Readvertisement- Livelihoods Advisor, Horn of Africa Child Wasting Initiative at Concern Worldwide

Job Summary

• The job holder will be a key part in supporting the implementation of the Horn of Africa Child Wasting Initiative (HoA CWI) in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

The Child Wasting Initiative aims to

•  address drivers and implications of wasting through a multi-sectoral programming approach;
• support innovation in programming and partnerships, to prevent wasting; 
• engage in active learning, contextual programme adaptation, and advocacy, to inform more effective local, national, and global wasting prevention strategies. The Government of Ireland pledged to spend an additional €50 million on nutrition over the three years to 2026 to support the USAID/UN Call for Action, with a particular focus on the Global Action Plan (GAP) on Child Wasting. As part of this, Irish Aid’s 2023 Budget earmarked €5 million for the Horn of Africa (this initiative) which will run for three years to 2026.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical support on livelihood components of the CWI to country teams to assist with programme design, implementation, and improving the measurement of the impact of Concern’s Food Security and Livelihoods work ensuring that activities are in line with expected outcomes and objectives
• Ensure timely and high-quality reports and that information for monthly, partner and donor reports are high quality, accurate, and reliable
• Build the technical capacity of programme teams through remote support and country visits including formal trainings, webinars, workshops, remote mentoring, programme reviews and evaluations, production and sharing of key technical resources
• Synthesize and document practical evidence and learning from the programme; identify ways to apply it in a timely fashion to improve policy and practice within and beyond Concern.
• Provide general support to programmes such as leading on Contextual Analysis, Conflict Analysis, and assessing market systems
• Support and develop relationships with other agencies in the area of livelihoods in general, including research institutes, technical working groups and represent Concern in national and regional fora as required.
• Support the Advocacy unit to feed into regional and international policy discussions related to livelihoods especially around Concern’s three advocacy themes – hunger, conflict, climate change.
• Contribute to the prioritization, design, implementation and dissemination of operational research in livelihoods undertaken within programme – in collaboration with field teams and research partners.
• Potentially be deployed to support emergency responses in the programme areas.

Others

• Adhere to and promote the standards outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies to their team, beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment
• Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary
• Take all possible measure to meet Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)
• Any other duties as assigned by the Line Manager
• Person Specification

Minimum Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:

• A postgraduate degree in livelihoods related field (agronomy, food security, ecology, social science, economics, development studies, or related field)
• A minimum of ten years’ experience working in the area of livelihoods in an NGO or development agency or the private sector
• Experience at head office/central level, providing oversight and technical support to county teams and partners
• Experience in implementing livelihood programmes with a sound understanding of at least three of the following areas: Agriculture, Food Security, Market System Development, Cash and Voucher Assistance, Natural Resource Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Environment
• Strong understanding of livelihood programming in fragile and resource poor settings. Prior experience in emergency, conflict settings, or fragile states.
• Strong understanding of gender issues in relation to livelihoods programmes and practical ways to promote gender equality within them.
• Experience working in integrated, multi-sectoral programmes. Ability to work both as part of a team and independently. Adaptable to evolving work priorities and schedules.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills in English
• Ability to travel internationally, at least 40%, in fragile and conflict affected contexts, sometimes with short notice

Desirable:

• Experience in market systems development approach – assessing markets, developing value chains, working with various market actors including the private sector.
• Understanding of adaptive programme management concepts such as anticipatory action (AA), crisis modifier, early warning early action (EWEA)
• Experience in supporting the roll out of cross cutting approaches within livelihoods (e.g. conflict, environment, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), equality, protection)
• Experience in livelihoods analysis, field surveys, use of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, and nutrition sensitive programming
• Experience working with research institutions, coordination fora and other relevant international livelihoods institutions
• Prior work experience with Concern in one of the country programmes

Preference will be given to candidates who have:

• High integrity and demonstrated ability to follow standards and policies
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and values
• Commitment to adhere to the standards of conduct outlined in the Code of Conduct and Associated Policies