How to apply for Various Countries - Head of Programmes

About COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian humanitarian organization with a strong presence in East, West, and Central Africa, implementing emergency response and development programs in complex fragile contexts. What sets COOPI apart is its integrated multisectoral approach, combining WASH, Food Security and Livelihoods, Nutrition, and Protection with a focus on GBV and child protection, and its commitment to localisation and partnerships with local organizations. Working here means contributing to both immediate life-saving assistance and long-term resilience in some of the world's most challenging environments.

About the role

As Head of Programmes, you will be responsible for the strategic direction, quality, and monitoring and evaluation of COOPI's country programme portfolio, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and donor standards. You will support the Head of Mission in donor relations and partnerships, and lead programme development, implementation, and reporting across multiple sectors. This role is impactful because it directly shapes the effectiveness and accountability of interventions that address displacement, food insecurity, and climate shocks in vulnerable communities.

A typical day

A typical day might involve coordinating with programme managers to review progress, challenges, and compliance across multiple sectors, while also preparing a donor proposal or report. You could spend time in meetings with the Head of Mission, donors, or local partners, and reviewing M&E data to ensure quality and impact. Occasionally, you might travel to field sites to monitor activities and provide support to teams.

Who COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale is looking for

• Advanced degree in international development, humanitarian action, or a related field, with at least 7-10 years of experience in programme management in humanitarian or development contexts, including field experience in Africa.
• Proven track record in designing, implementing, and monitoring multisectoral programmes (e.g., WASH, FSL, Nutrition, Protection) and managing a diverse portfolio of institutional donors such as DG ECHO, EU/INTPA, AICS, UN agencies, and the World Bank.
• Strong skills in proposal development, donor reporting, and budget management, with experience in leading and mentoring diverse teams and working with local partners to strengthen capacity and promote localisation.
• Fluency in English and French (for Francophone countries) or English and another relevant language, with excellent communication and representation skills to engage with donors, government officials, and stakeholders.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your CV to highlight experience with COOPI's key donors (DG ECHO, EU/INTPA, AICS, UN agencies, World Bank) and specify the amounts and outcomes of grants you've managed.
• Emphasize your experience in multisectoral programme design and coordination, particularly in WASH, FSL, Nutrition, and Protection, as COOPI uses an integrated approach.
• Demonstrate your commitment to localisation by providing concrete examples of how you've strengthened local partners' capacity and promoted community participation in past roles.
• If applying for a specific country, research the context (e.g., displacement, food insecurity, climate shocks) and mention how your experience aligns with the challenges there.
• Use the cover letter to explain your motivation for working with COOPI specifically, referencing its presence in Africa and its integrated approach, and how you can contribute to quality programming and M&E systems.

What to cover in your cover letter

In your cover letter, focus on: 1) Your experience in managing multisectoral programmes in fragile contexts, with specific examples of successful donor proposals and reports. 2) Your ability to lead and mentor teams, ensuring programme quality and compliance, and your familiarity with M&E systems. 3) Your skills in donor relations and partnership building, particularly with COOPI's key donors and local organizations. 4) Your commitment to localisation and capacity strengthening, and how you've implemented these principles in previous roles.

Research before applying

• Study COOPI's current operations in East, West, and Central Africa, including their specific interventions, donor funding, and partnerships in the country you're applying for.
• Research the key donors mentioned (DG ECHO, EU/INTPA, AICS, UN agencies, World Bank) and their priorities and funding mechanisms for humanitarian and development programmes.
• Understand COOPI's integrated approach and how they implement multisectoral programmes, particularly in WASH, FSL, Nutrition, and Protection, and their focus on localisation.
• Look into the specific context of the country or region, including recent humanitarian needs, displacement trends, food insecurity, and climate shocks, to tailor your application.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you ensure programme quality and compliance across multiple sectors and donors in a complex emergency context?
• Describe your experience with donor relations and how you would support the Head of Mission in maintaining and expanding donor partnerships.
• What strategies have you used to strengthen local partners' capacity and promote localisation in programme implementation?
• How do you approach monitoring and evaluation to ensure accountability and learning, and can you give an example of how you've improved an M&E system?
• Given COOPI's focus on GBV and child protection, how would you integrate protection mainstreaming into other sectors like WASH or FSL?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Avoid generic applications that don't demonstrate specific experience with COOPI's donors or sectors; tailor your application to show you understand their integrated approach.
• Don't overlook the localisation aspect; many candidates focus only on direct implementation and fail to show how they've worked with local partners.
• Avoid emphasizing only emergency response if you lack experience in development programmes, as COOPI implements both and values the ability to bridge the two.