Country Director

Country Director (Madagascar)

Duty Station: Antananarivo 50%, with frequent travel to Fort Dauphin and other field location 50%

Contract Type: Full time (40 hours per week)

Starting Date: As soon as possible

Permits required: Candidates are required to have the right work and residence permits in the country where the role is advertised.

Terre des Hommes NL

Terre des Hommes Netherlands is part of the International Federation of Terre des Hommes organisations, a strategic partnership of member organisations sharing the same brand name and core values for joint lobby and advocacy around children’s rights. Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) protects children by preventing and stopping child exploitation, and by empowering children to make their voices count. Our work is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and seeks to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Under our new Global Strategy (2023 - 2030), TdH NL is redefining and refining our role as a child rights organisation, with the strategic ambition that “by 2030, Terre des Hommes Netherlands is a catalyst for systemic change to stop child exploitation. We do this by empowering children and their communities, connecting them with those who have power to enact change, and utilising our knowledge and expertise to co-create sustainable, evidence-based solutions.”

TdH Netherlands is led by a two-headed Executive Team: the Executive Director and the Director of Programmes.

The values of TdH Netherlands are: Responsible, Bold, Human-Centred and Playful.

The organisation's core principles are: (1)Children at the Centre, (2) Intersectionality and Power Awareness, (3) Safety and Wellbeing, (4) Sustainability, and (5) Meaningful and Strategic Partnerships.

In line with our new strategy, TdH NL is in the process of establishing three thematic programmes under which our portfolio of humanitarian and development projects and programmes will be managed. These are: 1. Child Labour, 2. Sexual Exploitation of Children, and 3. Humanitarian Action. Our programmatic work is supported by two cross-programmatic units: Programme Development and Quality (PDQ), and Research, Expertise and Influencing (REI). Aligned to our new strategy, and based on many years of experience as a child rights organisation, we aim to consolidate our expertise and programme management, informed by research, to bring about sustainable and systemic change in the lives of children, and to hold duty bearers accountable.

The focus of TdH NL regarding humanitarian action is on child protection in emergencies (CPiE), with a particular focus on the protection of children from exploitation.

Purpose of the role

The Country Director will be TdH NL’s representative in Madagascar reporting to the Regional Director, Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya for general direction in terms of realising programs, operational responsibilities, developing strategy and executing. He/she will be accountable for managing and supervising TdH NL’s development and emergency projects in Madagascar, working closely with Global Programme Leads in ensuring delivery of quality results in line with the TdH NL’s global and in-country strategic plan, performance and accountability frameworks. The Country Director will be responsible for managing and growing the grant portfolio, advocacy positioning as well as providing strategic leadership to Madagascar country office staff, in alignment with TdH NL’s organizational core values and practices. He/she will additionally ensure project partners (co) implementing projects meet the set deliverables.

Position in the organisation

The Country Director (CD) position is based in Antananarivo, Madagascar and reports to the Regional Director (RD) based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The CD is expected to spend about 50% of the time in the Country Office in Fort-Dauphin and some travel to the project sites and work closely with TdH NL staff and local co-implementing partners.

Result areas and core activities

1. Realize and develop department policy (including realization of MG Country Strategy)

***Result:***Country annual strategic plan is developed and implemented so that clear and explicit objectives are formulated and realized for the country.

• Work professionally within TdH NL’s policies and codes of conduct, including those related to child protection/safeguarding, confidentiality, safety and security and ethical practice.
  • Ensure that the Country Office and project partners follow the policies, processes and protocol regarding child safeguarding.
  • Communicate incidents and violations of the policies in line with the established protocols.
  • Ensure full adhere to TdH NL integrity framework including the Speak Up! Policy, conflict of interest guidelines and other HR policies.
• Develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies and in line with budgets.
• Work closely with the Regional Director of Africa to ensure goals and objectives are aligned with strategies.
• Identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required.
• Foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning.
• Possess a strong commitment to social justice and development of quality services within the field of child sexual abuse, exploitation and violence.
• Keep up to date with the political, economic, social and technical situation of the country as well as programme related developments and incorporate these developments into annual reports, annual and strategic plans.
• Keep the programme database up to date, analyse the outputs of each programme and reflect on the outcome in terms of planned versus achieved in quarterly and annual reports and annual plans.
• In case of self implementation of programmes, manage the implementation efficiently and effectively to create maximum results at beneficiary level.
• Collaborate with donors that support TdH NL’s project partners and see to it that there is a common understanding on project outputs/outcomes.
• As a member of the programmes team advise the programme development manager, whether solicited or unsolicited on fundraising and programme development opportunities and threats
• Work together closely with the other Country Directors / Country Leads and exchange ideas and experiences.
• Organize the Madagascar country team and coordinate with the Regional Office technical team to undertake fundraising / resource mobilization to operationalise the Madagascar short, medium and long term country plans in line with the global strategy.

