Programme Officer

Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organizations working together in 94 countries and with partners and allies around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. In the region, Oxfam is recognized as one of the leading international NGOs, especially in rural development, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response, civil society development, ethnic minorities, and women’s empowerment.

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Vietnamese national to fill the following position: PROGRAMME OFFICER for its Vietnam office, Oxfam – Grade V
The post is a fixed-term 12 months contract, based in Hanoi with frequent travel in Vietnam to program sites.

1. MANAGEMENT LINES:
• The Progamme Officer is directly managed by the Regional Liaison Manager (RLM).

2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manages all aspects of OBE programme implementation through periodic work-plans and progress reports (annual, quarterly and monthly), monitoring and evaluation systems, and budget management
- Is responsible for the good relations with local partners and for the implementation of capacity building strategies.
- Represents OBE in thematic meetings at national or regional level or in OI as required by the Programme Coordinator.
- Contributes to the OBE strategy and programme development in Vietnam under guidance of the Programme Coordinator and the Regional Liaison Manager.

3. SPECIFIC TASKS
a) Programme implementation
- Dialogues with partners w/r to the quality of their programmes, their quarterly or yearly work plans so as to improve their Results Based Management. She/he facilitates the drafting of proposals if needed. This includes development an implementation of an adequate sustainability plan including specific exit strategies as well as capitalization of knowledge for the partner and for OBE.
- Supports the partner with the development of their Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems (MEL),
- Facilitates the approval process of partners’ programmes and work plans, prepares Agreements of Cooperation (AoC) with the partners and facilitates signing them and assures other program administration needed.
- Verifies the programme implementation by the partner against their detailed approved work plans (including sustainability plan and exit strategies) and guarantees partners’ compliance with OBE and back donor guidelines and other requirements, such as spelled out in the AoC.
- Dialogues regularly with partners on the outcome of MEL and facilitates reflection in line with Results based Management aiming also at sustainability of the achievements. She/he verifies the quality of the collected information for MEL and ensures proper documentation of lessons learned, conclusions, indicators, etc. She/he proposes ways of improvement when required, including for capacity building.
- Gives particular support to identified issues regarding institutional and organisation development of partner organisations
- Facilitates the preparation and implementation of external programme or project evaluations.
- Provides feedback to partners based on observation of activities carried out by partners, field visits and dialogue with beneficiaries (with consent of the partner)
- Verifies expenditures against work plans in line with Results Based Management principles, monitors the programme budget and disbursements to partners, all in cooperation with the Finance Officer
- Uses the OBE tools and methodology with regard to Program Cycle Management
- Drafts narrative reports in English (intermediate and final) and checks the consistency with the financial reports) for donors, in compliance with contractual timeframes, regulations and guidelines.
- Translates relevant documents in English and/or Vietnamese language for use by partners of OBE as necessary.
- Assures logistical support to partners (such as arranging visas, and travel/hotel bookings) and to partners visiting Hanoi
- Assures logistical support to visitors when in the field of specific partner (such as arranging visas, and travel/hotel bookings)
- Ensures interpretation for officials, partners visiting the office and during field trip when needed.

b) Partner support
- Maintains a trust relationship with the partners and communicates effectively with them. She/he provides advice, support or assistance as required, while keeping into account the vision and mission of OBE, its values and principles.
- Supports the partners in the application of the Results Based Management methodology, with a specific focus on their organisational development (internal management and governance, upward and downward accountability, gender solidarity, an organisational culture of monitoring, reflection, learning and evaluation, ...)
- Identifies any training and capacity building needs and coordinates/plans specific capacity building initiatives for local partners and beneficiaries.
- Identifies possible synergies between partners and facilitates exchange and cooperation and proposes initiatives to the Programme Coordinator.
- Supports partners in their advocacy and campaign activities and facilitates liaising to allies and stakeholders, nationally, regionally or internationally, as required.

c) Programme development
- Participates in the identification and formulation of new programmes as coordinated by the Regional Liaison Manager and contributes his/her experience and analysis based on previous programmes and strategic discussions with partners and other stakeholders
- Contributes to strategic reflection of OBE program in line with Oxfam in Vietnam and ensures adequate links with the strategic plan of Oxfam International.
- Explores potential new partnerships in the country in close collaboration with the Regional Liaison Manager.
- Contributes to OI meetings on programme coordination, MEL, exchange, etc. in the framework of SMS and takes the lead on specific thematic issues when/if required by the Regional Programme Coordinator.
- Fosters synergies and complementariness between OBE program and the Oxfam program in Vietnam.

d) Representation and Networking
- Represents OBE and networks with stakeholders in thematic meetings at various levels and in partner meetings as appropriate (including OI).

4. SKILLS AND COMPETENCE
The applicant will demonstrate:
- Competences in managing projects and programmes, Programme Cycle Management and familiarity with international programme standards and requirements, in particular Results Based Management as well as experience in support to set up exit strategies and capitalize knowledge of programs.
- Preferably 5 years experience of programmes management while ensuring its quality and delivery, in particular through working with partners and local groups in a role of facilitation, accompaniment or capacity strengthening,
- Good and broad analytical skills and ability to translate analysis into concrete and effective programme strategies
- Knowledge of methodologies and principles with regard to capacity-building and organisational and institutional development.
- Good financial management skills and sound numeracy skills
- Good communication and facilitating skills, demonstrating trust, competence, respect and motivation.
- Ability to cooperate in a team and to work under guidance, while showing a high degree of initiative, efficient time management and ability to cope with stressful situations.
- Good spoken and written English and local language skills, experience in narrative and financial reporting,
- Ability to use IT software.
- Adheres to Oxfam-Solidarity Belgium’s vision and mission, and subscribes to Result Based
- Management principles.
- A university degree or equivalent,

5. TERMS & CONDITIONS:
The position is requested to start in April 2013. We offer a definite term contract of 12 months with a 2 months probation period. Salary and benefits are based on OSB’s Personnel Policy and according to salary grid (grade V, with a gross annual salary range depending on seniority from 10.000 to 12.000 Eur), including annual health check, extra medical coverage, extra maternity benefits, extra paternity leave, etc.

Interview will be held from 18th to 20th of March 2013. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. No telephone contacts. Applications will not be returned.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of motivation and a CV (2 pages maximum) before 11th of March 2013 to:
Oxfam
7 floor, 22 Le Dai Hanh Street, Hanoi
Fax: 04 3945 4449 ; Email: [email protected]

Oxfam is an equal opportunity employer