Technical Advisor II – Food Security, Livelihoods and Markets – Sudan FNS Plan Lead

Job Description

NOTE: This is a remote position, with a preference for candidates based in East Africa; CRS will also give preference to candidates who are based in countries where we have existing offices. CRS does not sponsor visas for remote employees.

Background

Catholic Relief Services 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, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

You will provide technical advice and support to a range of program design and implementation issues in the area of Food Security with a focus on humanitarian in-kind food assistance programming as well as Livelihoods and Markets in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable.

Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ Market Based programming work is across the globe. You will also manage and provide technical oversight, coordination, and management of the implementation of the Sudan Country Program (CP)’s Preparedness Plan for Food and Nutrition Security Crises (FNS Plan). The FNS Plan is a World Bank-funded, cross-organizational effort to identify and respond to significant deterioration of food and nutrition security in Sudan before it becomes a major crisis.

 

Job Summary

This position is embedded in the Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) Market-based Rapid Response and Recovery (MBRRR) Team, with a dotted line to the CRS Sudan program. The HRD MBRRR Team is the agency lead for Cash & Market-based Programming and the emergency Food Security & Livelihoods Sectors. As part of this team, you will provide technical advice, guidance, and support to a wide range of program design and implementation issues with a focus on larger projects in the area of food security and livelihoods and markets in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to regional and Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your technical knowledge, advice and guidance will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ food security and livelihoods and market based programming is across the globe.

With 50% of your time, you will also directly support the CRS Sudan team to manage and steer the implementation of Sudan’s first FNS Plan. As main coordinator of the FNS Plan Secretariat, you will provide leadership and support to CRS and a number of humanitarian development actors in the implementation and continual improvement of the FNS Plan.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in food security and livelihoods that effectively engage partners, donors and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Provide technical solutions to regional and CP teams, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation.
• Contribute to regional and CP efforts to pre-position CRS for growth opportunities in food security and livelihoods. Lead or contribute to the development of the technical design for large and/or complex proposals, including defining appropriate monitoring systems and indicators. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives in food security and livelihoods programming for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to CP staff.
• FNS Plan management:  Coordinate Sudan’s FNS Plan Secretariat, and manage the budget and activities designed to implement and improve the FNS Plan; Maintain and develop relationships with peers, World Bank, senior humanitarian and development leaders in Sudan, and other donors; Refine activities and administer sub-grants as necessary, for the FNS Plan data partner and for additional research or workshops; hold meetings as necessary; ensure success of the FNS Plan should it be triggered.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
• Establish and maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Participate in forums in the area of food security and livelihoods to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented
• Strong experience and skills in coordination, networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Diplomacy and interpersonal skills

Required Languages: English required, Arabic desirable.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% with frequent travel to Sudan. Strong preference for candidates based in East Africa.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in international development, or fields related to food security, livelihoods and market-based response programming.
• Minimum of eight years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years working overseas in multiple regions as a technical advisor and/or program manager of a Market-based Program and/or multi-sectoral project with a Food Security and Livelihoods component. Experience managing in-kind food assistance programs ( e.g. USAID Title II) is highly desirable.
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.
• Strong understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in Food Security and Livelihoods. Good knowledge of related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach. Understanding of nutrition technical principles an advantage.
• Track record of contributing to successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding in Market-based Programming.
• Experience in the development and production of curricula, tools, and other products to support Market-based Programming interventions and programming. Demonstrated experience to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and informal methods.
• Knowledge of, and experience in, conducting market assessments and response analysis to inform modality decisions across different areas of programming, particularly in emergency rapid-onset humanitarian contexts
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation including development of indicators, data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications and understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in international development, or fields related to food security, livelihoods and market-based response programming is an advantage

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

About Us

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.