Rapid Response Lead

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

Department

Program Delivery (PDEL) - Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Delivery Team, contributes to realizing this purpose by: Forging smart partnerships and treating all people with dignity and respect; Applying organizational policies and regulatory compliance appropriately and consistently; Facilitating team spirit among colleagues and promoting the organization through communications; Influencing decision makers through focused, relevant communications; Continually striving to learn and share knowledge and find small ways to make the workplace more enjoyable for all; Cultivating and harvesting innovation; Contributing to the organization’s ability to think and act strategically at all times; Inspiring and spreading our desired organizational culture across the global enterprise.

Position Overview

Pact is recruiting for a Rapid Response Lead for the USAID/ Colombia-funded Venezuelan Migrant Human Rights Activity, Conectando Caminos por los Derechos. The purpose of the Activity is to improve citizen security and community cohesion in migrant receptor communities, with focus on supporting a transition from short-term humanitarian assistance for migrants to long-term development assistance for migrants, Colombian returnees, and receptor communities. To achieve its goals, the Activity works through four inter-related objectives: 1) prevention of human rights violations, 2) strengthening of human rights protection systems, 3) responding to human rights violations, and 4) rapidly responding to changing human rights circumstances and needs in the context of migration flows and unexpected shocks, such as COVID-19.

Conectando Caminos por los Derechos focuses on strengthening local systems, processes, and the capacity of the Government of Colombia (GOC) and non-state actors, such as those in civil society, academia, the media, and the private sector. The Activity prioritizes certain human rights violations, including sexual exploitation, forced recruitment, human trafficking, forced disappearance, gender-based violence (GBV), as well as labor rights, which are of particular importance to migrants in Colombia.

Reporting to the Chief of Party, the Rapid Response Lead will serve as technical lead for the rapid response fund of the Activity and help steer the program in a constantly evolving landscape. More specifically, s/he will: 1) ensure the incorporation of politically-aware programming strategies, processes and tools into the Activity’s implementation approach, and 2) identify and oversee the technical implementation of the rapid response fund through ongoing context analysis, internal review and reflection, and requests from local partners, as well as through proactive information gathering on the shifting social, political, and economic realities in the Activity’s target geographies.

The Context Analysis and Rapid Response Lead will design, carry out and/or oversee Applied Political Economy Analysis (APEA) scans in target geographies and ensure context-relevant programming through a political economy lens. S/he will work closely with Pact’s Grants and Operations Manager, MEL Manager, as well as implementing partners, the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), Internews, and Freedom House, to ensure that contextual and monitoring data feed into internal review and reflection processes that inform rapid response activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and roll out a process for mainstreaming politically aware and context-relevant programming throughout the Activity (e.g., regular feedback loops from field teams, processes for sharing timely information on developments in target geographies, etc.).
• Oversee development and implementation of actor mapping and APEA scans in metropolitan areas to inform opportunity and gap analyses and ensure place-based programming responsive to the unique circumstances in target regions.
• Serve as primary point of contact for and lead technical aspects of the rapid response fund, in close coordination with Grants and Operations Manager, MEL Manager, and implementing partners, as well as with USAID/ Colombia.
• In close partnership with COP, Grants and Operations Manager and other staff, co-develop, roll out and regularly refine and improve the Activity’s rapid response framework, with specific contributions around technical considerations (e.g., criteria for rapid response proposals, identification of opportunities and generation of ideas, selection of partners, activity reporting templates, technical approaches, monitoring, reporting, generation of lessons learned and follow-up activities, etc.).
• Lead weekly reporting process for rapid response activities to USAID/ Colombia.
• Maintain regular contact with CCD staff and partners in Bogota and other regions to ensure timely exchange of information and developments that may affect the course of the Activity.
• Regularly monitor and report on evolving social, political, and economic conditions affecting Venezuelan migrants, Colombian returnees and receptor communities.
• Engage with Pact’s global Governance team to provide inputs for and/or adapt new or promising methodologies for politically aware programming and adaptive management.
• As applicable, provide one-on-one technical assistance, mentoring and coaching to support Activity staff, partners and consultants in context analysis and political aware programming approaches.
• Participate in regular meetings with Activity staff, partners, USAID and other stakeholders to present on the evolving operational landscape and the rapid response fund status.
• Participate in and lead sessions during pause and reflect sessions throughout the life of activity to share insights and lessons learned, and propose adjustments in programming, as needed.
• Partner with the CCD Communications Officer to communicate lessons and successes of rapid response programming
• Other responsibilities, as assigned

Basic Requirements

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as: social science (international development, political science, economics).
• At least 7 years of experience in designing, managing, and implementing politically aware programming and/or in applying political analysis tools in practical programmatic settings.
• Strong understanding of the political, economic, social and/or human rights context in Colombia (experience with and understanding of migration flows, dynamics, challenges and opportunities strongly preferred).
• Strong understanding of national, regional and local contexts of political economy in Colombia, particularly in large metropolitan areas.
• Fluency in Spanish; Professional-level English language skills (written and oral).
• Experience with trust building, engagement of stakeholders at different levels of government and civil society, and community outreach
• Exceptional diplomacy skills
• Strong understanding of international development projects and their operational context.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative M&E data collection and analysis methods.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and managing operational research and evaluations.
• Demonstrated experience in synthesizing and analyzing various data sources for learning and recommendations for programming adaptations.
• Exceptional writing, reporting and oral presentation skills.
• Collaborative spirit in working with teammates and partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Colombian national strongly preferred.
• Experience with technical leadership of rapid response or similar programming (e.g., Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) programs).

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, genetic information, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.

Please click the link to apply for this position: https://careers-pactworld.icims.com/jobs/1432/rapid-response-lead/job