International Budget Partnership hiring a Senior Program Officer.
he International Budget Partnership (IBP) is the global leader working with people and governments to make public budgets transparent and inclusive. We strive to reduce poverty, improve governance, and ensure human rights. For more than 20 years, and with support from the Open Societies, Ford, and Gates Foundations, private individuals, and the UK’s Department for International Development, we work with social movements and grassroots organizations, a wide range of networks, and expert researchers to give civil society a voice and inspire action. With democracies around the world under threat, we are at a pivotal moment and need champions for transparency and accountability.
Established in 1997, the IBP collaborates with civil society organizations in countries around the world to use budget analysis and advocacy as a tool to improve governance and reduce poverty. In addition to its support of civil society efforts within countries to improve budget policies and implementation, IBP and its partners conduct research and advocate at national and international levels for improvements in budget transparency, participation and accountability.
Job purpose and key responsibility areas
The Senior Program Officer for Senegal supports the country manager in the planning and implementation of IBP’s country strategy for Senegal and takes over the functions of the Country Manager when the latter is out of office.
IBP’s Senegal country strategy is aimed at strengthening the impact of civil society advocacy on budget policy and outcomes. Through deep and sustained engagement within the country, IBP seeks to build the expertise and skills of civil society players involved in budget analysis and advocacy, and strengthen the dialogue and partnerships between these groups and other accountability stakeholders, including governments, oversight institutions, and the media, in the budget process. IBP-organized research, technical assistance, and grant making in support of civil society groups and initiatives are all integral components of the work in country.
Job description
Essential duties of the job include, but are not limited to, the following:
Strategy:
-Co-designs strategic plans and priorities for IBP Senegal with the Country Manager, in a manner that ensures that the work in the country best contributes to the realization of IBP’s mission and over-all strategy.
-Helps lead the implementation of the country strategy, including identifying the key program partners, and planning and providing the optimum mix of support that partners require to increase the impact of their advocacy campaigns toward improved budget policy and outcomes.
-Leads on managing relationships with established CSO partners Senegal, including facilitating connections between civil society partners. This also includes the development of agreements and contracts, conceptualizing and implementing technical assistance and training.
-Assists the manager in developing relationships with key accountability stakeholders from academia, government, oversight institutions, media, and other multilateral institutions, as may be appropriate or required; and includes representing IBP in meetings and conferences within the country and region.
-Supports partners in the processes of applying for and overseeing the use of their grant resources from IBP programs, as appropriate and/or required.
-Identifies and recommends research support and technical assistance partners require to effectively implement budget campaigns and engagements. This includes developing, designing, and facilitating specific technical assistance and support activities required by partners.
-Coordinates with all other IBP teams as may be appropriate or needed to support, document, and/or review the implementation of the priorities of the IBP country strategy and/or other IBP in-country work.
Financial management:
-Supports the Country Manager in overseeing sound financial management and assumes signing responsibility when the Country Manager is away.
Others:
-Develops terms of reference for independent contractors required in the implementation of the IBP country strategy, negotiates and secures approval for these terms of reference, manages consultants.
-Supports the country manager in overseeing all grants to partners, provides strategic thinking in building technically and financially grantees.
-Implements and complies with IBP administrative and financial protocols, policies and procedures.
Job requirements
Education:
-Master’s degree, or equivalent experience in a relevant field, required
Experience:
-Minimum 4-7 years of experience in public finance management, government budgeting or public policy, related development field in Senegal
-Experience working with and supporting civil society advocacy, including providing technical assistance and support to analyze public budgets, and engage and advocate for improved budget policy, processes, and outcomes
-Networks in civil society, government in Senegal
Skills:
-Strategic thinker, superior analytical skills; and strong experience in identifying and addressing challenges that relate to the successful positioning of IBP and CSO partners in the country context. This includes:
-Ability to constantly read and interpret the environment for opportunities that will advance IBP’s country strategy priorities in general, and the initiatives of CSO partners directed at realizing budget impacts and outcomes in particular
-Ability to creatively adjust and refine IBP’s country strategy as may be required to take advantage of openings in the environment
-Ability to advise CSO partners on effective strategies for campaigns and engagements,based on extensive knowledge of both successful and less successful approaches and experiences
-Ability to identify potential problems and formulate alternative courses of action
-Skilled applied researcher seasoned in budget analysis and interpretation; and experience in strengthening CSO campaigns and advocacy work through the use of budget research and analysis.
This includes:
-Ability to read and interpret national and local government budget documents, and to use this information in support of CSO campaigns
-Ability to identify and generate the research and budget analysis that strengthen CSO engagements with other accountability actors from government, oversight institutions, and the media
-Ability to support CSO partners strengthen their own skills needed to undertake the research and analysis they require for their campaigns and other advocacy actions
-Strong interpersonal skills, including the sensitivity for building relationships and alliances across different groups, and the ability to thrive in and contribute to a culture of collaboration and teamwork in a diverse work environment. This includes:
-Ability to establish, support, and grow networks of CSOs, including CSO networks for specific service sectors or issues, as well as multi-stakeholder networks where CSOs actively engage
-Ability to effectively facilitate the connections between CSOs partners, and their networks, and other accountability actors from government, oversight institutions, the media, and other CSOs
-Ability to support CSO partners strengthen their own skills needed to undertake the research and analysis they require for their campaigns and other advocacy actions
-Ability to support CSO partners gain the skills to build and strengthen relationships with other accountability actors
-Management experience, covering the key areas of grant management, managing implementation of advocacy, research and networking undertakings, and managing staff and budgets. This includes:
-Ability to effectively oversee the administration of grant awards to CSO partners o Ability to plan, execute and manage budgets for the country program
-Excellent written and verbal communication skills; high-level ability to communicate effectively with partners, colleagues, consultants, and representatives of government and other multilateral organizations
-Demonstrates a high level of organization; a strong ability to prioritize tasks to meet multiple deadlines
-Proficiency with Microsoft Office package, required; proficiency with other specialist software applications, desirable
-Proficiency in languages relevant to the country (French and Wolof) and excellent level in level
Attributes:
-Personal qualities of integrity, credibility and a commitment to and passion for IBP’s mission
-Highly flexible and adaptable to shifting environments and works very well under pressure -Motivated to learn and willing to contribute to learning initiatives
Physical Demands:
-In-country travel may be extensive at times, more limited travel internationally
This is a full-time position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. IBP offers a generous vacation and leave program and competitive benefits. Candidates must be eligible to work in Senegal.
Qualified candidates who are interested in this position should submit a cover application letter and CV in Microsoft Word
