CDAC Network is seeking an experienced project manager. You’ll have a strong network within Sudanese civil society and aid groups, great attention to detail and be a natural problem-solver. The project aims to improve the information environment for communities in the conflict. Applications welcome from Sudanese, or those who know the context well.
- Assignment duration and timeframe: Part-time, 16 August 2024 to 16 February 2025.
- Base of Work: Home-based, able to join meetings in Sudan time-zone.
- Travel: Requires ability to travel within Sudan/Horn of Africa/UK.
- Reporting to: CDAC Executive Director, with input from CDAC Technical Expert.
Background
In a conflict, communication is a critical lifeline. The ability to access, share and trust information can be the difference between life and death, informing decisions about where to shelter, who to trust and where to get assistance. A year into the conflict in Sudan, the information landscape is critically fragmented. Formal information production is severely curtailed, the digital information environment is contested and weaponised, and everything punctuated by communication blackouts. This has complicated efforts to triangulate data gaps, coordinate and disseminate vital information. Peer-to-peer and social media networks have become essential for reaching people, disseminating information and coordinating aid. Community-based organisations and mutual aid groups, alongside private neighbourhood groups, provide hyper-local responses and information, especially when formal services are inaccessible.
Despite their critical role, local channels remain largely disconnected from the formalised international structures of the humanitarian response. Barriers such as language, understanding jargon and navigating the complex coordination structures hinder local and diaspora actors’ ability to mobilise and plug into the broader response. The lack of a systematised exchange is undermining overall efforts and effectiveness – limited flow of information from ERRs and diaspora groups into coordination spaces challenges international actors in making informed decisions based on community insights. As noted by the Cairo Conference: ‘all response stakeholders should engage in effective communication with other local stakeholders to ensure their involvement and support.’
CDAC Sudan Project overview
- Improve coherence in communication and information exchange between local, diaspora and international responders, with a focus on strengthening collective identification and response to the views and needs of crisis affected communities.
- Strengthening local and diaspora actors to produce, verify and share accurate and actionable information in conflict, both online and through analogue strategies.
- Increase awareness of information integrity in conflict at strategic levels, with local and diaspora voices elevated within these discussions.
The Project Manager will oversee component 1, which has been launched, delivering:
- Stakeholder consultations based on existing mapping of local and diaspora group networks, conducted by CDAC partners in 2023, and CDAC’s 2022 Assessment of communication and engagement in Sudan.
- Identification and set up of a network of information liaisons as part of a mentoring programme among local, diaspora and international targets.
- Recommendations for systematic information sharing to regularly transmit collated data and key messages into international coordination structures; and to analyse and transmit relevant information back.
The project manager will also oversee development and implementation of further components of the project commencing from early September, which will include for example:
- Develop and implement project activities, with accompanying monitoring, evaluation and learning plan.
- Represent CDAC externally, build and main relationships with key stakeholders and organise CDAC Sudan Community of Practice.
- Communicate project outcomes and report findings, working closely with Secretariat including to develop case studies to maximise applicability of learning, and input to policy, advocacy, communications materials.
- Ensure CDAC policies and procedures are adhered to, and that donor reporting and financial requirements are met.
Qualifications
Essential:
- At least 5 years’ project management expertise, ideally within aid in Sudan; and/or at least 5 years’ experience in commensurate sector.
- Excellent personal network of contacts and confidence in communicating publicly.
- Experience of Sudanese civil society, and confidence to conduct key informant interviews and turning qualitative data into actionable insights.
- Fluency in Arabic and English, withstrong written skills and experience of reporting to funders.
Desirable:
- Experience of skills development programming, such as mentorship schemes.
- Experience in community engagement, localisation and/or communication as aid.
- Experience working specifically on information collection and analysis, coordination of aid efforts and/or communication for development.
- Experience of humanitarian information management systems.
- Experience of challenges and mitigation measures for tackling harmful information.
How to apply
Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit the following:
- A 2-page cover letter explaining your motivation for applying and how you meet the qualifications and experiences criteria.
- A copy of your CV/resume.
All applications should be sent electronically to: recruitment@cdacnetwork.org by 4 August 2024.
