Humanitarian Programme Advisor

CST Ethiopia represents the overseas development and humanitarian agencies of the Catholic Church from England and Wales (CAFOD), Scotland (SCIAF), and Ireland (Trócaire) in Ethiopia. The three agencies have over 40 years of experience in international development and humanitarian response and are each member of worldwide networks, including Caritas Internationalis. Currently, the three agencies jointly operate a single, integrated country programme in Ethiopia through the legal entity CST Ethiopia.

Currently, CST Ethiopia is implementing a Resilient Communities Programme that comprises Humanitarian preparedness, response, and recovery, together with long-term development programmes. The Humanitarian Programme Advisor role will provide support to the CST Ethiopia Resilient Communities programme in the delivery of effective, efficient, and timely humanitarian response interventions for needy communities with whom we work. As a partnership organisation committed to the localisation agenda, CST Ethiopia works with a multitude of diverse partners, both secular and faith-based, as well as local, national, international and non-traditional partners in their scope. In addition to supporting the delivery, oversite, monitoring and reporting of humanitarian interventions, the Humanitarian Programme advisor will support the capacity strengthening of local humanitarian implementing partners in Ethiopia.

CST Ethiopia is implementing its country strategic plan on three goal areas which include – Women’s Empowerment, Building Resilient Communities and humanitarian response. CST Ethiopia humanitarian response programmes cover a combination of sectors including Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), WASH, Protection, as well as CASH as a cross-cutting sectoral intervention.  Building Emergency Preparedness capacity for CST and local partners is increasingly becoming vital as we operate in disaster-prone contexts.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, CST Ethiopia offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Scope of Role

The Humanitarian Programme Advisor reports to the Resilient Communities Programme Manager of CST Ethiopia. The Humanitarian Programme Advisor is a vital role in the Ethiopia Country programme. The position works closely with the Resilient Communities Programme team, Women’s Empowerment Programme, Business Development Manager, MEAL-Advisor, Finance and Compliance team, other CST Staff, the three HQs humanitarian team, partners and other stakeholders to:

• Ensure the delivery of projects within the context of the humanitarian programme strategy
• Support partners to manage their humanitarian projects according to the need of community and sectoral standards.
• Support the capacity strengthening of local partners in the humanitarian sector.
• Monitor projects and ensure that they are in line with the contractual agreements and legal requirements
• Prepare and support the development of concept notes and proposals in collaboration with the relevant CST Team.
• Follow up the humanitarian context of the country and prepare regular humanitarian update and inform the country and HQ team for decision making
• Setup and lead on the EMT meeting with HQ Humanitarian Advisors of the three agencies
• Represent CST Ethiopia in relevant, agreed and assigned coordination forums, working groups and meetings

Key responsibilities

Project Design and Management

• Provides support and works in close collaboration with the Resilient Communities Programme Manager in the management of Humanitarian Response.
• Monitors the progress of individual projects and captures key lessons to inform future programme development.
• Monitor the situation of partners operational areas and produce monthly Situation Report (SitRep) with the support of Resilient Communities Programme Manager.
• Responsible for the design of project concept notes and proposals in collaboration with Resilient Communities Programme Manager and other relevant CST Teams.
• Follows up of partner proposals/work plans and ensures that the envisaged objectives of the project are met
• Ensures that monitoring visits to partners are regular and reports are written on each visit.
• Provides feedback to partners on project and organisational reports
• Provides technical advice and assistance to the implementing partner organisations
• Supports partners to design and deliver institutionally funded projects.
• Ensures mainstreaming of gender, safeguarding, downward accountability, protection and conflict sensitivity within the projects of the partner organisations.

