Reporting to: Area Program Manager

Authorization level: N/A

Period: 12 months (September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025)

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), in consortium with Save the Children and Mercy Corps, has secured funding from Sida and SDC for the project “Building Resilience and Supporting Solutions to Displacement in Central Darfur,” targeting Nertiti, Um Duhkun, and Golo localities in Central Darfur. The project’s overall goal is to reduce vulnerabilities caused by displacement for IDPs in these areas, enhancing resilience and facilitating durable solutions. Specifically, the project aims to: 1) improve access to sustainable livelihoods, 2) increase equitable access to social services, 3) enhance the protective environment, including promoting the protection of civilians, 4) increase community-based peace-building capacity, and 5) improve the efficacy of community-level natural resource management and early warning systems.

DRC is seeking a dedicated Program Specialist (Early Recovery) to support the planning and implementation of DRC’s early recovery initiatives in Central Darfur. The Program Specialist (Early Recovery) will coordinate with the DRC Area Programme Manager, Consortium Manager, consortium partner technical coordinators, and other key stakeholders to ensure consistent standards are applied across early recovery activities throughout the project. This role involves project planning, project implementation, quality control, and coordination with consortium partners, national partners, and local authorities.

Technical Assistance and Program Development

• Provide technical oversight in implementation of DRC’s early/economic recovery strategies and programs.
• Report on and discuss project developments and challenges with Area Programme Manager and Consortium Manager to feed further program development.
• Collaborate with both DRC and consortium partners’ technical field staff to plan and implement project.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing activities and resources to achieve project objectives.
• Ensure alignment of activities with project goals and timelines.
• Oversee project implementation to ensure technical requirements and quality standards are met.
• Anticipate and mitigate risks and delays, providing ad-hoc support to troubleshoot and manage obstacles.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Together with MEAL team ensure the implementation of a practical, field-based M&E system/plan for each project.
• Conduct frequent field visits to project sites to assess activities and ensure efficient use of resources.
• Advise Consortium Manager, Area Program Manager, Peace Building and Community Engagement Specialist, and Project Managers on adapting projects based on monitoring and evaluation findings.
• Advise on and assist with project reviews conducted at DRC and consortium levels.
• Collaborate with the MEAL team to capitalize on best practices and lessons learned for operations projects.

Partnerships and collaboration

• Support the Consortium Manager, Area Program Manager, and Project Managers in the field level coordination and review of the progress of implementing partners.
• Ensure that consortium partners’ implementation and operational challenges are identified and resolved in a timely manner.
• Provide support to partners in project implementation and ensure timely and qualitative implementation of projects by partners in line with DRC and donor requirements
• Facilitate open communication channels to ensure smooth coordination among all parties involved.

Program Coordination and Integration

• Work closely with DRC Protection, Food Security and Livelihoods, Early Recovery, and other Technical Coordinators to identify opportunities for complementary or integrated programming, including specific funding opportunities.
• Participate in project review meetings with the Consortium Managers, Area Programme Manager, Technical Coordinators, and key stakeholders to reflect on progress, identify necessary program adaptations, and ensure these adaptations are implemented.
• Work closely with the DRC protection teams in carrying out conflict assessments in newly accessible areas.
• Ensure that conflict assessments are updated and shared with relevant DRC staff.
• Participate in field level engagements/meetings with local authorities ensuring that DRC program objectives are clearly articulated and promoted.

Reporting and Learning

• Lead the reporting of early recovery project activities (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports).
• Promote a culture of learning within the team by actively sharing challenges and lessons learned.
• Ensure comprehensive impact assessments of early recovery initiatives are carried out.

• A minimum of master’s degree in development studies, social sciences, conflict management, peacebuilding, agriculture, natural resources management or other relevant fields, or relevant working experience
• Qualified females are strongly encouraged to apply.

Experience and Competencies

• A minimum of 7 years of working experience providing technical guidance and training within the early recovery, economic recovery, development or similar sectors preferably in Sudan’s Darfur region.
• Extensive understanding of working on issues related to food security and livelihoods, peacebuilding, conflict sensitivity, community-based approaches, agriculture, natural resources management, etc.
• Minimum 5 years of project management experience at the program implementation level
• Demonstrated experience ensuring conflict-sensitive programming at the program implementation level
• The ability to translate and develop realistic strategic plans that shape programming
• Experience coordinating across departments and sectors at field and country office levels.
• Experience designing and delivering training of trainers (ToT) sessions
• Experience designing and/or managing the delivery of MEAL plans
• Experience with the liaison with partner organizations, donors and Government authorities
• Experience in working in complex and politically sensitive contexts
• A team player – able to demonstrate a constructive, cooperative, and problem-solving approach
• Ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment

• Fluency in English (verbal and written)
• Ability to work in Arabic is an asset

• Early recovery consortium partners
• National implementing partners
• DRC technical teams (Protection, economic recovery, WASH etc)
• Beneficiary communities, including IDPs, returnees, and host community members
• DRC staff in the project area
• Government stakeholders and other NGOs

• Basic: I master the essentials, but may at times need help from others
• Advanced: I can work independently at a full professional level.
• Expert: I am the go-to person when others need help.