Head of Programme and Partnership

EXTERNAL VACANCY RE-ANNOUNCEMENT  

Head of Programme and Partnership

VACANCY REF: ACFHOPP

DATE OF VACANCY: 03/02/2025

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) Nepal is an international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger. Recognised as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF saves the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. With more than 40 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programmes in over 45 countries benefitting seven million people each year. With head offices in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Canada, our international network shares its combined resources, breadth of experience and technical expertise in pursuit of a world without hunger. Every year, our 7,500+ field workers help over 21 million people in over 45 countries worldwide. As a non-governmental, non-profit, non-religious organisation, we are committed to principled humanitarian action as outlined in our International Charter of Principles: independence, neutrality, non-discrimination, free and direct access to affected populations, professionalism and transparency.

Contract type: Fixed term contract

Position: Head of Programme and Partnership

Duration: Until 31 December 2025 (Possibility of Extension based on fund availability and performance) 

Duty station: Kathmandu Valley with field visit

Expected starting date: 15 March 2025 

Number of positions: 1

Reporting to: Country Director 

Supervision: Manage programme team members and partners

Key responsibilities:

Key Responsibility 1: Lead the program need identification and support country director for country situation analysis

• Identify humanitarian and development needs in different provinces/working areas, brief country team and facilitate design potential responses/programme based on ACF strategy.
• Update country context in terms of new project development in relation to health, nutrition, mental health, water and sanitation, food security, livelihood and disaster etc. 
• Collect, summarise and analyse information from external sources, technical colleagues and partners for future opportunities.

Key Responsibility 2: Coordination with technical sectoral team on strategic planning to ensure effective operational management

• Ensure the alignment of country programme design and implementation contributing to ACF Nepal Country Strategy and International Strategic Plan III and IV
• Prioritise program needs to develop strategic pathways within ACF Nepal, with Partners and relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitate and promote coordination and integration among all technical sectors in order to propose coherent and efficient programming.
• Conduct regular supportive supervision and monitoring of the field activities and report on progress, problems and challenges. 
• Promote conducive working environment for direct reports, collaborative work among ACF and implementing partner teams and take actions to prevent or manage conflicts.

Key Responsibility 3: Develop and launch projects, programmes in collaboration with the partners, government authorities and relevant stakeholders, focusing on capacity building and knowledge transfer

• Support partner selection for interventions, strengthening strategic partnerships framing formal agreements, Memorandum of Understanding, and partnership coordination.  
• Reinforce partner capacities in carrying on program and mobilize resources and expertise for capacity building as needed. 
• Liaise with country team and HQ referent on developing sectoral projects, programmes and advocacy initiatives.
• Coordinate with different Government tiers/levels for needful strategic interventions especially with relevant ministries, provincial and local government.
• Ensure that overall program budgets are respected in relation with relevant technical and support departments.

Key Responsibility 4: Support Country Director for Fundraising and Grant Management for program

• Support CD on donor mapping for fundraising opportunity for different project and programmes in relevant sectors and areas.  
• Actively contribute in identifying funding opportunity in collaboration with program team, government stakeholders and strategic/standby/ academic partners. 
• Provide inputs to interim, quarterly and final reports of the donors, and archiving.
• Coordination with DROD and Regional Technical Advisors to mobilize resources and identify funding for ongoing and future program activities.
• Refine/Update capacity statements and country profiles to be more visible on country office capabilities and to share with different stakeholders. 
• Oversee provision of internal information systems on projects, programmes and performance for donor and external reporting with Contract and Report follow up (CRFU).   

Key Responsibility 5: Oversee the implementation of MEAL strategic framework through partnership

• Update and disseminate MEAL strategy aligned with the Country Strategy within ACF Nepal, partnerships teams and relevant stakeholders. 
• Develop strong monitoring systems within the framework of the project needs as well as strategic needs of ACF Nepal.
• Build teams and partners capacity on programme development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and MEAL capacity e.g. digital data collection, real time reporting, online survey etc. 
• Facilitate regular learning, review, planning with internal and partner teams. 
• Support partners to produce quality analysis and reports to disseminate for cross-learning and sharing within ACF internally, internationally and externally with other stakeholders.
• Ensure monthly, quarterly, bi-annual activity progress reporting is adequately analysed and shared timely. 

Key Responsibility 6: Representation of Action Against Hunger and its positioning

• Inform national and international authorities, partners and relevant stakeholders to make them aware of ACF positions and protocols in technical areas like health, nutrition, food security and livelihood, water and sanitation and mental health.  
• Lead technical advocacy actions along with line manager and other technical ACF colleagues on organisational thematic issues. 
• Undertake analysis and report in regard to government guidelines and instructions.
• Represent ACF in different task force and/or working groups leading in technical areas like health, nutrition, food security and livelihood; and MEAL. 
• Support technical team in external representation.

Key responsibility 7: Other 

• Proactively support ACFs commitments to gender equality, child protection and disability sensitivity
• Comply with Safeguarding Policy and the relevant annexed policies, which fall under its scope.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS:

• A Master's degree in Environmental Science, Social Science, Agriculture, Development Studies, Climate Change Adaptation, or relevant discipline with a minimum of eight years of experience in a related field, including at least four years in a senior management role with team leadership responsibilities.
• Proven experience in supervising Multi-sectoral Programme, advocacy, Risk and Disaster Management, and research projects.
• Support fundraising proposals and networks.
• Strong team management skills, with the ability to lead diverse teams and foster a collaborative work environment.
• Solid knowledge of climate change adaptation strategies.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Strong oral and written proficiency in both Nepali and English.
• Advanced analytical skills.
• High computer literacy, with proficiency in database and spreadsheet applications like Excel, and experience with statistical and other M&E software (e.g., ENA, SPSS).
• Sensitivity and responsiveness to Gender, Age, Diversity, and Social Inclusion (GADSI) considerations.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and perform under pressure.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Innovative problem solver with a results-oriented mind set.

Applications:

Interested Nepali applicants with suitable skills are requested to submit a motivation letter, updated CV, Salary expectation with three referees through email: recruitment@np-actionagainsthunger.org by 17 February 2025 by 5 pm Nepal time. However, Position will be filled on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

The Vacancy Reference (ACFHOPP) must be mentioned in the title of the email otherwise the application may be disqualified. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further process. ACF reserves the right to reject any or all applications. Telephonic inquiries will not be entertained.

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people with disabilities and members from disadvantaged /underrepresented ethnic groups.