Capacity Strengthening and Manage Relationships with Partners and Key Stakeholders:

• Develops, nurtures and manages relationships with CST Ethiopia partner organisations in agreement with the Resilient Communities Programme Manager.
• In collaboration with the Resilient Communities Programme Manger identify capacity needs among partners
• Provide training and accompaniment to Partners project staff to ensure effective project implementation is in place
• Responsible for conducting Partner Minimum Standards assessment and follow-up action plans with selected partners.
• Responsible for ensuring the Programme Accountant conducts the partner finance manual assessment with selected partners.
• Responsible for the roll-out of the Partner Capacity and Support Framework with selected partners.
• Promotes quality and accountability initiatives such as Sphere, LEGS, GEG and HAP with Partners

Financial Management

• Prepares and monitors project budgets relating to both CST Ethiopia and partner-led expenditure in collaboration with the Resilient Communities Programme Manager and Programme Accountants
• Ensures the partner budgets are correct and supports the project objectives with support from Programme Accountant.
• Provides feedback to partners on budgets and financial reports with support from Programme Accountant
• Delivers institutionally funded projects within agreed budgets

Systems and Compliance

• Effectively use CST Ethiopia’s programme management information systems to ensure programme and project information is up to date. This will include producing management information to support decision-making.
• Ensure that all project documents are managed in Salesforce, and regular updates on required data are done based on the requests from HQ’s
• Ensure compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work. 

Represent CST Ethiopia at an operational level

• Develop, nurture and sustain relationships with relevant local stakeholders including local government, partners and other relevant stakeholders on issues related to thematic responsibilities.
• Represent CST Ethiopia in relevant humanitarian coordination forums, clusters and other relevant, agreed and assigned meetings at the local, regional and national level.
• Works in close collaboration with the Resilient Communities Programme Manager in providing appropriate information for reporting and defining possible areas for programming with key donors.

Other

• Undertake all other duties as may be assigned by the Resilient Communities Programme Manager or Head of Program that are consistent with the nature of the job, its level of responsibility and requirements of the CST Ethiopia country programme

Essential Requirements

Qualification

• Minimum first degree in humanitarian-related fields or development studies

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in Humanitarian relief and recovery programming.
• Robust experiences in the areas of early warning, emergency preparedness and response, Anticipatory action, and CVA.  
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in implementation of key humanitarian standards including Sphere, CHS, HAP, LEGS and Good Enough Guide.
• Demonstrated experience of mainstreaming including gender, Safeguarding, Protection and Accountability.
• Experience working in a partnership-led NGO.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the Humanitarian Coordination mechanism.

Skills

• Managing resources; deliver projects with an agreed budget; manage time and resource efficiently; make effective use of ICT.
• Achieving results; delivering work within the context of an agreed programme framework; using programme cycle management tools effectively.
• Taking the lead; able to travel unaccompanied within the country.
• Manage own personal growth and development.
• Working with others; build collaborative relationships with staff and partners.
• Communicating; fluent written and spoken English
• Looking outwards; works with and builds the capacity of local partner organisations; carries partner capacity assessment and identifies support need.
• Excellent communication and change management skills.
• Computer literacy, including Excel, Word and Outlook.

Qualities

• Strong commitment to principles of partnership, solidarity, social justice and localisation
• Good interpersonal relationships and teamwork skills in a multicultural environment
• Proactive, participatory and result-oriented approach to work
• Excellent networking skills with the ability to establish good relationships, confident in engaging with colleagues, partners and stakeholders
• Constructively critical and analytical
• Entrepreneurial, affinity to creativity and innovations
• Open-minded and flexible in approach
• Effective communication
• Cross-cultural sensitivity
• Readiness to work outside of the framed job description

Other

• Availability to work outside regular hours to meet deadlines and travel throughout Ethiopia and within the region and outside when necessary and sometimes on short notice.
• Ability and willingness to travel within country and internationally, including travel to HQ in Europe

Application Deadline

• Applications will be accepted until 21 May 2026 at 6:00 PM - EAT. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for the next stage of the recruitment process.
• Female applicants are encouraged to apply.

Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children & Adults

Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has clear expectations of all employees. Please ensure to click this [link] for more information on Trócaire’s safeguarding policies.

We welcome diverse applicants to join our inclusive workplace

Trócaire is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). We actively seek to create a fair and inclusive recruitment process, where candidates are assessed on their skills, experience and competencies.  We value the diversity of lived experiences, perspectives and identities colleagues bring, and we strive to create an inclusive working environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

To learn more, please refer to our EDI commitment [link] and Diversity and Inclusion statement [link]