Myanmar: Short Term Economic Recovery & Development Specialist

Mar 12, 2019 | International Rescue Committee
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The IRC began working in Myanmar in May 2008 with emergency response and early recovery interventions for communities affected by Cyclone Nargis. Since then, the IRC has broadened its portfolio with health, protection, livelihoods, and social development programs aiming to employ comprehensive approaches to meeting the needs of crisis affected and vulnerable communities to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. In conjunction with longer-term programs working in system strengthening, participatory community-led development, and local capacity development, the IRC works in emergency preparedness and response, supporting its staff and its partners to become more resilient and responsive to shocks and respond quickly when they occur. 

SCOPE OF WORK:

As part of its Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) portfolio, the IRC is currently implementing an integrated livelihoods and food security project including agricultural value chain development in Rakhine State, and is working to further develop its women’s economic empowerment programming, including business and vocational skills development, market linkage building, and gender transformation. The IRC is also working to identify and pursue opportunities to expand its reach with longer-term ERD work, including further exploration of public-private partnership development and cross-border opportunities.

The IRC’s Myanmar country office seeks a short-term ERD Technical Lead to provide technical leadership on business development, livelihoods program strategy development, and implementation in support of its ERD portfolio. The ideal candidate will already be, or is able to quickly become, acquainted with Myanmar’s diverse contexts where IRC programming is on-going and/or envisioned in camps, host communities, remote rural communities, and areas of return/resettlement, in order to develop the ERD portfolio growth plan, pursue business opportunities, and effectively support program implementation. In consultation with program coordinators/managers, the ERD Technical Lead will also assess and make recommendations on responsive integration strategies with other sectors in which IRC Myanmar is working.

Duties and responsibilities

  • Identify opportunities for growth of livelihoods programming portfolio including existing gaps/beneficiary needs and areas for innovation and expansion
  • Develop an ERD strategy that identifies ideas for program design, staffing and management structures as well as necessary budget estimates in line with IRC’s 2020 strategy and Outcomes and Evidence Framework.
  • Develop and pursue a business development action plan to realize program portfolio growth, including a focus on non-traditional donors.
  • Lead technical design and writing of concept notes and proposals.
  • Conduct desk research, local and international partner and stakeholder mapping to inform the strategic positioning of IRC to grow its economic emergency and development portfolio and pursue potential partnerships, including with high potential public and private sector entities.
  • Support key assessments pertinent to portfolio growth (need-, market-, value chain assessments).
  • As needed, support learning strategies and activities in ongoing livelihoods programming, and the analysis and use of data and learning in the adaptation or development of new programming.

Requirements

  • Bachelor degree in international relations, economics, social science, human rights or related field required. Master Degree in related field preferred.
  • Minimum of 5 years professional experience in economic or livelihoods-related programming, applying technical expertise in agriculture, livelihoods, and economic recovery. 
  • Demonstrated experience designing and implementing economic emergency and/or development programs in complex contexts.
  • Skills in planning and conducting various assessment types, including of needs, markets and value chains.
  • Demonstrated experience in business development and quality writing, including for non-traditional donors.
  • Prior experience working in and developing programs for emergency settings, insecure environments, or remote-management situations preferred
  • Experience and skills in working with cross-departmental coordination.
  • Assessment and research skills and experience developing funding proposals.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in liaison with external parties. 
  • Fluency in English required (written and verbal); Myanmar language skills a plus.
  • Experience in or familiarity with the Myanmar context a plus.