Head of Programme - Nigeria

Introduction 

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home. 

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organisation with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organisation. 

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency. 

Background 

A country of around 230M inhabitants, with over 129 million currently living in poverty, Nigeria faces one of the world's most complex humanitarian crises in the world. The fifteen-year conflict in the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, driven primarily by the Boko Haram insurgency and its splinter groups (ISWAP and JAS), has resulted in widespread displacement, violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, and acute protection needs. More than 2.3 million people remain internally displaced in the northeast, while in the Northwest region an additional 1.3M people have been forcibly displaced due to banditry, kidnapping, and herders -farmers conflict. Northern Nigeria is heavily impacted by climate change, including lengthening lean seasons and erratic rainy seasons and droughts, resulting in food production shortfalls and more population displacements. Severe acute malnutrition is affecting a world-high total of 1.8 million children across BAY and northwestern states. 

In 2026 Nigeria’s humanitarian system will be transitioning from UN-led toward nationally owned coordination, with some lack of clarity regarding concrete mechanisms to be it in place and amid a funding crisis. 

DRC has been operating in Nigeria since 2016. The Country Office is in Abuja and has 2 area offices in Maiduguri and Sokoto with sub offices in Gusau, Bama and Banki and a mobile team in Katsina. DRC Nigeria's multi-sectoral response addresses core Strategic Priority Interventions: Hard-to-Reach populations, Economic Recovery, Protection, and increasingly climate resilience. The operation focuses on both emergency response and solutions programming with expanding partnerships with local actors.  

Purpose 

The HoP reports directly to the Country Director and is an integral part of the in-country Senior Management Team. The HoP will be to contribute to and oversee the implementation of DRC’s strategy in Nigeria, taking a proactive and hands-on approach to ensure the highest programmatic standards, with an emphasis on quality assurance and lessons learning. The Head of Programme is responsible for the overall programmatic strategy across Nigeria’ operations and is responsible for providing technical input to the implementing actors within the different sectors. The Head of Programme is responsible for developing policies, processes and standards within respective areas and plays a lead role in fundraising activities and external representation. This role also includes Cluster representation and technical quality assurance across various protection sectors. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

People Management 

• Represent the program/operations within the Senior Management Team (SMT). 

• Responsible for coordinating the country's sectoral and overall programmatic strategy. 

• Technical quality support for the operations in Nigeria 

• Line management, performance driver and staff development of all programme staff 

• Promote and facilitate effective coordination between the programme and other CO departments. 

• Provide oversight and/or support Field and Project Managers in the overall implementation of programme- and project- level activities, ensuring these are planned strategically and to meet high standards of delivery. Follow up and support as needed. 

 
Fundraising and strategy 

• Provide contextual programme analysis inputs to DRC’s country and fundraising strategy, ensuring programme relevance and expansion, in line with DRC’s Strategy and donors priorities. 

• Participate in consolidating DRC’s operations in Nigeria and advise on partnerships and programmatic opportunities (thematic complementarity, geographic presence, consortia with local, national and international partners). 

• In close collaboration with the CD and Support Supply Manager, ensure effective planning, management and mobilisation of programme resources, including financial and human resources; in coordination with the Area Manager/Project Manager, provide guidance and orientation to program/project staff. 

• In consultation with the program team, ensure effective implementation of the fundraising strategy, and participate in consolidating DRC’s operations in Nigeria. 

External representation 

• Ensure coordination and representation of DRC in relevant humanitarian fora/clusters/working groups, in support of the Country Director 

• Support the CD in building and strengthening donor relations and making DRC more known in the donor and NGO environment in country 

• Oversee the development of communication tools (project presentations, leaflets) increasing DRC’s visibility among humanitarian stakeholders and the general public 

Programme quality, reporting and compliance 

• Ensure quality of overall project and program activities, with increased synergy and complementarity across projects, and provide regular updates and advice on programme improvements 

• Develop/update the country's protection strategy using a participatory approach and disseminate it to field teams 

• Drive and continuously improve programme performance, by ensuring alignment and streamlining of programme and financial management tools and processes, grant management and reporting. 

• Support the collection and management of quality data for protection data as well as protection analysis 

• Support the design and implementation of food security & livelihoods, financial inclusion and peacebuilding projects 

• Work closely with DRC’s national partners, assess their capacity and implement organisational and technical capacity-building plans accordingly. 

• Supervise the development of timely and quality project reports matching DRC and donor requirements. 

• Promote, streamline and strengthen cross-project capitalisation and learning opportunities, in close coordination with the MEAL Manager and Project Managers. 

• Support and oversee the development and implementation of strong Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning systems and feedback mechanisms. 

• Ensure monthly qualitative and quantitative reporting and data collection, in line with DRC’s Results Framework. 

• Actively mainstream protection and gender in all projects and advise on climate mainstreaming; ensure the inclusion of marginalised and vulnerable groups and assist the program with working towards Core Humanitarian Standards and relevant SDGs as well as adherence to SPHERE standards. 

• Ensure project compliance to DRC and donor policies and requirements. 

Cross-cutting duties 

• Maintain effective working relationships with other members of the programme as well as with DRC RO and DRC HQ. 

• Contribute to a culture of excellence, continuous improvement and performance optimisation across all projects. 

• Be a role model for diversity, inclusion and belonging and a positive contributor for team spirit. 

• Work in accordance with DRC values and humanitarian principles. 

• Any other reasonable duties, including interim representation of the mission, as requested by CD. 

Required Qualifications 

• At least 7 years’ experience in the humanitarian sector, with both humanitarian and durable solutions programming 

• At least 4 years’ experience with people management 

• Experience in managing programme operations, including at country senior management level 

• Experience in fundraising and good understanding of key donor requirements 

• Experience with proposal development, budget development, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation 

• Experience in effectively coordinating with national partners, local/government authorities, NGO partners, UN agencies and other relevant stakeholders 

• Previous experience in developing programme strategies and producing technical guidance related to protection, economic recovery, emergency response and/or peacebuilding 

• Previous professional experience in West and Central Africa is an asset 

• Strong organisational, interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills 

• Master's degree in political science, international development, economics or other relevant field  

• Full professional proficiency in English  

Required Skills & Qualities 

• Core Competencies of DRC:  

• Striving for excellence 

• Collaboration 

• Taking the lead 

• Communication 

• Demonstrating Integrity 

• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required. 

General Regulations 

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework 

• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorisation 

• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period 

• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorisation 

• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request 

Application Process 

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) on DRC website. Both must be in English. 

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. 

DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.  

However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case, Nigeria). 

Applications close on the 29th of December 2025 at 11:59pm  (GMT-time). Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.