Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. Concern Worldwide has been working in Ethiopia since 1973 focusing on health, nutrition, water and livelihoods as well as emergency interventions. The longer term intervention areas have largely been based in rural communities of Amhara, SNNPR and Tigray Regions and in the capital, Addis Ababa. However, emergency interventions have also been supported Oromia, Afar, Gambella and Somali Regions. Concern’s development programmes in recent years included; nutrition and health, food security and resilience building, urban vocation training, livelihoods and humanitarian response.

Concern Ethiopia Programme has started implementing a project entitled ‘Promoting young women’s livelihoods and nutrition’ supported by World Bank in two districts of Tigray region with the objective of improving access to community-based nutrition and livelihoods services among selected young women in the target woredas. Concern would like to invite dynamic and creative applicants for the following position:

Objectives of the assignment

· To take overall responsibility for the implementation of agriculture and livelihood related activities in line with Concern Worldwide policies and programme proposals which intended to bring positive changes in the lives of targeted population.

· To undertake agriculture and livelihood activities, ensuring efficient and effective integration of current agriculture and livelihood and IYCF practices in the target population, community mobilisation, training and promotion of agriculture and livelihood practices thereby maximising the improvement of complementary foods given to the target young women and children < 24 months and the overall nutrition status for all children, young women and mothers in target population.

· To manage and coordinate the overall planning, implementation, reporting and monitoring and evaluation of the Young Women Livelihood and Nutrition Project.

·  To provide appropriate technical support and guidance to staff for the proper implementation and management of the project.

· Establish and maintain cordial working relationships with relevant beneficiaries, local community, Government bodies and NGOs at all levels.

· To ensure effective and efficient budget planning and utilization of the YWLNP project.

 

Scope of work

Under supervision of the area coordinator, the agriculture and livelihood manager will be based in Mekele and are responsible to manage/ execute all project activities in the respective woredas. He/she will work in close collaboration with the relevant government stakeholders at Woreda and Kebele level in order to realize the objectives of the project are met.

Main duties & responsibilities:

Programme Planning and Implementation

·    Lead and implement the Young Women Livelihood and Nutrition Project in collaboration with MOA, MOH and relevant stakeholders.

· Participate actively in planning and implementation of Young Women Livelihood and Nutrition Project aimed at improving the livelihood and nutrition status of young women.

·  Work closely with MOA at all levels to strengthen their capacity in the identified areas in collaboration with other development partners.

·   Engage and facilitate in the establishment of coordination mechanisms between Concern and government sector offices.

· Deliver technical capacity support for Staff and target beneficiaries in agriculture/ livelihood, business development and management and MIYCF interventions to ensure increase in diet diversity.

·Establish linkage and collaborate with locally available institutions and ensure that programme target HHs get appropriate agriculture and livelihood services.

· Participate on the identification of new and innovative agriculture/ livelihood programme interventions in accordance with Concern Ethiopia  strategic plan and Project Cycle Management guidelines;

·Prepare detail implementation plan and modality /guideline for agriculture and livelihood related activities based on the main project document and ensure its implementation with standard quality as per the agreed time table.

·Participate in the review of the planned activity and propose /plan new appropriate activity in agriculture/ livelihood sector based on the actual problems of the community.

· Facilitate and participate in the identification and selection of target beneficiaries in collaboration with local community and Local Government structure.

·  According to MOA-Ethiopia Nutrition sensitive agriculture strategy, promote home gardens,   multiple innovative agriculture practices at House hold level  in the target population through agriculture  extension workers, women support groups, Peers educators/ mentors at village level and through development agents at Farmers’ Training Centers (FTCs).

· Provide technical support to DAs, community volunteers and other community agriculture workers to effectively implement the agriculture and livelihood component of Young Women Livelihood and Nutrition Project.

· Provide On-The-Job training and support AEWs and community volunteers on integrated agriculture and nutrition package;

· Conduct assessments /surveys (early warning, baseline data, intervention impact, case studies, etc.) and collect and document relevant information about each beneficiaries in collaboration with the responsible stakeholders and review and implement the plan according to the findings as necessary.

· Conduct and facilitate training on agriculture and livelihood and related topics for beneficiaries, local community and Agriculture Extension Workers in collaboration with regional & Woreda Agriculture expertise.

·  Conduct capacity building training for the staff under his/her supervision on various agriculture and  livelihood (of Young Women Nutrition and Livelihood project) related topics based on the assessment to ensure quality implementation;

· Prepare necessary technical and supportive supervision tools & support based on the need assessment for staff under her/his supervision and implement and report on time;

· Deal with local institutions mainly Cooperative and other institutions providing basic services to the target beneficiaries in areas of agriculture, livelihood, income and marketing.

·  Build the capacity building of community based organizations such as rural SACCO for smooth implementation of the project and functionality of revolving funds in targeted community IGAs.

· Facilitate the implementation of and adherence to all cross cutting issues that include; Gender, Equality, DRR and Accountability (Compliant response mechanism).

Reporting

· Design and develop reporting format for internal use in collaboration with sectoral advisor and M&E department.

