BRI Coordinator - Cowater

Cowater International is an Ottawa-based Canadian management consulting firm specializing in international development. We work primarily on projects funded by donors.  You can learn more about us at www.cowater.com.
We are currently seeking to recruit a BASICS Responsive Initiative (BRI) Coordinator to help implement the CIDA-funded project, Better Approaches to Service Provision through Increased Capacities in Sulawesi (BASICS).  The project  purpose is to link planning and budgeting processes in a participatory, pro-poor, gender equal and environmentally sustainable manner leading to improved MDGs/MSS-based social services provision in selected districts/cities in Sulawesi. 

The BASICS Responsive Initiative (BRI) aims to provide district/city governments with support to strengthen planning and budgeting practices in order to provide more responsive and accountable social services.

Responsibilities of the BRI Coordinator :

Reports to: Government Services & Capacity Development Advisor (GS&CDA)


Job Description:
Key responsibilities the BRI Coordinator will include the following:

•  responsibility for  overall coordination and implementation of the BRI within the established time frame;
• take the lead in establishing, communicating  and enforcing schedules and programs of activities for the effective implementation of the BRI;
• work with the BASICS Finance Manager and BRI Accountant to ensure adherence to all project and BRI operating procedures with particular emphasis on effective procurement and timely financial reporting by the BASICS team and its partners; 
• providing technical and administrative guidance to the BASICS team (principally the Provincial Coordinators, District Facilitators, BRI Accountant, BRI Administration & Finance Assistants) to maximize the effectiveness of BRI activities in line with the approved BRI Service Improvement Strategies and the BASICS Performance Measurement Framework;
• develop management and coordination tools such as guidelines, forms or reporting templates to support the effective implementation of, and reporting on the BRI;
• develop and coordinate monitoring and evaluation procedures in cooperation with the project team and provincial partners; coordinate overall monitoring and evaluation process;  take the lead to ensure measures are generated to strengthen the effectiveness of the BRI implementation based on progress and lessons learned from year to year; 
• work in cooperation with the team of BASICS Technical Advisors, mainly the Government Services and Capacity Development Advisor, the District Planning and Financial Management Advisor and the Local Government Capacity Develop Specialist to ensure the BRI supports and extends achievement of results related to planning, budgeting and delivery of gender-responsive MDG- and MSS-based health and education services and related efforts to improve data management;
• provide technical and administrative guidance to the Provincial Coordinators to facilitate work with the respective provincial governments and BRI Sub-committees involved in BRI implementation and coordination; 
• support the process of deriving lessons from the BRI experience from a policy perspective as relevant to provincial and national stakeholders.

Desired Key Qualifications

• Masters degree in a related field.  Minimum 10 years relevant working experience; 
• Strong Program / project management and coordination skills and experience including the ability to prioritize and program activities, write work plans and guidelines, manage project finances, identify and communicate key implementation issues as activities unfold, work effectively with team members, etc.; 
• Experience and understanding of local government operations (province, city, district) especially as related to planning and budgeting as well as management and delivery of public services; 
• Experience of Province – District/city inter-governmental relations issues (oversight of province over district/cities, provincial coordination of MSS in the whole province, etc.);
• Strong written and oral communication skills.  Knowledge of English will be advantageously considered;
• Particular experience of health and education services will be advantageously considered; 
• Understanding of key BASICS/CIDA project management concepts such as RBM, integration of cross-cutting themes in programming, gender equality, anti-corruption, etc.

Interested candidates should submit an e-mail highlighting their relevant qualifications with the subject line “BRI Coordinator” and with a complete c.v. attached to info@basicsproject.or.id  

All applications are appreciated, but only suitably qualified candidates will be contacted. 

The closing date for applications is November 19 2010.