The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview:

The IRC is planning to undertake a Humanitarian, Development, and Peace Triple Nexus project focused on food security and climate resilience in disaster-affected communities in East Hararghe Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. This integrated multiyear resilience project involves a consortium consisting of Action Against Hunger (Lead), IRC, and DRC, which will implement initiatives across four regions of the country, with the IRC specifically responsible for the East Hararghe Zone.

The project’s goal is to enhance food security and climate resilience in crisis -affected households and communities, aiming to achieve four main outcome areas: (a) improved food and nutrition security; (b) community-based, gender-sensitive disaster risk management and resilience; (c) increased economic status through livelihood opportunities and access to finance; and (d) enhanced social cohesion through participatory peacebuilding. To achieve these outcomes, the IRC will implement comprehensive interventions that include climate-smart agriculture, disaster risk reduction (DRR), natural resource management (NRM), livelihood diversification, market system strengthening, and peacebuilding activities.

The Senior Food Security /Livelihood Project Officer is responsible for overall design, development, implementation, and management of food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience-building projects in the areas and other parts of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. The key responsibilities of the position include:

Providing technical and programmatic leadership for the effective program management and alignment with stated objectives, donor requirements, and the needs of target communities.

Leading a team of technical staff to successful implementation and delivery of project outputs and outcomes. Ensuring compliance with all relevant policies, procedures, and donor compliance, including financial management, procurement, and reporting.

Establishing and maintaining strong partnerships with government authorities, CBOs, and other collaborators to facilitate effective collaboration and coordination.

The position Holder will provide strategic and operational leadership to maintain the overall technical quality of the intervention while chipping in to the long-term development of the communities.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Design and Development:

• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments and situational analyses, including market assessments, to understand the current resilience challenges faced by the communities. Analyze existing resources, capacities, and gaps within the communities and the broader regional context. Identify the specific needs and priorities of the target community, clients, and vulnerable groups to advise program strategy.
• Jointly with the ERD technical team to design and develop evidence-based food security, livelihood, and resilience-building projects including Theory of Change (TOC) and a logical framework with specific, measurable indicators.
• The program aligns with donor requirements, the IRC’s ERD sectoral strategic priorities, the government’s broader development policies and strategies in the region and country.
• Design and formulate context-relevant interventions in agriculture, CMDRR, diversify livelihood opportunities, market system, financial inclusion, social cohesion, and peacebuilding.
• Incorporate best practices, lessons learned, innovative approaches from similar initiatives into the program design.

Program Implementation and Management:

• Prepare detailed implementation plans for the program/project, including budget, activities, procurement, timelines, resource requirements, and roles of the team. Communicate these plans clearly to project and field staff through training and cascading information.
• Develop clear implementation guidance notes and operational procedures for crop and livestock production, CMDRR, NRM, diversify livelihood, market system development, and other interventions.
• Lead, handle, and guide the implementation of activities and budget jointly with internal staff, government line offices, and the community, ensuring alignment with the proposal, Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), IRC strategies, and donor requirements to maintain technical quality and effectiveness.
• Prepare and share monthly and weekly work plans/tasks based on the approved project work plans, participating in guidance & follow-ups with staff while communicating updates to relevant personnel.
• Ensure that considerations such as gender, protection, safeguarding, accountability, environment, and CMDRR are integrated into the design, implementation, and monitoring of the programs.
• Promote the integration and complementarity of these interventions with other initiatives by the government and partners in the area to achieve a comprehensive and harmonious approach to resilience-building.
• Support the incorporation of market-based approaches in each intervention.
• Oversee the implementation, managing and coordinating field staff while monitoring and addressing any operational, logistical, or administrative challenges that arise.
• Identify and engage with key collaborators, including local government offices, CBOs, agricultural research centers, universities, cooperatives, private sector financial service providers, and other partners, to ensure effective coordination. Facilitate the active participation and engagement of local communities and target groups during the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the program.
• Identify and manage any risks or issues that may affect the progress, taking appropriate corrective actions in collaboration with staff and partners, in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.

