Livelihood Specialist | Jijiga

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is the specialized agency of the United Nations for food, nutrition, agriculture, and forestry. FAO’s global vision is for a world free from hunger and malnutrition where food and agriculture contribute to improving the living standards of all, especially the poorest, in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner. Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO’s efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active and healthy lives.

The mission of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is to work to eradicate hunger and promote global food security together with balanced and complete nutrition. Our mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy.

Our three main goals are the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

The FAO Ethiopia, assist the Government of Ethiopia to develop policies, programs, and projects to achieve food security and reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors and use their environmental and natural resources sustainably.

Ethiopia hosts one of the highest numbers of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) globally. The Federal Government of Ethiopia (GoE) is exerting efforts to advance solutions for internal displacement, including through establishing the Durable Solutions Initiative (DSI) designed to provide a principled operational framework for durable solutions and shape multi-sectoral and collective programs to return, relocate, and locally integrate IDPs. Somali and Oromia regions, particularly Oromia Region bordering areas with Somali Region, present priority geographic areas for DSI in general. DSI Ethiopia, in consideration of the socio-political dynamics between the two regions, socio-economic grievances, and security environment, is prioritizing progressive resolutions of the complex displacement situations in these regions.

In light of the complexity and the dimensions of displacement situations in Somali and Oromia regions, FAO, IOM, and UN-HABITAT designed a joint project entitled Strengthening Resilience of Disaster Affected Communities through Durable Solutions in Oromia and Somali Regions of Ethiopia. The plan is to employ durable solutions that enhance IDPs’ and host communities’ capacities to move towards recovery and resilience with a particular focus on the Fafan and Shabelle zones of the Somali Region, and the East and West Hararge zones of the Oromia Region.

Among others, FAO will support on-farm income-generating activities to enable targeted displacement-affected communities to increase income and build household assets, increase employment as well as contribute to the local economy growth.

It is under this context that FAO Ethiopia is seeking to recruit livelihood specialist to perform the below-mentioned tasks based in Jigjiga.

Reporting Lines

The livelihood specialist work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Ethiopia, technical supervision of the NRM & Resilience officer, and direct supervision of the FAO Field Office Coordinator.

Technical Focus

The livelihood specialist focuses on income-generating activities including poultry production, beekeeping, fattening, and forage development.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Facilitate and mobilize government and displacement-affected communities for identification of beneficiaries and selection and planning of income-generating activities by beneficiaries as well as facilitate in establishing Farmer/ agro-pastoral Field Schools, and developing group/association bylaws;
•    In collaboration with DAC, government, and service provider, facilitate and support review of existing Income-generating activities, and facilitate identification of potential income-generating activities by beneficiaries and produce production site coordinate.
•    In collaboration with the service provider, provide technical advice as well as guidance on selected IGAs handling and management; cultivation, conservation, and utilization of animal feed, and collection and handling of locally available hay and fodder crops;
•    Collect and document all the necessary income-generating activities information disaggregated by sex and age composition of targeted households and their family on project activities for reporting, sharing, and learning, and carry out tasks associated with environmental protection and management of each scheme.
•    Facilitate environmental and social impact assessments for each IGA and preparation of Social & Environment plans;
•    Contribute towards the income-generating activities visibility and communication plan including relevant case stories, success stories, pictures, photographs, and lessons learned and IEC materials development;
•    In collaboration with the service provider, provide appropriate training, mentoring, and coaching, a business plan, management, financial recording, marketing, technical skill training, and Agro Pastoral Field School facilitators (TOFF) training;
•    In collaboration with the project team and FAO’s Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, participate in the design and implementation of baseline surveys and mapping of the target woredas and beneficiary sites; and monitor and evaluate the progress of activities, the impact of programming and drawing up lessons learned; and implement suggestions to improve performance and the necessary adjustments to the work plans;
•    Compile and submit weekly/bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports timely against the aforementioned plans, highlighting any constraints to project implementation and possible solutions to the FAO focal person and FAO regional coordinator, and project manager;
•    Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements   

•    Advanced university degree in livestock production.
•    7 years of relevant experience in income-generating projects design and implementation
•    Working knowledge of English and working knowledge of the official language of the country
•    National of the country

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work
•    Extent and relevance of experience in extension services.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in honey production.
•    Familiarity with the government’s current systems and policy environments.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION