Livelihood Diversification and Financial Inclusion Project Officer Re-Advert 36 views

Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview

Overview and purpose of the Job:

The IRC is planning to undertake a Humanitarian, Development, and Peace Triple Nexus project focused on food security and climate resilience in disaster-affected communities in East Hararghe Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. This integrated multiyear resilience project involves a consortium consisting of Action Against Hunger (Lead), IRC, and DRC, which will implement initiatives across four regions of the country, with the IRC specifically responsible for the East Hararghe Zone. The project’s goal is to enhance food security and climate resilience in crisis -affected households and communities, aiming to achieve four main outcome areas: (a) improved food and nutrition security; (b) community-based, gender-sensitive disaster risk management and resilience; (c) increased economic status through livelihood opportunities and access to finance; and (d) enhanced social cohesion through participatory peacebuilding. To achieve these outcomes, the IRC will implement comprehensive interventions that include climate-smart agriculture, DRR, NRM, livelihood diversification, market system strengthening, and peacebuilding activities.

Livelihood Diversification and Financial Inclusion Project Officer position will fully engage in and responsible for the day-to-day planning, implementing, and monitoring of diversify livelihood (including market system, identification of viable economic opportunities, entrepreneur and business development, business plan development), and financial inclusion activities – organize and establish Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA), and capacity building support of the project.

The Project Officer is responsible to facilitate and arrange short-term skill, entrepreneurial, business development and management, business plan, financial management, and related trainings after assessing and identifying the gaps to improve marketable skills and capacities of the target clients to access and engage in decent work opportunities. Ensure the quality of skill development and employment pathway of youth, women, and facilitate and link them with MFIs/Banks to access working capital and start a business. In addition, the officer is fully responsible to select and orient/train vulnerable women and organize them in VSLA groups by establish proper structures as per IRC standard quality. Ensure the proper and effective function and operation of the VSLA groups, the officer will provide the necessary and relevant trainings to the members, and regularly monitor, and provide technical guidance and advises for them to properly undertaking the regular activities such as meeting, collection of cash (saving), etc of each association. The officer is provide support to realize the financial inclusion of vulnerable groups that create access to the financial services through regular guidance and supervision support.

Major Responsibilities:

Project Design and Implementation

• Conduct assessments on food security and livelihoods, including market analysis and community vulnerability, to identify economic opportunities and viable income-generating activities (IGAs) for target groups. Address challenges in reaching vulnerable populations and inform planning and proposal design.
• Provide technical expertise and input on livelihood diversification, design viable IGAs, VSLAs, financial inclusion, and marketing system development during the creation of new proposals.
• Develop and implement weekly, monthly, and quarterly work plans for small enterprise/business development, VSLAs, market system, and cooperative/groups development interventions. Ensure that team members, government offices, community members, and target clients not only understand their roles but also implement them smoothly and effectively.
• Ensure the timely implementation of interventions in line with grant specifications while ensuring compliance with requirements and quality standards.
• Community Mobilization: Collaborate with the communities, authorities, and all relevant stakeholders to orient and clearly communicate information to the community about the project’s purpose, activities (small enterprises, VSLAs, market system development, and related topics), targeting criteria, and verification processes.
• Targeting and Verification: Collaborate with communities, leaders, and government authorities to identify project clients based on established criteria. Implement community-based targeting and verification procedure to select eligible clients for small businesses, VSLAs, marketing groups, etc., ensuring transparency and accountability through active participation from community members and government structures.

