Job purpose: 

The advisor will play a lead role in providing overall technical/advisory support for the planning, implementation, management and monitoring of cash and livelihood activities at all levels with the aim to ensure cash based intervention becomes a standard emergency response modality for Concern in Ethiopia.  The advisor will develop programme strategies on cash and livelihoods as well as technical tools and procedures to ensure qualitative cash and livelihood programming.

The advisor will represent concern is all relevant Cash & Livelihood related coordination forum and will ensure that the capacity of field staff and community based institutions are enhanced.

Main Duties and Responsibilities: 

Strategy & Vision

· Develop a national strategy (in line with the global strategy) for the implementation of Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) Programs

· Assist the programmatic expansion of cash and livelihoods in Ethiopia.

· Set program direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to country strategy development.

· Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Program Advisory & Implementation Support

· Provide CVA advices for the Ethiopia Programme;

· Develop a context specific Guide for the implementation of Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) Programs, systems, methods, technical tools and materials;

· Develop SOP’s and ensure that each member of the Program (Development and Emergency team) knows and understands them;

· Develop and lead needs assessments around feasible solutions for IDPs and villages in terms of livelihoods and social cohesion, including development of village savings and loan association;

· Monitor and supervise the implementation of CVA by ensuring that quality and technical standards are taken into account and respected throughout the interventions;

· Support field teams to regularly conduct market analysis and Multisectoral Rapid Assessment within the framework of the CVAs;

· Analyze initial response options to make decisions on the programs to be implemented and the types and combinations of assistance (voucher fair, cash transfers, E-voucher, etc.);

· Ensure quality control, value-added and impact analyses, identification and capitalization of best practices and lessons learned and make relevant feedback for the development of new projects;

· Ensure that the implementation of the program is adapted to communities, authorities and partners and in line with the relevant guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan of Concern programs (such as gender policy, Do No Harm principles and beneficiary accountability standards);

· Contribute to the drafting of reports on CVA activities, in accordance with the requirements of Concern and donors.

· Ensure all interventions adhere to Concern’s Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

· Ensure the quality of the monitoring, evaluation and learning process for the Livelihoods Programme as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of Livelihoods activities, in collaboration with the MEL team.

Team Management & Capacity Building

· Develop and facilitate training sessions and capacity building on CVA for development & emergency program staff, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development;

· Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives;

· Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Representation & Coordination

· Represent Concern at coordination meetings and Cash Working Group meetings;

· Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with donors, local authorities, group and other stakeholders.

· Work closely with other Advisors/Coordinators/Project Managers to ensure a holistic approach;

· Proactive coordination with other livelihood actors including consortia partners, and other actors implementing similar or complementary interventions;

· Proactive coordination with the Nutrition/Food Security/Livelihoods sector, integrated programmes, urban interventions, Resilience programmes, etc;

· Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Liaise with selected financial service provider(s) on operational planning to ensure that program participants receive assistance as smoothly as possible.

Emergency Response: 

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 the Ethiopia Programme is to respond, all staff are required to actively participate in the response, regardless of location and contribute to the efforts aimed at achieving the humanitarian objective of the organization.

Gender Equity: 

· Ensure all staff who report to this post have included gender equality objectives as part of their performance Development Review (PDR) are held accountable to this effect.

· Ensure program/project staffs consistently use Concern’s Gender analysis tools.

· Ensure program/project staffs at all level are clear about how to integrate gender equality in their respective programs and projects.

· Ensure partners receive trainings on gender equality.

· Ensure Concern’s Gender Equality policy and strategy has been communicated to partners.

· Coordinate with GE coordinator in planning,  allocating and implementing budget for gender equality activities in line with the Gender Equality strategy

· Ensure projects are designed based on Concern’s Gender Equality criteria.

· Ensure programs and projects, plans and reports are disaggregated by sex and age.

· Ensure program and project reports include best practices on gender equality.

· Ensure their respective programs/projects are integrated which can address gender issues in all phases of the project cycle.

· Ensure Concern’s Gender Equality policy and strategy has been communicated to partners.

Ensure partners received trainings on gender equality.

Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Person Specification: 

Education & Qualifications Required:   

· MA/S or equivalent in international studies, economics or other relevant field; MA/S preferred.

· 5-7 years of international relief and development program management experience, in emergency program management.

· Previous demonstrated experience in cash or voucher programming, market analysis and coordinating implementation with service providers.

· Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with ethnically diverse team members of varied work styles.

· Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.

· Proven ability to learn quickly, advice a program to achieve stated results and objectives.

· Experience with the development, implementation & compliance of USAID (OFDA and FFP)/DFID and ECHO funded programs.

· Ability to effectively represent Concern and its interests to key stakeholders.

· Experience working with local authorities, national and international NGOs.

· Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.

·  Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.

Competencies: 

· Upholds organizational and ethical norms, high standards of trustworthiness and acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit.

·  Builds and maintains strong influencing, advocacy and external relationships   skills

· Open to change and effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances

· Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

· Experience working through systems of community participation and accountability.

· Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports.

· Excellent communication skills with a high level of written and spoken English.

· Honest, encourages openness and transparency, builds trust and confidence

· Computer Literate and IT skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

· Excellent written and spoken English including the ability to write high quality reports and develop proposals.

· Experience in working with and capacity building of national staff and partner organizations.

· Good understanding of climate change adaptation and resilience approaches.

· Experience of working on agriculture in differing regional contexts in Ethiopia

Familiarity with principles of humanitarian action (international code of conduct and humanitarian charter).

What we offer: 

·       A competitive salary and benefit package

·       Excellent medical benefits (100% cover including dependents)

20 days annual leave and 26 weeks (paid) maternity leave, 18 weeks (unpaid) parental leave