Senior Programme Manager / Country Coordinator - Sudan

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 Khartoum State.

Job Description

The Senior Programme Manager / Country Coordinator is acting as HoM in the country, and he’s responsible for the overall mission coordination in its different aspects: staff, logistics, budget and procedures respect, security and donor relations.

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

He ensures regular update to the Regional Manager/Area Manager through CESVI's monthly reports

The Senior Programme Manager is responsible for the management and direct implementation of the demining project, in collaboration with the international and national partners.

As the PM of the AICS project (ASD002) the Senior Program Manager is in charge of:

Project Management and Coordination:

• Responsible for the planning and management of AICS project activities, budget and relations with project partners.
• Manages relations with the AICS Sudan 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 Emergency Senior Specialist.

Administrative and Procurement Oversight:

• He’s the final responsible for procurement procedures in collaboration with the Country Administrator and Regional Office.
• Collaborates with the Country Administrator for project accounting and expense verifications in case of need.

As Country Coordinator he is responsible for:

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.
• Promotes and organizes meetings with donors, institutions, NGOs, local authorities and international agencies.
• Cooperates with the Communication and Fundraising Department in HQ for visibility and awareness activities implemented in and for the country.

Security Management:

• Guaranteeing the respect and setting of CESVI Security Plan and other rules and regulations on security, in close collaboration with the Security Focal Point and Security Advisor.
• Having constant contact with the Emergency Senior Specialist HQ and the Security Focal Point and Security Advisor to coordinate actions to be undertaken.
• Timely information sharing with staff in the country.
• Maintains communication with key informants and actively participates in country-level security coordination mechanisms.
• Participating actively in security coordination mechanisms present in the Country.

Writing and submitting new proposals, donors acquisition:

• Coordinates with partners, ensuring integration among the components of the various actors.
• Manages and coordinates relations with local and international partners, particularly with Alliance2015 members (if present in the Country), with INGO forum and other networks.
• In coordination with PDU and Emergency Senior Specialist in HQ, monitoring of calls for proposal for Sudan.
• In coordination with the Grant and Programming Department in HQ, liaising with potential donors, writing and submitting new proposals in collaboration with Protection Specialist and staff in the country.
• Donors’ relations and promotion of CESVI’s Programmes, both through active participation to forums and workshops and through the organization of ad hoc meetings.
• Develop new project proposals in the country referring to CESVI’s sector of specialization and in strict cooperation with the country team through assessments realized both at the national level or in close countries if necessary and requested by HQ.
• Participation and supervision of writing project proposals in close collaboration with technical team, under the guidance of the Emergency Senior Specialist and PDU.
• Follow up on project proposals submitted to/being negotiated with different donors.

Lead in the definition and development of the Sudan Programme strategy:

• Contributing to the definition of a Country Strategy Paper in collaboration with the Emergency Senior Specialist.
• Identifying the main intervention sectors, areas and needs in the Country in coordination with the Emergency Senior Specialist /Regional Manager and in collaboration with the staff in the country.
• Update of Country Strategy Paper and application of related Recommendations, in coordination with Emergency Senior Specialist /Regional Manager.
• Adhering to the Country Strategic Plan.
• Keep regularly informed the HQ on risks regarding the implementation of the country strategy or the need to review the strategy itself.
• Develop, in coordination with the Emergency Senior Specialist HQ and in collaboration with the staff in the country and PDU, new programme initiatives and actively lead the current emergency operations towards a long/medium term integrated and regional programme.
• Monitors the progress of ongoing and planned project activities.
• 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 team.
• Ensures procurement procedures are followed in respect of CESVI and donor rules.

Human Resources Management:

• Supervises and manages staff in coordination with the Emergency Senior Specialist HQ.
• Oversees local staff contracts, ensuring compliance with national labour law, NGO legislation, tax, insurance, health and safety in case of need, in collaboration with finance staff.
• Organizes and supervises national staff capacity building and professional development.
• Ensure HR policies, terms and conditions are respected and implemented.
• Participates in selection stages of staff, in collaboration with the Protection Specialist and Emergency Senior Specialist HQ.
• Conducts regular staff meetings to review progress, challenges, and identify solutions.

Implementation of HR Policy and Code of Conduct/Safeguarding policies –Adult at risk/Child Safeguarding/PSEA:

• Ensures compliance with CESVI’s HR Policy and Code of Conduct.
• Ensures safeguarding measures are implemented within their area of responsibility with the direct support of the Protection Specialist.
• Integrates safeguarding into all systems (strategic planning, recruitment, procurement, etc.).
• Follows up on and appropriately addresses safeguarding issues.

Act in accordance with national legislation in Sudan:

• Supervise, check and monitor the respect of national legislation regarding registration of CESVI in the Sudan and any other legal provisions affecting NGOs’ work.
• Ensure compliance to local regulations and local labour law.

Strengthen and promote CESVI image in the Country:

• Cooperation with the Communication and Fund-Raising HQ Offices for all communication, awareness and fundraising activities implemented in and for the country.
• In coordination with the Emergency Senior Specialist HQ and the Communication Department, participate to visibility and communication activities and give interviews in person or by phone.
• Send to communication department updates, news or success stories from the field.
• Defining the visibility plan for new proposals drafting in coordination with the Communication Department and in close collaboration with the Emergency Senior Specialist HQ.
• In collaboration with the Advocacy Emergency Senior Specialist HQ, produce and review talking points/policy papers and advocacy material at large.

Essential Requirements

• Degree in International cooperation, Development studies or other related fields
• At least 5 years’ relevant experience within an NGO in the management, administration and implementation of programmes for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), mixed migrant populations or complex situations, preferably with experience in Sudan.
• Strong writing skills: developing proposals to donors such as EU/ECHO, UN agencies, AICS – Italian Cooperation or other Cooperation agencies etc.
• Knowledge of the main international donors (EU-DEVCO, MAECI, UN, ECHO, FCDO, USAID, GFFO and others).
• Proven ability in development of needs-based and context-based project proposals, including budget development
• Proven experience in building networks and partnerships
• Solid experience of working in complex, emergency situations or in fragile states and protracted crises.
• Strong negotiation and diplomacy skills
• Capacity to effectively manage relations with Donors, potential Partners (international and national NGOs), and local authorities
• Good organizational skills, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Highly flexible with the ability to set priorities and change programmes according to issues that may aris
• ·Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken)
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel.

Desirable Requirements

• Proven working experience in Sudan with INGOs
• Proven working experience in HoA region with INGOs
• Logistics in emergency/ post-emergency settings
• HEAT Training or equivalent in personal security and security management
• Knowledge of Italian (written and spoken)

WE OFFER

• Contract duration: 12 months, renewable
• Salary range: €3800-3900 gross monthly
• 1 round-trip flight
• Insurance coverage
• Visa and residence costs
• Guesthouse accommodation
• Rest & Recuperation: 500 EUR every 8 weeks

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.

Due to the high volume of applications received, we are unable to respond to all candidates. Only those shortlisted and contacted for an initial interview will be updated on the status of their application.

How to apply

Please send your CV and Cover Letter - https://cesvi.org/jobs/senior-programme-manager-country-coordinator-sudan/?d=relief