Work Context

The humanitarian and socioeconomic crisis in Sudan continued to deteriorate throughout 2025, leading to further collapse of services, deterioration of health facilities, food security, and nutrition among the population, and one of the biggest internal mass displacements in Africa’s history. Food availability is hampered by the current conflict, and price increases reduce access to food, medicine and other basic goods.

The number of people displaced by the conflict that started on 15 April 2023 continues to increase. About 13 million people fled their homes in Sudan, this includes about 10 million people displaced within Sudan and another 3 million people who fled abroad.

CESVI implements humanitarian operations in the country with a particular focus on protection and is currently focusing on the most affected areas, in particular in Red Sea State and Northern State.

Job Description

The Senior Programme Manager will act as main focal point in the country, covering the program component and will respond to the Emergency Coordinator/Area Manager/Regional Manager. The person will work in collaboration with the staff working in the country.

The Senior Programme Manager is responsible for the overall mission coordination in its different aspects: programs, staff, budget and procedures’ respect, security and donor relations.

He/She represents CESVI in the Country, coordinates local and international staff, promotes and maintains political and operational partnerships, impulses new projects drafting and funding.

He/She ensures regular update to Emergency Coordinator/Regional Manager/Area Manager through CESVI monthly reports

The Project manager is responsible for the management and direct implementation of the AICS project, in collaboration with the international and national partner.

As the PM of the AICS project the Project manager is in charge of :

Project Management and Coordination

• Responsible for the planning and management of AICS project activities and relations with project partners.
• Manages relations with the AICS office and with the partners.
• Ensures the correct application of CESVI and donor procedures.
• Ensures the timely submission of high-quality project reports.
• Responsible for drafting periodic, interim, and final reports for the donor, integrating inputs from project partners.
• Prepares and updates the project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
• Ensures the correct monitoring of indicators and applies tools for their monitoring, both for CESVI and for partners.
• Prepares and updates the Procurement Plan and ensures that procurement procedures respect CESVI and donor rules.
• Responsible for the forecast and is the project’s budget holder.
• Defines and requests authorization for any modification, extension or revision of the original project, in coordination with partners.
• Coordinates and supervises the Country’s programmes and procedures.
• Supervises projects and supports the staff in achieving the planned objectives on time and with efficient use of resources.
• Monitors project activities both at technical and administrative level according to the established workplan.
• Coordinates staff to guarantee project implementation and reporting, including financial reporting, in coordination with the Area Manager.

Administrative and Procurement Oversight

• Manages procurement procedures in collaboration with the Local finance Officer and Logisitcs Officer
• Collaborates with the Local Finance Officer and Administrative Area Coordinator for project accounting and expense verifications in case of need.

Acting as Country Focal Point he/she will be responsible for:

Security and Representation

• Acts as Head of Mission, with responsibility over security issues, contributing to the revision and update of security plans and manuals when required.
• Coordinates with the HQ for project, organization and donor visibility activities.
• Guarantees the enforcement of CESVI Security Plan and related rules, in close collaboration with the Security Manager.
• Maintains communication with key informants and actively participates in country-level security coordination mechanisms.
• Promotes and organizes meetings with donors, institutions, NGOs, local authorities and international agencies, in close collaboration with the HQ focal point
• Cooperates with the Communication and Fundraising Offices for visibility and awareness activities implemented in and for the country.

Partnerships and Proposal Development

• Coordinates with partners, ensuring integration among the components of the various actors.
• Participates and is responsible for the identification, assessment, preparation of projects and donor relations.
• Manages and coordinates relations with local and international partners, particularly with Alliance2015 members (if present in the Country).
• Participates and supervises the entire proposal writing process in close collaboration with the Project Managers, technical staff and HQ.
• Develops new project proposals based on CESVI’s areas of expertise, ensuring coordination with the Country Team and HQ.
• Liaises with potential donors and ensures follow-up of submitted project proposals.

