Woreda Program Coordinator (8 Positions)

Mahibere Hiwot for Social Development (MSD) is a non-governmental and non-profit making organization founded in October 1999. Since its establishment, MSD has been implementing different programs in collaboration with partners on providing broad range of HIV prevention, care and treatment services and Sexual and Reproductive health (SRH), Migration & Trafficking, Good Governance, Education and Child Development in different parts of the country.

MSD is a child safe organization and all successful applicants will be required to sign the Safeguarding Code of Conduct. The safety and wellbeing of children and at-risk adults are priorities of MSD. The organization provides a safe environment in all its programs and activities. It has strong recruitment procedures to make sure the safest and most suitable people work with the children in its programmes.

Program / Department Summary

The USAID-funded Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) – will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5’s “Big Push” initiative and has the overarching goal of strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopia’s Highlands, resulting in 120,000 PSNP households reaching the graduation threshold. HRA will support these households in moving above the graduation threshold and to where they no longer require social safety net programming for household food security and have the capabilities and assets to withstand regular and predictable shocks. The Activity will achieve this goal by directly supporting households in increasing their on-farm, off-farm, and employment incomes while facilitating improvements in the market systems required to increase demand for goods and services in PSNP communities. HRA is a five-year program that starts in October 2023.

General Position Summary

The woreda program coordinator is responsible for leading and coordinating the high-quality and effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) at the woreda level. The woreda program coordinator guides field-level program implementation for all kebeles under the supervision of the Zone Coordinator  works closely with the regional and zone technical teams and M&E team for effective, impactful and responsive program implementation. S/he facilitates partnerships with other implementing partners and the private sector at woreda level to ensure complementarity with existing activities, while ensuring the alignment of HRA implementation in line with the program’s overall approach. S/he maintains close coordination with the government offices, and PSNP program participants. The woreda program coordinator is also accountable for effective monitoring and evaluation of kebele-level “push” interventions, and ensures timely and quality delivery of quarterly and annual project reports and documents the impact of HRA activities. Her/his close working relationships with all technical units ensure program activities are carried out according to the highest standards and remain responsive and appropriate to the local context.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Major Responsibility

Technical Direction and Program Quality

• Provide overall vision and technical direction for the implementation of “push” intervention on the Highland Resilience Activity at woreda level; ensuring interventions are tailored to PSNP households in each kebele.
• Contributes to and guide integrated assessments to understand existing implementation approaches and modalities, results and on-going needs in line with HRA’s goal of supporting the graduation of PSNP households through market-based approaches.
• Lead the sequencing, layering and integration of HRA activities at woreda and kebele level, internally as well as with other partners.
• Facilitates the ability of technical advisors to effectively operate at woreda-level.
• Facilitate regular context monitoring to support updating and adapting activities for greatest impact.

Program Management

• Leads and coordinates high quality and effective program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of HRA’s interventions  at woreda-level and in all kebeles under supervision,
• Where appropriate, provides oversight and accountability  for quality  l program implementation for “push” interventions at kebele and woreda level Effectively coordinates with other implementing partners to tailor and facilitate the deisgn and delivery of interventions tailored to woreda and kebele context.
• Regularly provide communication on project progress as per program’s communication protocols, including through weekly updates to Zone and Regional Coordinators; provide regular updates on context, project progress, effectiveness of project approaches, and partnerships.
• Prepare quarterly and monthly plans, aligned with the allocated budget and programming targets
• Participate in zone and regional coordination meetings, and ensure documentation and delivery of action points
• Ensure timely and quality delivery of quarterly and annual project reports internally to HRA MEL/CLA team

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

•  Adhere to program learning systems and strengthen the effort to document the impact of HRA activities
• Facilitates and helps update the setting of targets for program implementation based on context.
• Closely works with the Regional M&E team to continuously monitor, ensure implementation quality, and support an accountability system in the field
• Ensure the Woreda programming targets and approach are being met, by implementing activities in accordance with the agreed work plans and timelines, and report discrepancies and changes to the zonal coordinator
• Partners  learning opportunities from similar projects in the woreda

Finance, Administration, Logistics and Procurement

• Closely work with regional finance staff, in budget development, spending, and forecasting
• Facilitates government monitoring and evaluation missions at Woreda level
• Ensure timely revision of woreda procurement plans and review procurement status weekly to closely monitor and accelerate procurement processes when needed.
• Regularly visits to Kebeles for field support
• Encourages team leadership with regular management meetings, promoting a participatory approach and proactive problem-solving
• Ensures Kebele administration, Development Agents, and beneficiary communities are actively engaged in program planning, implementation, and monitoring

Partnership and Representation

• Facilitate partnerships with – and community program vision and approach – all HRA stakeholders at woreda and kebele-level, including government representatives, partner programs, and private sector actors;
• Represent HRA at Woreda of operation on government and non-government coordination meetings.
• Facilitates government monitoring and evaluation missions at the Woreda and kebele level
• Work with Woreda government stakeholders in periodic reviews, evaluations, and joint monitoring
• Ensure timeliness of government reporting as per government guidelines and HRA partner directives
• Partner and coordinate with Woreda stakeholders, government partners, and HRA-implementing NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) in the nearby Woredas to ensure collaboration and synergy

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• HRA team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about civic engagement to strengthen inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem-solve, work within a complex and sensitive setting, and follow laws and security protocols. The most successful HRA team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and prioritize effective written and verbal communication in all situations.

MSD is looking for qualified and competent applicants for the following position:

Reports to: Project Manager

Term of Employment: Contract

Sex:  Female/Male

Staff required: 8

Qualifications:

• BA/BSc in a relevant field, or equivalent experience
• At least 2 years in a middle or  position
• Strong knowledge and working understanding of PSNP and USAID (United States Agency for International Development) Food Security and Resilience programs
• Strong understanding of market-based livelihoods and proven experience of sequencing, layering and integrating different activities
• Excellent partnership, communication and advocacy skills and the ability to interact effectively with donors, collaborating agencies, local and government partners

• Excellent organization and planning skills and ability to resolve problems constructively
• Computer literate, with strong knowledge of MS Office applications,
• Flexibility, persistence, and ability to work well in a multi-sectoral team
• Ability and willingness to travel to areas with fragile security situations