2. Finance and administration

Result: The finance and administration of the Country Office is done in line with TdH NL’s finance and administration policies.

• Ensure that TdH NL’s finance and administration policies and operational guidelines are being implemented at the Country Office.
• Approve and ensure timely submission of quarterly funds requests/ disbursements to partners after receipt of quality signed off reports.
• Monitor in close collaboration with the Global finance office, the annual budget spending in relation to the approved annual budget.
• Monitor with the support of the country finance staff, financial management practices and provide immediate backstopping where policies are not followed as expected.
• Immediate report on any violations of the finance policies and procedures.

3. Manage employees

Result: Employees are guided and instructed so that they are motivated to execute their tasks efficiently and effectively.

• Manage the country team to ensure project goals and objectives are achieved, including taking direct project implementation roles as necessary.
• Provide leadership and take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Empower staff to translate vision into results.
• Ensure sufficient staff numbers and capacity is in place in line with the approved annual budget plan and donor project resources.
• In line with the annual performance management plans, regularly discuss performance and provide feedback and coaching to staff.
• Entrench within the Madagascar team a Speak Up! Culture , where staff feel empowered to raise issues without fear of victimization.

4. Facilitate internal management processes

***Result:***Internal management processes are facilitated so that the tasks and activities are efficiently aligned and quality is guaranteed.

• Delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority.
• Anticipate and resolve conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions.
• Accurately judge the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and match tasks to skills.
• Monitor progress against milestones and deadlines.
• Make sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member.

5. Resource mobilization and networking

***Result:***Network is maintained so that cooperation is improved and all parties and individuals involved are correctly and fully informed. Fundraising plans and targets are realized.

• Ensure strong engagement in resource mobilization, including positioning and support to grant acquisition efforts to raise additional resources and diversify TdH NL’s portfolio in Madagascar.
• Recognise fundraising opportunities for TdH NL, take initiative to anticipate them and develop proposals in conjunction with the Regional and Head Offices.
• Establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of groups (government, CSOs, private sector and beneficiaries) to understand project needs and gain support.
• Represent TdH NL in Madagascar, engage and build strategic alliances with government, major donors, other NGOs and media.
• Represent TdH NL by participating in networks related to its mission and vision, and share and learn.

Knowledge and experience

• At least a Masters degree in the Social Sciences, Management or related fields.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional work experience that combines managerial and technical leadership in development cooperation or executive management.
• Professional experience with an INGO, NGO, or governmental organization, in the related field of child protection and safeguarding is an asset.
• Experience in child exploitation and/or child rights is a minimum requirement
• Experience in research and/or evidence-driven programming is recommended
• Experience in fundraising and resource mobilization and both humanitarian and development settings.
• At least five (5) years of leadership experience including supervising teams and managing budgets.
• Proficiency in written and oral English and French are a must.
• Commitment to Terre des Hommes’ values; Bold, Responsible, Playful and Human Centred including willingness to abide by and enforce the Safeguarding policy,

Personal profile

• Strong management skills and track record at national level
• Strong people management skills to include coaching/professional development
• Proven budgeting skills and efficient management of financial resources
• Proven capacity to lead, motivate and develop a team
• Exhibits composure and professionalism.
• Ability to represent TdH NL in Madagascar to donors, government officials, other NGOs, other external stakeholders in a self assured manner
• Excellent negotiating and communication skills
• Strong ability to direct and foster strategic partnerships and position for grants
• Excellent grant acquisition experience, including experience with a diverse set of donors
• Be a person of high professional integrity and firmness to safeguard organizational resources

Our Commitment to Diversity, Integrity and Child Safeguarding

We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and challenge our thinking. We are especially interested in people whose lived experiences help us to see things we might otherwise miss, and enable us to do better work with and for children. Whether or not you meet 100% of the criteria, we want to hear from you, because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world.

TdH NL is committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation. We continue to learn about intersectional considerations and power distribution within our organisation and our work. We are dedicated to preventing and eradicating any type of misconduct including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any other type of misuse of power, lack of integrity or financial misconduct.

Note: We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us, this includes a commitment to diversity and inclusion at all levels of our work. All offers of employment will therefore be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include a valid criminal record check, terrorism finance checks, and/or integrity screenings/references relating to misconduct and disciplinary actions in prior employment.

TdH NL is particularly committed to keeping children and vulnerable individuals safe, and has zero tolerance on (child) abuse. Every TdH NL employee is bound by the TdH NL Code of Conduct that describes the expected behaviour by staff, in particular with regards to Safeguarding children and (young) adults in our programmes. Child safeguarding measures are part of our selection and recruitment process. By submitting your application you accept that TdH NL will conduct such pre-employment screening for successful candidates. TdH NL participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.