National Volunteer: Livelihood Advisor (Re-advertised Position)

National volunteer Job Pack

Role Title	National Volunteer: Livelihood  officer
Country	Moyale, Ethiopia
Employer	VSO Ethiopia
Duration	24 months
Role purpose	Under the Advancing Climate Adaptation, Peace, Livelihoods, and Preparedness in Cross-Border Communities of Ethiopia and Kenya (RECAP) project, the National Volunteer – Livelihood Project Officer supports the effective implementation of livelihood-related activities of project. The role focuses on strengthening household and community resilience through sustainable livelihood diversification, income-generating activities, market linkages, and skills development, while ensuring alignment with climate adaptation and peacebuilding objectives.

 

Deliverables

Background and contextual information

VSO is an international charity organization established in 1958. Through volunteerism, VSO aims to build a fairer world free from poverty by bringing people to work together to share skills, co-create, learn to fulfil their potential. VSO’s programming focuses on three practice areas namely Inclusive Education, Resilient Livelihoods, and Inclusive Health.

VSO uses its unique approach, volunteer for development (VfD) to work with marginalized communities. It builds on the people’s first principles, relational volunteering model and core approaches. Our relational volunteering model is centered around mobilizing and managing diverse communities of volunteers effectively across systems to support the most vulnerable and marginalized to achieve their rights and bring about lasting change, to create a fair world for everyone. VSO’s approach is rooted in addressing the fundamental causes of marginalization and vulnerability, our three core approaches – social inclusion and gender, social accountability, and resilience – guide our work in education, health, and livelihoods.

Resilient Borders: Advancing Climate Adaptation, Peace, Livelihoods, and Preparedness in Cross-Border Communities of Ethiopia and Kenya (RECAP) Project

RECAP is a three-year initiative targeting 21 locations across four districts, Miyo and Moyale in Ethiopia and Sololo and Moyale in Kenya. It aims to empower communities to lead their development, fostering resilience to climate change, and promoting sustainable livelihoods crucial for peace and stability in this border region. RECAP leverages the strong foundation laid by the ADA-funded project Integrating Peacebuilding, Development and Humanitarian Efforts (IPDHE). IPDHE aims to reduce conflict and enhance resilience and co-existence of cross-border communities at the Ethiopia-Kenya border. Its initiatives include among others promoting social cohesion through peace and resilience planning and committees, implementing disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures, and supporting livelihood activities such as pastureland restoration and women’s savings groups. Recognizing the importance of scale and sustainability, RECAP focuses on expanding these initiatives to ensure lasting impact, as recommended by the IPDHE endline evaluation

Role description

National Volunteer – Livelihood  Officer supports the effective implementation of livelihood-related activities under the RECAP project. The role focuses on strengthening household and community resilience through sustainable livelihood diversification, income-generating activities, market linkages, and skills development, while ensuring alignment with climate adaptation and peacebuilding objectives. The role includes:

Livelihoods Program Implementation

• Support the implementation of project livelihood activities, including climate-smart agriculture, livestock-based livelihoods, income-generating activities (IGAs), and vocational or skills development initiatives.
• Assist in mobilizing and supporting community groups, youth and women groups engaged in livelihood interventions.
• Support the distribution and appropriate use of livelihood inputs, starter kits, or productive assets in line with project guidelines.
• Promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient livelihood practices at community level.

Community Engagement and Capacity Building

• Facilitate community sensitization and awareness sessions on sustainable livelihoods, financial literacy, savings and loan schemes, and market access.
• Support training and coaching of beneficiaries on business skills, value chain development, and basic enterprise management.
• Encourage inclusive participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups in livelihood activities.

 Integration of Peace and Conflict Sensitivity

• Support livelihood activities that contribute to social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in cross-border and conflict-prone areas.
• Apply conflict-sensitive and do-no-harm approaches in all livelihood interventions.
• Support joint or shared livelihood initiatives that promote cooperation across communities and borders where feasible.
• Assist in collecting, verifying, and submitting livelihood-related data in line with MEAL requirements.
• Document success stories, lessons learned, and beneficiary feedback related to livelihood interventions.

Coordination and Partnerships

• Coordinate with local partners, community leaders, extension services, and government offices relevant to livelihoods, agriculture, and livestock.
• Support cross-sector coordination with climate adaptation, DRR, and peacebuilding teams to ensure integrated programming.
• Participate in coordination meetings, field visits, and joint assessments as required.

Compliance, Safeguarding, and Volunteer Conduct

• Adhere to organizational policies, safeguarding standards, and volunteer codes of conduct.
• Ensure transparency, accountability, and ethical engagement with communities.
• Support identification and reporting of risks related to livelihoods, climate shocks, conflict dynamics, or operational challenges.

Personal consideration

The National Volunteer – Livelihood Project Officer should possess and demonstrate the combined skills sets and experience detailed below:

Qualification

A formal qualification or equivalent experience in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Economics, Development Studies, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.

Experience

• Relevant internship, or volunteer experience supporting livelihood, agriculture, or community development initiatives.
• Experience working with pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, or rural communities is an asset.
• Previous exposure to climate resilience, food security, or market-based approaches is an advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong community mobilization and facilitation skills.
• Basic understanding of sustainable livelihoods and income-generating activities.
• Ability to collect field data and prepare simple reports.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness and ability to work in remote and cross-border settings.
• Basic computer skills (MS Word, Excel, email).

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English required.
• Knowledge of relevant Oromia local languages spoken and custom of community in project areas is highly desirable.

Personal Attributes

• Strong motivation to contribute to community resilience and development.
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and commitment.
• Expected Learning Outcomes for the Volunteer
• Practical experience in livelihoods programming within fragile and cross-border contexts.
• Enhanced skills in community engagement, monitoring, and reporting.
• Exposure to integrated approaches linking climate adaptation, peacebuilding, and livelihoods.

Safeguarding level:

VSO has zero tolerance of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. We will expect all our employees/ volunteers to commit to protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm and abide by our safeguarding policy

Level 2: This post will have direct access or contact with children either or will have responsibility for the day-to-day management of those with direct access to children. A criminal background check will be obtained for post holders at this level prior to their start date.

 

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