The AcT2 Programme

AcT2 is a £38m five‐year flag-ship governance and accountability programme funded by DFID, running from February 2018 to December 2022, with the possibility of a one year extension. The goal of the programme is to increase access to entitlements, public goods and services, through increasing the accountability of the Government of Tanzania to its citizens. The programme operates through making grants to approximately 15 mid-to-large local and international CSOs in Tanzania - supported by a programme of learning and seeking out opportunities to further scale up results.

It has evolved from the highly successful original AcT Programme which ran from 2009 to 2016, and which broke new ground in combining outcome mapping with more conventional log-frame reporting, in monitoring the programme’s capacity development initiatives, and in demonstrating value for money of civil society governance work. It employed a partner centred approach to achieving results, wherever possible providing core funding to a grantee, to provide them with the flexibility to operate effectively in Tanzania’s complex environment.

Features which will characterise the new programme include:

• supporting partner organisations to negotiate the achievement of results in the changing space for civil society in Tanzania
• efforts to amplify the impact of UK government support in Tanzania through supporting DFID’s wider portfolio priorities in human investment and sustainable growth
• consolidation of DFID’s support to CSOs in Tanzania by blending previously independent programme support to the Foundation for Civil Society and the Legal Services Facility into the AcT2 Programme
• targeted support to partner work in anti-corruption, climate resilience, media and gender and social inclusion, including disability
• using entrepreneurial approaches to identify opportunities and build coalitions for achieving change
• a much enhanced bespoke database to capture results, track grant making and partner performance, as well as to manage risk

Job Brief

The post-holder provides high quality technical and strategic leadership, managerial oversight, and administration of the project. S/he is responsible for the efficient and effective delivery of programme results, based on the smooth running of grant management processes and effective systems for monitoring, learning and results reporting. S/he will provide strategic thinking on how to work in the complex political economy of Tanzania, respond to DFID’s emerging priorities, and contribute to wider learning about governance and accountability work. Heading up a Programme Management Team of 11 full time equivalent local and international staff, the Team Leader is the main point of contact for DFID. S/he will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong working relationships with the heads of partner CSOs, and other stakeholders, and be able to communicate AcT2’s distinctive contribution convincingly to a range of different audiences. The Team Leader reports to the IDAS Country Lead.

Responsibilities Technical and Strategic Leadership

• Understand and continue to promote learning across the AcT2 team, DFID and partner organisations about the nature of the political and civic space in Tanzania, and how to support CSOs to operate in it effectively.
• Keep abreast of current development debates, their applicability to AcT2, and how AcT2 can contribute to this thinking. Priority areas currently include governance, transparency and accountability, anti-corruption, using outcome mapping, flexible and adaptive programming, and demonstrating value for money.
• Provide clarity in linking monitoring, evaluation and learning with broader programme objectives and strategy; periodic analysis and review of theory of change, political economy and overall portfolio profile, and capacity to apply these to the overall direction of the programme

Programme Management: Delivering and Reporting Results

• Accountable for the achievement of results, ensuring high quality of services are maintained, and that all project objectives and deliverables are met.
• Ensure timely preparation and quality assurance of the following before submission for approval by the KPMG Engagement Partner and DFID:
  • quarterly, semi‐annual and annual work plans and budgets
  • quarterly and annual reports
• Communicate, implement and assure adherence to KPMG and project policies, guidelines and values as well as DFID’s code of conduct.
• Ensure timely preparation of terms of reference for work commissioned using the Special Opportunities Facility and any ad hoc technical consultancy for AcT2.
• Implement and monitor value for money in line with the AcT‐2 VFM design
• Review the quarterly, semi‐annual and annual AcT‐2 payment by results plan to ensure it is realistic and reflects the demands on the programme.
• In consultation with the KPMG Engagement Partner, and programme strategic advisers, support the programme in preparing for mid‐term and final evaluations

Financial Management

• Ensure appropriate management systems with standard operating procedures are in place, and adhered to, for all activities funded by the programme, in line with the head contract with DFID
• Monitoring and tracking expenditures, preparing financial reports for submission to DFID
• Agree, and adhere to, monthly, quarterly and annual spending forecasts made to DFID
• Assess and report on programme and fiduciary risks at regular intervals and manage identified risks, including putting in place contingency plans.

Capacity Development

• Demonstrate and support effective cross-team working and skills-building, particularly between those with a programming background, as opposed to one in financial management.
• Develop individual staff skills and knowledge, and facilitate team member professional development whenever
• Supervise direct reports with a particular focus on achievement of key tasks and project
• Facilitate programme review and planning, training and learning events for the Programme Management Team and partners, as required.

Networking, Representation, Relationship Building and Communications

• Communicate AcT2 as a cutting edge governance programme through written communications and report writing, website content and making presentations as required.
• Serve as the main point of contact between the project, CSOs, DFID, KPMG and other stakeholders; collaborate with partners, donors, and other stakeholder representatives, building and maintaining productive
• Ensure AcT2 strategies and practices keep pace with DFID thinking in terms of programme content areas (anti-corruption, climate resilience, media and inclusion), and other DFID programmes in Tanzania i.e. human development and sustainable growth.
• Ensure lessons learned during the implementation of AcT2 are documented and shared with DFID and other stakeholders, with a view to ensuring the long term value of the programme.

Requirements

This is a senior position which requires outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, and organisational, team‐building and representational skills.

Essential

• Master’s degree or higher in governance or a relevant field
• At least 10 years of senior leadership and management experience of large bi-lateral aid programme, working in partnership with civil society to enhance service delivery.
• Familiarity with application of current debates about civil society, governance, transparency, accountability and anti-corruption programming, including DFID’s thinking and emerging priorities
• Experience of grant/fund management, including grants to civil society organisations and the proactive management of programmatic and financial risks to secure development outcomes.
• High level of personal commitment to the success of the programme
• Outstanding team building and people management skills,
• Demonstrated capacity to relate effectively with senior staff of local and international NGOs, as well as donors and with government
• Demonstrated competence to work with theory of change, different kinds of results frameworks, and outcome mapping; deriving learning out of monitoring and using learning to review and adjust programme strategies
• Demonstrated experience of building capacity to address at least two of the following mainstreaming issues, within the programme management team and with partner organisations: climate change, anti-corruption, media, gender and social inclusion, including disability
• Excellent verbal and written English communication
• Excellent reporting and presentation, facilitation and training skills.
• If necessary, willingness to relocate and be based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
• Willingness to travel within Tanzania

Desirable

• Demonstrated competence in overseeing compliance, particularly in terms of legislation, regulations and procedures, particularly in terms of DFID requirements
• Knowledge of current governance issues affecting public policy and service delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Knowledge of the current civil society ‘landscape’ in Tanzania
• Familiarity with the Government of Tanzania and major donor priorities in Tanzania
• Experience of living and working in Tanzania/East Africa.
• Some knowledge of Kiswahili, or willingness to learn.

Package

KPMG is pleased to be able to offer a competitive package to the right candidate. The following benefits will also apply to the team leader, plus dependent spouse and children:

• Health insurance
• Annual flights
• School fees – pending agreement with DFID
• 21 days annual leave plus public holidays

How to apply

To apply for this position, please submit an up-to-date version of your CV and a 1-2 page cover letter explaining how your profile meets the requirements of this role.