Head of Programme

at Geneva Call
Published October 20, 2026
Location Khartoum, Sudan
Category Administration  
Job Type Full Time  

Description

Geneva Call is a neutral and impartial non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting respect by Armed Groups, De Facto Authorities (AGDAs) and Provisional Governments for international humanitarian norms in armed conflict and other situations of violence, in particular those related to the protection of civilians. Geneva Call focuses its efforts on banning the use of anti-personnel mines, protecting children from the effects of armed conflict, prohibiting sexual violence in armed conflict, working towards the elimination of gender discrimination, protecting civilian infrastructure, and ensuring humanitarian access.

Why this Role?
The Head of Programme provides overall leadership, technical oversight, strategic direction, and management of Geneva Call’s programme portfolio in Sudan. This includes ensuring high-quality programme design, effective implementation, sound financial management, and strong team leadership. The role requires working in complex and dynamic contexts, adapting programme strategies to meet changing needs, and ensuring alignment with Geneva Call’s mandate, values, and operational priorities.

Work Relations
Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Head of Programme will provide overall leadership, technical oversight, management and strategic vision of the program of Geneva Call while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its objectives and deliverable timely, qualitatively and within budget. The Head of Programme will work in a fluctuating and uncertain context and constantly adapt the answer of Geneva Call.

Duties and Responsibilities
Programme Leadership and Strategy

Lead the design, adaptation, and delivery of country programme strategies in alignment with Geneva Call’s global priorities and operational guidelines.
Provide strategic oversight to ensure programmes are contextually relevant, conflict-sensitive, and responsive to humanitarian needs.
Integrate conflict and humanitarian analysis into programme design, monitoring, and adaptation.
Ensure programme implementation meets agreed objectives, quality standards, and donor requirements.
Resource Mobilisation, Proposal Development, and Reporting

Foster innovation and identify new opportunities for engagement, partnerships, and growth.
Lead proposal development and resource mobilisation with the Country Director and Donor Relations, aiming for diversified and multi-year funding, including consortium bids with international and national organisations, and ensuring viable programming consistent with access, security and absorption capacity.
Ensure timely and high-quality donor reporting and internal programme reports.
Programme Management and Coordination

Oversee the planning, delivery, and monitoring of all projects in line with project cycle management standards.
Ensure effective coordination among programme teams and with other departments (finance, logistics, HR).
Monitor programme expenditure against budgets and ensure compliance with Geneva Call policies, donor requirements, and accountability standards.
Lead periodic grant reviews (activity progress, budget-versus-actual, burn rate) with Finance and the Programme Coordinators, and anticipate budget realignments or no-cost extension requests to avoid under- or overspending, and contribute to evaluations and audits.
Maintain effective relationships with implementing partners, providing technical and operational support where required.
Safeguard all programme data and ensure proper documentation and filing systems.
Team Leadership and Human Resource Management

Line-manage senior programme staff and oversee recruitment, induction, and professional development.
Promote a safe, collaborative, and high-performing team culture that aligns with Geneva Call’s values.
Provide mentoring, coaching, and capacity-building to strengthen team skills and performance.
Ensure compliance with HR policies, performance management processes, and safeguarding standards.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

Contribute to ensure robust MEAL systems are in place to track progress, assess impact, and inform programme adaptation.
Support evidence-based decision-making and promote a learning culture within the team.
Contribute to evaluations.
External and internal Relations, Advocacy, and Representation

Represent Geneva Call with national authorities, donors, coordination bodies, and other key stakeholders.
Contribute to advocacy and policy engagement in line with Geneva Call’s mandate and country strategy.
Support the development and implementation of communications and visibility plans, ensuring sensitivity to security and perception risks.
Build and maintain strategic partnerships to enhance programme impact and sustainability.
Together with the Country Director, lead engagement with AGDAs, community leaders and other local and national stakeholders.
Requirements
Education (Essential)

Graduate degree in International Relations, Political or Social Sciences, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, Development Studies, or related field.
Experience (Essential)

10 years of relevant experience in humanitarian or protection organisations, including at least 3 years in senior programmatic leadership roles, in an international context.
Proven record in programme strategy development, project cycle management, and budget oversight.
Experience in building and managing partnerships with civil society, INGOs, UN agencies, and donors.
Experience developing high-quality proposals and managing grants from institutional donors and private foundations.
Experience working in conflict-affected or complex humanitarian settings.
Experience (Desirable)

Demonstrated experience engaging with armed actors or other non-state actors in a neutral and principled manner.
Academic and/or work experience in Humanitarian Protection, humanitarian dialogue, and International Humanitarian Law is highly desired.
Job-related competencies

Strong strategic and operational planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Solid understanding of donor compliance frameworks and accountability requirements.
Strong facilitation, negotiation, and diplomacy skills with diverse stakeholders.
Proficiency in project management tools, MEAL systems, and budget monitoring.
Knowledge of International Humanitarian Law and protection principles is an asset.
Organisational competencies

Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
Ability to work under pressure, adapt to rapidly changing contexts, and make sound decisions.
Strong leadership qualities with a collaborative and inclusive approach.
High degree of integrity, discretion, and commitment to Geneva Call’s values.
Results-oriented, solution-focused, and proactive mindset.
Languages (Essential)

Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English in required.
Languages (Desirable)

Knowledge of local languages is an asset.
Additional information

The incumbent must be willing and able to travel at short notice.
Testing and interviewing will be used as a form of screening.
Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.
Additional background checks may be required.

Please Send your resume/CV