SayPro Risk & Compliance Trainee

Position Title: Risk & Compliance Trainee

Supervised by: Country Director

Reporting to: Country Director, with matrix technical report to HOSS

Duty Station: Bamako

Area of Operation: Mali

Employment Period: 12 months

Type of Contract : Traineeship

Alloance & Benefits: According to DRC policy

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 organization 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 organization.

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.

1. Background

DRC has been operating in West Africa since 1998. The DRC West Africa Regional Office (hereafter: WARO) is based in Dakar, Senegal, and covers six countries outside of Senegal. Led by the Regional Director, the DRC WARO oversees, supports and provides strategic directions for DRC’s Country Offices within the region, which currently includes Mali, Burkina Faso, the Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

DRC has been working since 2013 in Mali in the areas of protection (aiming to provide direct assistance to victims of human rights violations, build knowledge and capacity for community and individual protection, and participate in coordination and advocacy efforts at the regional and national levels), food security and economic recovery (aiming to build household and community resilience by linking emergency, rehabilitation and development while addressing structural and long-term issues) and humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding (aiming to promote stability, build resilience, and prevent and reduce armed violence by ensuring improved community security and effective and accountable border management through cross-border collaboration).

DRC Mali places the principles of cross-cutting protection at the center of its interventions and implements specialized protection projects (generalist protection with a focus on GBV and child protection), integrated protection (food security and armed violence reduction). Benefiting from a solid community and partnership base in its various areas of intervention (Bamako, Mopti, Segou, Gao, Timbuktu), DRC actively contributes to strengthening local partners in terms of protection expertise, particularly in its specialized areas: protection monitoring, mental health, and psychosocial support. In addition, DRC Mali is strongly involved in the issue of emergency interventions, in connection with the constant deterioration of the context and the increase in violations of rights carried out on the population, which requires better consideration of protection issues in the proposed response.

2. Purpose

DRC’s work is guided by the values of Humanitarian Principles, Honesty & transparency, Inclusion, Respect and Independence & Neutrality. It is essential that in all our work we uphold the highest standard of conduct and safeguarding standards for the communities where we work, our staff, interns, volunteers and contractors, partners, and other stakeholders. We have a duty of care to protect anyone who comes to contact with our work, particularly our vulnerable groups of beneficiaries.

The Risk & Compliance Trainee will contribute to the development, promotion and roll out of policy to promote a culture which has a zero tolerance to fraud, corruption and safeguarding. In coordination with the Head of Support Services, Project Managers, MEAL department and the Accountability Officer, the Risk & Compliance Trainee will ensure complainants/survivors are listened to, supported and protected from further harm, and ensure all code of conduct cases are registered, and investigated in a timely manner in line with DRC agreed practice.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

Compliance:

• Support the Finance Manager and Logistics department in ensuring the effective implementation and maintainance of control systems that guarantee that all offices comply with DRC’s financial, procurement and administrative policies as well as accepted accounting principles. This task includes the joint identification of gaps and systems weaknesses.
• Support the preparation of quarterly internal financial reviews to ensure that DRC and donor guidelines are implemented and followed. This task is achieved by playing a coordination support role and where relevant the centralization of strategic and operations information related to policies and procedures compliance to facilitate the review process from a qualitative (standards) perspective.
• Using compliance self-checks (CSC), assist bases and the country coordination team to develop recommendations and action points to address identified gaps.
• Support the Finance Manager and field-based finance and administration staff in clarifying and implementing expected standards for each typology of supporting documentation and that all related expenditure processes (including, scanning and archiving) are adhered to in a timely manner and in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Provide technical support to HR with a special focus on personnel files and payroll, while ensuring that all necessary verifications and updates are carried out on a quarterly basis. Support the implementation of SMT recommendations in this field.
• Support the Country Director and the Head of Support Services in dissemination of the Operations Handbook and where relevant and appropriate, conduct training that enable the team to meet internal and donor standards.
• Support the Partnerships Officer in conducting partner capacity assessments and educating partner organizations on DRC and donor requirements and monitor their performance against these requirements. Conduct partner reviews when delegated by the Partnerships Officer
• Participate in regular internal financial reviews of partners and offer recommendations to address identified gaps.
• Upon request, support budget holders in reviewing financial reports prior to submission to donors.
• Support the Head of Support Services and Finance Manager in the preparation and team coordination of internal and external audits.
• Support the Country Director in monitoring and updating audit recommendations (using the follow-up sheet) and support in the coordination and attribution of responsibilities/accountabilities for internal responses/actions related to these recommendations

