Programme Support Officer – Interpeace

Contract Type and Duration: 1-year renewable (depending on donor funding)

Background

Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding that supports locally led peacebuilding initiatives around the world. Interpeace tailors its approach to each society and ensures that the work is locally driven. Together with local partners and local teams, Interpeace jointly develops peacebuilding programmes and helps establish processes of change that connect local communities, civil society, government and the international community.

As a strategic partner of the United Nations, Interpeace is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and has offices around the world.

For more information about Interpeace, please visit www.interpeace.org

Interpeace in Rwanda

Interpeace has been working in Rwanda since 2002. During this time, Interpeace has been working in support of national institutions to strengthening durable peace, through the promotion of social cohesion, societal trauma healing, participatory governance and regional collaboration. In this work, Interpeace has had a long-term partnership with the CSO Never Again Rwanda and we are also collaborating with the Ministry of Health, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Local Governance and Rwanda Prison Fellowship, amongst others.

Similarly to our work in other countries, important programmes are our Societal Healing and Participatory Governance Programme, supported by the Swedish Embassy. This programme is focused on the facilitation of spaces that promote group-based healing and strengthening relations and improving participation of citizens in Imihigo and related processes. Similarly, an EU funded project on participatory governance is also focused on strengthening the capacity of district level governments to implement participatory governance practices. A regional programme is focused on fostering strong relations across borders. Lastly, a new programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Rwanda Prison Fellowship is focused on strengthening mental health, addressing intergenerational transmission of trauma, and promoting reintegration and cohesion of prisoners with the communities to which they return.

Position within the Organization

The Programme Support Officer is a member of the Programme Management Unit which manages and implements all Interpeace’s active and ongoing programmes around the world. The Programme Management Unit is led from the Headquarters office in Geneva, although team members are based in various locations including in East and Central Africa, West Africa, Europe and the MENA region.

The Programme Support Officer will report to the Rwanda Programme Manager and will work in close collaboration with the Great Lakes Regional Representative, the Senior Regional Representative for Eastern and Central Africa, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Communication Specialist, and the Finance and Admin Manager in Rwanda.

The Programme Officer supports the design, day-to-day planning and implementation of the Rwanda Programme. S/he is also expected to contribute to the implementation of the broader Great Lakes Regional Programme.

Duties and responsibilities

Strategic Engagement

• Supports all areas of implementation as directed by the Programme Manager.

Programme Management and Development

• Supports in drafting and developing of concept notes, proposals and donor reports
• Supports the programmatic management of the partner organizations to ensure that they implement the programmes in a professional, coordinated and relevant manner
• Supports local partners in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities (such as participatory action research, dialogue spaces aimed at conflict or violence prevention or management, advocacy activities at local, provincial and national level, audio-visual documentation of projects, external events, etc.)

Management – institutional coherence

• When in required, and in coordination with the Programme Manager, supports broader institutional programmatic implementation.
• Supports operational activity implementation.
• Collaborates with the finance officer to ensure that each partner’s annual and quarterly budget forecasts are developed on the basis of the activities agreed in the planning and within the budgetary limits and ensures the funds are used to achieve the expected objectives and in a cost-effective manner (cost ratio and results achieved).
• Contributes to the development of the Programme’s yearly objectives and work plan.
• Supports the drafting of internal, monthly and annual reports.
• Contributes to the Programme and the Organisation’s learning activities/processes.

Representation

• Focus on Track 3, by supporting the Programme Manager in maintaining working level relationship with local project partners and donors.
• Occasional donor relation management.

Relevant qualifications and experience

Candidates with relevant qualifications, experience, a tertiary degree, and fluent in English and Kinyarwanda, are invited to apply.

Relevant experience and qualifications may include:

Education

• Tertiary degree in peace-related studies, social or political science or other relevant fields.
• A first experience in peacebuilding, political and/or developmental work.
• Experience and ability to work successfully as part of a diverse and multicultural team, integrating
• A gender perspective into tasks and activities and collaborating effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders

Competencies

• Understanding of current thinking on peacebuilding issues and methods; and demonstrable ability to anticipate emerging needs and integrate them into priority programme setting
• Organizational and planning skills.
• Basic knowledge of project cycle management including of project planning and management tools.
• Fluent in English or French and good working knowledge of the other language.
• Excellent knowledge of Kinyarwanda is required.
• Advanced writing and communications skills in English and French is required.

Interpeace Competencies

• Collaboration and Weaving
• Communication
• Drive for results
• Adaptability and Continuous Learning
• Respect for Diversity

How to apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a complete curriculum vitae and a letter of interest to recruitment@interpeace.org.

“PSO – Rwanda” MUST BE included in the subject line of the application email to be considered.

Please note that due to high volume of applications, ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted.

For more information about Interpeace, its values and working principles, please visit the Interpeace website www.interpeace.org.

The deadline to apply is 17 October 2020

Interpeace values diversity among its staff and aims to achieve gender equality both through gender parity at all levels of the organisation and promoting a gender dimension in all its work. We welcome applications from women and men, and those with disabilities.