.
Capture learning across projects, DFA and other stakeholders on our project design and delivery and work with others to contribute this learning to enhance processes within our grant management.
Draft project summaries and project learnings documents in collaboration with the country teams.
Feed into the Heads of Programmes’ community of practice.

Information Management

Support efforts to roll out MIS and Programme Management Guide to country offices.

Programme Funding

Support the design and review of funding proposals to DFA.

Other

Support both ongoing and new special projects within the Programmes team as directed by the Director of International Programmes.
Any ad hoc duties as assigned by the Director of International Programmes or other members of the Senior Leadership Team.
Monitoring visits to projects

Key Relationships:

Internal

Director of International Programmes (Line Manager)
Project Managers of Irish Aid projects
Heads of Programmes
Country Directors
Group CEO
Programme Operations Team
Regional Directors & Regional Programme Accountants
Director of Impact, Strategy and Policy
Technical Advisors and M&E
Country programme teams & CMT members
HR
Communications

External

Programme Partners
DFA

Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements:

Essential

Degree in a relevant discipline e.g. development, agriculture or a similar related social discipline or other degree combined with relevant experience
Previous experience in leading and delivering multi-annual, multi-stakeholder projects/programme
At least seven years’ experience of working in international development in a project/programme role
Work with minimum supervision and take initiative
Ability to analyse data, solve problems and take corrective action
A proven understanding of project cycle management approaches and tools – including participatory approaches in design and implementation, project appraisal, assessments, monitoring and evaluation and partners’ capacity building
Good financial ability for budget reviews
Excellent interpersonal and organisation skills
Ability to work as part of an international team across countries and cultures and can manage remotely
Experience of working in a developing country
Willingness to travel to country programmes

Desirable

Ability to work in French
Experience of Agriculture, climate, humanitarian, disaster preparedness and /or work in fragile locations

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Programme Manager - Irish Aid