Job Title:                          Programme Support Officer – Reporting (Volunteer)

Reports to:                       Programme Development Coordinator

Terms:                               Fixed Term, Full time, Unaccompanied, Fully office based

Salary:                               This position has a voluntary annual allowance of €12,329.

Requirements:                This is a 12 months, deployment role with unaccompanied terms based in Goma, DRC with frequent travel to field locations. You will report to the Programme Development Coordinator, and work closely with the Communications and Advocacy Officer. As member of the programme team, you will also collaborate with the Programme Director, Programme coordinators and managers, and monitoring, evaluation and learning staff. You will also liaise with the Country Director and Dublin-based Desk Officer. 

                                           We would like you to start by 13 January 2025.

About Concern:               Established in 1968, Concern is a non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organisation, dedicated to the reduction of suffering and the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Concern’s vision, our mission and our work are all defined by one goal – ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes. Concern strives for a world free from poverty, fear and oppression.

Our culture is values driven and we believe that our people are central to all that we do and are key to delivering on our goal of Reaching the Furthest Behind First. We are committed to ensuring a workplace where everybody feels valued and are enabled to succeed in their work and contribute to delivering on our mission.

Role Purpose:                  Please note that this is a volunteer position.  The Programme Support Officer (Reporting) will support the DRC programme team in the collation of robust programme data and the development and timely submission of high-quality proposals, reports and internal and external communications materials. By providing regular internal programme and contextual updates, your work will facilitate the work of the Country Management Team (CMT) and ensure external stakeholders receive timely and pertinent information about Concern’s work in the DRC.

Responsibilities:

Reporting:

• Support programme staff in the development and timely submission of high quality reports and other relevant documentation for grants funded by BHA/FCDO, ECHO and other donors, using appropriate templates and guidelines.
• Draft and/or review/finalise reports on behalf of the programme team as required, ensuring donor compliance.
• Provide information and guidance on donor compliance requirements to programme managers including developing and conducting grant start up/review workshops.
• Prepare monthly reports and occasional emergency updates as needed.
• Ensure the reporting schedule is up-to-date, that programme teams are informed of the donor reporting requirements, and that appropriate guidelines and templates are shared.

Programme Management and Development:

• Support programme staff in the development of high-quality concept notes and proposals for both emergency and development programmes.
• Conduct desk-based research in order to provide relevant, up-to-date contextual input in proposal development and on a wide range of programme-related issues.
• Participate in planning processes with the Programme Development Coordinator, Programme Quality Coordinator and Programme Director to support the identification of funding needs and opportunities for further funding.

Communications and Information Management:

• Produce “in-house” programme briefs, fact sheets, newsletters or case studies that demonstrate best practice in areas of Concern’s work and also address problems/constraints and critical issues, in collaboration with the Communications and Advocacy Officer.
• Liaise with programme teams to produce and disseminate programme and contextual updates, documenting and sharing updates on achievements and challenges
• Support communications functions through the dissemination of news and relevant articles, and the development of programme briefs, presentations, etc.

General:

• Maintain open communication and good working relations with all departments.
• Support emergency responses when required including assessments, planning and reporting.
• Contribute to development, review, and revisions of institutional and country programme strategies and policies as requested and agreed.
• Provide cover for Programme Development Coordinator role as necessary.
• Any other tasks mutually agreed with the Programme Development Coordinator.

All staff are responsible for upholding and promoting Concern’s values, including our workplace equality, diversity and inclusion, and safeguarding values.

Role Holder Requirements:

Essential:

Education, Qualifications & Experience Required: 

• Educated to Degree Level (Degree in Humanitarian Assistance, Development Management, communication or other relevant discipline. Previous experience preferably overseas with an international or local NGO

Skills and Aptitude Requirements:

• Excellent English and French writing and communication skills with substantial previous experience of research, documentation and/or report writing
• Willingness to travel to remote field locations
• Ability to manage and prioritise multiple job tasks
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Ability to act as part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to cope with stress, work under pressure often to strict deadlines
• Self-motivated, progressive and proactive.
• Ability to work productively with remote programme teams
• Good knowledge of Programme Cycle Management,

• Good knowledge and competence of computer applications i.e. Microsoft Office.

Desirable:

• Good knowledge of donors (BHA.FCDO, ECHO, EU, Irish Aid)
• Good knowledge of UN agency funding mechanisms

• Experience producing communications and visibility materials including newsletters, social media posts and case studies.

To apply:  CVs should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by the closing date.

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date. 

If you have any concerns about our recruitment process and need particular assistance - for example if you have a visual impairment or are neurodivergent - please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you. 

Concern has an organizational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy accessible here. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behavior expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking. 

Your Personal Data 

During this job application, you will provide Concern with your personal data. Concern takes its responsibilities towards this personal data very seriously and is committed to complying with all relevant data protection legislation. 

For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office. 

You have certain rights under data protection legislation. For more information on how to exercise those rights please visit www.concern.net/about/privacy 

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.