Job Summary

Livelihood and Gender Development Officer is responsible to coordinate the livelihood and gender component interventions in the three locations OVC Project. Contribute towards the project objective of increased household income for OVC families and realize improvement of equitable gender norms and practices among OVC households through regular assessment of the family’s area of livelihood and gender need. The position holder reports hierarchically to Project manager and does not have any supervisory role rather he/she will provide technical support to the OVC Project officers and Social workers at Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint & Simada Projects.

Duration of Contract: One year contract (60 working days of probation period)

ESSENTIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PLANNING, COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Plan and closely follow timely implementation of livelihood related activities in Lay- Gayint, Tach-Gayint or Simada districts as per the plan.
• Coordinate, provide technical support and ensure effective implementation livelihood related activities for the improvement of the household income in Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint and Simada district.
• Ensure all activities are implemented in partnership with respective government line offices. CCC members, SACCO leaders, VSLA heads.
• Contribute and support the OVC officers to meet the wider objective of the program “to improve the livelihood opportunities for children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.
• Regularly travel to each project site (Tach Gaiynt and Simada) and support the OVC officers, SACCO leaders, VSLA groups, with livelihood related activities.
• Plan and closely monitor implementation of gender related activities in all project sites.

MANAGE SACCO AND INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES.

• 1. Manage the livelihood element of the project to meet the project objective of 80% of the OVC/Guardians in South Gondar will access loan for income generating activities.
• 2. In teamwork with SACCO leaders and respective lined government offices, facilitate business plan development and loan access for OVC guardians.
• 3. Make sure VSLA groups are formed, trained and started saving, and loaning.
• 4. Closely work with social workers to Identify and support VSLA members with a better condition for SACCO membership.
• 5. Work closely with SACCO and government line offices to allow former OVC to be members in SACCO.
• 6. Ensure that SACCOs have allocated budget for social responsibility and destitute households have been benefiting from.
• 7. Closely monitor cooperatives that resources are managed in a way that OVC guardians are benefiting.
• 8. Ensure that OVC guardians are taking loans and engaged in profitable and safe business activities.
• 9. Contribute to the wider objective of increased participation of local partners in OVC care and support.
• 10. Closely work with association of former OVC. SACCO leaders and relevant government line offices on youth access to job, engagement in IGAs and access to credit service.

MANAGE GENDER RELATED ACTIVITIES.

• 1. He/she will be fully responsible for all gender related activities in the three project sites.
• 2. He/she will closely work with OVC project officers on timely implementation of activities need to be done in a given period.
• 3. Provide training to local partners including VCGs and teachers on gender outreach media tool (image box).
• 4. Follow up on establishment and function of Gender dialogue group (GDG) in all project sites. In addition, make sure eligible OVC family members are attending sessions regularly.
• 5. Assist and guide social workers and VCGs on GDG facilitation and QIVC measurement together with OVC project officers.

PLANNING, COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Plan and closely follow timely implementation of livelihood related activities in Lay- Gayint, Tach-Gayint or Simada districts as per the plan.
• Coordinate, provide technical support and ensure effective implementation livelihood related activities for the improvement of the household income in Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint and Simada district.
• Ensure all activities are implemented in partnership with respective government line offices. CCC members, SACCO leaders, VSLA heads.
• Contribute and support the OVC officers to meet the wider objective of the program “to improve the livelihood opportunities for children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.
• Regularly travel to each project site (Tach Gaiynt and Simada) and support the OVC officers, SACCO leaders, VSLA groups, with livelihood related activities.
• Plan and closely monitor implementation of gender related activities in all project sites.

MANAGE SACCO AND INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES.

• Manage the livelihood element of the project to meet the project objective of 80% of the OVC/Guardians in South Gondar will access loan for income generating activities.
• In teamwork with SACCO leaders and respective lined government offices, facilitate business plan development and loan access for OVC guardians.
• Make sure VSLA groups are formed, trained and started saving, and loaning.
• Closely work with social workers to Identify and support VSLA members with a better condition for SACCO membership.
• Work closely with SACCO and government line offices to allow former OVC to be members in SACCO.
• Ensure that SACCOs have allocated budget for social responsibility and destitute households have been benefiting from.
• Closely monitor cooperatives that resources are managed in a way that OVC guardians are benefiting.
• Ensure that OVC guardians are taking loans and engaged in profitable and safe business activities.
• Contribute to the wider objective of increased participation of local partners in OVC care and support.
• Closely work with association of former OVC. SACCO leaders and relevant government line offices on youth access to job, engagement in IGAs and access to credit service.

MANAGE GENDER RELATED ACTIVITIES.

