Livelihood Project Officer

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

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 an integrated multi-sector approach, the Health, Livelihood and Cash project funded by Dream German Post focused on food security and sustainable recovery for acute malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in disaster-affected communities in West Hararghe Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. This integrated multi-year resilience project will be implemented with a local partner called Positive Action for Development (PAD). The project’s goal is to enhance food security and climate resilience in crisis-affected households and communities, aiming to achieve three main outcome areas: (a) Ensuring that children under 5 and pregnant, lactating women access timely and effective treatment and sustain recovery for acute malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. (b) Children under 5 and pregnant or lactating women achieve an optimal dietary intake; (c) Increased demand for and consumption of safe, nutritious foods and services.

The Livelihood Officer is based in Meiso 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 Meiso woreda.

He/she 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 Establish and Support 20 kitchen gardening groups benefiting 400 women, establish a dairy goat revolving scheme throughout the project area Promote poultry production through on-farm demonstrations for women with under five children and cured cases of malnutrition, Engage community in Community Based Acute malnutrition Management (train care givers on early detection and management at community level, and Digitalize and synchronize information with national data base system.

Major job responsibilities:

Project implementation support, technical capacity building

• Prepare detailed implementation plans for the program/project, including activities, procurement, timelines, resource requirements, and roles of the team. Communicate these plans clearly to project and field staff
• Ensure that the Establish and Support 20 kitchen gardening groups benefiting 400 women in Meiso Wereda target kebele.
• Lead and support establishment and the development of home kitchen gardens through seeds and tools (in-kind modality), training, linkage with finance/VSLA with a focus on households experiencing malnutrition in the woreda of interventions.
• carried out Client Targeting for different entitlement with clear criteria for women will be provided assortment of tools, such as water cans, garden shovels, sickles, spades, ropes, plastic sheets, plastic bags, garden gloves, and a variety of seeds including Okra, Tomatoes Sweet Potatoes sticks, Pumpkin, and ` Cabbage seeds to cover at the minimum of 100m2 per HHs.
• 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.
• Ensure that target HH with drought-tolerant and early maturing seeds/tools to produce nutritious food (sorghum/maize, Mung bean (vigna radiata) during the main rainy season in the existing farming system
• Ensure establishment of the dairy goat revolving scheme throughout the project area and conduct client registration and verification based on the IRC standard template.
• Facilitate training on improved production techniques for Community animal health workers and Development agents (Das) selected from the targeted Kebele. `
• Promote poultry production through on-farm demonstrations for women with under five children and cured cases of malnutrition,
• Facilitate technical assistance from IRC staff, public extension agents, and private veterinary service providers, through linkages to VSLA/ MFIs for poultry operation start-up and to input suppliers for day-old chicks, vaccinations, and feed.
• Ensure the distribution model consists of a package of improved poultry breeds with good local adaptation, which will be provided to targeted malnutrition hot spot households.
• Conduct community mobilization to increase demand for/ and Consumption of safe, nutritious foods and services
• Activity: Engage the community in Community-Based Acute Malnutrition Management (train caregivers on early detection and management at the community level
• Develop and implement strategy of SBCC for change risky behaviors of both target clients and influencers regarding best child feeding practices, fighting restrictive norms, gender discriminatory practices regarding child feeding practices
• Digitalize and synchronize information with the national database system regarding detection of early malnutrition (example use tablets to record MUAC measurement, train data collectors on standardized tools, real-time updates, ensure interoperability –compatible with national database system).

Project Monitoring and Reporting

• Prepare relevant activity donor reports as 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.

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 in Agricultural Economics, General Agriculture, and/or related agricultural field of study or certification.
• Minimum work experience of 1 year for MSc Degree holders, 2 years for BSc Degree holders

Preferred experience & skills: –

• 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 is preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties
• Experience with coordination systems or advocacy is 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 in 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.

Language Requirements

• Proficiency in English is required, and knowledge of the local language is advantageous.