Accountability Officer in CARE

Location: Ukraine – Kyiv with regular deployments to Dnipro and Odesa 

Duration: 12 months renewable  

Conditions: 

• Employment contract.
• The salary range for this position is between € 1614 - 2360 and will vary based on the candidate's level of experience and skills. 
• Risk allowance (€200/month).
• Moving allowance of € 600.
• Medical insurance and psycho-social support. 
• Annual leave of 28 days per calendar year.

Starting date: As Soon As Possible 

CARE INTERNATIONAL

CARE International (CI) is among the world’s largest international non-governmental humanitarian relief and development confederations. Drawing on more than 75 years of experience, through its 21 Members, as both a practitioner and thought leader, CI’s work reaches over 100 countries worldwide to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice.

CARE’s vision is to seek a world of hope, inclusion, and social justice; where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security. CARE focuses heavily on women and girls, and the areas of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the center of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty and social injustice until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We recognize that power relations between people and within systems and structures are unequal and that these are entrenched in our broader systems, structures, and institutions.

At the core of the CI Confederation is a globally distributed Secretariat, which provides coordination and support to its members in areas including governance, strategic planning, communications, membership development and accountability, advocacy, humanitarian response, and program development. In addition, the Secretariat represents the CI Confederation at the United Nations and the European Union, and with other external stakeholders.

CONTEXT IN UKRAINE 

On 24th February 2022, the invasion of Ukraine marked a significant escalation to the conflict that started in 2014. It continues to profoundly impact the lives of people across the country at various levels. The front line is continuously shifting and there are areas under Russian military control, as well as cities under siege. Attacks on military installations and critical civilian infrastructures are conducted in the whole territory of Ukraine, often resulting in collateral civilian casualties. The conflict has caused the largest population movement in Europe since World War II, with over 5 million currently displaced within Ukraine and 6 million refugees across Europe. OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) had counted 17.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

At least one-third of the country’s energy infrastructure is damaged, leaving millions without heating and access to water. In October 2022, the Russian Federation claimed to have annexed four Ukrainian oblasts, further increasing the challenge of access to these areas. Therefore, an ongoing priority for the international humanitarian response is to reach newly accessible areas in the East and South, and to provide aid to previously unreachable and particularly hard-hit areas of Ukraine.

CARE UKRAINE

CARE prioritizes a locally led response and is partnering primarily with Civil-Society Organizations (CSOs), National NGOs (Non-Government Organization), local authorities, and when needed, INGOs (International Non-Governmental Organizations) with a longstanding presence in the country and access to hard-to-reach areas. CARE Ukraine deliberately and strategically prioritizes partnerships with local and national Women Led and Women Rights organizations (WLO’s/ WRO’s), further strengthening the Gender in Emergencies (GiE) principle and the Women Lead in Emergencies (WLiE) approach.

In the first few weeks after the escalation of the war, virtually all humanitarian aid inside Ukraine was organized and implemented by local actors. These groups (together with local authorities) remain the principal aid providers but are quickly being exhausted of funds, fuel, and physical energy. Thereby, a considerable proportion of CARE’s resources is dedicated to strengthening and supporting the capacities of local partners.

As of October 2023, CARE Ukraine has established partnerships with over twenty local/national organizations (incl. WLO’s/WRO’s). From the more than 45 million that have been raised for Ukraine thus far, more than half is allocated to local/national partners. Through the activities that have been implemented so far, CARE Ukraine has been able to reach more than 800,000 people, including IDPs and affected populations in hard-to-reach areas.

While CARE Ukraine’s country office is currently located in Lviv, we also have a coordination office in Kyiv as well as area offices in Dnipro and Odesa, covering both the East and South of the country.

Role Objectives

The purpose of the Accountability Officer position is to ensure the men, women, boys, and girls receiving assistance from CARE and its implementing partners know their rights and entitlements, have access to information and participate in decisions that affects them leading to more effective programming. The role aims to ensure that program participants are satisfied with the products and services delivered in accordance with the humanitarian principles and can share their feedback and complaints about the programs. 

