About CDF Canada

Formed in 1947, the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF Canada) has focused its efforts on advancing self-reliant, member-owned co-operatives on a global scale. The strength of CDF Canada is grounded in its mission – Acting on Co-operative principles, we partner with communities to achieve sustainable economic and social development – and is at the heart of all strategic activities the organization undertakes. Inclusivity is at the heart of what we do! We recognize the immense value that different experiences and perspectives bring our organization.

Project Summary

The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF Canada) received a multi-year grant from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The program, VOICE for Women and Girls, is being implemented in Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana from 2020 to 2028. The program aims to strengthen the performance of developing country partner organizations to advance gender equality and economic empowerment of 50,000 women and men co-operative members from marginalized communities. VOICE for Women and Girls will harness the knowledge, capacity, and expertise of 245 skilled Canadian volunteers to assist Developing Country Partners (DCP), co-operatives, and credit unions in improving their performance, advocate for gender equality, and implement more sustainable, innovative, and inclusive initiatives of services particularly for women.

Position Overview

The Country Program Officer is a key position within the CDF Canada program team, responsible for supervising volunteers and implementing VOICE for Women and Girls in the country. Reporting to the Regional Coordinator and Program Manager, the officer provides leadership in program implementation, coordination, and performance monitoring. They also manage relationships with partners, volunteers, staff, and beneficiaries, and lead activities for capacity building, compliance, and program monitoring. The successful candidate should be a motivated self-starter, able to work with little supervision, manage teams, and understand beneficiary needs.

Key Responsibilities

Program

·         Manage the project life cycle, including planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

·         Support implementation of the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF).

·         Support collaboration between the program team, implementing partners and other stakeholders.

·         Support efforts to strengthen policies, mechanisms, and legal frameworks that protect, respect, and promote women and girls’ rights.

·         Play an active role promoting the program and its gender equality objectives by participating in relevant meetings and forums at national and regional level. Monitor news, trends and policy developments impacting the key outputs of the project.

·         Strengthen advocacy and communication skills of implementing partners.

·         Support the development and the implementation of CDF Canada Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy and Procedures.

·         Prepares project reports as needed.

Volunteer Management & Support

·         Ability to manage Canadian volunteers deployed to the country.

·         Provide volunteer orientation and training.

·         Ensure volunteer safety and security.

·         Manage the work of volunteers deployed to partner organizations, including their scope of work and activities.

·         Liaise with implementing partners to jointly develop volunteer scopes of work.

·         Monitor volunteer activities and outputs.

·         Maintain regular communication with Head Office and Regional Office about any volunteer issues that may arise.

·         Create an enabling environment for volunteers to be able to perform their duties with implementing partners.

·         Be attentive to volunteers and encourage them to take part in the planning and development of new projects.

·         Ensure volunteer monthly timesheets and reports are submitted to headquarters in a timely manner.

Funds and Budgets

·         Understanding and experience managing budgets and financial reporting.

·         Work closely with other partners, vendors, and financial supporters in developing, maintaining and ensuring adherence to budgets.

·         Review grant proposals.

Reporting

·         Generate reports on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis as required.

·         Contribute to annual work plans, annual reports, mid-term, and final evaluations.

Competencies

·         Extremely organized and detail-oriented with a talent for multi-tasking.

·         Excellent analytic skills.

·         Information management – ability to maintain financial systems, database platforms, update information and prepare reports using relevant data.

·         Must be resourceful, respond quickly to daily needs, and able to hit the ground running.

·         Exceptional interpersonal and group process skills, including the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Headquarters, volunteers, project partners.

·         Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, and trust.

·         Good judgment and maturity, with an ability to identify and address organizational needs, make decisions, develop and justify recommendations, resolve conflicts and be responsive and clear with internal and external stakeholders.

·         Ability to work as a member of a team.

·         Discretion and commitment to organizational reputation and confidentiality.

Qualifications

·         Minimum of bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience.

·         Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.

·         Analytical multi-tasker who consistently meets deadlines.

·         Adapt well to change over the scope of a project or program.

·         Experience in project management, monitoring and evaluation, and business development.

·         Understanding of gender mainstreaming, innovation, and environmental sustainability. Apply project management knowledge regarding development, staffing, budgeting, and scheduling.

·         Knowledge of co-operatives and credit unions is a strong asset.

·         Knowledge of results-based management (RBM) and Global Affairs Canada development programs.

·         Researching grant proposals and funding opportunities.

·         Developing relationships with various community, governmental and other non-profit organizations to raise funds and awareness and build resources.

·         Fluency in English, written and spoken.

·         Knowledge of other regional languages is an advantage.