Programme Officer (m/f)

Description

• The Flanders Chancellery & Foreign Office is looking for a Programme Officer for the country office in Maputo city (Mozambique). This position comprises the oversight and follows up of the Flemish Development Cooperation programme, which aims to strengthen the health sector in Mozambique
• The Flanders Chancellery & Foreign Office manages the international relations of the Government of Flanders (Belgium). It is responsible for coordinating Flanders' actions at both international and European level and is therefore in charge of Flanders' relations with foreign governments, the European Union and international organizations
• In order to carry out this remit, the Flanders Chancellery & Foreign Office relies on the enthusiastic commitment of: Some 280 members of staff at the central administration in Brussel
• The Flemish team within the Belgian Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels, led by a Diplomatic Representative of Flanders, and Diplomatic Representations of Flanders in the neighbouring countries and with a number of selected countries and international organisations worldwide: the Netherlands (The Hague), Germany (Berlin), France (Paris), UNESCO, OECD and Council of Europe (Paris), the United Kingdom and Ireland (London), Italy (as well as FAO, WFP and IFAD, Rome), Scandinavia (Copenhagen), Poland and the Baltic States (Warsaw), Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic (Vienna), United States (New York), Southern Africa (Pretoria) and the United Nations in Geneva
• You will be the Programme Officer for Mozambique, reporting to the Deputy Diplomatic Representative based in Maputo, and communicating with the central administration in Brussels, as well as with our partners in Mozambique. The working languages are English and Portuguese
• This position is part of the Diplomatic Representation of Flanders in Southern Africa. The head office is located in Pretoria (South Africa), with satellite offices in Maputo (Mozambique) and Lilongwe (Malawi). The main responsibilities are overseeing, strategically advising and monitoring the development cooperation programmes of the Government of Flanders, in Mozambique focusing specifically on the Health sector. More information on the Diplomatic Representation of Flanders in Southern Africa is available at http://www.flanders.org.za. The country office in Maputo is housed in the same building as the federal representation (Embassy of Belgium) and Enabel
• Cooperation with Mozambique is mainly aimed at improving access to health care, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups. We invest primarily in sexual and reproductive health, better training for health personnel, and strengthening the capacities of the health system in general, based on an explicit rights-based approach and with strong focus on quality and equity. The current portfolio consists of 14 projects worth over 12 million euros. Our partners are Mozambican public authorities, including local and decentralised authorities, as well as local and international NGOs, and multilateral organisations. Flanders also provides support to Mozambique in the sectors of climate change, humanitarian aid and cultural heritage
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Duties

• Cooperation with foreign partners
• Flemish development cooperation, with a geographical focus on Southern Africa
• Creation and transposition of European legislation, and conclusion and ratification of international treaties
• International and European trade policy
• Control of the import, export and transit of arms and other strategic goods from Flanders

Result Areas

• Once you have familiarised yourself with the work, your duties will include, amongst others, the following:
• Overseeing and supporting the monitoring and evaluation of the development cooperation programme in Mozambique. This includes doing the follow-up of the required narrative and financial reports from the implementing organisations, ensure compliance with the Flanders Government regulations and internal policies, reporting on ongoing projects and grant files, maintaining good working relations with the implementing organisations, carrying out on-site monitoring visits, participating in consultation and steering committees, supervising evaluations and audits, and promoting synergy and knowledge exchange between all stakeholders involved
• Reporting in a systematic way to the Deputy Diplomatic Representative on the implementation of the projects and identifying bottlenecks and problems and/or best practices; consolidating the project results up to the level of the country and sector programmes of the partner country
• Supporting the identification of potential new partners and projects, including through the organisation of a call for proposals and assessment of grant applications. The Deputy Diplomatic Representative will be able to call on the sector-specific expertise of the Programme Officer for this purpose
• Offering support in all aspects of policy analysis. Providing advice on the health sector in general and specifically for Mozambique, including performing literature reviews and keeping organisational knowledge up to date; monitoring current evolutions within the sector and bringing important and relevant trends and events to the attention of the Deputy Diplomatic Representative
• Participating in, and representing the Government of Flanders at technical meetings; drafting meeting agendas and minutes, reports, memoranda, letters, and speeches in English and Portuguese
• Supporting the Deputy Diplomatic Representative in various aspects of representation and coordination, for example for activities related to Flanders’ contribution to the Prosaude Common Sector Fund and the Donor coordination
• Supporting the organisation and supervision of missions and representational activities

