Quality Assurance, Risk and Implementation Adviser

Terms of Reference: Quality Assurance, Risk and Implementation Adviser, AIPTIS

Reports to: Team Leader

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Duration:  April 1st, 2021 – April 1st, 2022, with the option for a multi-year extension

Position Outline:  The Quality Assurance, Risk and Implementation Adviser will support the Team Leader in contributing to the strategic direction and overall implementation engaging with the AIPTIS Team, Partners and Government of Indonesia (GoI) representatives to ensure the effective design and implementation of program initiatives and managing the implementation of AIPTIS’ Program Logic, including providing technical inputs on Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).

They will be responsible for the overall quality assurance of AIPTIS outputs in line with international best practice, and ensure that the quality assurances processes are applied at the design phase to ensure that initiatives are the highest priorities for the sector, align with the goal and end-of-program outcomes for AIPTIS, have designs that suit the Program’s objectives and reflect relevant lessons learned and best practices for the sector, address those most in need – especially girls, women and people with disabilities, and result in changes that are sustainable.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities:

Quality Assurance:

• Be the point of contact for AIPTIS activity Quality Assurance processes in coordination with the Team Leader and Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager. This includes, monitoring program implementation and coordination, as well as providing advice to improve effective implementation.
• Work closely with the Team Leader on setting Program priorities and directions and responding to requests for support from the AIPTIS Senior Management Team and partners.
• Provide strategic direction in comprehensive quality assurance and continuous quality management and definition of appropriate Program activities.
• In collaboration with the AIPTIS senior management team, review program plans, existing operational systems and instruments and make recommendations for improvement.
• Establish and implement a system to ensure technical quality of Program activities.
• Identify training needs for AIPTIS staff and Delivery Partners and assist in the design and implementation of measures to address those needs.
• Apply quality standards to ensure that health services meet Program requirements, and contractual obligations of DFAT.
• Work with the MERL Manager, Clear Horizon, and other M&E staff to design, implement a plan to track data/results related to quality assurance and quality management of Program outcomes to inform adjustments in Program implementation.
• Collaborate with all local stakeholders including Delivery Partners and GoI to ensure that all activities conform to the DFAT contractual obligations.
• Contribute to the development the Program work plan and Program monitoring, in close collaboration with the AIPTIS team to ensure timely implementation and compliance to the requirements and regulations of the Head Contract.
• Liaise with the AIPTIS team to document successes, lessons learned and challenges in implementation as well as reports of Program activities and results, including the annual work plan and periodic reports; and
• Document and maintain an inventory of successful tools and approaches for quality assurance of the AIPTIS Program.

Risk Management:

• Serve as the risk management focal point and fulfill all duties in this role as defined in Program’s Risk Register;
• Within AIPTIS serve as the focal point to ensure that achievable and relevant risk mitigation strategies are incorporated into the Program and that risk mitigation strategies are measured for their effectiveness through the Program life cycle;
• Act as an expert on internal controls, risk assessment, risk management, and compliance issues, advising on the implications of audits, fraud investigations, and AIPTIS and DFAT compliance policy;
• Develop, strengthen, and implement risk assessment and management processes and procedures to ensure consistent compliance with AIPTIS and DFAT requirements;
• Manage tracking and record-keeping systems on audit, risk, and compliance issues;
• Provide regular updates, resources and information on compliance requirements and ensure the AIPTIS team and Delivery Partners are well-versed in these requirements;
• Advise senior management on DFAT regulations relevant to misuse, divergence, or fraud as applicable to AIPTIS;
• Act as an expert, to support and advise AIPTIS senior management team on monitoring and responding to issues of concern regarding misuse, diversions, fraud, investigations, and audits of grants;
• Collaborate with the AIPTIS to identify programmatic risks and design measures to manage or mitigate identified risks;
• Review grant applications to determine whether risk assessment, risk management, and compliance issues were adequately integrated into Program design and addressed;
• Develop and implement compliance monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning procedures for Program management;
• Advise and develop appropriate strategies to identify and react to findings, allegations of deviations from the intended purpose(s) of grants, or other issues identified;
• Support staff in reviewing and monitoring partner operational compliance with DFAT and Cowater policies and regulations, including, but not limited to, accounting, procurement and hiring standards as well as overall financial and administrative management of AIPTIS;
• Provide recommendations to AIPTIS senior management team on policy and options to reduce risk of partner misuse, diversions, and fraud; and
• Ensure that the AIPTIS risk register is reviewed and updated on an annual basis.

Program Implementation:

• Advise on implementation of all activities to achieve Program objectives as envisaged in the Program Logic;
• Ensure that a suitable monitoring system is in place with regular reporting and control mechanisms;
• Guide and facilitate the team to ensure that processes, frameworks, policies, plans, and records are well and systematically captured;
• Assure that all contractual obligations are adhered to and ensure that implementation meets Program targets;
• Supervise the production of research and analytical studies, advocacy material, training modules, best practices and lessons learnt from previous applied policies and interventions, and exercise first level quality assurance of Program deliverables;
• Ensure program implementation applies DFAT safeguards (particularly in relation to child protection and the environment), and due diligence;
• Ensure that the Team Leader and DFAT have relevant, timely, evidence-based and quality inputs for reports, briefs, and plans;
• Support the Team Leader in monitoring and managing risks associated with Program implementation and outcomes; and
• Contribute to generate comprehensive, interesting, and accessible progress reports and evaluation reports in collaboration with the AIPTIS MERL Manager in line with the Program approved plans and manuals (including but not limited to: operations manual, governance manual, sustainability plan, partner capacity building plan, policy engagement plan, gender equality, disability, and social inclusion strategy, monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan, etc.).

Key Competencies and Qualifications

• Minimum 5-10 years’ demonstrated experience managing the delivery of international development programs for DFAT or similar
• Post-graduate qualifications in international development, business management or a relevant field
• The ability to build effective working relationships and partnerships with DFAT, Government of Indonesia and civil society partners
• A comprehensive understanding of DFAT reporting requirements
• Demonstrated experience with GEDSI programming and a high level of personal commitment to GEDSI principles
• High level communication skills and the ability to present complex findings to diverse stakeholders
• Experience living and working in Indonesia and the ability to communicate in Bahasa Indonesia is desirable.

Location

The role will be home based initially and will relocate to Jakarta, Indonesia when international travel allows.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply by April 8^th, 2021/as soon as possible on our Career Page.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

With more than 35 years’ experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec; London, United Kingdom; Nairobi, Kenya; and Brussels, Belgium, in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.