Sudan: Food Security & Livelihoods Manager

Jun 4, 2019 | United Methodist Committee on Relief
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The United Methodist Committee on Relief is the global humanitarian aid and development organization of the United Methodist Church.

Purpose:

The Food Security and Livelihoods Manager plays an important role in the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sudan's field management structure. UMCOR’s program areas in the Sudan focuses primarily in the field of Emergency Relief and transitional development, which include but not limited to the following sectors; water and sanitation, food security and livelihoods, health, education/child protection, peace building and conflict resolution, shelter construction, camp coordination, cash transfer programming and community development. The position is based in Eldaein, East Darfur State, Sudan. The contract is for an initial period of six (6) months, projected to commence on 1st July 2019. 

Essential Functions:

  • The Food Security and Livelihoods Manager will be responsible for the management, planning, implementation and monitoring of food security and various livelihood activities including coordination of all aspects of UMCOR food security and livelihood programs in Sudan.
  • He/she serves as coordinator and liaison with other partners including Donors and Government offices to promote and support food security and livelihood program activities and their contribution to UMCOR-Sudan Strategic plans.
  • Plan, coordinate, implement and monitor various aspects of food security including agricultural production, nutrition, group savings and loan schemes and Community Based DRR activities in coordination with government departments.
  • Provide technical oversight over the management and implementation of care group model activities at the community level.
  • Assist Nutrition Officer, Community Nutrition Promoters and Care Group Volunteers to mobilise and facilitate participatory processes at the household and community level according to project design, strategy and work plans.
  • Coordinate with the Country Programs Manager (CPM) for effective implementation of the CB-DRR activities.
  • Support the field staff and the communities in identifying community based DRR activities for example early warning hazard mapping for community members and suitable engagement-participation sessions through meetings and workshops.
  • Assist the SILC officer and the field team in the overall management, supervision, oversight and implementation of the SILC activities, including the training of the field agents- PSPs, coordination of the establishment of the SILC groups and international programming M&E of SILC groups at the community level.
  • Responsible for M&E of project activities to ensure that project objectives and outputs are achieved – and activities are implemented in accordance with donors (DfID, OFDA and UNDP) standard rules, regulations and operational procedures, agreed strategies and implementation plans.
  • Maintain the project timeframe, budget and resources set and implement the project within the specified parameters.
  • Prepare and submit regular internal reports on all food security/livelihood activities.
  • Support the livelihood team in ensuring that interventions are relevant and appropriate and that quality standards are maintained across the project cycle through regular coordination meetings with local institutions and the UN; including ensuring and maintaining the flow of program reports to donors.
  • Provide training and technical guidance to sector staff on the latest national and donor guidelines.
  • Oversee project assets and budget management/tracking (by sub-sector) and enhance the reporting system to meet the donors’ requirements.
  • Participate in need assessment missions with other stakeholders in the area, representing UMCOR in terms of preparation, training, analysis and reporting of findings and recommendations, which includes but not limited to, identification of need/gaps and their root causes, recommendation of good practices (strategically optimal solution) to improve the situation as and when required.
  • Plan/lead and participate in various assessments such as market assessments and KAP surveys and barrier analysis etc, and stakeholder analysis pertinent to program areas under consideration which will include the annual joint food need assessment with other stakeholders in the area
  • Represent UMCOR in food security, livelihood and nutrition coordination meetings.
  • Financial and administrative responsibilities for the project and FS&L activities in collaboration with the finance team and the CPM in accordance with UMCOR and donors’ policies and procedures for financial control and reporting.
  • Prepare and submit regular cash forecast on monthly basis for all FS&L activities and track its progress.
  • Responsible for fund management including making the best use of the available resources (Value for Money), in support of planned and ongoing work.
  • Budget and procurement forecasting in spreadsheet formats.
  • Ensure that procurement and logistical aspects of program are well planned and managed in accordance with UMCOR and donors (DfID, OFDA, UNDP) policies and procedures.
  • Manage and lead staff in all related activities in the implementation of the project.
  • Provide support, through guidance and organization as well as supervision to the sector teams to promote quality in project activities.
  • Ensure lessons learnt in monitoring and evaluations are captured, capitalized and incorporated into UMCOR programs through systematic supervision, reporting and documentation including exchange of feedback on project impact for replication and scaling up.
  • Research, write and submit proposals for new food security, livelihood, and nutrition projects to complement UMCOR Sudan’s work.
  • Assume any other duties as may be assigned by the Country Program Manager.

Qualifications and Professional Experience:

  • The position requires a postgraduate degree in a relevant field (agricultural economics, agriculture, irrigation, community development).
  • At least 3 years of field experience with INGOs in program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Food security & livelihood programs in Africa.
  • Experience managing complex recovery and long-term sustainable food security/livelihood programs within an integrated community/rural development strategy aimed at poverty alleviation DRR and climate change adaptation and SILC.

Knowledge:

  • Knowledge of researching and writing proposals and budgets for food security livelihood programs.
  • Knowledge of USAID, DfID, UNDP and Institutional Donor policies and procedures related to food security and livelihood projects’ monitoring and impact evaluation.

Abilities:

  • Must possess excellent representation and negotiation skills, diplomacy and patience.
  • A team player with good interpersonal and team building skills. 
  • Ability to work in post conflict environment and drought affected regions with limited resources.
  • Ability to understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with local authorities in a diplomatic manner.