Senior Project Officer –Natural Resources Management (SPO-NRM) | Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia’s most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS’ disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS’s humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs, promotes equality and inclusion, and mitigates the impact of COVID-19.

Position Title:          Senior Project Officer – Natural Resources Management (SPO-NRM)

Department:           RFSA/Ifaa

Duty Station:          CRS Ethiopia/Addis Ababa

Employment Term:     Definite (Until March 31, 2026

Reports To:               Environment and Climate Change Technical Advisor

Application Deadline:   July 17, 2023

Job Summary:

As a member of the Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA)/Ifaa project team, the SPO-NRM will work closely with implementing partners to provide high quality technical support on NRM-related issues. The SPO-NRM will monitor and report on project activities focusing on the planning and implementation of NRM activities, covering trainings on Integrated Watershed Management+, support the scale-up of the Water Benefits Calculator (WBC), nursery management, and ensure alignment for MEAL requirements. The SPO-NRM will support Ifaa’s overarching goal is to improve the food security of vulnerable households in targeted PSNP communities, contributing to a sustained reduction in rural poverty in Oromia through consistently applying best practices and technical guidance with a service-oriented approach.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, and good practices and USAID requirements.
• Support partners on the preparation of quarterly and annual reports on NRM interventions.
• Organize/coordinate/facilitate capacity building trainings on integrated watershed management planning, soil and water conservation measures for GoE and HCS project staff and communities.
• Work closely with and technically support the program stakeholders on the development of Integrated Watershed Management plans for watershed sites through full participation of the community as per the Participatory Watershed Development Guideline by Government of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture.
• Work closely with and technically support HCS staff on the implementation of Integrated Watershed Management (IWM+) including soil and water conservation measures, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), andforage development.
• Technically support woreda experts on the application of GIS for the development and implementation of Integrated Watershed Management plan.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Support and assist implementing partners to identifying information for case studies, success stories and reports on promising NRM practices.
• Work closely with RFSA/Ifaa sectors including MEAL, Agriculture and Economic Livelihood, PSNP Systems, WASH, Gender and Youth Social Development, and Health and Nutrition.
• Perform additional assignments given by Environment Climate Change Lead or Technical Advisor
• Ensure gender and disability issues are considered in the design, implementation, and monitoring of NRM interventions.
• Report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree, or equivalent preferred in the field of natural resource management or related sectors.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in project support for MSc and 7 years for BSc degree in the field of natural resource management, environmental management, and/or climate change.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data, preferred.

Personal Skills

• Observation, active listening, and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Good relationship management skills and ability to work closely with local partners and communities.
• Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.

Required/Desired Foreign Language

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Afaan Oromo
• Written and verbal communication skills in Amharic, a plus

Travel Required: about 40% field travel within Ifaa’s operational woredas in East Hararghe to technically support the implementation of the program and 25% travel to Addis Ababa to support the ECC Sector in reporting, planning and participating in relevant meetings.

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: N/A

Internal: Environmental Lead, RFSA Chief of Party, DCOP for Programming, DCOP for Gender Youth and Social Dynamics; DCOP for MEAL, SBC Lead/TA; Ifaa sector leads; all Country Program staff; Regional and Headquarters Environmental and CC technical advisors.

External:  Ifaa consortium members, local government stakeholders and communities and, representatives from for-profit and other non-profit organizations, private sectors and peer organizations operating in Ifaa woredas.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

•          Integrity

•          Continuous Improvement & Innovation

•          Builds Relationships

•          Develops Talent

•          Strategic Mindset

•          Accountability & Stewardship

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.