Project Manager – Mozambique

Helpcode seeks to recruit a Project Manager to lead the implementation of its programme in Manica Province, Mozambique. Under the direct line management of the Country Representative and Mozambique Program Manager, the Project Manager will be responsible for successfully implementing Helpcode’s 32 months program in Manica, with a focus on agricultural development and social inclusion, in close cooperation with the project partners, local institutions, beneficiaries, and stakeholders.

Professional profile: Project Manager
Department: Project Unit
Location: Mozambique
Duration of contract: 12 months, renewable, from November 2022 (tentative)

Background
Helpcode was established in 1988 in Genova, Italy, as a non-profit international solidarity organization working in the South of the world with child-centered projects mainly focused on education and community development. The activities started in Mozambique during the civil war. From the beginning Helpcode work focused on improving the wellbeing of children and on ensuring that they could go back to school, considering primary education, hygiene and health the fundamental objectives of our work.
Today Helpcode is operational in Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tunisia, Libya, Ukraine, Slovakia, Yemen, Nepal, Cambodia, Switzerland and Italy, and operates both in development and humanitarian response with a focus on the following areas of intervention: education, agricultural development, food security and livelihood, climate change mitigation, access to water, health and hygiene, health, gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, protection and GBV response, peace education.

Helpcode in Mozambique
Helpcode operates in 5 Provinces across Mozambique: Maputo, Sofala, Manica, Cabo Delgado and Inhambane with a focus both on development and humanitarian response. In development, Helpcode implements projects funded by a variety of donors (UN agencies, European Union, Bilateral agencies, private donors), focusing on: rural and agricultural development; Child protection; Gender equality; Education; WASH; Socio-economic empowerment with a focus on women and youth; Peace and citizenship education in post-conflict settings. Helpcode current emergency program focuses on protection, GBV response, livelihood and WASH in hard to reach Districts in Cabo Delgado Province.

Helpcode implements activities adopting a fully localised and coordinated approach. Activities in Mozambique are designed, planned, implemented and monitored in full coordination and collaboration with key community representatives and stakeholders, including community leaders, women’s groups, IDPs focal points, community-based organizations, school directors, teachers, members of the School Councils (including students’ representatives), Water Committees, Consultative Councils, farmers’ associations, health personnel, making sure that women and youth are represented and given voice. Helpcode uses participatory methodologies not only to design

interventions but also to inform, share ideas with and increase awareness among community members, including through community dialogues, theatre sessions, mobile cinema, participatory action research conducted by community members.

The team in Manica will work under the supervision of and in coordination with the country main office in Maputo, and the HQ based in Italy – both offices realizing regular monitoring visits and internal training. The team is fully trained and compliant with the internal HELPCODE procedures (including PSEA), namely responding to the Audit unit based in Manila and the programmatic unit in Italy.

Objective
The Project Manager will lead the implementation of Helpcode programme in Manica Province, Mozambique and will be responsible for ensuring that the project objectives are achieved in line with Helpcode and Donor procedures. S/he will contribute to the development of the Organization’s presence in the project area and will coordinate with institutions, local stakeholders and Donor’s representatives.

Main responsibilities and tasks

Project management

• Ensures an effective planning and implementation of the project as well as timely delivery of services in line with the targets set in the project description.
• Guarantees an efficient financial management for the project, in compliance with Helpcode model and donor procedures
• Conducts regular meetings with the project staff and support them as needed to follow up on project implementation including revision of targets against achievements, identification of gaps in the response in order to define needed adjustments in the implementation
• Ensure the relationship with the different actors of the project (donor, local partner, local authorities…)
• Overlook at the activities implemented by the project partners

Team Management & Human Resources Management

• Ensures project team management and coordination
• Ensures regular performance evaluation of project staff (national and international and apical staff from the local partners, as needed) in line with internal regulations.
• Ensures timely recruitment of national staff, in coordination with relevant support staff, as per Helpcode policy for staff recruitment.
• Ensures respect of and adherence to Helpcode rules and regulations, code of conduct and PSEA.
• Ensures and proposes capacity-building opportunities for national staff, keeping clear oversight and reporting on trainings attended and conducted by national staff.

Financial Management and procurement

• Prepares and ensures regular update of financial plan.
• Verifies and approves purchases, in line with the budget and the financial and procurement plan.
• Verifies on a weekly basis the bookkeeping entries in the Helpcode accounting spreadsheets; verifies budget line allocations, budget expenditure status against actual delivery and the financial plan for the project implementation period.
• Ensures purchases of goods, services, supplies are in line with the relevant Helpcode procurement guidelines and procurement plan
• Verifies the list of expenditures, prior to finalizing the interim and final financial reports.
• Holds final responsibility for verification of all support documents.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Delivers timely quality reporting on project activities (Monthly, Mid-Year, final report), including findings in terms of impact on individual and communities.
• Provides monthly updates to the Country Representative about project progress including achievements vs targets using Helpcode and donors’ monitoring tools
• Prepares and implements a Monitoring and Evaluation plan

Project Strategy, reporting and planning

• Contributes to the formulation of new projects as well as of the program strategy for the respective area of intervention
• Ensures a comprehensive vision of the intervention strengthening the synergies with other projects implemented in the area.
• Collaborates with the Country Representative, the other Project Manager and the Technical Teams in order to integrate the different intervention in the same long term strategy.

Program Development

• In collaboration with the Program department in HQ and the Country Coordinator, supports the development of the Country Strategy
• Assess emerging needs in line with Helpcode strategy and develop project proposals to be submitted to donors
• Establishes and manages relations pertaining to project activities, with relevant stakeholders, local authorities, relevant donors and institutions. (donor, partner organizations, other stakeholders)
• Proactively participates and represents Helpcode in relevant working groups at the regional level
• Proactively engages in bi-lateral meetings with other INGOs and NGOs active in relevant sectors and geographical areas to avoid duplication, ensure coordination and referral and work for complementary efforts.
• Ensures systematic information and update sharing with the Country Representative and relevant colleagues.

Requirements

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Advanced University degree or equivalent in the field of Development Studies, Agriculture, Project Management
• Fluency in written and spoken Portuguese and English; knowledge of Italian is an asset
• Knowledge of the Mozambican socio-economic background

Professional experience

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in Project Management in development programs
• Proven experience with impact-driven implementation of activities and team management, as well as logistics, M&E and budgeting for programs above 2M EUR
• Previous experience in the country; experience with managing programs funded by EU and AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation) will be considered an asset.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal relationships and good communication and leadership skills
• Capacity to work autonomously and in problems prevention/resolution
• Proven organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks while fostering quality, team spirit and positive working relationships with colleagues
• Integrity in line with Humanitarian Principles and ethical standards
• Excellent reporting and writing skills
• Ability to solve problems independently
• Skills and aptitude for staff training

To apply, send your CV by the form below or to recruitment@helpcode.org, accompanied by a cover letter and the contact for two references by 26th September 2022 indicating the reference PMMOZ2022.