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Title:                Country Director CAR – Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation

Location:         Bangui, Central African Republic

Reporting to:   Director

Period:             Starting a.s.a.p. We offer a one-year contract, with the possibility to extend by mutual agreement

This is an excellent opportunity for candidates who have in-depth knowledge of the humanitarian and human rights landscape, in particular related to SGBV and sexual violence in conflict-affected settings. Our ideal candidate would have solid experience in developing and executing programmes to improve access to quality holistic care for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and can help amplify the voices of survivors of sexual violence in conflict through strong advocacy messages.

The ideal candidate will have senior-level experience in proposal writing,  programming and advocacy in conflict- and post-conflict settings, a vast experience in fundraising and building strategic alliances, and possess a relevant professional network. The candidate should be passionate about working side by side with survivors on national and global platforms. She/he will have excellent communication skills, strong project management skills and high ethical standards of behaviour.

About Us

The Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation is an international human rights organization, dedicated to ending rape as a weapon of war globally. The Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation supports survivors’ demands for a world where sexual violence as a weapon of war is no longer tolerated, and bears consequences for individual perpetrators and states. We work for a future where survivors receive the holistic care & compensation they need to rebuild their lives. We create opportunities for survivors to speak out and be heard, and where they can organise to create change, influence policies, and demand justice and accountability.

We are working towards a future where sexual violence in conflict is no longer seen as inevitable, but is recognised for what it is: a crime that should have consequences. We want the international community to draw a line against wartime sexual violence and to hold states and individuals accountable.

Job overview

The Country Director will lead the country programme of the Mukwege Foundation (MF) in CAR.

In collaboration with the coordinator of the Nengo Holistic Care project, who is based in Bangui, and the MF senior programme manager of Holistic Care based in the Hague, the Country Director will define the MF country strategy for CAR, coordinate the overall programme execution, identifiy new opportunities and be responsible for the overall MF project portfolio in CAR. The Country Director will represent MF interests. S/he will also be responsible for ensuring programme compliance with the overall MF mission, ethical standards and policies as well as national and international laws and regulations in order to realise the organisational objectives, performance and quality targets for the organisation.

The Nengo Holistic Care project is an ongoing four year project which started in November 2019, with the support of the French Development Agency and the Pierre Fabre Foundation. The project is implemented by a consortium, including the Pierre Fabre Foundation, the Francophone Institute for Justice and Democracy, Panzi Foundation DRC and the Mukwege Foundation.

This project aim is to improve access to quality holistic assistance for survivors of sexual violence, thanks to the creation of a one-stop-centre in Bangui. The project is implemented in close collaboration with l’Hôpital de l’Amitié and l’Association des Femmes Juristes de Centrafrique (AFJC), which are the two entry points to the one-stop-centre or system. It is an example of a South-to-South learning approach, whereby a team of Panzi Foundation DRC experts are working alongside their CAR colleagues to set up a holistic care system and enhance services for survivors. This team of experts was deployed to Bangui in March 2020.

The Mukwege Foundation continues to develop its country programme in CAR, via different projects and partnerships, which align with the objectives of the Nengo Project and our organisation’s overall mission.

Responsibilities

The Country Director (CD) will be responsible for:

External relations and partnerships

  • S/he will continue to build and maintain strong external relationships, with, amongst others,  local authorities, other (i)NGOs and the donor community in CAR. S/he will ensure good communication, facilitate strong coordination between various initiatives and help identify new funding opportunities to ensure continued development of the country programme and the operationalisation of MF strategy in CAR.

Strategic and operational planning

  • The CD initiates and leads the development and implementation of the country strategy including drafting the country strategic plan, annual work-plan, project proposals and budgets. The CD ensures the translation of the strategic objectives into programme activities. S/he also ensures a proper follow up of the drafting of proposals to donors, a proper implementation of the country visibility and communication plan, the drafting and signing of agreements and MOUs, and oversees formal local and national administrative processes in relation to establishing and maintaining a country office. 

