Livelihood Officer

OVERVIEW

PATH is now hiring for our next project, implementing an integrated, community-based program in the West Hararghe Zone that supports vulnerable children, youth, women, and communities through coordinated education, wellbeing, protection, and economic resilience interventions. The program focuses on expanding equitable access to education by supporting school enrollment, attendance, accelerated learning for out-of-school children, and inclusive school environments, while also strengthening children’s physical, psychosocial, and protective wellbeing through health, nutrition, mental health support, and community-based child protection systems. In parallel, PATH facilitates poverty-targeted women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to strengthen livelihoods, financial inclusion, and climate-resilient economic capacity, complemented by time-bound emergency and recovery support for households facing acute shocks. Through this integrated approach, PATH works alongside schools, communities, and local institutions to promote long-term resilience, dignity, and opportunity for vulnerable populations.

Purpose of the Role

The Livelihood Officer leads the planning, coordination, supervision, and quality assurance of livelihood and vulnerable women’s economic empowerment interventions. The role ensures that income-generating activities, savings groups, and economic strengthening supports are well designed, properly implemented, monitored for results, and aligned with project objectives, donor requirements, and organizational standards.

Key Objectives of the Role

• Enable targeted beneficiaries to initiate and sustain viable income-generating activities
• Strengthen household economic resilience through group-based savings and livelihoods support
• Ensure livelihood interventions are implemented in line with project design, donor requirements, and organizational standards

Core Responsibilities

Livelihood Program Planning and Oversight

• Lead beneficiary targeting, verification, and approval processes in collaboration with community structures
• Guide beneficiaries in selecting appropriate IGAs based on skills, markets, and risk assessment
• Approve IGA plans and provide higher-level technical guidance
• Design, plan, and oversee livelihood and financial literacy trainings
• Implement trainings when necessary

Expected outputs:

• Verified beneficiary profiles and IGA plans
• Beneficiaries supported to start or strengthen IGAs
• Training sessions delivered and documented

Supervision and Quality Assurance

• Supervise Livelihood Technical Assistants and Community Workers
• Review field follow-up reports and data submitted by Technical Assistants
• Identify trends, risks, and underperformance and take corrective action
• Ensure safe caseloads, workplans, and field schedules are respected
• Oversee formation and strengthening of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), or similar savings groups
• Review group performance trends (savings, loans, governance)
• Address systemic group issues beyond field-level correction

Group-Based Economic Strengthening

• Oversee formation and strengthening of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), or similar savings groups
• Review group performance trends (savings, loans, governance)
• Address systemic group issues beyond field-level correction

Expected outputs:

• Functional savings groups with regular meetings and records
• Improved savings and loan performance among supported groups

Capacity Building & Training of Beneficiaries

• Conduct training needs assessments for selected beneficiaries
• Develop or adapt training materials appropriate to beneficiary literacy levels
• Deliver training on topics such as:
  • Basic business skills
  • Financial literacy and savings management
  • IGA selection and market assessment
  • Record keeping and budgeting
  • Risk management and sustainability
• Facilitate participatory and practical learning sessions
• Coordinate guest trainers or technical experts when required
• Ensure inclusive participation (women, persons with disabilities, vulnerable groups)
• Evaluate participant understanding and training effectiveness

Expected outputs:

• Training plan developed and approved
• Post-training assessment results documented
• Increased readiness of beneficiaries to start or strengthen IGAs

Monitoring, Follow-Up, and Reporting

• Conduct regular field follow-up visits to assess progress and challenges of beneficiary IGAs
• Collect, verify, and submit accurate livelihood data to the Project Manager and MEAL team
• Prepare periodic activity and progress reports in line with reporting schedules
• Use evidence to adapt strategies and improve outcomes

Expected outputs:

• Timely and accurate livelihood reports
• Documented progress and challenges for learning and adaptation

Coordination and Referral

• Coordinate with relevant government offices (e.g., Women and Children Affairs, Livelihood or Cooperative Offices) and local stakeholders
• Facilitate referrals to vocational training, cooperatives, microfinance institutions, or other relevant services when appropriate
• Represent the project in livelihood-related coordination forums

Expected outputs:

• Active coordination with relevant stakeholders
• Beneficiaries linked to complementary services

Safeguarding and Accountability

• Ensure livelihood activities comply with organizational safeguarding, gender, and inclusion policies
• Promote transparency and accountability in the use of livelihood resources

Supervises:

• Livelihood Technical assistance, Community Worker, Community animator and Facilitator

Duty Station

• Field Office West Hararghe, Chiro Town

Employment Type:

• Full-time

Contract Type

• Fixed-term / project-based

Duration

• 6-month contract with the possibility of extension based on performance.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Management, Agriculture, Development Studies, Rural Development, or a related field
• Minimum 3-5 years of relevant experience in livelihood, economic strengthening, or community development programs
• Experience working with vulnerable women or low-income households

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with SHGs, VSLAs, or women-focused livelihood programs
• Experience working with NGOs or donor-funded projects in Ethiopia
• Familiarity with local government livelihood or cooperative structures

Key Skills and Competencies

• Practical understanding of income-generating activities and small business support
• Strong facilitation and community engagement skills
• Basic data collection, documentation, and reporting skills
• Problem-solving and beneficiary-focused approach
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Essential Computer Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for

• • Tracking SHG membership and attendance
  • Monitoring savings, loans, and repayments
  • Maintaining beneficiary databases
  • Preparing simple summaries and reports

Working knowledge of Microsoft Word for:

• • Writing activity reports
  • Preparing business proposal drafts
  • Documenting meeting minutes and field visit notes
• Basic ability to prepare presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint
• Professional use of email and digital communication tools
• Ability to manage and organize digital files and reports using shared folders (OneDrive, )
• Ability to use Google Forms or KoboToolbox ( Highly recommendable )
• Ability to collect and submit field data electronically
• Basic data entry and verification skills

Essential Language Skills

• Strong verbal communication skills in Afaan Oromo for:
  • Facilitating SHG meetings
  • Conducting workplace visits
  • Conducting home visits
  • Engaging local kebele officials and community leaders
• Ability to explain financial concepts (savings, loans, interest, business planning) clearly in local language
• Good working proficiency in written and spoken English for:
  • Reporting to management
  • Writing monthly and quarterly reports
  • Coordinating with donor-facing staff

Working Conditions

• The role requires regular field presence, including supervision of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) at meeting locations.
• Frequent village-level travel is required to conduct workplace visits, household visits, and follow-up in both accessible and remote kebeles.
• Work involves movement between urban centers, rural villages, and up-and-down terrain, depending on project sites.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Gross Salary

• 60,000 -70,000 ETB, salary is fixed to current USD exchange rate

Phone Communication:

• Unlimited voice and Internet Package

Medical Coverage

• Medical insurance coverage for the employee and eligible dependents.

Transportation Allowance

• Monthly transport allowance