·  Ensure that proper data/information collection and documentation of the programme implementation is maintained.

· Prepare and submit periodic quality progress internal and donor reports on agriculture and livelihood sector (monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, and annually) as per the agreed timeline.

·  Collect, analyse and document all progress in the implementation of activities (at activity, output and impact level) and maintain project data, record and documents using developed database.

Financial Management

· Prepares detailed agriculture and livelihood sector budget plan and implement in line with Concern finance policies /producers on time.

·  Facilitate the implementation of planned activities using the allocated budget level and ensure that activities are implemented according to quality required and agreed plans.

· Responsible for proper, efficient and timely utilization of allocated budget for agriculture and livelihood activities and provide technical input for the purchasing of standard and quality supplies.

·  Contribute input in prepare detailed agriculture and livelihood sector activity budgets in collaboration with area coordinator.

· Request and implement financial expenditures as outlined in the project document

· Prepare and submit monthly cash request for the young women livelihood and nutrition project

·  Check/follow-up the monthly management account and ensure that the financial utilization report is correct and is in line with the narrative activity report and planned budget, and provide feedback accordingly.

·  Participate and give appropriate input for agriculture and livelihood component of the project in Budget Revision time.

Human Resource

· Provide technical support and coaching and mentoring field staffs to build their capacity to perform the assigned roles and responsibilities;

· Participate in the preparation and conducting in-house trainings for employees of Concern and key stakeholders that involve in the project design, implementation, M & E.

· Ensure that staff are aware of Concern HR policies and procedures and they adhere to those policies and procedures.

·  Strive to create a favorable working environment and ensure that good team spirit is created and developed among staff members.

·  Prepare and review PDR for staff under his supervision as per Concern Worldwide HR manual.

·  Participate in recruitment process if deemed necessary

· Perform any other task as assigned by the management

Networking and Integration

·  Create appropriate and smooth linkage and working relation with relevant stakeholders and other programme staff to ensure the proper implementation of THE agriculture and livelihood sectors.

·  Facilitate and create forum with key stakeholders/ institutions and GOs at Woreda level including Cooperative, Agriculture and Natural Resource Development, DRMFS, food security and others to deliver quality results.

· Design, develop and implement working modalities to integrate the programme activities with Woreda sector offices and other government agencies.

· Participate in various networks and collaboration fora with government and other relevant organizations related to the program for learning and experience sharing.

· Support learning and experience sharing among partner organizations and stakeholders to ensure quality in implementation.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M & E)

·  Plan and undertake regular technical and supportive field visits and ensure the implementation of planned activities is in line with programme documents and standard quality.

· Develop participatory program/project monitoring plan; and internalize and implement the action plan accordingly.

·  Design and develop appropriate databases in collaboration with M&E department and properly collect, document, analyse and share the appropriate information.

·   Prepare monitoring checklist and schedule and share with M&E Department and sectoral managers on time.

· Take lead in conducting regular monitoring (quarterly, bi-annual etc.) and evaluation activities of the programme.

· Participate in the assessment and surveys (EW, intervention impact, baseline data, case studies, etc.) in collaboration with the responsible stakeholders.

· Facilitate experience sharing and exchange visits among target clients in two Woredas.

· Conduct case studies and share findings;

·  Conduct regular meeting, discussion and update with relevant stakeholders

· Prepare and share the major findings of quarterly monitoring and other technical support field visit reports.

· Facilitate and participate on quarterly based monitoring sessions and annual learning reviews in the implementation of agriculture and livelihood activities of the project.

Mainstreaming

· Design and create appropriate methods/ways and implement to mainstream all cross cutting issues like Accountability, gender, inequality, HIV/AIDS, environment, DRR in line with Concern Worldwide – Ethiopia guideline.

·  Ensure that all cross cutting issues like accountability, gender, inequality, HIV/AIDS, environment, DRR, are mainstreamed in the implementation of Health and Nutrition activity;

·  Aware and provide appropriate technical support to staff under her/his supervision in mainstreaming of all cross cutting issues in the implementation of Young Women Nutrition and Livelihood project.

 

Qualification Requirement:

· Masters or Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Business Management, Agricultural economics, DRR, rural development, Cooperatives, Agricultural marketing  and related academic areas, with knowledge on livestock development. Crop production and horticulture with knowledge Business development service, value chain development, Marketing.

· Minimum 5 years demonstrated experience on food security or experience related to rural livelihoods (preferably with experience related to on-farm, off-farm and employment livelihoods), resilience and vulnerable households in food insecure population context.

·Demonstrated ability to work and coordinate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including local government, donors, CBOs, SACCOs, and other private sectors.

·    Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Amharic;

· Proven experience in NGOs, INGOs in rural setting and focused on agriculture and livelihood and food security.

· Strong Microsoft Word and Excel skills.

Desirables

· Excellent ability to write good quality reports in English.

· Flexible, reliable, culturally sensitive

·   The ability to work in teams/ isolated situation and stressful environments and under pressure meeting deadlines.

· Initiative and be able to work with minimal supervision

· Strong Microsoft Word and Excel skills.