Programming and Programme development

  • The CD  oversees the management of and/or manages the different projects of MF in CAR in line with the agreed organizational Strategic Plan. The CD will comply with internal reporting requirements and will provide quality assurance of external reports.  S/he will report regularly to the MF office in The Hague and will be providing timely updates of all situational and project developments. The CD will also be responsible for drafting and editing funding proposals as well as overseeing the preparation of annual work plans and budgets.

Security, humanitarian and contextual analysis

  • The CD will closely monitor the developments in-country at the national and regional level  and will provide regular analyses with regard to the security context and humanitarian situation. S/he will ensure that the local security procedures are up to date and adhered to in line with MF policies.  S/he will also ensure regular updating of the country security plan throught safety assessments to ensure a safe and secure environment for MF staff and beneficiaries. 
  • The CD will collaborate with security networks in-country such as INSO, CCO, OCHA and MINUSCA to ensure staff are given regular security briefings and updates. S/he will be responsible to establish a reliable communication chain, also ensuring all staff and visitors are briefed and receive any required documentation upon entry into the country when on missions.
  • S/he will ensure the proper application of, and compliance with, security protocols and policies, and will encourage reporting any potential incidents and submit them in a timely manner according to MF policy.

Management and HR

  • S/he will, in collaboration with the HR department in The Hague, manage and coach MF country staff including managing recruitment processes and performing regular performance appraisals.

Finance and Logistics

  • The CD is responsible for the appropriate mobilisation, ensuring the effective use and management of financial and logistical resources.
  • The CD will supervise the projects’ budgets to meet donor requirements, including ensuring that all financial reports are submitted on or before the deadlines

Working relationship with the MF team in the Hague and the Nengo team in Bangui

  • The CD is the key link between the Nengo project in Bangui and the MF team in the Hague. The CD contributes to maintaining good working relationships.

Compliance, prevention of fraud and abuse of power

  • The CD is responsible for maintaining MF’s good reputation and will ensure that MF’s Code of Conduct, integrity policy and anti-fraud policy are well-known by staff, partners, beneficiaries and contractors, and are adhered to at all times.  

Profile

Education

  • Relevant academic background  (for example in public health, the (para)medical field or in the field of international relations, social sciences, political sciences or international law),
  • A lower level of education will be considered if compensated by years of relevant experience.

Experience

  • Previous working experience of at least 10 years, of which at least 5 in a relevant international environment, which should include more than 18 months of field experience in humanitarian contexts.
  • At least 12 months working experience as a Country Director (or a similar position) of an international NGO.
  • Previous experience and proven affinity with supporting and working with survivors of SGBV, and experience with the holistic care model is a strong asset.
  • Strong experience in representation and donor relations management at a senior level.

Required Skills

  • Strong leadership and management skills
  • Strong writing skills
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills
  • Able to work under pressure and good coping mechanisms to deal with stress
  • Ability to identify needs relevant for the mission of MF and translate these into donor proposals
  • Excellent coordination capacities
  • Strong analytical and conceptual thinking capacity and the ability to focus on finding solutions.

Languages

  • It is mandatory that the CD speaks both fluent French and English.

Competencies

  • Strong commitment to the mission and and values of the Mukwege Foundation
  • Strong team player
  • Willigness to work in unstable contexts
  • High ethical standards of behaviour, good judgment, respect for others
  • Diplomatic skills, confidentiality and attention to detail
  • Flexible and able to manage stress
  • Self-driven and solution-oriented

Reward Package

This position is classified in the MF function house in scale 12. Depending on qualifications and experience, your base gross salary will be between 3,700 and 4,500 EUR per month. On top of this, you will receive a per diem of 20 EUR per day spent in CAR to contribute to your living expenses.

You will have 20 holiday days per year, and regular R&R. Housing and transport in CAR are covered by the Mukwege Foundation. You are required to have your own health insurance in place, but you are covered by the MF business travel insurance, which includes emergency coverage for repatriation, evacuation in case of natural or political disasters, personal liability, etc.

How to apply

Please send your motivation letter, CV, and links to your social media presence no later than 25 february  2021 to Brynn Campbell, at campbell@mukwegefoundation.org.

Start date: as soon as possible.

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