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The Finnish Red Cross (FRC) is part of the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement, the world’s largest humanitarian network with millions of volunteers and staff operating in 191 countries. Our mission is to alleviate human suffering, protect life and health, and uphold human dignity especially during armed conflicts and other emergencies. To achieve this, we follow the seven humanitarian principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary service, Unity and Universality.

FRC is seeking a Project Manager ECHO, Burundi. The position will be fixed-term and placed in Bujumbura, Burundi. Starting date preferably 2nd June 2025. Mission length is 2 years. Fluent written and spoken English and French required.

Background

The Finnish Red Cross (FRC) International Aid (IAID) department consists of five units at the Headquarters (HQ) in Helsinki, three regional teams (East Africa; West and Southern Africa; and Asia) and the logistic centre in Tampere. The FRC international aid strategic framework sets our vision to be an impact-driven and adaptive international humanitarian partner, whose operating principles are driven by inclusion and localization. The FRC Regional team has a key role to ensure that the FRC IAID strategic framework and its four strategic drivers (impact-driven, adaptive, inclusive and localization) are at the centre of our work and engagement with partnerships in the region.

The FRC aims at being a dynamic actor and cooperative partner that contributes actively in different forms to wider Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement goals, and that supports through its own capacities and resources the efforts of its partner National Societies, the IFRC, and the ICRC in a principled manner.

The Partnership between FRC and Burundi Red Cross (BRC) started in 2016 and has involved many years of cooperation at the institutional and programmatic level. The current portfolio of programmes and operations in Burundi comprises of long-term developmental programmes and humanitarian operations, including an ECHO funded Disaster Preparedness Programme starting May 1st, 2025.

Guided by the strategic framework, building strong and inclusive partner Red Cross Red Crescent societies with capacity to deliver relevant and sustainable country-wide services through volunteers and staff remains a key priority in FRC’s country programming, which is further guided by FRC’s Country Compass.

Job purpose

The overall purpose of the position of the Project Manager ECHO is to ensure that BRC implementing this project receives sufficient Project Cycle Management (PCM) support, including compliance, quality control, ensuring technical support and contributing to knowledge development. S/he acts as a budget holder for this specific FRC’s bilateral project in the country. The Project Manager ensures the project is implemented in time and according to agreed budget frameworks and that reports to FRC HQ and the back donor (ECHO) are produced in time and are of high quality.

The position contributes to the institutional, programmatic, and operational cooperation between the two partner societies. The Project Manager participates where relevant to planning, resource mobilization and stakeholder relations in the country, especially in relation to the FRC operations and projects.

 Expected results

1. Effective application of Results Based Management mechanisms for the ECHO project in-country and identifying and contributing to new funding opportunities.
2. Successful identification of critical needs and fit-for-purpose solutions to strengthen BRC’s institutional capacities including at branch level, for more impactful and sustainable service delivery.
3. Supported by the FRC Regional Finance and Administration Delegate (RFAD) and other relevant FRC staff members, ensuring high-impact implementation of the project by the BRC, optimal use of financial resources, high-quality reporting and facilitation of timely and effective technical support from the FRC regional team and other stakeholders involved to the BRC.
4. Regular identification, follow-up and mitigation of risks for the project as per FRC Risk Management Policy.  

Main responsibilities

1. Ensure quality implementation, sustainability, and impact of the ECHO project, including ensuring budget planning, monitoring, adaptive revision and reporting.
2. Convene regular project meetings within the FRC to discuss operational and programmatic progress and help FRC to plan and develop its projects and operations portfolio with BRC.
3. In consultation and coordination with the FRC RFAD, support FRC in financial administration of its contributions and help BRC in monitoring of the budget and financial plans emphasising accurate accounting, authorisation, and internal control procedures.
4. Support and coach BRC project team to improve their project management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting capacities, and accountability to affected people.
5. Promote collaboration and cooperation within the RC/RC Movement and beyond, especially related to the technical areas of the project, and in PMER, ideally with the BRC in the lead.
6. Conduct frequent and regular monitoring for the project including in remote areas of the country (if the security situation permits). Document interactions, feedback, and insights. Ensure project knowledge is accessible to others within FRC. Build relationships and work with the BRC members implementing FRC funded projects at branch level.  
7. Support BRC to develop their institutional capacities for improved community action, with a particular focus on branch-level operational capacities.  
8. Plan or facilitate project reviews and evaluations (mid and end-term) to generate lessons learnt and evidence on the effectiveness of the project and ensure continuous learning and adaptation for the BRC. Facilitate the sustainability and exit planning of project.
9. Act as a budget holder for the FRC’s bilateral project in the country, ensure project planning and budgeting with BRC and RFAD, conduct budget follow-up, review, and approve regular financial and narrative reports and liaise with key HQ counterparts (Desks, Coordinators, Heads of Units).
10. With the support of relevant FRC staff, facilitate the drafting of contracts and prepare procurement plans with BRC for the project.
11. In coordination with relevant FRC staff, lead the identification of partner or project-level risks and contribute to the country risk management processes within FRC.
12. Ensure the adoption of community-based approaches, integration of cross-cutting objectives (protection, gender and inclusion, community engagement and accountability, and climate resilience) into the project.
13. Facilitate timely and effective technical support from the FRC regional team and other Red Cross peers and harness learning within and outside of the project.
14. Follow the humanitarian and security situation in Burundi, relevant to the project.
15. Contribute to the identification and development of new funding opportunities should those arise.