UXO (Exploded Ordnances)/Mine Risk Education (MRE) Project Officer

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a US non-governmental organization that has been operating in Vietnam for 20 years. CRS projects assist local counterparts to build capacity in the areas of Education, HIV/AIDS care and treatment, Disaster Risk Reduction and emergency preparedness and response. Reflecting our commitment to carry out quality programming to benefit the poor, we are now seeking a dynamic Vietnamese candidate for following position for our Program based in Hanoi:

Title:        UXO (Unexploded Ordnances)/Mine Risk Education (MRE) Project Officer
Reports to:    UXO/Mine Risk Education Project Coordinator
Supervision:    Not applicable
Project site:    Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Quang Nam province

PRIMARY FUNCTION

Ensure effective implementation and oversight of “Responding to the social/economic effects of Landmine/UXO in Vietnam: Reduce the LM/UXO risks for children and communities in high risk areas” project in Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Quang Nam province. This position is based in Hanoi with estimated 40% travel to project sites in three provinces mentioned above.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:     

• UXO/Mine Risk Education Project Coordinator
• Program Manager, Civil Society Strengthening and UXO
• Other UXO/Mine Risk Education Project Officer
• Country Representative (CR)    
• Administrative and Finance staff

External:     

• Provincial and district partners
• International and Vietnamese NGOs and civil society organizations
• Landmines working group members
• Project consultants
• Project donors as assigned by Head of Programs and CR

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Programming

- Project Implementation: Participate in the planning and implementation of “Responding to the social/economic effects of Landmine/UXO in Vietnam: Reduce the LM/UXO risks for children and communities in high risk areas” with a focus on scaling-up MRE integration guidelines, facilitating local partners’ in sustaining school-based MRE model and establishing a network model of connecting landmine survivors’ needs to available service providers in their locality. Regularly discuss with partners to make implementation/budget plans, conduct/monitor activities. Provide support to the project team in implementation of MRE program activities.  Frequently contact with other NGOs working in same fields to update their activities and have possible cooperation.

- Project Quality Management: Support development of project M&E system and tools, reporting and feedback mechanism with the beneficiaries and partners.  Adheres to the MEAL (Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning) requirements as per the CP guidance. Take part in needs assessment, baseline survey, mid-term review, and final evaluation.

- Technical support:

• MRE component: Support Project Coordinator in working with provincial education experts to scale up MRE integration guidelines and implement CRS printed MRE materials, which includes: support primary schools in applying MRE integration guidelines, host workshops at provincial level, trainings for teachers/students on CRS printed MRE materials, organized MRE extra-curriculum activities. Support the work of CRS with provincial partners to strategize and implement MRE integration guidelines at all primary schools in project provinces. Moreover, provide assistance to the project team and to Quang Tri Teacher Training College in conducting MRE activities with Teacher Training Colleges in the Central Area of Vietnam.
• VA component: Support provincial and district partners in strengthening the existing network model of connecting landmine survivors’ needs to available service providers in their locality and establishing new Volunteers’ Networks in project provinces. In addition, be responsible for guiding partners in providing direct supports including livelihood, health, and education assistance from the project to UXO/LM survivors.

- Field Monitoring: Make regular field visits to project sites, meeting with project counterparts and participants to monitor quality or implementation of activities. Follow up the implementation and monitoring plan. Design pretest and posttest for some trainings and activities. Interact directly with the beneficiaries including children and families and partners, to ensure quality monitoring and reporting.

- Reporting: Provide regular recording, internal trip, activity reports and information for preparation of reports to donors, and others required by supervisor.

- Documentation: Participate in compiling lessons learned, designing and implementing events for exchange of program experience. Ensure effective recording and dissemination of results of all experience sharing activities. Contribute to designing system to compile and disseminate best practices within and outside CRS.

- Program Strategy Development: Contribute to strategic planning and program development within CRS/Vietnam.

- Proposal development: Contribute to proposal development on both techniques and budget and as required by the CP

Finance

- Financial Oversight: Provide support to project team in developing and monitoring annual program budgets.  Maintain regular financial planning, review and adjustment.

- Budget Management: Support partners in planning and managing the budget. Ensure timely and effective monthly advances and liquidations for partners.

- Financial Reporting: Cooperate with Finance team and partners to ensure effective tracking and reporting on budget expenses, to include financial reports, quarterly cash forecasts as required by supervisor.

Partnership, Advocacy and Networking

- Partner Relations: Maintain positive working relations with relevant government bodies, international organizations, civil society organizations and local partners.

- Networking and Advocacy: Maintain positive relations with partners and relevant organizations. Attend external meetings and networking activities related to mine action in general and MRE in particular at project sites and central levels. Facilitate partners’ efforts to advocate about the MRE program at regional and national level.

- Coordination at the Province level: Proactive in developing coordination mechanism with the  INGOs and NGOs working in MRE and Mine Action at the province level, especially with the Project renew, Golden West, MAG, peace corps and others, share the best practices, CRS learning materials and build their relationship with the  project partners.  

Other: Troubleshooting and other tasks as necessary, education program activities/projects as requested by supervisor.

Qualification and Personal Skills:

1.University degree in fields relating to Education and/or Social Sciences
2.At least three years professional experience, preferably with Vietnamese or international NGOs in the area of education and community development.
3.Practical knowledge and experience with projects related to Mine Risk Education and/or Risk Reduction.
4.Knowledge and practical experience in working with Education experts at different levels.
5.Experience of taking part in assessments and developing  M&E tools is preferred
6.Good organizational and computer skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, E-mail and Internet - required)
7.Excellent spoken and written English
8.Good communication and interpersonal skills
9.Ability to work independently as well as in a team
10.Availability to travel to project sites.

REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS:

• Curriculum Vitae in English, with names and addresses of three references (preferably former supervisors)
• Application Letter in English
• Copies of diplomas, certificates

Please send completed applications to:

Ms. Tran Thi Thu Hang
Administrative Officer
CRS, No 1 Alley 7, Nguyen Hong Street, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi.
Or email: [email protected]

Deadline for Applications: 01 June 2014

CRS is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or HIV/AIDs.