Regional Livelihoods Senior Officer at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Background

The Africa region is facing increased food insecurity. This spike has different drivers, associated with climate crisis, epidemics, conflict and displacement, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. The impacts of COVID-19 will be felt everywhere, but the most vulnerable people are at especially high risk. In Africa, as restrictions brought into limit the spread of COVID-19 continue to disrupt or reduce people’s access to sources of income, it is expected that the situation will become an economic and food crisis for many who will struggle to meet their ongoing basic needs. Countries across the region are now at risk of a deterioration in the food security situation as a result of COVID-19, which combined with pre-existing vulnerabilities and concomitant emergencies, is predicted to push millions of people into extreme poverty.

The IFRC is supporting 33 (of 49) National Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in Africa with food security, livelihoods and nutrition interventions under its Regional COVID-19 Emergency Appeal. Furthermore, there are 77 ongoing food security and LLH projects ongoing and implemented by the Red Cross in the Africa Region. Currently, these are mostly focused on meeting immediate basic needs and the provision of food assistance; however, these activities are rendered meaningless if not linked to longer term recovery and resilience strategies to support the diversification and strengthening of livelihoods. Due to this, the IFRC has identified the need for a coherent Food Security and Livelihoods regional approach, that will be embraced by Africa National Societies, as well as other components of the movement.

The Livelihoods Regional Senior Officer will design (alongside other technical experts from the Movement) and roll out the implementation of the IFRC Africa livelihoods response strategy; provide technical advice to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of FSL interventions; and facilitate the technical coordination between sectoral leads and among partners on FSL interventions, as part of the regional multi-sectoral approach to Household Economic and Food Security.

The position will part of the Regional Office, but out posted to the Eastern Africa Country Cluster, based in Nairobi, Kenya. There is the potential for international travel to support IFRC clusters and country offices and to participate in internal and external meetings. The resource will work in close coordination with the technical focal points of all Areas of Focus and Support Teams of the COVID-19 Operation, the Cluster and the Regional Level. Furthermore, the resource will work in close coordination with the National Societies requiring assistance. The resource will collaborate and seek support from other Regional FSL Delegates; and the IFRC Livelihoods Resource Centre as needed.

Working together with the IFRC team, the Regional Livelihood Officer will:

• In close coordination with technical coordinators/experts of the CCST/COs, Partner National Societies and Africa National Societies, continue the development of the 5-year IFRC Africa Strategic Program to tackle food insecurity, through a Livelihood approach, inclusive of other departments views and goals, such as DRR, Health & Nutrition and WaSH, etc
• Provide direct support to the IFRC team and the National Societies of the Africa Region in designing and setting up FSL interventions in line with the regional strategy
• Monitor progress of FSL interventions of the NS within the COVID-19 response in the Africa Region, and collect required reporting documentations per the IFRC standards
• Assist CCST/COs to support African National Societies in developing the process and post-distribution monitoring system that provide systematic and standard indicators for FSL implemented interventions
• Assist CCST/COs to identify training and development needs of staff and volunteers involved in FSL interventions; as well as support in the organizing and conduct of trainings for staff, volunteers and the recipients of FSL assistance. This will include recording of participants to ensure tracking of National Society capacity in FSL
• Produce accurate monthly reports from all African National Societies which have a FSL component
• Ensure that FSL key messages are effectively disseminated to recipients and relevant stakeholders and appropriate feedback mechanisms are established, maintaining the National Society’s commitment to beneficiary accountability
• Ensure alignment of FSL assistance with the IFRC holistic livelihoods response strategy; and the COVID-19 recovery approach
• Ensure good coordination and cohesive intervention design between the FSL component of the operation and other Areas of Focus (Shelter, Health, Migration, etc), including Cash and Voucher Assistance and Information Management
• Ensure good coordination on FSL between Movement colleagues, including the ICRC, Partner National Societies (PNS) and African National Societies

• When relevant engage in coordination with other stakeholders in the country (FAO, NGOs, WFP, etcExperience

• At least 8 years of experience leading and technically supporting FSL assistance within a humanitarian context

• Demonstrated experience in designing FSL programming, including preparation of systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of these interventions

• Proven experience in food security assessments, livelihoods analysis and market assessments

• Proven capacity building experience with NS or equivalent, delivering trainings and providing on the job training and coaching
• Understanding of data protection and data responsibility in humanitarian action
• Experience providing technical support to National Societies
• Experience coordinating and advocating to external stakeholders including government, NGOs, UN and Donor organisations preferred
• Experience with integrated data management tools preferred
• Knowledge and experience of RC/RC National societies preferre
• Experience living and working in challenging and multicultural environments preferred

Knowledge, skills and languages

• Sound knowledge and experience of working in humanitarian and food security related issues in Africa
• Knowledge of conceptual frameworks, global standards and good practice in food security including the use of cash, food aid and livelihoods support
• Proven skills in strategic and operational planning, budgeting and reporting emergency response that include FSL
• Proven analytical skills and problem solving skills, the ability to think strategically while under pressure and independent decision making capacity
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills with the ability to represent the International Federation and to negotiate and influence people’s opinions
• Knowledge of targeting methodology
• Understand and use various beneficiary registration methods
• Knowledge of feedback and response mechanism, including of appropriate methods of beneficiary communication and channels
• Ability to transfer knowledge, skills, and/or abilities to staff and volunteers
• Fluent spoken and written English
• Fluent spoken and written French preferred

Competencies and values

Respect for diversity, integrity, professionalism and accountability.

Communication, collaboration and teamwork, judgement and decision making, National society and customer relations, Creativity and innovation, and, building trust