Requisites

• At least three years' work experience in a relevant position with proven responsibility for project monitoring and/or project implementation
• Demonstrable experience in substantive and financial monitoring and evaluation of projects and project monitoring in the health sector
• Holding a higher education diploma (Licenciatura or Master’s level) with a minimum of 4 years of higher education at an institution/university recognised by the Mozambican Government (or equivalent)
• Having Mozambican nationality or being in possession of a permanent residence or other legal permission to work in Mozambique. Please note that the employer will not be able to assist with obtaining a work visa for this position
• Knowledge of and experience with project management, project identification or design, monitoring and evaluation methods, and programme management and planning in general
• Experience with on-site visits of projects and partners to support identification, monitoring findings and reporting
• Knowledge of, and experience in, the health sector in Mozambique; experience on a decentralized level (Provinces, districts, communities) is an advantage
• Experience with drafting reports, presentations, meeting agendas and minutes, letters, or memoranda in Portuguese and English
• Knowledge of the general principles of sexual and reproductive health, gender, human rights, good governance, sustainable development, and climate change is an advantage
• Experience with pooled funding mechanisms and donor coordination is an advantage
• Oral and written knowledge at proficiency level in Portuguese and intermediate level in English
• Excellent knowledge of the standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PPT, Internet Explorer, etc.)
• Planning & organisation: You can effectively and independently set goals and priorities and identify the necessary actions, time and resources to achieve them in an efficient way.
• Analysis: You contextualise a problem and efficiently search for additional relevant information
• Results-oriented: You undertake concrete and targeted action to achieve or exceed objectives
• Self-development: You continue to improve your performance by learning and growing along with changes
• Communication: You convey information and ideas in writing and/or orally in a comprehensible manner.
• Cooperation: You contribute to a joint result in a team or project, even if this is not immediately of personal interest.
• Networking: You develop and sustain professional relationships, alliances and coalitions whereby you obtain information, support and cooperation.
• Initiative: You identify opportunities and take/propose action on your own initiative

Benefits

• You will be part of an open and energetic organization that vigorously anticipates the evolutions and needs of society. Together with all the stakeholders, you will contribute to a sustainable service provision with confidence and in the public interest There is ample opportunity for (further) training and support with modern ICT tools
• The workload can be high, but we also value the best possible life/work balance: we offer you 30 days of annual leave on top of the days between Christmas and New Year
• You will be recruited at the corresponding AAA scale and receive an end-of-year bonus
• Based on the job requirements, relevant professional experience may be recognised by the line manager
• The employer will pay up to 85% of a standard health plan
• Your first 6 months will be a trial period with an individual training programme

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Due to the COVID-19 crisis, application procedures may be carried out online or may be subject to delays. The timing of this application procedure will be adjusted accordingly, or more digital screening may be carried out. We will ensure that you are notified timeously.
• Module 1: First Screening
• Screening on the basis of formal selection criteria
• We will verify that you meet the formal selection criteria mentioned on the basis of your CV, diploma and motivation letter.
• The 25 candidates who fulfil the formal criteria and have the most relevant competences and demonstrable experience will take part in the subsequent selection procedure
• The first screening will take place during the week of 14 February 2022 (date subject to change).
• Preselection based on language tests and test case
• Language Tests: The following competencies will be tested by means of a written and oral language test, conducted by an independent language centre:
• Written knowledge of English (intermediate level)
• Written knowledge of Portuguese (proficiency level)
• CASE: The test will consist of:
• a case study
• a reading comprehension test
• The language tests and the assessment (case and reading test) will take place in the period from 21 February to 4 of March 2022. (date subject to change)
• This preselection is eliminatory. To participate in the next module, candidates must pass the language tests and score at least 50% on each of the components, and rank among the 8 highest-scoring candidates. These 8 highest-scoring candidates will be invited to take part in the next module. Should one of the 8 highest-scoring candidates withdraw their candidacy during this preselection, the next best scoring candidate can be invited to participate
• Module 2: Job-Specific Screening
• On the basis of an extensive jury interview and the results of the previous tests, delegates from the recruiting entity will assess the following criteria:
• Your motivation
• Your vision on, and understanding of, the job
• Your technical competencies, including language competences
• Your personal competencies
• Your employability in the job and within the organization
• This module will be eliminatory and take place in Maputo in the week of 6 of March 2022. (Location and date subject to change)
• On the basis of the overall picture obtained, you will be deemed to have 'passed' or 'not passed' the job selection procedure.
• An additional personality test may be part of the selection process
• Your application must be in English or Portuguese in order to be considered and be assessed.
• If you would like additional information on the job content, selection criteria and conditions of employment, please contact: Elisa Lunghi - maputo@flanders.eu - +258 847287094
• If you want more information on the selection procedure or have technical or practical issues, please contact: Alice Madeira - Alice.madeira@heading.co.mz - +258 843122857