Livelihood Project Officer Re-Advert

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. 

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 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, disaster risk reduction (DRR), natural resource management (NRM), livelihood diversification, market system strengthening, and peacebuilding activities.

The Livelihood Officer is based in Boko town with frequent travel to the field project area. The incumbent reports to the Livelihood Manager on day-to-day project management and implementation with complementary oversight from the Field coordinator/manager. He will provide implementation support, technical and project support to target beneficiaries in the whole project cycle implementation. 

The post holder will support and strengthen the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the project in Fedis woreda. He will collaborate closely with other project staff within IRC  and among partner agencies, government, private sector, and community groups. She/he will give support to the program to ensure technically sound and complementary programming. The officers will ensure successful support for livelihoods programming which includes implement comprehensive interventions that include climate-smart agriculture, disaster risk reduction (DRR), natural resource management (NRM), livelihood diversification, market system strengthening, and peacebuilding activities, Provision of capacity building support for Livestock treatment and  supply of improved crop seeds and other related activities.

Major job responsibilities:

Project implementation support, technical capacity building 

• Prepare detailed implementation plans for the program/project, including budget, activities, procurement, timelines, resource requirements, and roles of the team. Communicate these plans clearly to project and field staff through training and cascading information.

• Lead, handle, and guide the implementation of activities and budget jointly with internal staff, government line offices, and the community, ensuring alignment with the proposal, Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), IRC strategies, and donor requirements to maintain technical quality and effectiveness.

• Prepare and share monthly and weekly work plans/tasks based on the approved project work plans, participating in guidance & follow-ups with staff while communicating updates to relevant personnel.

• Ensure that considerations such as gender, protection, safeguarding, accountability, environment, and CMDRR are integrated into the design, implementation, and monitoring of the programs.

• Promote the integration and complementarity of these interventions with other initiatives by the government and partners in the area to achieve a comprehensive and harmonious approach to resilience-building.

• Support the incorporation of market-based approaches in each intervention.

• Oversee the implementation, managing and coordinating field staff while monitoring and addressing any operational, logistical, or administrative challenges that arise.

• Identify and engage with key collaborators, including local government offices, CBOs, agricultural research centers, universities, cooperatives, private sector financial service providers, and other partners, to ensure effective coordination. Facilitate the active participation and engagement of local communities and target groups during the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the program.

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 

• Support 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 /DAI positions.

• Actively advance IRC’s/DAI 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 team leader/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.

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor are to enable and develop IRC programs.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: - 

• Promote and actively take part 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 in Agricultural Economics, General Agriculture, and/or related agricultural field of study or certification.

Preferred experience & skills: 

• Minimum work experience of 1 year for MSc Degree holders, 2 years for BSc Degree holders 

• NGO experience is a plus. 

• Demonstrated experience in humanitarian response, with specific experience in livelihoods and Food security and agricultural development approaches.

• Proven agriculture sector experience, or experience supporting smallholder farmers in livelihood recovery.

• 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.

• Ability of 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.

Language Skills: 

• Proficient in spoken and written English 

• Knowledge of the local language is advantageous

How To Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC online recruitment website: 

IRC Career Site: 

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