HelpAge International East, West and Central Africa Region Head of Programmes Job in Nairobi, Kenya

HelpAge International

Job Title: Head of Programmes, East, West and Central Africa Region

Location: Nairobi, Kenya with extensive regional travel

Grade: ISC, £35,560 per annum 
 

2 years contract
 

Accompanied post 
 

Reporting to: Regional Director, East West and Central Africa

Key relationships: Southern Africa Regional Head of Programmes, Country directors, Regional Head of Finance and Admin, World Wide Emergencies Unit, UK Policy team, UK Operations Unit

Responsible for: Regional Programme Managers, Regional Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Adviser, Regional OD & Partner Relations Adviser, Regional Resource Development Adviser, Consultants

Contract Length: Two years contract, accompanied position
 

Background: HelpAge International's vision is one of a world where older people fulfil their potential to lead active, dignified, healthy and secure lives. HelpAge International is an international network, bringing together more than 114 affiliates and 200 partners working with older people in over 50 countries. 

HelpAge International has a secretariat with offices in London and Brussels, and regional centres in East Africa, Southern Africa, South Asia, East Asia/Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and Central Asia, several national programmes and a number of emergency programmes. 

Work of the organisation is guided by a 5 year strategy ending in the year 2015 and a subsequent strategy is being developed until 2020. 

The EWCA Regional Development Centre works with a range of partners across Africa to deliver programming in a number of key areas: HIV/AIDS & health; income security & livelihoods; emergency response & DRR and rights of older people as well as supporting and strengthening networks, affiliates and partners working in the region. 

The country programmes in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda are managed directly from the Regional Centre. Programme development in west and central Africa are also coordinated from the Regional Centre. 

The Regional Centre co-ordinates the Africa programming to ensure they meet the needs of older people in the region and fit with country and regional development priorities and strategies. Emergency responses in South Sudan, DRC and other countries are also supported from the Regional Development Centre as need arises.

A key function of the Regional Development Centre is the development of the network of civil society organisations working for older people in the region including countries in west and central Africa. A number of these are already affiliated to HelpAge International. 

In addition, the office works extensively with the African Union, Regional Economic Commission, national governments and the donor community (including the UN) to mainstream ageing issues into development policy.

Overall Purpose of the Job: To contribute to the growth and development of the East, West and Central Africa region by identifying strategic partnerships, defining, fundraising and implementing relevant programmes that advance HelpAge International’s Africa regional strategy.  

The post holder will be responsible for the identification, development and monitoring of HelpAge International’s programmes in the sub-region working with strategic partners including affiliates and partners.  

The position will work closely with various country programmes within the region making sure the country teams are supported adequately in delivery of quality programmes. 

The post holder will be a member of the management team and will contribute to management decisions within the sub-regional development centre.  

The post holder will be responsible for overseeing the fundraising activities by ensuring the design and implementation of quality programmes that attract donor funding and strictly adhere to standard requirements and specific donor terms and conditions. 
 

Job Content and Key Tasks

• To contribute to the development of programme strategic plans in line with the global strategic plan.
• To develop high quality programmes which most effectively meet the needs of older people in the sub-region and manage their implementation through country partners and affiliates.
• To fundraise for the programmes from various donors (institutional, corporate and bilateral donors). 
• To work with affiliate and partner organisations supporting their capacity to engage in policy/advocacy, identifying and developing effective programmes that meet the needs of older people.
• To maintain relationship with existing donors through effective policy dialogue and compliance to standard contract management principles/procedures and specific donor terms and conditions, identify and develop new funding opportunities by engaging in relevant donor coordination forums and events that create high profile for HelpAge International.
• To supervise budget holders, ensuring that all programme work is implemented within agreed budget limits and HelpAge International and donor compliance and procedures. To ensure that timely and quality narrative and financial reports to donors are provided as required.
• To have the overview of humanitarian context in the region and launch emergency response programmes within the geographies of HelpAge’s operation. Support country programmes with surge capacity as necessary.
• To work with the regional advocacy and communications team to support a regional advocacy and communication strategy drawing on thematic learning and evidence from programmes across the region.
• To ensure a strategic presence of HelpAge staff and partners in humanitarian and development forums and clusters by identifying strategic partnership for programming and influencing programmes and strategies.
• To engage with relevant government, civil society and research organisations that will be critical for advancing the EWCARO strategy
• To liaise with country offices in the region by agreeing relevant funding opportunities and drawing potential joint programming opportunities as appropriate.
• To contribute to the development and implementation of HelpAge International policies.
• To represent HelpAge International, and the work of affiliates and partners, at meetings with donors, governments and other external bodies.
• To effectively line manage staff in the programme team as agreed with the Regional Director
• To develop and maintain effective administration systems for the management of programme work in the region.
• To deputise for the Regional Director when required.

Extent of Authority: The post-holder will play an important co-ordination role between the EWCAR office, the UK Secretariat, Country Development Programmes and affiliates and partner organisations.  

The post-holder will make recommendations for projects within approved budget limits participate in key decision making in the senior management team of EWCARO.

Person Specification 

Essential

• Significant experience of programme development and implementation at national and regional level.
• Experience of managing a diverse team of staff.
• Experience of organisational development and fundraising work with networks, NGOs and Community Based Organisations.
• Knowledge of the socio-economic and political environment of Africa with specific emphasis to East and West Africa, understanding of policy development processes 
• Understanding and experience of development issues in the Africa region.
• Proven track record of working with International NGOs and International Donors
• Experience of rights based work, and understanding of core rights based approaches and the international rights architecture.
• Experience of humanitarian work and ability to engage with a wide range of humanitarian actors including INGOs and the UN.
• Experience of engaging in policy and advocacy work at local, national and regional level. Ability to present and make compelling statements and presentations.
• Fluent written and spoke English language skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and representational skills and ability to work at all levels with tact and diplomacy.
• Numerate with a good understanding of budget development and monitoring.
• Ability to juggle many priorities to ensure that the best interests of the organisation are served and high quality projects are developed and monitored. 
• Administratively self-supporting.
• Able and willing to travel extensively within the region.

Desirable

• French Language Skills
• Experience in ageing issues.

How to Apply
 

To apply for a job at HelpAge, please submit the following documents:

• A covering letter (which should refer the person specification for the job).
• Your current curriculum vitae (3 pages maximum).
• Three referees, including your most recent employer.
• Equal opportunities form (click here to download)

Please help us monitor the effectiveness of advertising sources by clearly stating where you first learned about this vacancy.

Please email your application to hai-hr@helpage.org before the closing date to be considered for the shortlist.

Alternatively, post your application to:

Human Resources
PO Box 70156
London
WC1A 9GB

With a view to minimising our administration costs we are unfortunately only able to contact again those candidates that have been shortlisted for interview.

This is a re-advertisement and previous applicants for this position need not re-apply.

Closing Date: 12th August 2014

Start Date: ASAP

HelpAge International is an equal opportunities employer.