Job: Programme Adviser for IMS MENA Department

Programme Adviser for IMS MENA Department

Who we are 

International Media Support (IMS) supports local independent media and media advocacy groups in countries affected by conflict, political transition, and authoritarian rule. Established in 2001, the organisation has since worked with hundreds of local and international partners to support independent journalism, freedom of expression, and the safety of journalists. In the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, we work with partners to further the safety of journalists, promote freedom of expression, strengthen media institutions, and support media content producers.

Job Summary

IMS seeks a candidate with extensive experience in working across the programme cycle incl. programme development, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), and donor reporting. The right candidate must be well versed in the programmatic aspects of international development cooperation and possesses strong knowledge of results-based management. 

The objective of the position is to lead the integration of results-based management practices into the MENA Department’s programme cycle, to increase focus on results and help showcase the long-term effects of IMS’s work in MENA. This will be achieved by supporting programmes in results-based planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. 

The Programme Adviser will be part of the MENA Programme Development team and contribute to the overall aim of establishing a clear, comprehensive, and utilised approach to programme cycle management in the MENA Department.

Key functions and responsibilities

The scope of work will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

Programme Development:

• Support programme design processes including assessments, proposal development, technical quality assurance, programme strategy development, and negotiating partnerships with donors.

MEL:

• In alignment with IMS’s institutional MEL approaches, support the development of a robust results-based MEL workflow across the MENA department that can ensure tracking of programme results and progress, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Lead the implementation of the results-based MEL workflow across MENA programmes e.g., via peer-to-peer support and simple user-friendly approaches.
• In close collaboration with the MENA Data Harvest Adviser, ensure monitoring data are readily available, as appropriate to programme teams, institutional units, and other relevant stakeholders. 
• Lead both internal and external evaluation processes, including the support of designing evaluations in close coordination with programme teams.
• Support lessons learnt and recommendations harvested from across the MENA department are incorporated into new or ongoing programmes.

Donor Reporting:

• Responsible for coordinating MENA donor reporting processes with programme teams and other relevant contributors.
• Responsible for producing annual donor grant reports, as well as providing quality assurance and support to programme teams on interim donor reporting.

Other areas of work:

• Support quality assurance and further defining the common approach and standards of implementation and monitoring and their coherent application across programmes.
• Support facilitation of cross-cutting learning and knowledge sharing initiatives across the MENA Department.
• Support the alignment of IMS’s strategy, institutional objectives, and initiatives, and when relevant, provide technical input to contribute to the quality of programming across IMS, e.g., by liaising closely with IMS’s Gender Organisational Learning and Development (GOLD) Unit.

Qualifications and skills 

• A minimum of five years of professional experience working across the programme cycle, including strong knowledge of results-based management approaches and methods, and working with contextually driven partnership programmes and projects in MENA.
• Solid experience with international development cooperation, specifically in grant management with donors. Candidates experienced working with donors from Nordic countries, and the European Union are highly desirable.
• Experience in providing technical quality assurance and training related to results-based management, incl. simple user-friendly approaches.
• Solid experience with and up-to-date knowledge of M&E tools and methods, for instance, outcome harvesting or most significant change methodologies.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent analytical skills and report writing skills.
• Proven track record of managing processes incl. various stakeholders and making data-driven decisions is an asset.
• Ability to work independently and within a team. 
• A master’s degree within a relevant field of study.
• Excellent written and verbal skills in English is a must. Excellent written and verbal skills in Arabic is a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated interest in and good understanding of the current political and human rights/ media environment in the MENA region. 
• Ability and willingness to travel within the MENA region, and to IMS headquarters in Denmark (Copenhagen) when needed.
• An inherent growth mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, flexibility, and adaptability are essential as well as commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Duration and location 

• Expected length of employment: Open ended contract. 
• Place of employment: Flexible
• Employment type: Full-time 

Organisation

The Programme Adviser refers to the MENA Department’s Programme Development Manager and works closely with the MENA programme teams.

How to apply 

• Applicants are invited to enclose a detailed CV (résumé) with a cover letter, outlining your motivation and how your skills and experience meet the needs of the position. The deadline for submission is March 12, 2024.
• Please direct questions about the position to the Programme Development Manager (MENA), Stine Baltzer Madsen ([email protected])
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We expect to hold interviews ultimo March. 
• Expected entry on May 1, 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.
• For further information about IMS please visit www.mediasupport.org. 

Who can apply?
IMS encourages everyone with the required qualifications and skills to apply, regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural background, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Code of conduct
IMS shows no tolerance to any kind of unwanted behaviour at work, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct. Therefore, all employments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. 

Application due: 12/03/2024

Start date: 01/05/2024

Homepage: https://www.mediasupport.org/

Questions regarding the position: Stine Baltzer Madsen, Programme Development Manager, [email protected]

Apply for position

International Media Support (IMS) is a non-profit organisation working to support local media in countries affected by armed conflict, authoritarian rule and political transition. Across four continents, IMS helps to promote press freedom, strengthen professional journalism and ensure that media can operate in challenging circumstances.

IMS was established in 2001 in the wake of the tragic events in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia where these and other conflicts saw media being manipulated and used as a tool to fuel violent conflict. IMS was set up in response to this trend with the aim to help local media working in conflict-affected areas to remain operative and professional.

We support the production and distribution of media content that meets internationally recognised ethical standards and work to ensure safe media environments with sound laws for journalists. We do this because citizens and leaders need information they can trust to make decisions that develop their societies in a peaceful and democratic way.

The organisation is headed by Jesper Højberg Executive Director of IMS. Our headquarters are based in Copenhagen with field offices currently in Ethiopia, Tunisia, Kenya/Somalia, Thailand/Myanmar, Niger and Pakistan.