Career Opportunity with International Rescue Committee

Governance Coordinator


  
Country: Bangladesh
Job Title: Governance Coordinator
Department: Programs
Contract length: Till 15th January 2025 (with possibility of extension subject to funding, program needs and performance of incumbent)		 Work Location: IRC-Bangladesh, Dhaka Office (50% field travel required)
Reporting to:   Deputy Director Programs
Expected Start Date: At Earliest
Remuneration Package: Competitive Base Pay with Fringe Benefits (As per IRC National Pay Scale in Bangladesh)
Program Brief
Founded in 1933, International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs of both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded with cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC is growing its programming to cover education and livelihoods/DRR, as well as its geographic footprint in the host community and in other parts of the country.
Purpose
The IRC seeks a Governance Coordinator to develop governance strategy, technical direction, and lead efforts to integrate governance approaches across sectors in Bangladesh in order to amplify the voices of people whose lives have been impacted by conflict and crisis. This will require expertise in strengthening the ability of people affected by conflict and crisis to have a voice in how decisions are made in their communities; enabling governments, civil society organizations, community representatives, and the IRC to respond to their voices and provide effective and inclusive services; and promoting communications between leaders and the people they represent so that actions are meaningful and lasting.

Thus, this person would be responsible for providing technical expertise in systems strengthening, local governance, community engagement, conflict-sensitivity, and peacebuilding. This position will be based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, and will report to the Deputy Director of Programs.
Major Responsibilities
Areas of Responsibilities:

Area 1: Strategy and technical direction

  • Provide overall technical thought leadership and strategic direction for governance program in country.
  • Lead institutional assessments and contextual analysis in partnership with program teams and local stakeholders (e.g. conflict-sensitivity analysis, political economy analysis, and service delivery assessments) and support integration of ongoing context adaption into projects.
  • Work closely with the Safety & Security/Humanitarian Access and Program Teams to map sensitive programing and integrate conflict-sensitivity into country programs and operations.
  • Develop technical components of annual work plans, draft quarterly reports, and ensure project technical objectives and deliverables are met in a timely manner.
  • Stay abreast of technical developments and trends in the governance sector, disseminating information to team members, apply and contextualize global guidance, evidence, materials, and tools for governance.

Area 2: Technical Monitoring and Program Quality (50%)

  • Conduct regular visits to project sites in camps and host communities, as possible, to provide technical assistance and ensure proper implementation and monitoring of project activities.
  • Work closely with the Grants and Partnerships Team to plan for and engage in capacity sharing with local partners including use of organizational capacity assessment and strengthening plans.
  • Provide technical support toward integration of governance indicators into project M&E frameworks and use of context and conflict-sensitivity indicators working closely with the emergency preparedness and response team.
  • Foster local ownership of monitoring and evaluation through community participation and consultation and use of participatory approaches in M&E.
  • Advise on budgeting for governance staffing and activities as part of program development and be responsible for financial oversight of project budgets and expenditure (when assigned) in compliance with donor agreements.
  • Produce inputs to monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports.

Areas 3: Integrating governance across sectors.

  • Provide technical leadership across sectors on systems strengthening, local governance, community engagement, and peacebuilding activities and ensure appropriate methodologies and technical approaches are used. 
  • Conduct technical training and ongoing technical coaching for program staff across sectors, in partnership with the Integrated Protection Dept., including on key governance topics relevant to their sector such as community engagement, peacebuilding and social cohesion, and conflict-sensitivity.

Area 4: Representation and Networking (15%)

  • As Governance focal point at country level, collaborate with other in-country technical coordinators, to ensure an integrated strategy to achieve the Power outcome as per the country’s Strategic Action Plan.
  • Participate in internal coordination and management meetings to promote effective and efficient information sharing, problem-solving and decision making.
  • Represent the IRC in relevant technical advisory/working groups and professional forums.

Area 5: Strategic Planning and Business Development Contribution (35%)

  • Monitor evolving needs of the target communities, search for new emerging issues such as trafficking, and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary.
  • Identify priorities for support from the IRC’s Technical Units (especially the Governance Technical Unit (TU), the Violence Prevention and Response TU, and the Health TU).
  • Lead the process of developing new concept notes, and proposals which are technically sound.
  • Take part in regular Project Cycle Meetings, including inception meetings, project implementation meetings, closure meetings, lesson learnt meetings etc. for technical oversight.
  • Ensure that the implementation team is fully oriented on the project design, activities, LFA, and other pertinent details.
  • Develop capacity building plan on various aspects of CP and ensure implementation of the same.

Key Working Relationships: Technical Advisor, Governance, Asia, Technical Coordinators, Senior Grants and Accountability Coordinator.
 

Requirements
  • Minimum ten (10) years of experience in local governance, social accountability, public administration, peacebuilding/social cohesion or related technical areas.
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of governance system across Bangladesh, political economy analysis, governance in service delivery as well community driven development.
  • Solid experience in participatory, flexible, conflict and gender-sensitive programming and implementation.
  • Strong track record in working in partnership with governments and civil society at various levels and diverse organizational stakeholders, developing and implementing appropriate and targeted learning and capacity development activities in support of programming partnerships.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and motivate staff working in multiple locations.
  • Demonstrated ability to negotiate and partner with communities, civil society, government representatives, donors and other partners.
  • Experience working in different sectors, in particular education, health and protection, preferred.
  • Must have good time management, multitasking skills.
  • Good teamwork and leadership skills are essential in order to motivate different groups of people to fulfil their responsibilities within a given time frame.
  • Demonstrates well-developed interpersonal skills, excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, as well as negotiation skills.
  • Values diversity, inclusion, people with disabilities and underrepresented groups in Bangladesh. 
 
Specific Educational Qualification
  • Master’s degree in public administration, law, international development, project management or relevant field.
Certification
  • N/A
  

How to Apply: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req52521/Governance-Coordinator

Application Deadline: July 02, 2024

Standard of Professional Conduct:
IRC and IRC employees are required to abide by the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct which are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity General Statement:
We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified women professionals to apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Are you ready to join the most dynamic team?