Project Manager - Capacities for Peace (C4P) Project

Saferworld

London, United Kingdom

Reporting to: Line Manager and C4P Steering Committee
Key Relationships: Regional and country leads in Saferworld and Conciliation Resources. Key staff in the Fundraising and Operations Programmes. European Commission Instrument for Stability contact point
Salary range: £32,640 - £43,788

BACKGROUND

Saferworld is an independent international organisation working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work with local people affected by conflict to improve their safety and sense of security, and conduct wider research and analysis. We use this evidence and learning to improve local, national and international policies and practices that can help build lasting peace. Our priority is people – we believe that everyone should be able to lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from insecurity and violent conflict.

We are a not-for-profit organisation with programmes in nearly 20 countries and territories across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe and advocacy offices in London, Brussels and Washington DC. We receive funding from a range of donors including governments, the European Commission, trusts and individuals. We were established in 1989.

Conciliation Resources is an independent organisation providing practical support to help people living in the midst of conflict, prevent violence and build peace. We provide advice, support and practical resources. In addition, we take what we learn to government decision-makers and others working to end conflict, to improve peacebuilding policies and practice worldwide. We work mainly in the Caucasus, Colombia, Fiji, Eastern and Central Africa and West Africa, the Philippines, India and Pakistan in partnership with local and international civil society organisations and governments. We also publish Accord: an international review of peace initiatives. Conciliation Resources was established in 1994 and incorporated in 1996 as a company with charitable status. 

The Capacities for Peace (C4P) project

This is a joint project between Saferworld and Conciliation Resources supported by the European Commission (Instrument for Stability) and running for 30 months from the 1st September 2013.

The project’s overall objective is to build the early warning capacities of non-state actors with a view to contributing to coherent international early action aimed at preventing violent conflicts and building lasting peace in post-crisis situations in third countries.

Specific results

1. Skills in conflict analysis and development of response strategies among in-country actors are acquired or developed through training and practice;
2. Collaborative relationships developed and sustained among in-country actors engaged in early warning and conflict analysis;
3. Early warning information from activities and on-going in-country conflict analysis is generated and used by in-country actors;
4. Lessons about early warning capacity and processes from the project are collated and disseminated.

Project locations

• Middle East & North Africa (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan; Egypt, Libya, Yemen);
• Horn and East Africa (Kenya, Uganda; Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan);
• Central Africa (Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)-affected countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan);
• Mano River Union (MRU – Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone);
• South & Central Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India/Pakistan (Kashmir), Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan; Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines);
• Latin America (Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador).

Job purpose:

To work with the C4P Project Steering Committee and relevant staff across both Saferworld and Conciliation Resources (and in cooperation with local partner organisations) to build the capacity of local actors in conflict-affected contexts to participate in conflict analysis, early warning and early response. This will require developing close working relationships with internal teams and external partners, and excellent communication and project coordination skills.

Roles and Responsibilities

Overview

Under the direction of the joint C4P Steering Committee and line-managed by Saferworld's co-chair of the Steering Committee, the Project Manager will have day to day responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the project cycle (design, planning, implementation, narrative and financial reporting) and ensuring the activities are delivered satisfactorily. S/he will have responsibility for coordinating the programme’s monitoring and evaluation management systems. The post-holder acts as a resource person to Saferworld and Conciliation Resources teams in working with partner organisations and represents the C4P project in meetings with a range of interlocutors, including occasional travel. S/he will lead lesson learning from the project in consultation with Saferworld and Conciliation Resources staff. S/he is the lead contact for the EC on all aspects of the C4P project’s management and works closely with the C4P Finance Officer.

Strategic planning, programme development and integration

• Contributing to the project’s strategic and operational planning processes, including participating in planning, strengthening coherence and cross-project learning by sharing information and analysis drawn from fieldwork experience.

Project Management

• Managing the C4P project as a whole and overseeing the inception, delivery and concluding phases ensuring that project teams in Saferworld and Conciliation Resources’ work to agreed timeframes in design, planning, budget setting, implementation and reporting;
• Overseeing MoUs, partnership arrangements and consultancies undertaken by Saferworld/Conciliation Resources as part of the project;
• Acting as a resource to partner organisations through Saferworld and Conciliation Resources’ teams, providing project management advice and supporting the development of training modules and workshops under the auspices of the project;
• Providing conceptual support for the design of activities across the project and ensuring that good practice is shared;
• Leading on ensuring high standards of monitoring and evaluation of all activities including partner involvement in monitoring in liaison with Saferworld and Conciliation Resources’ monitoring and evaluation coordinators;
• Leading on the gathering of information from all Saferworld and Conciliation Resources teams in order to draft and submit narrative reports for the EC;
• Leading on maintaining work planning calendars and systems, reviewing and making adjustments in liaison with the EC IfS contact point as necessary and reporting to/engaging the Steering Committee as appropriate;
• Acting as convenor of and Secretary to the C4P Project Steering Committee and responsibility for managing the effective running of the Project Steering Committee;
• Working with the project Finance Officer to ensure that all necessary financial information is prepared accurately and presented to the Project Steering Committee in a timely and accessible manner ensuring variances are highlighted and reported on.