Finance/Budget Management:

• Prepare the annual budget plan and monthly expenditure forecasts. Regularly monitor expenditures, track financial performance, and adjust as necessary for efficient and effective use of the budget.
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, donor requirements, organizational policies in close consultation with Field Coordinator and Finance staff.
• Actively participate in and present updates during Budget vs. Actual (BVA) meetings.

MEAL and Reporting:

• Collaborate with the MEAL department to develop a robust M&E framework, including appropriate indicators, data collection methods, and reporting mechanisms.
• Prepare and implement a comprehensive M&E plan to monitor and track the progress, including the collection and analysis of relevant data. Provide regular reports to the supervisors to inform them of program progress and identify areas needing adjustment and improvement.
• Jointly with the MEAL team, lead, and conduct baseline and end-line assessments, as well as relevant data collection on time. Analyze and inform programming and ensure consistency and coherence in the use of implementation and monitoring tools alongside the MEAL and ERD team.
• Ensure that Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM), post-harvest assessments, and other exercises are carried out regularly according to the established plan and standards.
• Manage data and reporting responsibilities, providing updates to the IRC monthly BVA meetings. Prepare and submit regular progress reports (monthly, quarterly, annually, and for donors) to the Field Coordinator, ERD Program Coordinator, and grant team in a timely manner.
• Work to track and monitor project indicators, documenting successes and challenges encountered. Regularly capture ongoing learning & adaptation, preparing & documenting best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches in program implementation. Use these findings to inform program adjustments and improvements.

Staff Management and Development:

• Supervise, manage, and provide regular technical advice and support to field program staff to ensure the quality and effective implementation, and the achievement of planned results.
• Participate in the recruitment of staff, coaching and building their capacity according to operational needs and requirements.
• Foster a positive and inclusive work environment that promotes teamwork, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Develop and implement staff capacity-building initiatives, performance management systems, and professional development opportunities to support the team’s growth and enhance their contributions to the program’s success.
• Monitor and coach project staff and other sector staff, providing relevant training to build their capacity for achieving high-quality results and impactful interventions.

Coordination and Collaboration:

• Actively participate and share update in coordination meeting with consortium members.
• Represent the IRC and the field office to relevant partners, government officials, UN agencies, donors, and other NGO staff at the field level as appropriate. Establish clear communication and coordination mechanisms with external stakeholders to facilitate the smooth execution of program activities.
• Ensure that IRC is adequately represented and actively participates in formal coordination activities, including clusters on Livelihood, Food Security, Cash Working Groups, and emergency coordination meetings, as well as other formally recognized groups involving local NGOs, INGOs, and UN agencies at zonal and woreda levels.
• Ensure that local communities, target clients, government agencies (regional and zonal line offices), local partners, civil society organizations (CSOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs) are closely engaged and adequately involved in project activities to ensure their inclusion in program development and execution processes.
• Host and manage visits from consortium members, government partners, and donors effectively to contribute to accurate planning, implementation, and reporting.

Integrity:

Honest encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates the highest levels of integrity.

Equal Opportunities:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the IRC Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Overall:

Working for the best of your ability and demonstrate high levels of dedication to IRC and our vision, mission, and values to ensure the objectives of your role and the country programs are met.

Ensure the effective and efficient use of all IRC resources in order to keep costs low and ensure safety in the workplace.  

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:

• BA/BSc or MA/MSc degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Food Security, Rural Development, International Development, Economics, Disaster risk management or related relevant field of studies

Preferred experience & skills:

• 5 years of proven experience in managing Food security, with a diploma or 2 years of experience for degree holders or 1 year of experience for postgraduates.
• At least 2 years of managerial experience.
• Proven leadership skills
• Project management experience
• Proposal and report writing skills.
• Effective communication internally and externally towards government and NGOs, donors, etc…
• Leadership capacity in the management of field teams: Team building, ability to develop a common vision, maintain morale, and acceptable behavior at base level.
• Substantive knowledge and experience of sustainable livelihoods and resilience programs management.
• Proven track record of effective management: planning, monitoring, budget oversight, logistics, and leadership, particularly in unstable environments.
• Demonstrated experience of integrating gender, protection, and diversity into emergency response programs.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.
• Strong analytic problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure.
• Highly proficient in the Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

Language Skills: 

• Proficient spoken and written English
• Knowledge of local language is advantageous