Food Security and Livelihood Officer

JOB ADVERT FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOOD OFFICER ETHIOPIA

ForAfrika-Globally is a humanitarian aid and development organization dedicated to combating hunger, poverty, and malnutrition in Africa.

Our organization implements a wide range of programs across various countries including Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. We implement integrated, community-led programmes that save lives, build resilience, and enable transformational community development. Over the past four decades we have built strong partnerships with our communities, delving deep into their challenges and aspirations for fair and sustainable growth. Our guiding principle is simple yet profound: progress thrives when it springs from within communities themselves. We work hand in hand, amplifying their existing plans, developing strategies together, and ensuring they have the resources they need to sustainably provide for themselves and thrive.

Our approach places communities firmly in the driving seat, instilling a sense of ownership and responsibility. We empower communities with knowledge, skills, and resources to chart their own sustainable path forward, without relying on temporary external aid.

Position Summary

We are seeking a motivated and skilled Food Security and Livelihood Officer to lead and coordinate efforts aimed at enhancing food security, sustainable livelihoods, and income generation within Ethiopia program and ForAfrika as an organization’s programs. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in food security, agriculture, and livelihood development, with the ability to design and implement effective interventions.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Food Security and Nutrition:

• Conduct assessments and analyses to identify food security challenges, nutritional gaps, and vulnerabilities within target communities.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve access to nutritious and diverse food sources, focusing on vulnerable populations.
• Formulate and implement evidence-based strategies to improve access to nutrient-dense and diverse food sources, with a particular focus on vulnerable demographics. This will include:
• Developing and promoting home gardening initiatives, community-based food banks, and school feeding programs.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to promote behavior change and nutrition education.

Livelihood Development:

• Conceptualize and operationalize livelihood initiatives that enhance the economic well-being of community members, particularly those belonging to marginalized or disadvantaged cohorts.
• Identify income-generating opportunities, vocational training, and skills development activities that align with local contexts and needs.
• Foster entrepreneurship and small-scale enterprise development to create sustainable livelihoods.
• Facilitating access to finance through savings and credit groups, microfinance institutions, and grant schemes.

Agricultural Support:

• Provide technical guidance and training on sustainable agricultural practices, crop diversification, and natural resource management.
• Support farmers in improving agricultural productivity, post-harvest handling, and value addition to their produce.
• Facilitate access to improved seeds, tools, and technologies to enhance crop yields and income.

Community Engagement and Empowerment:

• Engage with community members to ensure their active participation in designing and implementing food security and livelihood initiatives.
• Facilitate community-based groups and cooperatives to collectively address challenges and seize opportunities.
• Empower beneficiaries with knowledge, skills, and resources to manage their own food production and income-generating activities.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track the progress and impact of food security and livelihood interventions.
• Collect and analyze data to assess outcomes, identify successes, and recommend areas for improvement.
• Prepare regular reports on program activities, challenges, and outcomes for internal and external stakeholders.

Partnership and Networking:

• Collaborate with governmental agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and other stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise.
• Participate in relevant forums, workshops, and networks related to food security, agriculture, and livelihood development.
• Represent the organization in discussions and advocacy efforts aimed at improving food security and livelihoods.

Perform any other tasks assigned by the line manager that are consistent with the role, organizational goals, and operational needs.”

Job Title: Food Security and Livelihood Officer

Department: Programs

Reports to: Project Manager/Country Director

Location: Konso zone Karate Town

Number of direct reports: None at this time

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelors with 5 years of work experience or master’s degree in agriculture, Rural Development, Food Security with 3 years’ work experience , or a related field.
• Proven experience in food security, livelihood development, and agricultural projects.
• Strong understanding of food security concepts, sustainable agricultural practices, and income generation strategies.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and training facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with local and regional agricultural and food security contexts is advantageous.
• At Least 3 years NGO experience on similar positions
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, data collection tools).