Communications and information management

• Managing communications in a timely manner between Saferworld, Conciliation Resources the EC and all implementing partners;
• Coordinating the project’s communications, including leading on keeping the programme-related pages on the respective main partner websites up-to-date; contributions to the Annual Review and coordinating the C4P project’s contributions to organisational wide communications (in both Saferworld and Conciliation Resources);
• Inputting contacts and information onto databases, helping to maintain efficient electronic and paper filing systems, and project-wide administrative systems;
• Participation in team and other organisational meetings or working groups as required.

External Relations

• Maintaining good relations with EC staff in relation to the C4P project;
• Ensuring all contractual obligations in relation to the EC IfS are complied with and that reports are submitted in a timely and accurate manner and raising any issues that may arise with the Project Steering Committee as required;
• Supporting programme teams from Saferworld and Conciliation Resources in engaging with the EC IfS and with EU Delegations in the countries of operation;
• Keeping informed of developments within the IfS and thereby contributing to the project’s reflection and analysis and ensuring both Saferworld and Conciliation Resources are updated on any developments in an appropriate and timely manner;
• Maintaining good relations and representing the C4P project with other relevant external actors including EU Member States and the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) as appropriate.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• A post-graduate degree in international relations, conflict/peace studies or a similar discipline, or equivalent professional experience;
• Proven experience of project management (e.g. project planning, grant management, compiling and monitoring budgets, monitoring and evaluation, narrative and financial reporting);
• Experience of coordinating work on multiple projects with a range of contacts;
• An understanding and appreciation of the work of the European Union both as a multilateral donor and as a political actor;
• Knowledge of the peacebuilding sector, in particular conflict analysis and conflict early warning;
• Experience in facilitation, training and capacity-building, in particular of civil society actors;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Fluency in written and spoken English, and preferably one other language;
• Proven ability to work alongside, and to learn from, a wide range of people, including Southern partners (governments and civil society organisations);
• Creativity, flexibility, self-motivation and the ability to prioritise workloads to meet deadlines;
• Willingness to travel overseas (for up to six weeks in the year);
• Experience of working on security and conflict issues in two of the following regions would be an advantage: Africa, South and Central Asia, Latin America and/or the Middle East;
• Ability to lead lesson learning processes;
• Knowledge of policies and practice regarding gender, peace and security would be an advantage;
• Experience in managing and effective running of a committee.

Skills/Attributes

• Demonstrable experience of successfully managing projects in excess of £500,000 combined with a high level of organisational skills;
• Appreciation of political sensitivity, and the complexities of working in situations of unresolved conflict;
• Demonstrable strategic thinking and analytical skills;
• Excellent verbal communication skills and an ability to communicate complex issues effectively to a variety of audiences;
• Proven competence in producing accurate and informative reports for donors as well as other stakeholders;
• Capacity to listen actively to people from varying backgrounds and with a range of political, cultural, and value orientations, combined with an ability to engage with them clearly and sensitively;
• Excellent people management skills with the ability to motivate a range of people across the participating organisations;
• Ability to manage and prioritise a diverse and demanding workload and meet deadlines;
• Willingness to be self-servicing and share in collegial duties;
• Excellent word-processing, spreadsheet, database, and email software skills.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Probation: There will be a probationary period of three months;
• Salary range: £32,640 - £43,788 gross per year;
• Holidays: There are 28 days holiday a year (Jan-Dec) in addition to relevant public holidays;
• Pension: After six months service 8% salary contribution to a personal pension fund (with 2% contribution from employee);
• Hours: Standard working week is 37.5 hours a week;
• Travel: up to 6 weeks travel per year is envisaged.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

To apply please email full CV and covering letter, detailing how you meet the selection criteria to Marie Aziz atrecruitment@saferworld.org.uk (please use subject heading: Ref: PMC4P). 

Deadline for applications: 29 July 2013. 

This is a London-based role; please confirm in your covering letter that you are eligible to work in the UK.

Interviews are scheduled for the week of 5 August 2013. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.