Senior Livelihood and Natural Resource Management Officer

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), in partnership with the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC), is implementing the project “Building Resilience Capacity of Pastoralists in the Somali Region.” This initiative integrates livelihood diversification, natural resource management (NRM), climate adaptation, and disaster risk reduction to strengthen resilience in pastoralist communities.

The Senior Livelihood and Natural Resource Management Officer will lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of integrated livelihood and NRM interventions. This role requires technical expertise in sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, natural resource conservation, and community-based resource management. The officer will ensure alignment with ERCS strategies, donor requirements, and government policies to address food insecurity, environmental degradation, and livelihood vulnerabilities in target woredas.

Key Responsibilities

Program Design & Implementation:

• Develop and manage livelihood interventions (e.g., income-generating activities, agro-pastoralist support) and NRM initiatives (e.g., soil conservation, water harvesting, agroforestry) in collaboration with communities and stakeholders.
• Conduct participatory needs assessments, natural resource mapping, and feasibility studies to identify degradation risks and livelihood opportunities.
• Design context-specific NRM strategies (e.g., rangeland rehabilitation, sustainable land-use planning) and livelihood diversification plans.

Stakeholder Coordination & Advocacy:

• Liaise with regional authorities, environmental agencies, NGOs, and community leaders to harmonize NRM and livelihood activities with local policies.
• Represent ERCS in NRM forums, climate adaptation networks, and livelihood working groups.
• Advocate for policies promoting sustainable resource use and pastoralist rights.

Capacity Building & Team Management:

• Train project staff, government counterparts, and communities on NRM techniques (e.g., watershed management, afforestation) and livelihood skills (e.g., agribusiness, value chain development).
• Line-manage field teams, ensuring adherence to project timelines and quality standards.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL):

• Develop tools to track NRM outcomes (e.g., soil fertility, water availability) and livelihood impacts (e.g., income levels, food security).
• Document best practices, lessons learned, and success stories for knowledge sharing.
• Ensure data-driven adjustments to programs based on MEL findings.

Compliance & Reporting:

• Prepare donor reports, ensuring alignment with frameworks like IFRC, EU, or NLRC requirements.
• Ensure compliance with environmental safeguarding policies and resilience-building standards.

Qualifications:

-Education:

• Minimum of B.Sc./BA /MA/MSc degree in Agriculture, agribusiness, Natural Resource Management, Plant science, Animal Science, Environmental protection, Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Management or other related field

– Experience:

• Minimum 8 years of experience in livelihood programming and natural resource management with NGOs/INGOs, preferably in arid/semi-arid regions.
• Proven expertise in designing NRM projects (e.g., soil/water conservation, community forestry) and livelihood initiatives (e.g., cash-for-work, pastoralist cooperatives).
• Experience in pastoralist/agro-pastoralist contexts and familiarity with climate-smart agriculture.

Skills & Competencies:

• Technical knowledge of NRM tools (e.g., GIS mapping, participatory land-use planning).
• Strong understanding of Somali Region’s environmental challenges (e.g., desertification, water scarcity).
• Proficiency in English and Somali (written and spoken).
• Ability to work in remote, insecure, and resource-limited settings.

Context-Specific Requirements:

• Knowledge of Somali Region’s pastoralist and Agro pastoralist systems and climate adaptation practices.
• Familiarity with donor priorities in resilience, NRM, and food security (e.g., USAID, ECHO, FAO).