Strategy and Programme Development

• Monitors the progress of ongoing and planned project activities.
• Supervision and support of other project managers in the implementation of the projects and the compliance and the management of the projects
• Supervises other projects and supports the staff in achieving the planned objectives on time and with efficient use of resources.
• Monitors project activities both at technical and administrative level according to the established workplan.
• Coordinates staff to guarantee project implementation and reporting, including financial reporting, in coordination with the team.
• Ensures procurement procedures are followed in respect of CESVI and donor rules.
• Supports the definition and updating of the Country Strategy Paper, in coordination with the Emergency Coordinator/Area/Regional Manager
• Identifies key intervention areas and needs in collaboration with the Project Managers/technical staff.
• Leads the development of new programme initiatives and transitions emergency operations into long-term strategic approaches.
• Keeps HQ informed on risks and the need for strategy revision.
• Supports evaluations and capitalization of project results and best practices.

Human Resources Management

• Supervises and manages expatriate staff in coordination with the Emergency Coordinator/Area/Regional Manager.
• Support in the oversees local staff contracts, ensuring compliance with national labor law, NGO legislation, tax, insurance, health and safety in case of need.
• Organizes and supervises national staff capacity building and professional development.
• Ensures HR policies, terms and conditions are respected and implemented, in collaboration with the Emergency Coordinator/Area/Regional Manager
• Participates in final selection stages of expatriate staff, in collaboration with the HR Department and Area/Regional Manager.
• Conducts regular staff meetings to review progress, challenges, and identify solutions.

Implementation of Policies and Safeguarding

• Ensures all new employees receive HR Policy/Code of Conduct training during induction.
• Ensures compliance with CESVI’s HR Policy and Code of Conduct.
• Ensures safeguarding measures are implemented within their area of responsibility
• Integrates safeguarding into all systems (strategic planning, recruitment, procurement, etc.).
• Follows up on and appropriately addresses safeguarding issues.

Essential Requirements

• Master’s degree in International Cooperation, Project Management, Social Sciences or another relevant field
• At least 2 years of experience in development and/or humanitarian intervention projects, international development programme management and donor relations
• Proven experience in project planning, proposal development, report writing, resource mobilisation, networking, partnership building and working with NGOs
• Experience in proposal writing and reporting
• Experience in managing and coordinating staff and field activities
• Expertise in contract management and resource mobilisation from institutional donors including AICS, USAID-OFDA, DFID, WFP, ECHO and EU
• Excellent organisational skills and aptitude for working under pressure, meeting deadlines in dynamic and complex environments
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to interact with staff, partners, government officials, donors and other stakeholders
• Fluent in English (written and spoken), knowledge of Italian (written and spoken) is preferred
• Ability to confidently represent oneself and the organisation in front of senior officials
• Mastery of MS Office; a good understanding of the project cycle and its implementation is desirable

Desiderable Requirements

• Proven working experience in Africa with INGOs
• Previous experience with CESVI
• HEAT Training or equivalent in personal security and security management

SAFEGUARDING

CESVI has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a child or a vulnerable adult by any of our staff, related persons or partners.

CESVI commitment to being a safe organization begins with the staff recruitment process which includes meticulous checks, such as criminal records checks or check disclosure of previous convictions, to ensure children and vulnerable people are safeguarded and abuse is prevented. Safeguarding checks are part of the selection process performance.

HEALTH SAFEGUARDING

CESVI pays particular attention to safeguarding the health of all the human resources of the Organisation. Therefore, in order to protect its staff, an assessment of their suitability for the position in each mission is carried out before departure. Such assessment is done by the Occupational Doctor of the Organisation, who will also examine the vaccination coverage.

WE OFFER

CONTRACT DURATION: 11 months

SALARY: 3.500-3.8000 € gross monthly salary

• 1 round-trip flight every 12 months
• Insurance coverage
• Visa costs
• Guesthouse
• Rest&Recuperation: 500€ every 8 weeks