Background

HelpAge International(www.helpage.org) is the secretariat to the HelpAge Global Network, which brings together a wide range of organisations and individuals working to promote the rights and meet the needs of older women and men, nationally and/or internationally. At the core of this network, are civil society members, a group of civil society organisations working with older people around the world. These organisations share a vision of a world in which all older people are valued, and lead dignified, healthy and secure lives. HelpAge has been operating in Ethiopia since 1992 and has been involved on thematic sectors including social protection, health and wellbeing, humanitarian response, capacity building of partners and advocacy efforts.

Since 2014, HelpAge International has been responding to the needs of south Sudanese refugees’ influx with special focus on specific needs of older people and PWDs in Gambella region. Through the current humanitarian response project we expanded our reach to Benishangul Gumuz Region Assosa Refugee camps and added response to IDPs in the host communities of the region. The project will be implemented with full engagement of older people and other persons with specific needs and in close consultation and coordination with ARRA, UNHCR and other humanitarian actors involved in various sectors of refugee responses.

We are looking for motivated and self-driven individuals for the various positions in Gambella and Assosa (one). Read the below cross-cutting points applicable for all positions.

Our Values: Everyone who works at HelpAge share our values and are committed to behaviors that demonstrate and support them.

Inclusive We respect people, value diversity and are committed to equality

Impact We value and recognize the contribution of our staff and network members, as we put older people at the center of everything we do.

Partners We work with partners and network members & others to increase reach, influence and impact. We are committed to a culture of collaboration and building positive relationships.

Learning -  We are passionate about learning, accountable and work together to find creative solutions

Important Message:

Please do not email any of your personal details (such as date of birth, marital status and religion or other characteristics).

Equal Opportunities: HelpAge International is committed to creating an inclusive working environment, promoting, and providing equal opportunities and respecting diversity in employment. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We encourage and facilitate a flexible working environment.

Safeguarding: Everyone has a role in creating and sustaining a safe and respectful working environment, where no one comes to any harm or is maltreated. At HelpAge we take our responsibilities very seriously and will take action against wrongdoing. We will do everything we can to ensure that we do not engage people that pose a safeguarding risk and will undertake criminal record checks as required.

HelpAge International is an equal opportunity employer and we strive to be inclusive in our teams.

Grade : D

Department: Humanitarian 

Responsible to: Gambela PC & Head of Hum. Program

Contract: One year, possibility of extension

Job purpose

The Project Officer is responsible for overseeing management of HelpAge’s project site and program implementation in Assosa refugee camps and IDPs in the region. He/She serves as the official representative of HelpAge upholding the mission of HelpAge.

The Project Officer - would be expected to coordinate with local partner, government stakeholders and the beneficiaries by building the capacity of communities living in those areas. H/She will ensure that planned project activities are carried out in an appropriate dimension in the field level to reduce the vulnerability to the natural disaster.

Besides playing key role in the process of implementation of the project he is employed for, the project Officer is responsible for developing and maintaining key program information including context analyses, needs assessment and etc...;

The Project Officer will be responsible for the implementation and coordination of the project at refugee camp and IDPs in Benishangul Gumuz region, and linkages with project stakeholders involved in the implementation of the project.

Key Relationships:         

• Close working relations with the HelpAge International Ethiopia Programme and Finance teams.
• Direct and frequent communication with the Project Coordinator at Gambela and the Head of Humanitarian Program at Addis for his day to day implementation of the project.
• Close working relations with partners staff, refugee & community representatives and partner staff in the field office.
• Liaise with government stakeholders at field level.