Fraud and Corruption:

• Support the Country Director and Head of Support Services in ensuring regular communication on Risk Management Policy and Updates related to Code of Conduct and Anti-Corruption Policy.
• Carry out sensitization to enhance awareness on Code of Conduct and SEA standards and reporting
• Support the coordination and facilitation of the IC’s work. This may include communication on setup, TORs, and members’ registration
• Support the training of Country IC in COC areas and reporting
• Under the supervision of the Country Director and in partnership with the Human Resources Department, carry out a capacity gap assessment and roll out an investigator’s training plan
• Support the IC in promptly and effectively managing all open cases .
• In partnership with the Security & Access Coordinator, provide technical support to invesetigation processes in a manner that guarantees compliance and the safety and security of personnel involved.
• Flag high risk areas or issues that may be observed in the course of the performance of duties to the Country Director.
• Meet regularly with the Country Director to provide weekly, monthly, and quarterly updates on established priorities.

Safeguarding/SEA:

• Support and facilitate a coordinated response to all allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse
• Provide professional advice to senior managers, and mainly the Country Director and Country IC, Management Team in the country on matters related to PSEA.
• Advise on the application of Safeguarding investigation protocols to support the attainment of the highest possible standards consistently
• Understand the different legal contexts and risks and when delegated by the Country Director, implement Safeguarding best practice that is legally compliant.
• Support the Country Director in ensuring consistent practice and commitment to Safeguarding across the different field offices.
• Close consultation with CD during management of SEA cases.
• Close collaboration with Gender Specialist (GRIO) to enforce organizational policies related to gender and diversity.
• Contribute to DRC’s country risk management processes and support all DRC sexual exploitation and abuse processes and procedures
• Provide advice and guidance on sexual exploitation and abuse allegations, at all times taking into consideration the potential risks to personal safety for those involved.
• Improve the effectiveness of sexual exploitation and abuse deterrence, prevention, detection, and response in country.
• Research and develop innovative approaches to countering fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse and make practical recommendations to the Country Director and Head of Support Services.

Other:

• Support During complex Administrative investigations to ensure quality investigation and reporting.
• Support the country program continuously in establishing quality community and beneficiary feedback mechanisms
• Support the design and develop training materials in French and local languages and deliver training, to create awareness for staff, Interns, partner organizations on DRC policy and position related to COC and PSEA.
• Produce high-quality reports to managers at all levels.
• Work with colleagues to incorporate best practice into risk and control activities

In addition, the Risk & Compliance Officer may be asked to take on other tasks and duties as requested by the Country Director.

4. Required Qualifications

Core skills

• Suitable qualification with a working experience in an NGO context.
• Skilled in identifying and mitigating risks.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills as Trainer.
• Commitment to upholding and modelling DRC’s values and Code of Conduct.
• Demonstrating integrity, diplomacy, professionalism, reliability and resilience at all times.
• Able to work professionally and with a high degree of confidentiality at all times.
• Ability to quickly build personal rapport and trust.
• Ability to demonstrate empathy for the challenges survivors face in reporting and the pressures in investigation places on all stakeholders, including the alleged perpetrator and management

Education

• Business Administration, Audit or other relevant Degree Level qualification
• Candidates with the above qualifications that also possess formal training or experience in the field of social sciences will be of particular interest to the organization.
• High degree of organizational ability, working well under pressure and to deadlines.
• Strong and clear communicator and public speaker, capable of delivering messages appropriately to a variety of audiences, building a sense of passion and engagement.

5. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills are necessary
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humour

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

How to apply

Are you interested? Then apply for this position online**: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies.** All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in French or in English**.**

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment based on 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, candidates should take into consideration that the DRC cannot employ, under an international contract, a national of the country in which he/she will be working (in this case, the Republic of Mali).

For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit the organization’s website at drc.ngo.

Applications will close on 12/09/2022 at noon GMT. However, it is possible for the DRC to start the recruitment process even before the advertisement is closed, if an application meets the expectations and requirements of the position.