Country Director Central African Republic (CAR)

Following the conflict that affected the Central African Republic and the high level of suffering of the population, particularly children, Plan International launched a humanitarian programme in CAR since June 2014 and in September 2016 gained approval from the Executive Team for an unlimited duration and planning for a long-term presence in the country.

There are 5 sub offices and 2 project offices spread across the various parts of the country (Mambere Kadei, Ouham, Nana Grebizi, Haute Kotto) and a Country Office in Bangui.

The Central African Republic (CAR), with about 5 million inhabitants, is among the poorest in the world, despite the wealth of natural resources. It is ranked 188 in the Human Development Index in 2016, after countries such as Syria (149), South Sudan (181) and Niger (187). The coup d’état of 2013 led to an escalation of violence including gender based violence, political unrest and insecurity. Although peacebuilding efforts continued in 2017 and in 2019, the CAR continues to descend into violence quite often esp. in the rural areas. Since the end of the first electoral period, there has been a gradual deterioration of the security situation in the regions affected by the previous years of conflict, as well as in areas that had been relatively unscathed until then. The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA) mandate has been renewed as of October 2020 for longer presence in the country.

To build Plan International’s presence in CAR, there is an immediate need for a Country Director with a strong humanitarian background, working experience in conflict settings and good knowledge of emergency response management. This is an exciting senior leadership role with opportunities to build and grow the country program in CAR. The CD will also be part of Plan International’s West and Central Africa’s (WACA) Regional Leadership team, consisting of the CDs from the other 14 countries which Plan International operates in, along with the Executive Director WACA and the Regional Hub management team.

In light of the different challenges faced by children and young people, Plan International CAR and its partners identified the following overall goal for the period July 2018 to June 2021:

To ensure that Children and Youth Affected by Conflict in Central Africa have access to quality education, socio-economic reintegration opportunities and protection against violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect to ensure their well-being through integrated family and community services.

Dimensions of the Role

• Lead successfully the Country Leadership Team through all cycles of programme management and operations including resource mobilization, grants management and staff development.
• Provide leadership in strengthening the internal control systems and processes in programmes, operations and Plan’s Code of conduct and other accountability policies.
• Coordinate and streamline the 3 major portfolios (education, protection and food security) into the overall programme and provide sufficient support services for success of programme implementation
• Ensure Plan’s policies are well understood and implemented by all staff
• Strengthen the communication systems internally and externally, making sure there is consistent flow of relevant information and updates.
• Ensure strong and friendly relationships with National organizations and donors all the time
• Leadership, management and development of CAR team in full compliance with local laws and Plan International policies and standards.
• Lead the implementation of the Country Strategy, and the Annual Planning and Budgeting exercise.
• Ensuring high quality programme work is delivered with the maximum involvement of children as actors (see Plan Child-Centred Community Development “CCCD” approach).
• Accurate and timely disbursement of the agreed Country Office Budget including all donor commitments.
• Growing and managing a humanitarian grants portfolio so that funds can be raised and spent in a timely manner for all projects.
• Ensuring readiness to emergencies is built into all programme planning, and lead emergency response interventions when needed.
• Representation of Plan, its work and its values to the authorities and key decision-makers
• Maintain good working relationships with UN community in country and Government authorities ensuring the compliance with laws and regulations whilst achieving Plan´s strategic priority goals.
• As a member of the Regional Leadership Team, the Country Director of CAR is expected to contribute to the overall learning and strategic direction within the region.

Accountabilities

Plan’s work in CAR will be delivered by a motivated and efficient team, skilled in their area of expertise and compliant with the expectations Plan International has of all staff:

• Creation and management of high performance teams delivering excellent technical work, using child-centred and gender-transformative approaches in line with Global and Country Strategies.
• Management of staff across the teams to ensure full development of potential through induction, performance management and compliance in all core policy areas, including Gender, education and Child protection.
• Staff numbers and structures will be designed and kept at a level that is efficient and cost effective.
• Work environment will be managed to reduce risk from health, safety, and security hazards.
• Generate solutions for identifying competent staff to deliver country objectives.

Plan International’s work will be guided by accurate and timely work-plans and budgets that can be used to create impact and efficiency

• Deliver an accurate and timely Annual Plan and Budget
• Develop work-plans from Country Strategy documents and on the basis of ongoing environment analysis
• Creation of accurate phased budgets for all programs and projects.
• Efficient and fully compliant financial management in the allocation/budgeting, disbursement and accounting for all resources.
• Maintain and further strengthen the safeguarding, security and antifraud systems across the programme and operations in all locations.

