BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview: 

The post holder will support and strengthen the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of livelihood intervention. He/she will be responsible for the execution of livelihoods-related activities under the livelihood portfolio, with guidance and direction from the Project Manager, which includes entrepreneurship, enterprise development, and employment initiatives, financial inclusion/savings, micro-franchising, and other related activities. He /she will collaborate closely with other project staff within IRC and government staff, community groups and among partner agencies, government, private sector, financial service providers, and community groups. The position is filed based, and the position holder will spend most of his/her time in the field and will technically report to ERD project manager at the field office.

Detailed responsibilities and tasks:

Participate in awareness creating, targeting and verification of target groups of the project.

• Provide awareness and sensitization on livelihood activities implementation modalities to targeted households and stakeholders.

• Lead and Coordinate establishment of community- based targeting and appeal committee members in coordination with woreda and kebele level government stakeholders and community representatives.

• Lead and coordinate the process of beneficiaries’ selection, verification, registration and baseline survey collaboration with other program team, MEL team and government stakeholders in the intervention woredas in line with IRC SOP for Cash

• Prepare and validate beneficiaries’ selection criteria in coordination with government stakeholders at different levels, community-based targeting committee members and IRC project team.

To provide training and technical support to the project clients.

• Organize and undertake frequent training need assessment activities in the project locations.

• Develop a training plan (the training delivery process including the preparation of the training venue, provision of training tools and equipment, training, supplies and materials, and monitoring of on-going training program) for providing appropriate business skill transfer training.

• Develop and implement appropriate training methodology that suits to different groups (literate, illiterate, women, refugee, host communities and youth

• Develop gender sensitive (and or ppl with specific needs) training strategies to address their barrier.

• Deliver training for women and girls on basic business and life skills based on the developed curriculum.

• Conduct post-training assessment upon the completion of each training and support the trainees in developing their own business plan.

• Conduct follow-up meetings with graduates and provide technical support in the process of setting up small businesses.

• Conduct follow-up and mentoring visits to graduates starting a small business create business counseling sessions for clients for additional training.

• Organize special events for trainees to display their talents, business ideas, traditional skill products including business competition pitch (for our clients) for startup grant.

• Prepare monthly progress reports and provide analysis and recommendation on the training/education offered.

• Ensure and follow up the procurement of program inputs for proper implementation of training program.

• Prepare and submit success as well as challenges of the training along with monthly progress reports.

• Provides post-training support to trainees, for instance, savings and credit services, facilitating, marketing of products, job placement etc.

• Maintain an updated, sex-disaggregated record of the trainee-graduates of business and life skill program including disability and other diversity characteristics and keep close contact with and monitor all graduate’s employment status.

Successful implementation of livelihoods-related activities (entrepreneurship, enterprise development, and employment initiatives, etc.)

• Work closely with woreda and zonal line offices particularly with rural job creation office, women and youth affairs, one stop centers and private’s sectors in the area.

• working closely with the ERD project manager and receiving technical support on the implementation of operational elements of livelihood related program activities.

• Coordinate with cross-cutting teams (protection, MEAL) to mainstream protection and safeguarding in business and life skill promotion activities.

• He/she is technically responsible to provide support on planning, implementing, supervising Supervise and follow up entrepreneurship and skill training, livelihood grant transfer, employment linkages and enterprise development.

• Responsible for preparing beneficiaries’ master lists and payment sheets, submitting to supply chain and finance to effect livelihood grant transfer and provide training logistics for the trainees timely.

• Contribute to the needs assessment in the project operation areas and planning of new activities.

• Responsible for daily supervision of livelihood activities and provide financial as well as program information reports for internal and donor reporting.

• Set up and strengthen beneficiaries compliant feedback response mechanisms according to the IRC complaint response standards and ensure project implementation quality and transparency. 

• Follow up and ensure livelihood client registration on cash toolkits according to the IRC Standard operation of program.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: -

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]

• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Economics, social science, development economics, Rural development, Development studies, Agribusiness Management or a related subject area

Preferred experience & skills:

• A Minimum of 1 year for MA holders, 2 years for BA holders, and 5 years for diploma holders of working experience as a business trainer and business service provider.

• Proven abilities in livelihood-related activity implementation.

• Substantive knowledge and experience of sustainable livelihoods and resilience programs implementation.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.

• Strong analytic problem-solving skills

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• NGO experience is a plus.

• Ability to work in a fast paced/changing, deadline-oriented environment.

• Proficiency and experience in facilitating training, experience in developing training lesson plans and technical skills in setting up quality business skill training.

• The proven ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods together with presentation and reporting skills are a strong asset.

• Confirmed ability to lead, mentor, and empower small to medium enterprises clients.

• Self-motivated with good organization, and planning skills, including prioritizing work and multi-tasking.

• A clear understanding of gender, power protection issues 

Language Skills: Proficiency in English is mandatory and local language is advantageous.                                                        

How to apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website: 

IRC Career Site : HERE

• Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

• Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

• Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

·      Name of the position you have applied for

·      Date of application

·      Summary of your qualifications and experience

·      Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

·      Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

·      Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.