Job Advert

Strategic Program Development advisor

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified to play a crucial role in the planning, development, and implementation of SRF strategic programming and frameworks within the Sahel region.

About the job

The Sahel Regional Fund (SRF) is a strategic regional financing mechanism established and hosted by the Danish Refugee Council to strengthen humanitarian impact across the Sahel. The Fund supports innovative, adaptive, and forward‑looking programming that enhances resilience, anticipatory action, climate adaptation, localisation, and humanitarian reform. By providing targeted, flexible resources and fostering collaboration between local and international partners, the SRF aims to improve the effectiveness and coherence of humanitarian responses in one of the world’s most complex and rapidly evolving regions.

The Program Development advisor will play a crucial role in the planning, development, and implementation of SRF strategic programming within the Sahel region. The role contributes to the development of the country and regional strategies and frameworks promoting resilience, anticipatory action, climate adaptation, advancing localisation and humanitarian reform, which are translated into calls for proposals, action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support for the Fund Director, SRF Fund Managers and MEAL Manager. The advisor will also need to maintain an effective external network within the humanitarian and development community in the Sahel region. This position requires a dynamic individual with robust donor’s experience in humanitarian and development programming, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Program Planning and Development:

• Maintain situational awareness through regular assessment and analysis of needs and corresponding response, including through regular field visits.
• Consult all key stakeholders and donors on strategic priorities and potential synergy.
• Lead in the design and development of fund allocation, new calls for proposals and initiatives in line with the fund's strategic goals.
• Lead or support in evaluation committee for proposal evaluation and selection.
• Lead the development and regular review/update of the SRF Results Framework, providing a structured approach to assess SRF’s overall progress through Key Performance Indicators, ensuring that programs align with and achieve the SRF's long-term goals and ambitions.
• Frame and promote learning dynamics across SRF-funded projects, in coordination with MEAL, to ensure relevance and complementarity
• Lead proposal development in line with the fund's strategic goals.
• Contribute to Annual planning and reporting.

Oversight of New Processes and Strategic Direction:

• • Provide technical support and advice into the design, appraisal, delivery, monitoring, evaluation and learning of SRF projects and programmes.   
  • Lead the development and implementation of new processes to enhance program efficiency and effectiveness (such as Standard Operating Procedures for the co-design phase for National NGO)
  • Lead mid-term and thematic evaluation to inform program development.
  • Provide strategic direction to ensure programs meet the SRF's long-term goals and ambitions.
  • Monitor and evaluate the impact of strategic initiatives, making adjustments as needed.
  • Maintain cutting edge understanding of and application of evidence and work to build the capability of others. 

Representation and Resource Mobilization:

• • Liaise with key donors, UN, NGO and other interlocutors in country and in the region to ensure SRF has up to date information on the humanitarian situation and response in the region.
  • Support SRF Director identifying and pursuing funding opportunities.
  • Support SRF Director to maintain relationships with donors and funding agencies.

Policy and strategic Advocacy:

• Monitor and analyse the humanitarian situation in the region, communicating effectively with SRF board and other key stakeholders to inform humanitarian diplomacy and to effectively influence the necessary evolution or changes of policy, strategy and programme priorities.
• Develop and update advocacy strategy, talking points, topline messaging, and advocacy products for thematic relevant to SRF long-term goals and ambitions
• Strategic monitoring of the evolution of the conflict and advocacy concerning access and the guarantee of humanitarian principles.
• Suggest key advocacy opportunities and targets at national and regional levels.
• Develop learning brief and position paper to promote program outcomes and impact for internal and external audiences.
• Represent the fund at meetings, conferences, and other events as required.
• Liaise with FMU to ensure changes/news are properly reflected in SRF website and newsletters.

About you

• To be successful in this role we expect you to have a minimum of 7 years of robust donor’s experience in humanitarian and development programming

. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Minimum of 7 years with proposal development, budget development, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Knowledge and understanding of international humanitarian standards, principles, and frameworks.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate analysis into actionable strategies and plans.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and partners.
• Ability to work independently, self-motivated and results oriented.
• Commitment to humanitarian values and principles, and a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable populations.
• Experience with effectively coordinating with national partners, local/government authorities, NGO partners, UN and other relevant stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience working in the Sahel region.
• Experience with pooled funds or fund management.
• Experience developing advocacy strategies and humanitarian diplomacy.
• Background in localisation

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 1 year

Band: Non Management E

Work location: Dakar with regular field visits in the Sahel region
Designation of Duty Station: Accompanied family

Start date: 1st March 2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on national or expatriate contracts; please refer to our website for more details. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact [email protected]

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 10th February, candidates will be reached on rolling basis.

For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit our website drc.ngo.

Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment regardless of personal characteristics or attributes