Nepal: Senior Project Formulation Officer (SPFO)

Norlha is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious association headquarters based in Lausanne, Switzerland with an office in Kathmandu that supports remote communities in the Himalayas in building capacities that will allow their sustainable development, through integrated projects in agriculture and livelihood, income generation, gender, disaster risk reduction and environment with a strong focus on supporting women. Currently Norlha plans to develop projects and is looking for:

Senior Project Formulation Officer (SPFO)

Kathmandu based position

The Senior Project Formulation Officer (SPFO) is in charge of program and projects formulation and new business development for Norlha in Nepal. The position holder works closely with project formulation team in Norlha Office Kathmandu and Lausanne. The position holder is directly reporting to and subordinate to Head of Regional Office in Nepal.

Mission and activities

Planning

• Follow project formulation process and procedures during program and project design,
• Undertake sector, need t, and baseline assessment in coordination with responsible program officer,
• Develop a system to collect issues, ideas and encourage colleagues working with you to come up with new and practical ideas and technologies for development,
• Review development documents and leanings in the areas of Norlha strategic and country program focus,
• Lead and formulate new concepts and project proposals in collaboration with thematic experts, project officers, and external advisors.

Budgeting

• Prepare budgeting criteria and tools for the partners based on donor’s requirement,
• Prepare program and activity budgets for specific projects in planning with the help of finance officers and managers,

Monitoring data use and assurance

• Analyze existing monitoring database and provide feedback, prepare tool based on the feedback to keep records that helps both change analysis and project formulation,
• Support updating monitoring database by program officers and field technical officers,
• Review monitoring reports prepared and submitted by the project team and use these information for new business development ,
• Review quarterly, annual learning and reports to capture field based issues, contexts, challenges and prospective solutions,
• Participate in review and monitoring meetings with partners,
• Ensure monitoring recommendations are implemented by the partners and program/ project team,
• Ensure quality of monitoring data and reports,
• Ensure program and project objectives level data received from the field are in line with Norlha impact focus,

Evaluation and learning use

• Prepare ToR for internal and external evaluation team members or consultants,
• Review evaluation reports, provide the evaluator with management feedback, and ensure quality and standards of the report,
• Ensure evaluation recommendations are implemented by the concerned stakeholders,
• Ensure evaluation learning shared, disseminated, and used for a new project formulation,
• Lead end line assessment for existing projects

Coordination and team mobilization

• Mobilize volunteers, consultants, think -tanks, thematic advisors, and external stakeholders in getting feedback on draft project design and incorporate the received feedback in final version of the design,
• Establish close links with concerned line ministry and department for project designing process engagement and endorsement,
• Participate in innovation, planning, monitoring and evaluation results dissemination meetings and conferences,

Analysis of funding opportunities and donors relation

• Establish close relationship with potential funding partners and donors in Nepal or outside,
• Analyses and update existing potential funding partners’ minimum requirements and interest and provide the management with concrete feedback and decision,
• Contribute to taking decision by Norlha on whether to take part in the competitive bidding process or not if there is a call for proposals,
• Seek unsolicited funding sources, information and explore further opportunities for funding new projects,
• Support partnership department for funding proposal finalization.

Minimum requirement

• 7+ years of working experience in project formulation and development
• Master in Development Studies, Management or Project Planning
• Trainied in project cycle management, planning, monitoring and evaluation
• Technical expertise on issues, problems analysis and project formulation,
• Competencies on analyzing rural context and local stakeholders’ interest,
• Field working experiences in different dynamics of rural development,
• Socio-economic research skills,
• Competence in using statistical tools and analyzing data,
• Outgoing and good interpersonal skills,
• Experience working with international development organizations
• Analytical writing and critical thinking skills, and
• Willing to work in a team with professional conduct.

Norlha offers

• An opportunity to employ your project design skills and to develop further in broad international scope
• Engagement in poverty reduction and development of people in need, focus on capacity building
• Experience in working with top management in an international NGO
• Working in an enthusiastic and motivated cohesive team,
• High degree of autonomy, good sense of responsibility, ample room for initiative
• Competitive salary and benefits policy

Duration: long-term engagement

Working time: full time

Location: Norlha office in Kathmandu

Application Process: please send your cover letter and CV by July 10 2016 to nepal@norlha.org ref SPFO

Expected start date: as soon as possible, upon mutual agreement

Female and candidates particularly from disadvantaged and socially excluded groups are highly encouraged to apply.