Job responsibilities

Project Management

• Ensure effective implementation of HelpAge project in Assosa, working in collaboration with government, refugee community and other stakeholders.
• Develop detailed activity plans for the project in line with the project document.
• Promote participatory approaches in the implementation of the project to ensure inclusion of all vulnerable groups and their contribution in programme design, implementation and monitoring, and to strengthen their engagement in advocacy and policy work.
• Involve in facilitating trainings to the representatives of vulnerable groups at all level.
• Take the leading role in conducting assessments at camp & community level.
• Ensure quality and compliance with donor reporting requirements of all narrative and financial reports and submit within set deadlines to the project coordinator, for his compiling with other reports and submission to the head office in Addis Ababa, who review and submit to the Donor, HAI HQ in London and concerned Government offices.
• Undertake periodic assessments and closely work with the PC and the team in developing project concepts.
• Represent HelpAge in the camp level coordination meetings.
• Closely work with other humanitarian actors for the inclusion of older persons in their humanitarian response.
• Provide awareness and training to humanitarian staff of HelpAge and other actors on minimum inclusion standards.
• Representation and Networking:
• Act as HelpAge focal point in the region, develop and maintain a positive working relationship with the refugee & IDP community, humanitarian partners particularly with ARRA, UNHCR and local government.
• Represent HelpAge in Assosa refugee coordination and cluster meetings and ensure that technical personal take part in thematic external coordination forum and influence inclusion of older people in the humanitarian context.
• Ensure referral linkages are properly developed and implemented with relevant and mandated humanitarian actors with health, nutrition and psychical rehabilitation and build alliance with protection focussed organizations.

Financial Management

• Ensure activities planned for actual implementation in the field are budgeted based on the approved project budget.
• Ensure monthly and quarterly plans are made corresponding with the approved project financial plan and accordingly prepare and submit timely financial request to the project coordinator;
• Ensure availability of finance before implementation of project intervention, for which update the project coordinator every month;

Influencing

• Actively participate in humanitarian coordination forums at all level in order to raise awareness, share information and build partnerships in the humanitarian sector. And share this information to the project coordinator timely;

Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure regular field level monitoring of projects, in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders in order to ensure tracking of project activities, effective utilisation of resources and documentation of changes.
• Ensure regular monitoring and evaluations activities are conducted for each project, documented and submitted to the appropriate person in a timely and cost effective manner.
• Ensure that older people and person with special need data are regularly generated, organized, documented and shared.
• Support partner in story gathering and communications related to the project implementations, situations of older people and PSN in the camps.
• Promote organisational learning in the process of the project’s implementation, by ensuring timely and quality information is collected and shared within the project team, the government officials and community representatives and acted up on accordingly.

Other

• In agreement with the project coordinator, plan and facilitates visits by government and other stakeholders to project areas;
• Ensure that security threats are observed and regularly informed to the project coordinator and accordingly security guidelines are applied in insecure areas;
• Collaborate with partner staff in the development and implementation/utilisation of monthly and quarterly plan of the project as necessary;

Job Requirements

Essential:

• Msc/BSc or MA/BA in the field of emergency/disaster risk management, agricultural economics, agricultural/rural development, livelihoods, with relevant experience; At least 3-5 years extensive experience in management of projects specifically related the specific area required. For MSC/ MA degree minimum of 3 years’ experience is required.
• Excellent analytical skills and able to solve complex problems quickly and effectively in the field;
• Extensive experience in implementing and managing IDP & refugee projects, with relevant experience at coordination and management.
• Experience in an international NGO with a multi-cultural settings.
• Good interpersonal, influencing, communication and organization skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively with distant support and with refugee/community representatives to achieve results;
• Ability to work independently.
• Understanding of technical issues in Emergency, protection, inclusion livelihoods and food security.
• Ability to work in partnership with other stakeholders within an agreed partnership framework.
• Able to work proactively and supportively within a team;

Desirable:

• Building partnerships;
• Builds and maintains strong relationship;
• Cooperates well with external team members;
• At least 3 years of experience in initiating and implementing refugee/IDP focused projects preferably in the NGO sector.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize well and commitment to meet deadlines

How to Apply

Females are encouraged to apply.

•  A covering letter outlining your suitability for the role, including your expected salary.
• An updated curriculum vitae (CV) not more than 4 pages, with a minimum of two referees, including your most recent line manager.
• Send your application by email to hr.eth@helpage.org before the closing date. Indicate the vacancy reference No. and the post you are applying in subject line of your mail.