The Accountability Officer will be responsible for ensuring Information Sharing, Consultation and Participation, Feedback, Complaint and Response mechanisms are functioning across the organization and partners. He/she will also play a role in promoting key learning for the improvement of the project and for wider learning of the organization.

The Accountability Officer is working under the supervision of the MEAL Manager. S/He manages accountability assistant and provides technical support to AO MEAL team.

The position holder will be essentially responsible for:

1. Feedback and Accountability Mechanisms.

• Receive feedback and complaints through the hotline and other channels established.
• Centralise feedback and complaints received from various channels into the designated database and archiving systems.
• Refer feedback and complaints to appropriate program teams or senior management team to ensure adequate and timely response in compliance with the Accountability Framework and SOP.
• Analyse feedback and accountability data received directly from CARE and partners to identify trends and areas for improvement and write monthly reports presenting the results of the analysis.
• Ensure feedback and accountability mechanisms are in place and functioning for CARE and partners with the support of the MEAL Manager.
• Ensure alignment of accountability practices with CARE and International standards, and best practices.

2. Information sharing and Consultation.

• Ensure information is shared consistently with affected communities about CARE/partners mandates and programs, humanitarian principles and existing Feedback and accountability mechanisms.
• Ensure the consultation and participation of affected communities is prioritised by the project teams throughout the project cycle (assessment, planning, implementation).
• Conduct regular consultation with affected communities to proactively share information about interventions, to assess participant satisfaction and collect feedback.
• Develop and disseminate informational materials, reports, and updates.
• Support MEAL Manager in developing and rolling out Community Engagement Guidance.

3. Reporting

• Ensure the monthly reporting requirements and schedules are met by working closely withMEAL staff from CARE and partners to ensure timely and quality data, collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Review all accountability reports produced by partners, ensure constructive feedback is given to partner staff with relevant follow and support provided.
• Combine and produce accountability reports from the conducted MEAL activities by AO MEAL team and partners for each grant.
• Participate in regular progress review meetings organized by grant managers for all active projects to provide updates about accountability activities and progress.

4. Capacity building and Management.

• Foster a culture of accountability throughout the organization and partners (staff and volunteers) by staff orientation sessions and conducting regular training and awareness sessions on Accountability and Humanitarian principles.
• Propose and adapt new materials and innovative mechanisms to improve the accountability framework.
• Participate in local Accountability and Learning groups to ensure collaboration and coordinate Humanitarian Accountability approaches.
• Represent CARE at coordination meetings and networks related to accountability and beneficiary feedback.

Essential criteria:

Mandatory:

• University degree or/and master’s degree in social sciences, development, program evaluation, data science, economic policy, econometrics and operations research, or a related field
• Minimum 1 years of experience in MEAL /Data for NGOs OR as a customer success officer or technical account officer role in IT with strong interest to work in the humanitarian sector.
• Strong written and oral Ukrainian and basic English skills.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across a range of stakeholders and to build relations across work units, but particular with local partners.

Expected:

• Strong ability and interest in working with local partners and building their capacities.
• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender and youth issues in humanitarian programming.
• Knowledge in management and dissemination of research findings.
• Strong skills in Excel and experience with Kobo Toolbox data collection tool. 
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently, manage time and execute tasks.
• Ability to work in fast changing environment and to multi-task and context-switch effectively between different activities and teams.

Accountability  

A commitment to CARE values and CARE’s integrity framework is critical to working with CARE. Any candidate offered a job with CARE will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability: 

• Comply with CARE’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.

• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area. 

• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a CARE staff or partner.

Safeguarding: 
Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with CARE as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that CARE shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.  

Gender equality:
 CARE is committed to meeting the standards of the CARE International Gender Policy (2019). Through this policy, CARE seeks to promote the equal realization of dignity and human rights for girls, women, boys and men in all diversities, and the elimination of poverty and injustice. Specifically, this policy seeks to improve the explicit incorporation of gender in programmatic and organizational practices.

  
How to Apply: 
Please send your complete application package (CV, motivation letter, references) only in English to [email protected], no later than 26 September, with Accountability Officer as the subject title of your email.  
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

 Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

 [email protected]

Please pay attention - this position is open only for national candidates.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. References will only be contacted after the interview.