Background

CAFOD Mission:  to promote human development and social justice in witness to Christian faith and Gospel values.

CAFOD sees its work in terms of partnership between Catholics in England and Wales and communities in developing countries. CAFOD funds over 1000 projects and programmes in over 60 countries and also responds to emergency needs. Funds are raised through the Catholic Church in England and Wales, from individual donors and grants from the British Government, European Union and other institutional donors. At the same time, CAFOD promotes an understanding of the problems of under-development and its underlying causes. CAFOD employs over 300 staff across its head office in Brixton, South London, regional offices in England and Wales, and internationally.

CAFOD’s structure comprises an International Division, plus the Community and Supporters Division; Advocacy and Communications Division; Organisational Development and Personnel Division; and Finance and Services Division.

INTERNATIONAL DIVISION: The principal aim of the International Division (ID) is to encourage and respond creatively to requests from new and existing partners for financial assistance for development and emergency programmes in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. There is also a limited programme in the Middle East and a programme in Eastern Europe.  An increasing aspect of the Division's work is to support overseas partners in training, capacity strengthening, networking, information, and solidarity and advocacy action. When possible and appropriate, CAFOD works in collaboration with close strategic partners (e.g. Trocaire, Christian Aid and Islamic Relief). CAFOD is an integral and committed member of the Caritas Internationalis Federation and CIDSE.

All programmes and projects funded by CAFOD are evaluated within the framework of CAFOD’s mandate, vision, mission and values, agreed financial frameworks and strategic priorities. Under the Strategic Framework 2005-10, the key areas of focus for CAFOD are:

• Economic Advocacy
• HIV/AIDS
• Livelihoods
• Conflict and Peace

Gender and civil society capacity building are cross-cutting issues across all CAFOD’s work.

The International Division is currently developing programmatic approaches to development work with and through partners, to enable better learning between partners and to achieve greater impact. In addition to providing funds, the International Division shares skills, time and people with partners to support high quality partnership, projects and programmes. 

AFRICA DEPARTMENT: The Africa Department comprises over 80 staff, clustered into regional teams (West Africa & Great Lakes, Southern Africa, and the Horn).  CAFOD has offices in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, DRC, Rwanda and Sudan.

SUDAN: CAFOD opened an office in Khartoum in 2005, and Juba in 2007. CAFOD operates a field-base in Maban County, Upper Nile State. CAFOD currently employs 3 international staff and 15 national staff.

Job description

Purpose:  To provide humanitarian expertise, emergency response capacity, support and advice to CAFOD’s programme staff and partners in Sudan. To contribute to the delivery of effective and high quality humanitarian assistance, preparedness, and risk reduction through CAFOD programmes.  Central to CAFOD’s humanitarian response is working with and alongside CAFOD partners in providing support, expertise and building long-term capacity.

Job scope: Working within the Humanitarian Department and the Sudan Country team the post holder will work to an annual work plan which will detail specific tasks and objectives for the year. The annual work plan will be based on the Country Humanitarian Strategy which defines three core areas of work before, during and after emergencies:

1) Strengthen partner emergency preparedness capacity
2) Ensure CAFOD and partners respond effectively to humanitarian need
3) Reduce community vulnerability to risk by promoting Disaster Risk Reduction

Accountability: The post holder will report to the Horn and East Africa Regional Humanitarian Coordinator (based in Nairobi) and the Sudan Country Representative (matrix management).

Key responsibilities

Emergency response

• Provide core response and standing capacity to respond to new and ongoing humanitarian work.

• Working with country programme staff and partners to develop and support the implementation of humanitarian programmes.

• Provide technical support and guidance to CAFOD programme staff and partner organisations on the delivery of high quality assistance in relief, recovery and rehabilitation phases of humanitarian response and preparedness, as well as in disaster risk reduction.

• As part of the humanitarian team, and in liaison with CAFOD’s Sudan Team, monitor and report on humanitarian crises throughout Sudan, and when required be a part of CAFOD's humanitarian department emergency response and surge capacity outside of Sudan.

• When required, provide field level operational support, including needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation, programme leadership and management to CAFOD staff, partner organisations and interagency response teams responding to humanitarian crises, if necessary at very short notice and for extended periods.

• Support the development, monitoring and reporting of humanitarian project budgets in accordance with CAFOD financial systems and procedures.

• Assist CAFOD staff and partners in the production of high quality project proposals and reports on humanitarian projects, often to tight deadlines.

Programme quality, systems and standards

• Support the implementation and maintenance of organisational systems and procedures for ensuring good practice and meeting sectoral standards on accountability and programme quality, including the Red Cross Code of Conduct and the SPHERE standards.

• Promote compliance with HAP-I standards on accountability to beneficiaries.

• Work with climate change and DRR advisors and the Sustainable Livelihoods Programme Officer in coordinating and providing technical support in livelihoods, DRR and climate change adaptation.

• Engage with policy staff in CAFOD, in particular the Humanitarian

•  Policy Adviser to ensure CAFOD’s humanitarian policy and advocacy is coherent and effective, and informed by our experience and that of our partners.

• Liaise with the HIV & AIDS Programme Officer to mainstream HIV within humanitarian programmes.

• Liaise with the Peace & Reconciliation Programme Officer to identify potential advocacy opportunities and to integrate psychosocial support and peace-building initiatives into humanitarian programmes as appropriate.

Representation and communication

• Represent CAFOD in NFI / Emergency Shelter sector meetings, Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) meetings and at other interagency events for the purposes of coordination of response and sectoral policy development.

• Develop supporter communications and work with the media, writing and undertaking interviews both on radio and television.

• Provide support within a Caritas Internationals/confederation humanitarian response.

• Build and strengthen relationships with sister agencies and agencies of strategic importance.

• Work flexibly within the team environment of the Humanitarian Department and the Country Office, supporting other tasks by agreement with line management.

International travel and work

Be willing to undertake fieldwork for up to four months per year (possibly more in exceptional circumstances) and undertake the above tasks in project locations throughout Sudan and at times outside of Sudan, sometimes in insecure environments and at short notice.

A commitment to CAFOD’s Vision, Mission and Values is essential for all staff.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 31st March 2010.
An assessment day Will be held for short-listed candidates in late April.

Please Note that this is a local post where national terms and conditions apply.

Previous applicants need not apply.