• He/she will be fully responsible for all gender related activities in the three project sites.
• He/she will closely work with OVC project officers on timely implementation of activities need to be done in a given period.
• Provide training to local partners including VCGs and teachers on gender outreach media tool (image box).
• Follow up on establishment and function of Gender dialogue group (GDG) in all project sites. In addition, make sure eligible OVC family members are attending sessions regularly.
• Assist and guide social workers and VCGs on GDG facilitation and QIVC measurement together with OVC project officers.

MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING.

• Monitor program effectiveness and make amendments as required (in consultation with the immediate supervisor and the OVC officers at projects and head office level) to benefit the maximum number of OVC families in loan access IG activities.
• Update OVC officers and the team every month on livelihood development status and share subsequent month plan.
• Prepare, monthly, quarterly, biannual and annual reports, and submit plans to the immediate supervisor, OVC officers and health HIV/AIDS manager on time.
• Capture, document, and share best practices, lesson learnt, success stories among projects.
• Take part in wider program evaluation and assessments.
• Conduct periodic assessment on HH livelihood status in order to categorize in to struggler, destitute and growers.
• Closely monitor VSLA groups in all project sites and provide required support needed together with government lined offices.
• Monitor gender related activities regularly together with lines government team and come up with findings with recommended actions.
• Collect QIVC reports from Social workers and analyze
• Review QIVC reports every quarter and analyze. Provide feedback to social workers and project OVC officer if actions are required.
• Seek assistance from DFSA gender department at project level if any technical support is needed.
• Identify Gender model families and assign in all GDG for experience sharing.
• Closely monitor gender model families and draw best practices for the benefit of the entire group.

CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

• Develop and implement OVC livelihood strategy
• Conduct a situational need assessment in the project areas and design business plan.
• Organize short-term skill trainings for older OVC at TEVT centers
• Organize various capacity building trainings to SACCO leaders.
• Ensure that SACCO leaders/members are obtaining the required technical assistance from government cooperative coordination offices.
• With the support of OVC officers identify appropriate OVC to train in Life skills and Livelihood skills
• Encourage SACCOs to allocate budget for social accountability.
• Organize training on gender outreach media tools (Image box) at project level to GDG facilitators. The training has to be both theoretical and practical sessions.
• Make sure all the require image box and guiding materials are distributed to facilitators.
• Make closer follow up and technical assistance to GDG facilitators and social workers on the image box-guide and GMF steps.

PARTNERSHIP AND NETWORKING

• Establish good communication with wider partners to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
• Develop good networks in the community with professionals, cooperatives etc and represent FH/E in meetings.
• Ensure that FHE has established strong partnership with local stakeholders including CCC, SACCOs, OVC and Volunteer associations.

Job Requirements

JOB LEVEL SPECIFICATIONS

• Training in the area of business development, entrepreneurship, program management focusing on livelihood improvement is an advantage.
• Reasonable experience working on SACCO, and microfinance institutions is mandatory
• Experience on gender related activities, programs or surveys also advantageous.
• Project management and sound experience in monitoring and evaluation is required.
• Strong people management skills / interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate teach and mentor staff and volunteers.
• Comfortable and persuasive when speaking before both large and small groups.
• Ability to interact positively with all levels of the organization and across organizational and cultural boundaries.
• High integrity and a strong sense of professional ethics.
• Demonstrated computer operating skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office products

EXPERIENCE

• 3 years’ experience in relevant field preferably in similar NGO setting
• Proven experience in both livelihood and gender related programs in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS

• BA degree economics, sociology, development studies, gender studies in or other relevant qualification

DISTINGUISHING COMPETENCIES (things that would set the candidate apart, Example below)

• Resourceful, problem-solving aptitude.

LANGUAGE

• Proficiency in spoken and written English required.

SAFETY AND SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Each FHE staff member should adhere to all pertinent policies concerning safety and security policy of FH. Lapses in safe conduct can jeopardize the health and welfare of all staff.
• Every FHE staff member has an obligation to learn and understand the security situation where they are located.
• He/she has a responsibility to become familiar to social, cultural and other associated features of their duty stations;
• Abstains from inappropriate or offensive behavior that can put FHE in a difficult position, impair operations, and jeopardize the health and welfare of all staff of FHE.
• All FHE staff should promotes safe conducts and exercises caution in all work activities; staff should accountable for own personal and professional actions and conduct.

GENDER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be familiar with the local Gender Focal Point(s), and go to her/him to learn more about gender issues, or when there is a gender grievance or harassment issue to resolve
• Within each project and department, discuss FH’s Gender & Diversity and Sexual Harassment and sexual exploitation Policies, so that all staff are conversant with them.
• Refrain from any comments or gestures that indicate prejudicial views of female staff, especially female supervisors.