Livelihood Officer

BACKGROUND:

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 which 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 an 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: 

The livelihood officer will work with WPE and CP project staff and IRC’s implementing partner(s) to ensure that activities are provided following IRC standards, including policies and strategies. The incumbent will give support to the program to ensure technically sound and complementary programming and project support to target beneficiaries in the whole project cycle implementation. The officer will ensure successful support for livelihoods programming, which includes village saving and loan association (VSLA) establishing and strengthening, business skill development, foster saving habits, micro-franchising, and other related activities.

Major job responsibilities:

Project implementation support, technical capacity building

• Undertake community vulnerability assessment and process in target communities to define community gaps and provide basis for planning.
• Lead the identification and selection of the project client jointly with the communities and local leaders/ authority using set of criteria.
• Based on selection criteria set, identify, and form VSLA groups in the targeted Woredas in collaboration with local stakeholders and community leaders  
• Facilitate planning, organizing, and management of village savings and loan associations (VSLAs)and promote and aware VSLA strategy among communities and local leaders.
• Train IRC front-line staff and the clients on VSLA principles, procedures and actions, financial literacy and recording, and related topics.
• Train front VSLA members on basic business skills, VSLA principles, procedures, basic financial literacy, recording and saving
• Develop work plans (Weekly, Monthly and Quarterly) to ensure effective implementation of VSLA and other livelihood activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan.
• Conduct assessment on financial service providers, and challenges in reaching vulnerable groups.
• Link the VSLA groups to Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) and Micro Financial Institutions (MFI) services for further financial access.
• Ensure all clients are properly use and administer any cash support provided by IRC through train members, provide technical supervision assistance and cash awareness raising.
• Regularly monitor and follow up and provide technical support to VLSAs members and ensure quality practice and function per standard.
• Facilitate the identification of village level VSLA agents to enhance community awareness and ownership/ sustainability of VSLA approach.
• 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 with regard to IDPs livelihoods aspect of the project in the targeted Woredas.
• 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 IRC Senior CP/WPE officers, Cash team/ other project 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 WPE/CP program activities.
• Ensure regular monitoring and modification of ongoing programming as required.

Project Monitoring and Reporting

• Prepare relevant activity reports as per agreed-upon schedules (weekly, monthly and quarterly) on activities, indicators, and achievements.
• Work closely and coordinate with IRC SC, finance, and programs staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures, including active participation in procurement, cash provision meeting and monitoring. 
• Together with WPE/CP manager and senior WPE/CP 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.

• Support the team to develop key VSLA and cash provision technical design and components of business plans, and concept notes
• Develop and maintain effective coordination and long-term mechanisms with external partners including partner agencies/NGOS, government departments and community-based organizations, private sector partners, and others representing IRC
• Together with the line managers /team members, regularly engage internally and externally with stakeholders. 
• Participate in IRC and working groups, VSLA and cash provision clients to develop and strengthening their  livelihoods to share strategies, tools to disseminate program successes, discuss implementation challenges, and share standard methodologies.
• Support sharing of information and learning across livelihoods-related programs
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC VSAL and cash provision programs

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

Job Requirements:

Educational Requirements:

• MSC/BSc Degree/Diploma in agriculture, agricultural Economics international development, economics, business administration, and/or related certification.

Preferred experience & skills:

• Minimum work experience of 1 year for MSc Degree holders, 2 years for BSc Degree holders or 5 years for Diploma holders
• Demonstrated experience 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
• NGO experience is a plus; 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
• Basic computer skills mainly, MS word, Excel, internet etc.
• 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.
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Language Skills: 

• Knowledge of English is mandatory and
• Fluent in local language is desirable

• Please include 3 references from current and former employers.
• Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.
• Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

·      Name of the position you have applied for

·      Date of application

·      Summary of your qualifications and experience

·      Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

·      Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

·      Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.