Social Protection Programme Manager

Job Description

1. Introduction

Irish Aid is the Irish Government’s programme for overseas development and is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy; in Tanzania, the Irish Aid programme is managed by the Embassy of Ireland. The Embassy works with the Government of Tanzania, UN agencies, international research institutions, civil society organisations and other development partners to deliver on our overall goal of inclusive growth and reduced poverty and vulnerability in Tanzania.

The programme is guided by a five year Mission Strategy 2017-21 which is aligned with the Tanzanian Five Year Development Plan 2. A key outcome area in our new strategy is to ensure poor households increase their income and consumption and secure access to productive resources.

Our efforts are focussed on ensuring public programmes including social protection better support poor people, particularly women, to increase their resilience and generate more sustainable livelihoods. A key focus is on ensuring a sustainable national social protection policy and delivery mechanism are in place. In particular we are interested on the potential of social protection instruments to enhance livelihoods for the poorest households.

Across all our work we take account of women’s agency, women’s economic empowerment, improved health and wellbeing outcomes for women and girls and reduction in gender based violence. A commitment to research, monitoring and learning underpins our approach to programme implementation and delivery.

2. The Position

The Embassy is now seeking to recruit a highly motivated and experienced Social Protection Programme Manager to join its Team. The successful candidate will report to the Deputy Head of Development and work closely with other members of the Livelihoods Team. The post holder will be responsible for the Embassy’s engagement in social protection policy and programmes, for the management of partners and for the design of a new programme aimed at supporting poor households to realise their right to secure and resilient livelihoods.

The primary duties and responsibilities of this post are:

Programme Development and Management

• Support the design and manage the Embassy’s Social Protection programme including planning, monitoring and management of the Mission’s support in the area.
• Develop key partnerships with the Government of Tanzania and other stakeholders
• Strengthen livelihood enhancement in social protection programmes
• Working with the Embassy’s Gender Adviser, ensure that gender equality, and in particularly, women’s economic empowerment, is effectively mainstreamed through the Mission’s programming in this area.
• Represent the Embassy on appropriate working groups and coordination structures for the Productive Social Safety Net programme and the Social Protection Policy.
• Support identification and commissioning of relevant research and analysis which informs Ireland’s approach to social protection in Tanzania.
• Co-ordinate research and documentation of lessons learnt, ‘best practice’ and emerging thinking relating to social protection in Tanzania and globally.
• Ensure effective management of programme partners, in-line with the Irish Aid Grant Management Standards.

Communications and advocacy

• Support the development of policy coalitions to advocate for a comprehensive national social protection policy, a sustainable financing framework and national delivery mechanisms.
• Ensure public communications and public diplomacy reflect Ireland’s strong commitment to social protection.
• Provide briefing material as required, including regular updates on social protection policy environment

Coordination and Integration of Social Protection in other sectors

• Build synergies between social protection and livelihoods, health and nutrition interventions
• Support the integration of climate resilience into social protection

Support the strategy of building evidence for learning

• Analyse key research studies, evaluations, and reports to identify and document lessons, and produce analytical summaries for internal use and / or policy application;
• Explore areas where Irish Aid can enhance its contribution to policy research, in accordance with the commitments in the mission strategy;
• Contribute brief articles, accounts, photographs and or case studies with particular emphasis on demonstrating the evidence and impact of the Irish Aid programme;

Input into Irish Aid policies and strategies

• Actively engaging with Irish Aid Headquarters and Social Protection Staff in other KPIs on issues relating to social protection policy, to ensure consistency with Irish Aid policies and strategies.

3. Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A post-graduate qualification in development economics, social policy, rural development, or related discipline relevant to the requirements of this post;
• A minimum of four years relevant experience working in the field of social policy/social protection. It is desirable that at least 3 of these years will have been spent working at a senior level with a locally based or international organization.
• A sound understanding of the political, economic, social and cultural environments impacting on social protection and livelihoods in Tanzania, including a clear understanding of the relevant Tanzanian policies and institutional frameworks .
• Experience in planning and management for results
• Excellent management skills and experience of managing partners
• Experience with / proficiency in the analysis, management and synthesis of reports; research skills and experience in managing research also desirable
• Excellent communication skills including excellent written and verbal skills in English; fluency in Swahili is desirable
• Strong IT skills
• Evidence of good interpersonal networking and communication skills.

4. Performance management

The Embassy of Ireland operates a Performance Management Development System (PMDS) based on that used in the Irish Civil Service. Staff members agree, with their manager, goals, key tasks and targets aligned to an annual business plan. Performance is reviewed mid-year and at year-end. The PMDS also includes agreed on-going professional development actions.

5. Outline Terms and Conditions

• This position will be offered on a three-year renewable basis. A six month probationary period will apply.
• The annual salary for this position will be TZS 88,303,839.
• The Embassy offers an employee health benefits scheme.
• There are 24 days annual leave.

6. Application

Interested candidates should request an application form by e-mail to DESrecuitment[at]dfa[dot]ie.

Applicants should submit (i) a completed application form; (ii) a cover letter outlining their suitability for this post and their interests / motivations in working for Irish Aid / The Embassy of Ireland and (iii) their current Curriculum Vitae with a list of referees including current manager to DESrecuitment[at]dfa[dot]ie by 4pm on Monday 15th May 2017.

“By submitting information electronically, parties accept that data may not be fully secure.
Parties may alternatively deliver their applications to the Embassy of Ireland by hand or by courier to: Embassy of Ireland, 353 Toure Drive, Masaki. P O Box 9612, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Envelopes should be clearly marked “Application for the Social Protection Programme Manager position”

Any personal information submitted to us will only be used for its intended purposes and will be destroyed when no longer needed. Any other processing or disclosure of personal data is not allowed other than in the exceptional circumstances provided for under the Data Protection Acts.”

• The Irish Embassy in Tanzania is an equal opportunities employer.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.