Plan International’s work will be relevant to the needs of the most vulnerable children and particularly girls, in Central African Republic

• Country Strategy is being used regularly as yardstick and guiding document to achieve the agreed strategic objectives.
• Emergency preparedness analysis ensures Plan International is ready to respond to emergency situations in a very volatile environment.
• Effective and swift emergency response programs and interventions are launched and managed in time of need.
• The programme complies with the relevant authorities and with local laws and MoUs with concerned ministries giving due recognition to Plan and its work in CAR.
• Country leadership and staff are well aware of the country security situation and protocols and Standard Operating Procedures are continuously improved and implemented giving due consideration to security and safety of staff and visitors.
• The Child-Centred Community Development approach is intrinsic to all programme work.
• The Country Office meets performance against organisations management standards at all times including Audits and Risk management.

Plan International’s work will be well funded with continuous portfolio growth

• The role will provide leadership in exploring and diversifying new program and business opportunities from institutional and other donors, contributing to Plan International CAR’s growth as per its strategic plan;
• Actively identifying and seeking to maximize the potential opportunities that are in line with Plan’s CAR’s Recovery/Strategic Plan;
• Lead the future assessment, review of donor requirements and analysis of the potential opportunities relevant to the Plan International strategy, local context, expertise and experience;
• Engage with Plan colleagues in the regional office and national organisations, based on the approved business opportunities and donor possibilities;
• Provide strategic leadership over business development processes and new acquisitions;
• Representation to donor agencies, UN and other strategic stakeholders ensuring high profile for Plan and strategic engagement and representation in any high-level fundraising forum.;
• Oversight of delivery of the entire (mainly grants-funded) portfolio, on time, with clear measurable impact on children and in full compliance with donor and Plan International requirements;
• Stay abreast of CAR’s humanitarian and development policies and best practices with particular attention to issues pertaining to health, education protection, development and overall support for children and their communities.

Plan’s work in CAR will be recognised locally and internationally as effective and relevant to the needs of highly vulnerable children

• Representation of the work to all key stakeholders (local leaders, donor representatives in the country, INGOs locally and internationally) regularly promotes the issues being addressed and the work addressing them.
• Initiate and engage in extensive collaboration and consultation with local and central authorities, INGOs, national NGOs and local communities.
• Timely and engaging external communications keeps Plan at the forefront of the issues affecting children in CAR.
• Sharing Plan International CAR’s experience and collaborating with other countries of the region in a shared service approach regarding the technical and operational aspects of our programs and interventions.

Dealing with Problems

• Quick ability to understand the complexity of Plan’s business model, organisational structures and decision-making processes.
• Dealing with security/emergency conditions – the Country Director has to be actively involved in having security information and providing clear guidance for the safety and security of staff, assets and programmes.
• Monitoring and addressing any changes in the legal and political environment in the country with respect to Government expectations and requests.
• Flexibility to support other Country Offices across the Region.
• Sponsorship requests – this includes finding out new ways of managing sponsorship, retention of sponsors and children.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Key relationships

Internal:

• Regular contact with other Country Directors, especially in the Regional Leadership Team.
• Collaboration with other Country Offices through technical and operational hubs and mutual shared service agreements.
• The Regional Office Management Team
• Departments at International Headquarters who may guide and advise on Global Standards for our operations.
• National Office programme departments around funding opportunities.

External:

Plan International CAR works in partnership with a number of local and international organizations to advance the cause and interest of children. Plan International is also a member of various thematic groups and works closely with government ministeries and authorities and national and regional level, the INGO Platform (CCO), UN and donor representatives in CAR.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• Relevant University degree in the humanitarian and development sector including social science, business administration or another related field.
• Proven experience in leading teams and managing large programmes in a complex humanitarian context.
• Demonstrable knowledge, as a result of study, training or practical experience, on the key debates in development and emergency response methods and effectiveness, particularly about rights-based programming for child rights.
• Experience and understanding of the concepts of sustainable community development and participatory approaches and practice in development interventions.
• Proven understanding of “gender in development” concepts and the promotion of girls’ rights in the context of relevant International Conventions (Convention of the Rights of the Child, Convention for the Eradication of Discrimination against Women) and the Global Goals (SDGs).
• Knowledge of CAR political-economy context and sensitivities, CAR geopolitical factors affecting child-poverty in the country and the political, social and environmental opportunities for change is an advantage
• Knowledge of the donor context in the country/region/globally and requirements of donor compliance and financial management
• Knowledge of programming in difficult environments with good understanding and appreciation of the historical, security context, political environment, economic, social/religious and humanitarian context in CAR or a comparable environment.
• Fluency in written and spoken French

Desirable

• Proven skills in the development and management of effective and motivated teams, including distance management
• Effective working with and through partners
• Proven negotiation skills with Governmental and non-Governmental actors
• Communications, comfortable with the media, presenting and arguing a case
• Proven analytical skills in isolating priorities and tackling them
• Excellent written skills in English for the development of proposals and the review of reports.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives

Physical Environment

Based in the country office located in Bangui with extensive local and some international travel.

Level of contact with children

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children