Capacity Building

• Community Structure Development: Establish and strengthen community structures, including community targeting committees, VSLA groups, small enterprises, financial institutions, marketing groups /cooperatives, and seed producer cooperatives, to support project implementation. Identify gaps, plan, and implement appropriate interventions to enhance the capacity of committee members, as well as the organizational and institutional capacity of the structures, to improve community awareness and sustainability. Integrate economic development activities with agro-processing and recovery projects.
• Technical Training: Train IRC staff, clients, and partners on livelihood pathways, entrepreneurial skills, business management, life skills, VSLA principles, and financial literacy. Facilitate coaching for clients, assess skills gaps, and explore micro-entrepreneurship opportunities. Provide training on VSLA methodologies and the use of Jamiipay, along with technical support.
• Business Pathways: Identify and organize target clients, primarily women, to establish VSLAs and promote their strategies to the local community and leaders. Plan and implement livelihood pathways with identified and selected clients and develop and prepare them to engage in small businesses /enterprises and marketing groups, ensuring sustainable incomes and diversified livelihood activities.
• Financial Inclusion/Access: Link small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with financial service providers to promote access to working capital. Additionally, connect VSLA groups with Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) and Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) to improve financial access.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure quality assurance by following and adhering to guidelines while providing technical supervision, support, and guidance to staff, government extension workers/agents, and target household clients for effective implementation of activities. Focus on maintaining quality in business skill development, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion. Regularly monitor and provide ongoing technical assistance to lead farmers, VSLAs, marketing cooperatives/groups, and committee members to ensure effective and quality implementation of livelihood diversification, small enterprise, and marketing cooperative development interventions, adhering to quality standards throughout the project.

Grant Monitoring and Reporting

• Data Management: Properly record and document information while maintaining a database for target clients.
• Monitoring Activities: Track physical target achievements by regularly reviewing the progress of the work plan accordingly. Design and implement a robust monitoring and evaluation system to assess program results and outcomes, conducting ongoing monitoring and assessments while providing clear contextual analyses. Ensure that all monitoring activities are thoroughly documented, including systematic and timely data collection as required by the grant and for IRC M&E purposes. Meet all grant deadlines and ensure that activities address community needs while promoting gender equality and peacebuilding.
• Update the Progress: Responsible for reviewing and updating the implementation progress against the grant work plan, promptly identifying any current or potential delays, and preparing and sharing reports accordingly.
• Reporting: Prepare regular reports and documentation for internal and external partners, detailing project progress and lessons learned. Prepare and give to timely, high-quality sector progress narrative reports for IRC, donors, and partners according to established schedules (monthly, quarterly, and annually) on grant activities, indicators, and achievements.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Facilitate community assessments to identify needs and opportunities for improving livelihood and financial inclusion. Collect and analyze data on project activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts related to livelihood diversification, VSLAs, cooperatives, and market linkage. Actively participate in all project-related assessments and assist in the collection of data, assessments, and proposal development for the sector.
• Technical Application: Use technical knowledge and skills to diversify the livelihood, financial inclusion, VSLAs, small enterprises/businesses, marketing cooperatives, etc. Promptly identify and recommend solutions to any technical issues.
• Purchase Requests: Prepare and submit accurate procurement requests for program supplies and activities on time. Follow up on procurement to ensure timely delivery of quality items, coordinating with support departments (supply chain, HR, finance) regarding program needs. Monitor program supply inventory levels and conduct monthly spot checks on inventory.
• Technical Support: Collaborate with IRC’s implementing partners by providing timely technical support while maintaining respectful and constructive collaboration staff.
• Financial Management: Prepare monthly cash flow forecasts and handle budgets effectively, collaborating with the PM, senior project officer, finance, and project teams to identify necessary adjustments. Plan team movements and handle assets appropriately.

Coordination

• Collaborate with relevant internal teams for effective management of external and internal visibility activities.
• Ensure IRC’s representation in formal coordination activities focused on youth employment and skill development, as well as VSLA/financial inclusion coordination meetings.
• Establish relationships and coordinate with local leaders, authorities, microfinance institutions, and relevant partners.
• Participate in field-level coordination meetings with self-administration and other agencies.
• Engage communities, government offices, civil society organizations, and partners in all stages of program design, implementation, and monitoring.

Integrity: 

• Honest encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates the highest levels of integrity.

Equal Opportunities: 

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the IRC Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Overall: 

• Working for the best of your ability and demonstrate high levels of dedication to IRC and our vision, mission, and values to ensure the objectives of your role and the country programs are met.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of all IRC resources in order to keep costs low and ensure safety in the workplace.  

Safeguarding Responsibilities:- 

•     Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]

•     Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies