Food Security and Livelihoods Program Manager

Country Office: Ethiopia

Work Base: Gambella

Availability: As Soon As Possible

Salary Scale: EMS09

Insurance - (Life, Group Personal Accident, and Medical Insurances are covered by the organization policies).

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 24 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 50 countries, our 8,300 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $100 million in programs and approximately 1,800 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices. Additional growth is anticipated.

Summary of position

The Food Security and Livelihoods Program Manager will lead and manage food security and livelihoods (FSL), Cash and Voucher Assistance including Fresh Food Vouchers, Livestock emergency response, and recovery as well as long-term development projects in Gambella region refugee and host communities. The program manager will have technical leadership, management, and supervisory responsibility for the overall accomplishment of the objectives of the food security and livelihood projects in different locations of the Gambella region. S/he will provide strategic and operational leadership to overall technical and programmatic quality intervention, compliance with donor rules and regulations, and the timely submission of all deliverables, including a detailed implementation plan, monitoring plan, and report. S/he is also responsible for budget management and internal control, program reporting, and FSL project staff management across the region.

The FSL program manager’s role purpose, engagement, and delivery are described as follows:

Purpose

• The Food Security and Livelihood Program Manager will lead implementation, monitoring, and daily follow-up of Food Security and Livelihoods; Cash and Voucher Assistance, Fresh Food Voucher Programs, Agricultural programs support and Livestock emergency response and recovery projects in Gambella region refugee and host communities. S/he provides technical and programmatic guidance in planning, reviewing, and effective implementation of the various projects under his/her supervision including budget management, control, and forecasting; project monitoring and supportive supervision.

Engagement:

• The Food Security and Livelihood Program Manager will collaborate and closely work with other departments in the base, operation units, and capital teams. Externally, s/he builds relationships with local government officials and community leaders; Regional /Zonal /woreda government representatives and authorities, and with other Humanitarian organizations in the region engaged in food security and livelihood interventions. Representing AAH’s FSL programs, S/he will actively participate in regional /Zonal meetings/forums like UNHCR-led monthly meetings, DRM/ATF meetings, Cluster Food Security, and other coordination meetings that undertake in the region.   

Delivery:

• The Food Security and Livelihood Program Manager will organize project execution consistent with program objectives engaging counterparts and building a reputation for quality implementation and reliable delivery in line with donor rules, regulations, and standards.

Essential job duties and responsibilities

• Collect, Organize, and analyze food security and livelihood situation /status in the region and communicate Capital office and notify all concerned as the need may arise  

• Led and Organize FSL and CVA preliminary assessments and identify needs and priorities of the vulnerable populations in need of assistance ;

• Engage in market assessment, Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods Assessments (EFSA),  baseline and end-line surveys for cash and voucher programs, Fresh Food Vouchers, and other Food Security and Livelihood emergency response and development projects

•  Establish/strengthen systems to monitor the implementation of project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan

• Maintain ongoing communication with cooperating agencies and implementing partners on project progress, fund utilization, and challenges

• Ensure that reports are prepared and submitted to concerned parties, donors, and counterparts  on time and in a professional manner

• Contribute to the development of concept notes and project proposals

• Organize and supervise the implementation of planned activities in collaboration with other departments.

• Prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly FSL program reports for internal and external consumption.

• Plan/forecast the program budget and monitor the financial utilization of the program

• Work with the field coordinator to prepare interim, intermediate, and final FSL program reports.

• Ensure that Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) and Post-Harvest Monitoring (PHM) exercises are carried out by MEAL on regular bases and as per the approved plan

• Represent Action Against Hunger in regional cash working group, FSL-related coordination platforms with different stakeholders such as DRM/ATF, Food Cluster, regional CWG coordination platforms, and meetings

• Explain the project’s activities and objectives to partners and communities whenever needed.

• Implement other duties assigned by the direct line manager 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct Management: Food Security and Livelihoods Project officers, Community Facilitators

Gender Equality Commitments  

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.

• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.

• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, and children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.

• Ensure PSEA activities are incorporated and mainstreamed during the implementation of project activities  

• Value and respect all cultures. 

Fiscal Responsibility

• Budget follow-up (BFU) regularly and ensure the utilization of allocated budget in a timely manner to ensure accurate and effective use of funds

• Update the monthly BFU and facilitate the monthly cash needs forecast ensuring adequate funds are available at all times.

• Ensure that the budget is implemented in compliance with Action Against Hunger and donor regulations.

• Develop annual financial plans for the program and ensure that these financial plans are implemented in accordance with annual physical/activity plans

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.

• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases. 

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• BA Degree / Master’s Degree in Economics, Agricultural economics, Management, Development Studies, Sociology and social anthropology, Geography, Food Security, and Livelihoods studies

• Six (6 ) years of relevant professional work experience in humanitarian organizations (NGOs) out of which at least four years in food security and livelihood / Agricultural support Programs’ coordination role

• Previous experience in managing staff and working with teams to achieve project objectives

• Significant exposure to projects involving networking and multiple partnerships, particularly related to emergency response, food security issues, agriculture, and livestock

• Working knowledge of programming in vulnerable environments, including conflict environment

Required Skills & Competencies

• Computer knowledge; Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken); report writing skill and ability to respect deadlines; Willing to share information and communicate transparently; capacity to develop and maintain team spirit; and capacity to analyze humanitarian context.

• Good knowledge of the intervention area/region

• Proven track recording on Food Security and Livelihoods project management, and implementation, good technical skills in needs assessment, project formulation and monitoring, good knowledge of food security and innovative agricultural activity, and staff /team management experience

• Good interpersonal communication skills and ability to effectively liaise with government, community leaders, and other stakeholders

How to Apply

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested, please send your application composed of none returnable CV, a Covering Letter with “FSL Program Manager” written in the subject line, and three references, applicants to the following addresses:

Through THIS LINK

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be communicated and the selection process includes a technical test and an interview.

All candidates should apply online at https://careers.actionagainsthunger.org/ Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment