Niger: Advisor, Livelihoods

Feb 20, 2021 | Concern Worldwide
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Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

You will report to the Programme Director and will work directly with Concern’s Niger Food Security and Livelihoods Project Managers in Tahoua, Diffa and Tillabéri and their respective teams. You will also line  manage the Food Security and Livelihoods PM in Diffa. In addition, you will liaise closely with the ERNE Programme Coordinator, Health and Nutrition Advisor, Education Advisor, MEAL Coordinator, Grants Officer and other key staff in country, and with the technical advisers in Head Office as well as Desk Officer.

You will be overall technical coordinator on all food security and livelihoods activities for Concern Niger and you will liaise with the Dublin-based technical advisors (Agriculture, Climate Change Adaptation, Social Protection and Safety Nets, Cash and Markets, etc.).

We would like you to start in March.

 

Your purpose:

The purpose of this position is to provide technical support to all Concern’s Food Security, Livelihoods and Resilience projects in Niger. This includes the provision of strategic oversight for the sector, while building systems and capacities that can continue the quality work after the contract ends. The FSL Advisor will also play an active role in coordinating the implementation of a three-year EU Trust Fund project in Diffa implemented by the Alliance 2015 Consortium. It is expected that the role enhance Concern’s profile in the Food Security sector in key forums and platforms and reinforce our collaboration with key actors in Niger including National Authorities, UN, international NGOs and Concern’s local partners.

Key elements of this position will include supporting the effort to continue to improve the quality of programming, in particular on aspects related to Climate Smart Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction, Early Warning Systems, Emergency Food Assistance (cash, voucher, in-kind), etc. The position will represent Concern in the Food Security Cluster and any other relevant meetings, including coordinating closely with International NGOs and National Institutions: DNPGCA, Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Environment, Research Institutes (INRAN, ICRISAT) and Universities.

You will be responsible for:

 

Strategic and Technical Management:

  • In collaboration with programme staff and the senior management team, lead on the ongoing development and roll out of Concern Niger’s FSL strategy, with a particular focus on the Climate Smart Agriculture, Resilience and DRR ensuring that programme activities are in line with government strategy, organizational goals and resources, and advise on implementation.
  • Contribute to enhance programme quality through the development of the FSL technical approaches and methods in order to assist in reaching targets. You will support the team to continuously review the FSL programme approaches and tools to appropriately address and accommodate shifting and/or emerging field contexts. You will propose innovative FSL approaches relevant to the context of Niger, including strategy and implementation for transition from humanitarian action to resilience and longer term development interventions.
  • Provide technical support to the FSL programme staff on an ongoing basis with regular visits to the projects sites to address progress, programme quality and assist field staff as required.
  • Support staff to prepare regular project progress reports as required for donors and other internal and external bodies, ensuring accuracy and technical quality.
  • Participate and contribute to FSL and resilience contextual analysis and new programme proposal development. You will be assisting in the development of technical briefing papers, concept notes and high quality proposals that are in line with Concern and sector strategies and meet donor requirements.
  • Participate in any multi sectoral emergency assessments and responses carried out by Concern country programme as directed by the line manager.
  • Ensure that cross-cutting and mainstreaming issues (gender & equality, protection, accountability, environment, as well as HIV and AIDs and conflicts where relevant are factored into programme design and delivery, reviews and evaluations.
  • Enhance collaboration with other technical departments to support integrated resilience programming and improve impact

 

Coordination and networking:

  • Participate proactively in the Food Security Cluster at national level and other relevant sectoral meetings and technical forums, and engage with International NGOs, UN agencies, Ministries and other key actors within the sector building on existing and developing networks.
  • Actively liaise and seek opportunities for collaboration, coordination and learning with other technical and financial partners in Niger.
  • Promote consultations and interactions with Concern’s head office Advisors as well as with FSL related Managers and Advisors from other institutions and organizations in Niger on emerging sectoral trends and best practices.

 

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E):

  • Work closely with the M&E Coordinator to create technically sound monitoring and evaluation guidelines, frameworks and indicators for the FSL projects, in line with donor-approved documents.
  • In collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator, support the FSL teams to develop and implement robust systems for monitoring programme implementation and results.
  • Support the M&E staff and FSL team in conducting baselines and assessments, including market surveys, post-distribution monitoring surveys, value chain studies and stakeholders’ analysis.Conduct monitoring support visits to programme areas where security permits to assess performance against agreed program objectives and indicators.
  • Work with the FSL team and the Grant Officer to identify and document programme learning, success cases, good practices and disseminate learning for both internal and external audiences as required.
  • Collaborate with the M&E Coordinator to support the review, re-design, training and application of the annual assessments, and lead on data analysis and write-up of findings.

Advocacy, Communications and Visibility:

  • Coordinate advocacy, communication and visibility activities of Concern’s FSL projects in Niger, in line with relevant donors’ communication and visibility guidelines.
  • Collaborate with the Grant Officer to produce briefing papers and other publications, coordinate approval with the appropriate stakeholders, and ensure wider dissemination to influence practice and policy and promote the work of Concern Worldwide.

Staff Development:

  • Design a comprehensive capacity building strategy for FSL staff by identifying training needs and implementing the development of a training plan and undertaking of identified trainings. Participate in the recruitment, indication and technical evaluation of in-country FSL staff, as required. This includes supporting the preparation of job requisitions, job descriptions, terms of references, etc.
  • Facilitate staff trainings as per your areas of expertise and where appropriate. 

 

Other:

  • Together with the Concern Niger FSL team, ensure inequality, risk and vulnerability are analysed, mitigated against and responded to during the overall planning, implementation and management of the FSL programme.
  • Concern is committed to responding to emergencies efficiently and effectively in order to help affected people meet their basic needs, alleviate suffering and maintain their dignity. To this end, when emergencies strike and Niger programme is to respond, all staff can be required to actively participate in the response, regardless of location and contribute to the efforts aimed at achieving the humanitarian objective of the organization.
  • Support the development and implementation of the country strategic plan and in the context of the Food Security and Livelihoods sector priorities and needs.
  • Any other ad hoc duties as may be assigned by your line manager or the CD that are consistent with the nature of Concern operations.

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential

  • Master’s degree in a relevant field or advanced degree in Development Studies, Agriculture, Disaster Risk Reduction, or other related discipline.
  • Proven experience (at least 5 years) in senior programme management and leadership positions within the Food Security and Livelihoods sector, working with national governments, INGOs, NGOs, CBOs, other civil society groups.
  • Knowledge and experience of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies, Early Warning Early Action approaches, climate change adaptation and resilience approaches, preferably in the Sahel Region.
  • Knowledge of participatory methods and data collection methodologies, including experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis of food security and livelihoods data.
  • Thorough understanding of gender, equality and protection issues.
  • Clear commitment to and experience with developing and coaching staff, combined with the ability to give direct actionable feedback.
  • Strong coordination skills, both internal across programming sectors and support teams, and externally with implementing partners.
  • Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with senior representatives of donor, INGO and Government structures and to represent the organisation at national or international level for a.
  • Knowledge the key tools used by donor agencies, such as logical frame works, results chains, theories of change, results-based management and financial administration systems.
  • Strong experience of financial management and donor compliance processes.
  • Fluent in French and English, excellent written and spoken French language skills.
  • Strong analytical, interpersonal, communication and organisation skills.
  • Ability to work independently and manage a high volume work flow. 

 

Desirable

  • An understanding of accountability as applied within humanitarian and development programming; familiarity with the Core Humanitarian Standard and its application.
  • An understanding of programme participant protection policies and international humanitarian standards.
  • Experience of working in Sahel.

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