Background

Interpeace is an international organisation for peacebuilding that strengthens the ability of societies to manage conflict themselves in sustainable and non-violent ways. Interpeace designs and delivers its work tailored to each situation in partnership with local partners and communities, based on extensive consultation and research. Interpeace also ensures that the processes of conflict management and change that it supports are integrated at all levels of society including local communities, civil society, government and the international community (we call it a ‘Track 6’ approach).

Interpeace was originally established by the United Nations and remains its strategic partner. Beyond field-based peacebuilding, Interpeace also assists the international community – particularly the UN – to be more effective in supporting peacebuilding efforts worldwide. This includes contributing innovative thought leadership on peacebuilding policies and practices.

Interpeace is headquartered in Geneva and has offices around the world.

For more information about Interpeace, please visit www.interpeace.org

Interpeace in Rwanda

Interpeace has been working in Rwanda since 2002. During this time, Interpeace has been working in support of national institutions to strengthening durable peace, through the promotion of social cohesion, societal trauma healing, participatory governance and regional collaboration. In this work, Interpeace has had a long-term partnership with the CSO Never Again Rwanda and we are also collaborating with the Ministry of Health, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Local Governance and Rwanda Prison Fellowship, amongst others.

Important programmes are our Societal Healing and Participatory Governance Programme, supported by the Swedish Embassy. This programme is focussed on the facilitation of spaces that promote group-based healing and strengthening relations and improving participation of citizens in Imihigo and related processes. Similarly, an EU funded project on participatory governance is also focussed on strengthening the capacity of district level governments to implement participatory governance practices. A regional programme is focussed on fostering strong relations across borders. Lastly, a new programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Rwanda Prison Fellowship is focussed on strengthening mental health, addressing intergenerational transmission of trauma, and promoting reintegration and cohesion of prisoners with the communities to which they return.

Position within the Organization

The position manages the Rwanda programme and contributes to the work of the larger Great Lakes team working on regional programmes. The Programme Manager is a member of the Programme Management Unit which manages and implements Interpeace’s active and ongoing programmes around the world. The Programme Management Unit is led from the Headquarters office in Geneva, although team members are based in various locations including in Eastern and Central Africa, West Africa, Europe and the MENA region.

The Programme Manager reports to the Great Lakes Regional Representative and will work in close collaboration with the Senior Regional Representative for Eastern and Central Africa and the Finance and Administration Manager in Rwanda. S/he supervises a programme support officer and one or multiple interns.

Purpose and General Overview

The Programme Manager is responsible for day-to-day management and timely delivery of Interpeace’s peacebuilding programme in Rwanda. This includes overseeing programme design and development and the implementation of programmatic activities such as workshops, trainings, mentoring, research. The programme manager will ensure that programme implementation is done to a high standard in line with workplans and budget. The programme Manager is responsible for building and maintaining working level relations with project participants, partners, CSOs, government authorities and donors. The role is also responsible for overseeing reporting, monitoring and advocacy activities.

Duties and responsibilities

Strategic Engagement:

• Provides support & spearheads the development and definition of the Interpeace programme strategy in line with the overall Interpeace Strategic Plan and the context in Rwanda
• Engages with different stakeholders at track 2 and 3, occasionally operating at track 1 to advance Interpeace’s work in the country
• Identifies and promotes new strategic partnerships to expand the scope of work at country level
• Identifies and develops opportunities to expand the programme within the country, in collaboration with the country programme team, implementing partners as well as the Programme Development Unit
• Captures and communicates the impact of Interpeace’s work, including nurturing a strong Monitoring and Evaluation capacity in the programme in order to promote the programme and create positive momentum
• Maintains an acute awareness and analysis of political and social dynamics in the Rwanda context which are relevant to Interpeace’s mandate and oversee the production of regular briefing notes for colleagues and other relevant stakeholders.

Programme Management

• Provides effective leadership over the day-to-day implementation of current programmes within agreed work plans, budgets and financial management parameters to ensure the highest level of project delivery, quality and accountability
• Drives the country programme annual planning and contributes to the budgeting processes as per organisational guidelines and local context
• In collaboration with the Finance and Administration Manager, ensures effective implementation and compliance with finance and other Interpeace governance manuals, policies and procedures, and complies with procedures required by grant or contract agreements
• Oversees the programme portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability
• Produces preparatory and summary notes for country visits and meetings with stakeholders aimed at programme development and innovation

Representation

• Focuses on Tracks Two and Three engagement
• Engages and builds relationships with partners, diplomatic representatives and other organisations, especially relations at the working level
• Develops and strengthens relationships with local organisations and networks and establishes national and regional strategic relations and alliances with partners and civil society working in common cause with Interpeace objectives.
• Represents Interpeace in meetings, conferences, forums and other public events and contributes towards consolidating and raising the profile of Interpeace
• Manages and contributes to media engagement when required and in line with

Interpeace communication policy

Management – institutional coherence

• Ensures compliance of programmatic work at activity level with internal controls
• Has a close operational coordination at working level with other teams in Interpeace, especially those in the Great Lakes, and with partner organisations

Staff Management

• Creates an enabling work environment that fosters learning and innovation, where programme staff can achieve their potential, demonstrating gender-responsive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes
• Coaches, monitors, evaluates and documents the individual performance of direct reports through a staff development lens

Qualifications:

Candidates with relevant qualifications, experience, a tertiary degree, and fluent in English and French, are invited to apply.

Relevant experience and qualifications may include:

Education

• Tertiary degree in international relations, political science, development, management, or related field

Experience

• Professional experience in programme management (strategy, planning, reflection, implementation, monitoring, evaluation)
• Field experience in conflict affected contexts
• Management experience

Competencies

• Demonstrates effectiveness and strong experience with short and long-term planning; financial, personnel and program management.
• Advanced knowledge and experience of project cycle management including using project planning and management tools.
• Knowledge of current thinking on peacebuilding issues and methods; and demonstrable ability to anticipate emerging needs and integrate them swiftly into priority programme setting
• Developed ability to effectively capture and communicate the impact of practical work and to use this to raise profile.
• Proven ability to communicate, negotiate and network with high level executives and government officials, donors, international agencies, and media.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment successfully and to demonstrate gender responsive and non-discriminatory behavior and attitudes.
• Ability to interact with people respectfully and with tact.

Interpeace Competencies

• Collaboration and Weaving
• Communication
• Drive for results
• Adaptability and Continuous Learning
• Respect for Diversity

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a complete curriculum vitae and a letter of interest to [email protected].

“Programme Manager – Rwanda” MUST BE included in the subject line of the application email to be considered.

Please note that due to high volume of applications, ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted.

For more information about Interpeace, its values and working principles, please visit the Interpeace website www.interpeace.org.

The deadline to apply is 29 June 2020

Interpeace values diversity among its staff and aims to achieve gender equality both through gender parity at all levels of the organisation and promoting a gender dimension in all its work. We welcome applications from women and men, and those with disabilities.