Global Project Manager Inclusion as a Pathway to Self-Reliance

What we are looking for:

Are you ready to drive systemic change for displaced communities in the Eastern & Southern Africa Region? As NRC's Global Project Manager, you will lead the Inclusion as a Pathway to Self-Reliance initiative, a flagship project under Strategic Objective 5 (SO5) advancing self-reliance and durable solutions across NRC's global programmes.

In this role, you'll oversee project planning, coordination, and reporting while ensuring alignment with NRC's strategic goals and donor expectations. Working closely with global, regional, and country teams in Kenya and South Sudan, you'll champion inclusive, systems-change approaches that strengthen local actors and extend impact beyond the household level.

Building on a successful pilot, you'll help influence policy, legislation, and institutional practices, linking community initiatives to national frameworks such as Kenya's Shirika Plan and South Sudan's Solutions Action Plan.

This is a high-profile, global role - ideal for a strategic, adaptive leader who's passionate about innovation, collaboration, and lasting change.

What you will do:

Inclusion as a pathway to self-reliance' project management and coordination

• Responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the Inclusion as a pathway to self-reliance project funded by IKEA Foundation (including through frequent field visits and field level support).

• Responsible for building capacity of the project teams in Kenya & South Sudan, ensuring full understanding of the project concept.

• Serve as the primary contact to the donor, Country Offices, Steering Committee of the project on overall project implementation and progress.

• Responsible for documenting and disseminating country-level innovation, case studies and lessons learnt through webinars, workshops, etc.

• Closely work with the MEL focal point, Evidence and Learning Lead, and Global Lead for Self-Reliance and Durable Solutions to support the development, revision and adaptation of tools and methodologies related to Inclusion as Pathway to Self-Reliance, ensuring that indicators, assessments, measurement frameworks and MEAL plans developed are in line with NRC's global framing papers, approach to durable solutions, and MEAL best practises.

• Responsible for the compilation and dissemination of learnings and best practise from evaluations, pilots and other material across the regions related to the self-reliance pilot.

• Closely work with Global MEAL Specialist Grants (Self-Reliance) to ensure indicators, assessment tools, measurement frameworks, and MEAL plans developed are in line with the NRC's global framing paper and approach to durable solutions and self-reliance.

• Responsible for donor reporting and analysis of results tailored to the needs of different audiences.

• Responsible for the communication of results and the development of recommendations to NRC senior management at various levels.

Development of Technical documents

• Update and revise the relevant approach documents ensuring learnings from the project are adequately captured and feeding into further developing the approach.

• In collaboration with the MEL focal point, review and finalise the draft EI barrier assessment tool of NRC ensuring its use in the IKEA project and beyond.

Policy engagement and external representation 

• Represent NRC in engagements with authorities as part of the project objectives seeking to influence and contribute to policy development and operationalisation.

• Work in collaboration with global and country teams to ensure common messaging and consistent engagement with authorities relevant to the project at all levels.

Fundraising, Partnership Development and Network Engagement

• Responsible for identifying and mobilising resources in collaboration with HO (external and corporate relations), Regional Teams and COs through private or institutional donors to further develop and expand NRC's durable solutions and self-reliance portfolio.

• Engage with global partners relevant for durable solutions and self-reliance, including through relevant coordination fora, working groups, and communities of practice.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position. 

What you will bring:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant Manager/Adviser/Coordinator experience in humanitarian and development programs/projects. Preferably on projects contributing to self-reliance and durable solutions

• Experience in programme development or implementation for humanitarian or development agencies for displacement programs and projects an added advantage

• Proven track record in managing and coordinating implementation of complex multi-country projects

• Experience in development or management of projects or programs that support local actors, aim at legal and policy change an added advantage

• Experience in programme development for humanitarian and development interventions for displaced people an added advantage

• Experience in drafting and encouraging implementation of policy/strategic guidance, and developing practical tools and resources

• Experience with engaging with key humanitarian and development stakeholders and authorities

• Able to represent organisation at a strategic level, and contribute to global policy development with key donors and stakeholders 

• Extensive experience in programme-based advocacy and policy engagement

• Willingness to travel to high-risk COs (including area offices and field offices)

• Understanding of and commitment to organisational learning, and the role and contribution of Monitoring,

• Evaluation and learning to quality management and development

• Understanding of, and commitment to working collaboratively with technical and operational colleagues within a matrix structure, including capacity building

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.

• Knowledge of and experience working in forced displacement contexts, with experience working in displacement situations in Kenya and South Sudan an asset

• Experience in humanitarian and development programmes with displaced populations in urban and rural areas

• Ability to effectively engage with policy processes, including in complex and sensitive contexts

• Demonstrated experience in working with government (including local and national authorities), local actors, and displaced populations and host communities

• Strong skills in conceptualising and explaining complex technical issues to field staff and non-technical experts

• Result-oriented, a team player, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm and integrity

• Skills in facilitation of stakeholder engagement/workshops

• Understanding of and commitment to integrated programming approaches

What we offer:

• Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya. 

• Contract: 1 year with possibility of extension.    

• Travel: 40%.

• Salary/benefits: Grade 9 on NRC's Resident/Mobile salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions. 

• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.

• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Market Place.

• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.

• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.

• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.

• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you have any questions about this role, please email  with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.

• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.

• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.