Brief Description:

Veterinarians without Borders/ Vétérinaires sans Frontières – Canada (VWB/VSF) is a charitable, humanitarian organization whose mission is to work for, and with, those in need to foster the health of animals, people, and the environments that sustain us. More information about the organization can be found at www.vetswithoutborders.ca.

Reporting to the International Program Director, the Africa Program Manager will manage project activities, project expenditures and coordinate work with consultants and volunteers in the VWB/VSF programs within Eastern and Western Africa. The Africa Program Manager will have overall responsibility for preparing and submitting narrative reports on a regular basis to donor organizations, will oversee the preparation and approval of annual activity - based project budgets as well as monthly and quarterly financial reports. The Africa Program Manager will ensure close collaboration and coordination with cooperating partners to guarantee smooth implementation of activities and achievement of results as specified in grant agreements. As part of this role the Africa Program Manager may be call upon to employ resourcefulness in implementation and monitoring of projects and trouble shoot problems, in order to identify and implement creative solutions.

Working in close collaboration with the International Program Director, the Africa Program Manager will ensure the VWB/VSF program activities comply with the policies and regulations of the donor organizations and be responsible for the program deliverables, program planning, budgeting, action plans and monitoring processes.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Direction
• Drive Strategy and impactful programming at the national, sub-national and regional level; contribute to the global vision for VWB/VSF Canada’s work
• Lead strategy design for VWB/VSF Canada’s work that incorporates a high-level analysis of the nuanced social, economic and political context across the region; remain current to shifting landscapes and ready to seize opportunities.
Program Management and Implementation
The Africa Program Manager will contribute to the effective implementation of programming across Africa to the highest standards and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, including rural communities, funders, local partners and project collaborators:
• Lead the development of project implementation plans, strategies, annual workplans, spending plans, project agreements, annual partnership reviews, contracts and MOUs;
• Ensure the program budget is well managed, monitor and revise budgets, working with VWB/VSF’s Finance and Administration Director, International Program Director and Finance Officer;
• Conduct final review and approval of project level financial reports with regional partners
• Monitor project implementation to ensure that all project activities are on schedule and adhere to VWB/VSF policies and procedures;
• Prepare and submit program technical reports, capturing results and lessons learned;
• Working through a gender equality lens, ensure that gender equality is a cross-cutting theme mainstreamed throughout VWB/VSF programs and reporting
• Oversee the management and professional development of Regional Project staff
Volunteer Administration
• Lead the volunteer engagement process including outreach, recruitment, logistics, in-country plans, and post-placement activities
• Help build project partnerships and guide volunteer placement planning in collaboration with the Program Director
• Lead the VWB/VSF Young Volunteer Program (YVP) alongside the Asia Program Manager
• Maintain health and evacuation insurance for VWB/VSF’s international volunteers
• Ensure all legal documents and contracts are collected and safely stored for each volunteer (contracts, waivers, etc.)
• Distribute, update and maintain volunteer handbooks, in-country guides, safety and security protocols, and resource folders for volunteers.
• Lead volunteer debriefing sessions with returned volunteers, ensuring proper documentation and lessons learned shared with VWB/VSF team and project partners
• Deliver pre-departure training sessions to outgoing volunteers alongside Africa Program Officer and consultants
• Under new PSEA requirements, ensure appropriate measures (protocols, training) are in place as well as needed follow up in the case of reported incidents.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
• Ensure high-quality programming that achieves impact through consistent focus on monitoring, evaluation and learning in program planning and implementation.
• Support the development and implementation of appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans, based on gender transformative One Health principles
• In coordination with the VWB/VSF Country Coordinators, ensure timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation of country projects including the compilation, documentation and analysis of country specific data
• Develop, implement, and oversee data collection instruments and conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection
• Develop templates to document learning including dissemination plans
• Organize Monitoring and Evaluation visits in coordination with country offices for VWB/VSF Canada
Program Development Support
• Mobilize resources: Identify and cultivate prospective regional multilateral, corporate, foundation, and individual donors, promoting and identifying new and creative resource streams for humanitarian crises response and longer-term development.
• Write, review and edit proposal narratives, concept notes, and other business/program development documents
• Review proposals and supporting documentation and annexes for accuracy and compliance with donor regulations as required
• Support assessments and program design workshops as needed ensuring strategic alignment with country and regional strategies
• Support countries with the development and implementation of country program development and donor engagement strategies
Representation & Communication
• Act as VWB/VSF Canada’s principal external representative for the region with a range of key donors, policy makers, governments, public and private partners, and news media.
• Attend and participate in external meetings, workshops, conferences etc. and brief the Asia/Africa team as needed.
• Work closely with the Engagement Manager and volunteers to arrange public engagement events (webinars, seminars, etc) including the preparation and distribution of presentation materials, event registration, etc.
• Support Public Engagement activities and provide input for the website updates and ways of profiling VWB/VSF to a wider audience.

Skills and Experience
• 3+ years management experience in an international development setting
• Experience leading GAC programming an asset.
• Minimum of 1 year working in relevant African countries
• Knowledge and experience in program cycle management, including program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Ability and willingness to travel to Africa once or twice per annum
• Skills in budget management and donor reporting/accountability/compliance
• Excellent written and verbal communications in French and English
• Strong organizational skills. ability to multi-task, and/or provide timely feedback on an as needed and/or urgent basis
• Demonstrated intercultural sensitivity and effective interpersonal skills
• Resourceful team player who can also be very effective independently
• Familiarity with the One Health concept an asset

APPLICATION

Please send your CV and cover letter to recruitment@vetswithoutborders.ca

VWB/VSF is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds. We are particularly keen to consider applications from new Canadians and/or individuals from diaspora communities from the countries where we are working (Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and South Sudan).

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