Program/Project – Diversified Livelihoods Financial Access Officer 54 views

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, 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.

IRC is planning to undertake coordinated livelihood recovery and resilience building support for disaster affected households in Konso, Alle, Derashe woreda/zones of SNNPR. The main objective of the livelihoods project is to improve the capacities of drought/conflict affected HHs, small holders’ women communities and their institutions to respond to and to reduce disaster risks proactively and to adapt to long term trends of food insecurity. This will be achived through increased crop/livestock production and efficiency of smallholder farmers communities through the promotion and use of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices, diversification of livelihoods and disaster risk management.

The project Officer position is dedicated to the implementation of programming crafted to provide beneficiaries with diversified livelihoods (off farm activities and VSLA promotions)so as to restore/recover IRC clients diversified livelihoods.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Program Officer- agriculture is the primary field-level position for planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of diversified project activities in Konso, Alle and Dersahe woredas. The Position can be tasked with implementing components of a Cash Transfer Program (CTP), e.g., vouchers and conditional Cash/business grant provision. The Officer spends most of their time in the field, identifying target communities, establishing relationships with community leaders, being responsible for field-level operations, such as the delivery of materials, registration of complaints, payment/distribution of items to beneficiaries, in the case of vouchers/fairs- manage logistics relationships with traders, oversight of team leaders.

Position objectives:

Successful implementation of crop production related activities

·         Participate in any project related assessments,

Participate in targeting and verification target groups

·         Maintain data base for target clients

Train target groups in climate thoughtful agriculture practices

·         Establish and maintain transparent, functional relationships with target communities

·         Ensure daily activities at the field level follow implementation guidelines

Ensure successful distribution of inputs to target clients

• As appropriate and necessary, mediate any conflicts between beneficiaries and IRC.
• work closely with woreda and zonal line offices particularly agriculture and rural development office

Responsibilities: –

• Provide support to the day-to-day implementation of the project related to diversified livelihoods and women economic empowerment
• Set up or strengthen community-based organizations to facilitate project planning and implementation
• Initiate and support village saving and loan association to improve the leadership and the capacity of women agency
• Undertake detailed data collection and analysis regarding youth livelihoods and employment aspect of the project in the project area
• Provide capacity build for community members, local implementing partners, and small and medium enterprises
• Ensure appropriate methodologies and technical approaches are developed for all program activities
• Work closely with the project manager/officers/ other partners to ensure alignment of the project with the strategic plan and relevant theories of change of the plan
• Support the development of Standard Operating Procedures and Mentorship Notes for program activities
• Ensure regular monitoring and modification of ongoing programming as required

Project Monitoring and Reporting

• Prepare relevant activity donor reports as per agreed-upon schedules (monthly, quarterly, and/or annually) on activities, indicators, and achievements.
• Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance, and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures, including active participation in procurement, supply chain, grant, and other meetings
• Together with the project manager and Accountability and Learning manager/officers, develop and implement a full monitoring and evaluation framework for livelihoods and employment activities as well as learning strategies, and adapt them to the different program methodologies.

Program design/coordination

• Contribute to the team to develop sound technical design and components of project proposals, business plans, and concept notes.
• Develop and maintain effective coordination and long-term mechanisms with external partners including partner agencies/NGOS, government departments and ministries, community-based organizations, private sector partners, donors, and others representing IRC
• Actively advance IRC’s connections to economic actors/private sector at a local, regional, and national level, seeking avenues for partnership, collaboration, and coordination of activities to ensure the sustainability of interventions
• Together with the manager team members, regularly engage internally and externally (especially with a municipality)
• Participate in IRC and working groups and communities of practice around livelihoods to share strategies, disseminate research and program successes, discuss implementation challenges, and share standard methodologies
• Support the sharing of information and learning across livelihoods-related programs

Education and experience

• BSC/preferably MSC/MA in international development, Agri/business/ economics, business administration, and/or related certification with 2 years’ experience for BA/BSC and 1 years’ experience for MSC/MA in humanitarian response, with specific experience in livelihoods and enterprise development approaches
• Proven private sector experience, or experience supporting business and business skill development
• Prior experience working in emergency settings or insecure environments preferred
• Strong program/technical, team leadership skills, planning, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties
• INGO experience required, experience with coordination systems or advocacy preferable
• Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct data collection and analysis, implementation, advisory functions, training, and the transfer of technical knowledge and leadership skills to others
• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well, has a strong sense of humor
• Proficiency in English and Amharic is required