Background

The European Commission’s Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) funds relief operations for victims of natural disasters and conflicts outside the European Union. DG ECHO works with about 200 operational partners, including United Nations agencies, the Red Cross/Crescent movement, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Aid is channelled impartially, straight to victims, regardless of their race, ethnic group, religion, gender, age, nationality, or political affiliation.

DG ECHO is recruiting one National Staff to be based in Kampala (Uganda) as a Programme Officer.

Responsibilities

The jobholder carries out activities to ensure that effective humanitarian response is delivered. The jobholder conducts assessments; develops strategies and represents DG ECHO at technical level when appropriate. The programme officer may be asked to run an antenna/office and supervise staff in the absence of a TA (Technical Assistant) or, when in a RO (Regional Office), be in charge of regional overview tasks:

• Contributes to designing DG ECHO overall strategy, policies and thematic working groups.
• Appraises and evaluates partners’ financing requests and monitors projects in the light of the intervention strategy adopted and advises, as appropriate.
• Prepares fiche-ops (e-documents completed by DG ECHO staff for assessing and monitoring projects), as appropriate and submits to the responsible HoO/TA.
• Reviews policy compliance in cooperation with policy experts in the RO/HQ (Headquarters).
• Liaises with partners to finalise and review proposals, once the appraisal is agreed with DG ECHO headquarters.
• Evaluates interim and final reports submitted by partners and advises DG ECHO as appropriate.
• Assists with, participates in, and reports on meetings, as appropriate
• Pro-actively follows local or regional events that may impact the humanitarian situation in the country/region. Drafts reports on the humanitarian situation, including any political, economic and security events relevant to the analysis of the humanitarian situation in the country/region.
• Supports the HoO/TA in the event of an emergency response.
• Provides backstopping capacity and surge support in case of need.
• Advises on the operational capacity of implementing partners.
• Ensures the monitoring of DG ECHO visibility and pro-active communication with partners in operational contracts in line with the guidelines.
• Manages/supervises the contracts/ grants database.
• Undertakes any additional tasks as assigned by the Head of Office/RO and/or Headquarters.

Qualifications

Education: A relevant second level university degree or equivalent professional experience.

Knowledge and experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience at national or international level in managing programme/project operations, including at least 2 years of experience with an NGO, a donor or a national/international organisation.
• Very good knowledge of the EU humanitarian aid system.
• Very good knowledge of International NGOs, UN Aid Agencies and Red Cross Movement.
• Very good understanding of Humanitarian Aid principles, policies and standards.
• Work experience with DG ECHO is an asset.
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).

Languages:

• An excellent command of English (written and oral) is required.
• Knowledge of the local language.

Competencies

• Working and communicating effectively with people: ability to communicate, support and work effectively with colleagues and teams to achieve collective goals. Building and maintaining excellent relationships with colleagues and partners.
• Achieving impactful results and quality: ability and commitment to organise and perform the job to the highest standards, delivering consistent results and striving for quality assurance.
• Understanding of the humanitarian and DG ECHO way of working: ability to support DG ECHO's mandate, strategies and operations, to ensure policy compliance and in particular the correct use of the Key Results Indicators (KRIs), and to ensure DG ECHO's visibility. Ability to ensure the correct application of DG ECHO guidelines and procedures in all the decisions taken.
• Demonstrating exemplary attitudes and behaviours: commitment to act in line with DG ECHO and humanitarian values, demonstrating the required and exemplary attitudes necessary for the Field Network.

Additional Notes

A detailed Terms of Reference (including competencies required and more detailed information on the tasks) is available at the bottom of this page.

• Contributes to designing DG ECHO overall strategy, policies and thematic working groups.
• Appraises and evaluates partners’ financing requests and monitors projects in the light of the intervention strategy adopted and advises, as appropriate.
• Prepares fiche-ops (e-documents completed by DG ECHO staff for assessing and monitoring projects), as appropriate and submits to the responsible HoO/TA.
• Reviews policy compliance in cooperation with policy experts in the RO/HQ (Headquarters).
• Liaises with partners to finalise and review proposals, once the appraisal is agreed with DG ECHO headquarters.
• Evaluates interim and final reports submitted by partners and advises DG ECHO as appropriate.
• Assists with, participates in, and reports on meetings, as appropriate
• Pro-actively follows local or regional events that may impact the humanitarian situation in the country/region. Drafts reports on the humanitarian situation, including any political, economic and security events relevant to the analysis of the humanitarian situation in the country/region.
• Supports the HoO/TA in the event of an emergency response.
• Provides backstopping capacity and surge support in case of need.
• Advises on the operational capacity of implementing partners.
• Ensures the monitoring of DG ECHO visibility and pro-active communication with partners in operational contracts in line with the guidelines.
• Manages/supervises the contracts/ grants database.
• Undertakes any additional tasks as assigned by the Head of Office/RO and/or Headquarters.

• Excellent drafting skills.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).
• Working and communicating effectively with people: ability to communicate, support and work effectively with colleagues and teams to achieve collective goals. Building and maintaining excellent relationships with colleagues and partners.
• Achieving impactful results and quality: ability and commitment to organise and perform the job to the highest standards, delivering consistent results and striving for quality assurance.
• Understanding of the humanitarian and DG ECHO way of working: ability to support DG ECHO's mandate, strategies and operations, to ensure policy compliance and in particular the correct use of the Key Results Indicators (KRIs), and to ensure DG ECHO's visibility. Ability to ensure the correct application of DG ECHO guidelines and procedures in all the decisions taken.
• Demonstrating exemplary attitudes and behaviours: commitment to act in line with DG ECHO and humanitarian values, demonstrating the required and exemplary attitudes necessary for the Field Network.

• A relevant second level university degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience at national or international level in managing programme/project operations, including at least 2 years of experience with an NGO, a donor or a national/international organisation.
• Very good knowledge of the EU humanitarian aid system.
• Very good knowledge of International NGOs, UN Aid Agencies and Red Cross Movement.
• Very good understanding of Humanitarian Aid principles, policies and standards.
• Work experience with DG ECHO is an asset.
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).
• An excellent command of English (written and oral) is required.
• Knowledge of the local language.