Associate Director-Resilience and Livelihoods at Church World Service

Primary Purpose

The CWS Resilience & Livelihoods program is an integrated programming approach to support basic human needs in the Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASALs) of East Africa, with the safeguarding of livelihood and strengthening of community resilience. It is centered around addressing worsening poverty and vulnerability, supporting enhanced community resilience and social cohesion, addressing climatic vulnerability, and enabling the rehabilitation of infrastructure vital for basic human needs. The Resilience & Livelihood Program responds to the real and perceived water supply needs of communities through the work of the Kenya WASH Program Manager, and supports the creation of immediate sources of income, the development of Village Saving and Loan Associations, small businesses, and livelihood opportunities with particular focus on agri-business and regenerative agriculture infrastructure and services (critical for food security) that are under threat. The CWS Kenya Resilience & Livelihoods Program is sensitive to continuously and emerging vulnerabilities of women and girls through social and economic empowerment.

The Resilience & Livelihood Programs Associate Director will lead in technical advice, guidance, adaptation of program initiatives, priorities and methods and support to a wide range of program design.  The Associate Director will lead project proposal drafting, as well as project implementation with a focus on large and complex, layered, and sequenced project elements around integrated dry lands management, climate change adaptation and Agriculture livelihoods as alternatives to Pastoral pursuits in line with CWS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The Associate Director will be responsible for overall project management and for ensuring that project objectives are on track, which will require him/her to work constructively with the Kenya country team. The Associate Director will provide technical direction to project staff and partners in the areas of Resilience, according to the projects’ activities, and provide recommendation for improvements. In addition, the Associate Director will, on an on-going basis, assess current Resilience programming needs and write project proposals to secure funding for new projects from a range of donors.  The Associate Director will, from time to time, be directed to conduct all these activities on short- or medium-term assignments in other CWS Africa Country Offices under the supervision of the respective host Country Representative.

Responsibilities

• Adapts program/portfolio initiatives, priorities and methods in response and implementation of the resilience and livelihoods program in alignment with CWS mission and strategic goals.
• Lead in drafting and supporting winning resilience and livelihoods proposals to institutional donors including USAID, Bureau of Humanitarian Response, Feed the Future, WFP, UNHCR, UK Aid and others.
• Adapts compliance and adherence to CWS policies, guidance, and procedures in relation to the thematic area while contributing to the development of policies, strategies, tools, and new approaches with a focus on fund raising, portfolio development and growth, innovation, and piloting.
• Advises program staff and teams on new approaches that sustain service/project/ product quality or delivery within the context of the wider program.
• Maintain mapping of partners and donors relevant to the expansion of existing programs and lead resource mobilization for new resilience programming.
• In close coordination with the CWS Africa Regional Deputy for Programs and the HQ Business

and Technical Units, leverage existing partnerships and strategically contribute to public and private resource mobilization, including by writing project proposals.

• Advise on the development, adaptation, testing and mainstreaming of best/good practices in needs assessment, project design, implementation, M&E, and research in livelihood and resilience programming.
• Sustains program delivery against established cycles/schedules, while incorporating new policies and procedures and evolving client needs.
• Sustains quality of program through adaptation to changing operational demands and client feedback.
• Establish and maintain relationships with resilience and livelihoods donors, peer organizations, research, and other institutions. Represent CWS in sector working groups, events and to collect and share best practices and promote CWS’ work.
• Develop and implement l resilience and livelihoods strategies and interventions to improve incomes and economic opportunities in communities.
• Develop and promote sustainable agriculture practices that are climate smart, vocational training, and income diversification initiatives.
• Develop strategies to enhance community resilience and disaster preparedness.
• Manage all aspects of the programs, including budgeting, timelines, and resource allocations in line with donor guidelines.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives in resilience and livelihoods programming for staff and partner through coordination of development of learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to CWS Kenya staff.
• Ensure that CWS Kenya is adequately represented in formal coordination activities including clusters, Resilience working groups, task force meetings and coordination meetings recognized by partners including local NGOs, INGOs and UN agencies.
• Supervise that all activities are critical to community needs and gender issues, promote the full and equal participation of women in all aspects and ensure that the program is an opportunity for peace making, not community division.
• Development of work plans and budget management according to program outputs and results.
• Provide program reports that are timely and meet institutional and donor requirements.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with local partners and local authorities.
• Work constructively with support teams to ensure sound administrative practices with regards to record keeping, compliance with donor regulations, communications, etc.
• Engage and support resilience and livelihood program and project initiatives in other CWS Africa Country Office operations, including designing and drafting project proposals as well as temporary assignments to oversee and manage project implementation, as may be directed.

Qualifications

Experience:

• Minimum of Ten (10) years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities required, with a minimum of three years working for programming interventions in climate change adaptation and livelihoods preferred.
• Minimum five (5) years working in a supervisory role required.
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required. Experience with donors including WFP, USAID, the EU, German Government, Green Climate Fund, and various UN agencies preferred.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts and livelihoods. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in business development, project design and proposal development in climate change adaptation and livelihoods, including technical writing.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitating, and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

Skills:

• Demonstrated Institutional Donor Relationship Management skills on and in reporting systems.
• Computer and IT skills including MS Office, Web Conferencing and CRMs.
• Write winning project proposals to institutional donors.
• Leadership communication and representation skill.
• Strong English communication skills, both written and oral. High capacity to influence and negotiate.
• Work in a multi-cultural/multi-national environment required.
• Bring lightness to serious work preferred; calmness and empathy during crises is a must.
• Work independently as well as to function effectively and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Challenge, inspire, enable, model/mentor and encourage others.
• Prioritize tasks and meet strict deadlines.
• Take short- and long-term travel to program sites including difficult workstations.
• Maintain high performance standards with attention to detail.
• Conduct oneself in a professional and courteous manner and represent a positive image of CWS.
• Maintain strict confidentiality with CWS Africa administrative and operational information.
• Excellent 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.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented

Education & Certifications:

• BA/BSc or MA/MSc degree in Social Science Fields, Business Management, Natural Resource Management, Agriculture International Development, Economics, or related relevant field of studies required.

Abilities:

• Demonstrated Institutional Donor Relationship Management skills on and in reporting systems.
• Computer and IT skills including MS Office, Web Conferencing and CRMs.
• Write winning project proposals to institutional donors.
• Leadership communication and representation skill.
• Strong English communication skills, both written and oral. High capacity to influence and negotiate.
• Work in a multi-cultural/multi-national environment required.
• Bring lightness to serious work preferred; calmness and empathy during crises is a must.
• Work independently as well as to function effectively and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Challenge, inspire, enable, model/mentor and encourage others.
• Prioritize tasks and meet strict deadlines.
• Take short- and long-term travel to program sites including difficult workstations.
• Maintain high performance standards with attention to detail.
• Conduct oneself in a professional and courteous manner and represent a positive image of CWS.
• Maintain strict confidentiality with CWS Africa administrative and operational information.
• Excellent 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.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented