Senior Program Adviser – Caritas Syria

Background

Caritas Syria is a member of Caritas Internationalis, one of 160 confederate organizations globally who are working at the grassroots in almost every country of the world. When a crisis hits, Caritas is already on the ground.

Caritas Syria was founded in 1954 by the Council of the Heads of the Catholic Churches in Syria. Caritas helps the Catholic Church to provide humanitarian assistance to all in need. We save lives, relieve suffering and help rebuild livelihoods and communities in the longer-term. This allows women and men in the poorest and most vulnerable communities to survive and recover from crises and to live in a safe and secure environment.

Since the beginning of the war in Syria in March 2011, Caritas Syria has expanded significantly in order to reach the largest possible number of people without discrimination between sect, doctrine or religion. The number of our offices, centers and staff has since increased to cover six regions: Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Al Hassakeh, Tartous and Latakia – providing food, non-food items, rent support, medical assistance, elderly care, education, water and psychosocial support.

Purpose

The objectives of the engagement are to provide strategic direction to – and management of – Caritas Syria’s (CS) relief and resilience programming, ensuring the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs. The adviser will be seconded by the Caritas MONA to Caritas Syria on behalf of international Caritas member organizations working in Syria to support the structuring and implementation of full program cycle together. This will entail close collaboration with CS’s Executive Director and representatives of the international Caritas network including within specific technical task forces.

As a member of the Executive Office Senior Management Team, the adviser will have specific management responsibility over program design and development, funding, integration, accountability and impact. This includes the oversight of and technical support to key program staff, timely tracking of programs’ progress and best practices, and ensuring donor compliance and program quality standards; such as adherence to MEAL policy and procedures.

Under the supervision of the Executive Director of CS, the consultant will take the lead in the development of new programing initiatives and proposals, and help ensure portfolio growth in line with CS strategic priorities.

Program Quality and Management

• Lead high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities across various projects from different sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation
• Ensure the implementation and maintenance of systems and procedures following good practice and meeting sectoral standards on accountability, protection and program quality, including the Red Cross Code of Conduct and the SPHERE standards.
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing implementation of the MEAL policy.
• Promote an organizational commitment to Safeguarding people within CS programs from Exploitation and Abuse; taking a lead role on introducing Safeguarding theory and policy into CS.
• Provide the necessary support to the Executive Office program staff to undertake needs assessments and contextual analysis which informs appropriate program strategies, location and target population.
• Support cross learning between projects within and across regional programs, particularly as related to Program Quality processes and tools.
• Guide program staff to incorporate innovative practices into new or existing programs (when appropriate).
• Launch a process of harmonization of tools and designing/reviewing current templates and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure timely quality reporting to donors by program managers in line with compliance regulations.
• Identify and plan ahead for technical support from Caritas partners, other international agencies in Syria or local technical consultants.
• Regularly travel to the field to visit projects in Syria and support programming staff to implement, monitor and evaluate projects according to international humanitarian standards.
• Coordinate with the EO to ensure appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of programs material sources; including ensuring cost recovery is built into all proposal budgets. Together with the Head of Finance, ensure that program and finance staff adopt a joint approach to implementing projects.
• In coordination with the Executive Director, the Head of Finance and other relevant staff, oversee the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals.
• Participate in development of Caritas Syria’s strategy and adequate programming with the Executive Director and other relevant staff.

Growth and Representation

• In collaboration with the Executive Director, provide strategic direction for the design of the organization’s strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with CS’ strategic priorities.
• Support Executive Director to target and diversify funding sources for the country programs, and ensure program staffs assume their respective business development responsibilities.
• Identify program development priorities and opportunities and lead strategic growth activities in collaboration with staff in the different regions and partners.
• Assess funding environment as well as CS' strengths/opportunities. Network and identify potential partnerships and consortiums for proposals.
• Lead relevant staff and partners in development of high-quality, responsive and evidence-based proposals for funding.
• In coordination with the Executive Director, ensure CS is professionally and consistently represented at relevant interagency, sector coordination, donor, government, interagency, and network meetings.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director, maintain good donor relationships and CS’ positioning through frequent contact and strategic networking. Act as a focal point for CS Working Group (WG) members, ensuring the strategic use of Caritas funds globally whilst also ensuring CS growth based on their strategy.
• Ensure timely communication with all relevant partners, especially pertaining to implementation of programs, budget management issues and other strategic topics.
• Coordinate all existing and future programming support platforms such as the Livelihood and Early Recovery Taskforce

Staff Mentoring and Supervision

• Effectively manage programming staff at the level of the Executive Office and supervise adequate implementation of projects by all regional programming staff.
• Provide coaching to programming staff in the Executive Office, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance assessment.
• Contribute to developing staffing plans for projects and to the recruitment process of senior project staff.
• Develop with the local offices a capacity development plan and ensure relevant technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams in coordination with the CS Working Group (WG) members. Lead on communication with CS WG members in regards to capacity development plans to avoid duplication and better use of joint resources.
• Make recommendations for restructuring departments as necessary in order to ensure appropriate technical expertise and quality project implementation.

Other information

• The consultant will be based in Damascus and working from CS’s Executive Office in Damascus following Sunday to Thursday working week. The consultant will be required to travel to projects locations across Syria, as well as to Beirut (Lebanon). Travel expenses will be reimbursed monthly based on receipts submitted.
• The adviser will report to the Executive Director and will supervise 3 Program Officers in the Executive Office. The consultant will be contracted by the Regional Secretariat – Caritas MONA (Caritas Middle East & North Africa).
• The consultant is expected to have the eligibility to work in Syria – Caritas Syria will not provide residency or work permit.