World Concern is a US-based, Christian humanitarian relief and development organization working in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Established in 1955, World Concern works to alleviate suffering among the poor in developing countries and to address the root causes in each context.
World Concern’s primary strategy is community-based, integrated development.
World Concern works in multiple-sectors to build the capacity of village-based groups, non-governmental partners and other counterparts to lead and sustain their development.
World Concern is committed to best practices of inclusive, participatory and accountable relief and development and maintains rigorous standards of both financial and program monitoring.
Program assistance is provided on the basis of need alone, without regard to race, color or religion.
Position: Livelihoods Project Manager
Location: Somalia / Somaliland
Reports To: Program Manager
Supervises: Project officers
Length of Contract: One Year Renewable
Purpose
As a Livelihoods project Manager, you will work closely with the program team to support the activities geared towards achieving the overall goal of livelihoods diversification for food security and self-reliance among the vulnerable groups in Somalia and Somaliland.
Your role will include design of projects that focus on sustainable livelihoods with the objective of building resilience in targeted communities.
This cuts across the three pillars of Productive sectors, predictable safety nets and enhanced basic services as appropriate to our capacity.
This will require a sound knowledge of livelihood programming and relevant approaches.
Leading the implementation of the projects activities and timely reporting to meet the following goals;
1) Strengthening and diversifying the livelihoods of local communities.
2) Establishment or strengthening of self help/affinity groups
3) Delivery of Business Development Services (BDS) and
4) Value Addition of animal & or crop products including marketing and linking of producers to markets.
Essential Functions
- Training of self-help /affinity groups on relevant areas of interest pertaining but not limited to group dynamics, livelihoods, resilience, community health education, gender and development.
- Follow up of the 15 groups that have received business training to help them review their business plans and advise them accordingly.
- Use appropriate tools and approaches to carry out assessments of the HH livelihood status of the targeted local communities as well as products and market dynamics affecting the flow of goods and services.
- Determine appropriate interventions that respond to the needs of the targeted communities taking care to recognize and utilize and build on existing resources.
- Work closely with the project officers, community mobilizers and field Animators to implement, monitor and report on progress periodically and in a timely manner.
- Mentor and coach and train local staff to enhance sustainability of the project.
- Use appropriate tools such as PRA, FGDs to facilitate members of targeted in identifying, prioritizing and acting on their needs.
- As part of business training, develop value chain and livelihoods framework for pastoralists, agro-pastoralists and craftsmen to help them identify the resources they have within and around them to achieve their objectives and maximize profits through minimizing cost of inputs, efficient processes, and minimizing wastage through value chain analysis.
- Take a lead in organizing community leaders in targeted communities to lobby their support in marketing the project and involve them in designing a participatory exit strategy to enhance sustainability of the project.
- Network and collaborate with other agencies in order to champion WC livelihood ministry appropriately.
Required Education, Skills & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Development Studies, Agriculture, entrepreneurship etc. Five years’ experience managing Livelihood programs in a relief and development setting.
- Experience with agro-pastoral livelihood projects, savings-led microfinance, self- help group approaches, value chain analysis and development is preferred.
- Prior experience in conflict or post conflict environment and ability to work in the Somalia/Somaliland.
- Proven, successful experience in project management and/or development.
- Analytical, able to multi-task and make rapid but sound decisions in a rapidly changing environment, especially under pressure.
- Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and constructively with local government authorities and other partners.
- Commitment to the principles of participatory team management and participatory, community-oriented development.
- Able to communicate in a manner that is confident and clear, yet diplomatic, enabling him/her to forge positive working relationships with donors and other stakeholders.
- Fluency in written and spoken English required.
- Above average skills in MS Office Suite
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications, updated CV detailing their experience for the post, current email and phone contacts and three referees to worldconcernhr@wcdro.org by 17th August, 2012.
Those who will not have heard from us by 24th August, 2012 should consider themselves unsuccessful.