Background

IHS has been providing humanitarian assistance to refugees in Ethiopia since 2013, working with refugees and displaced people. WASH, Child Protection, protection, education, food security, and livelihood is major areas of focus. The IHS mission for livelihood project is to promote positive economic change for the forcefully displaced people and hosting communities in Aftit refugee site and host community of located in west Gonder, Amhara region

Scope

The Livelihood coordinator will provide technical support, guidance, and training on agricultural and nonagricultural activities that can improve the economic wellbeing of rural communities in Aftit refugee site and host communities, west Gonder, Amhara region. The livelihood project will support the following:

• Improving sustainable production in crop, small livestock farm, and make them more resilient to climatic hazards ;
• Facilitating new economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs along value chains, especially women and youth.
• Support in improving household livelihood supplies and promote consumption of healthier diet for the community.
• Preserving the environment by improving management of natural resources around water, land and forest use.
• Applying conflict sensitive approaches between refugees and host communities in accordance with Sphere Minimum Economic Recovery Standards.
• Link community with micro financial institutions, private sector, hiring institutions, vocational skill training providers and other through inclusive approach.

Job Purpose:

The Livelihood Coordinator is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing livelihood programs that enhance self-reliance, resilience, and socio-economic integration of refugees and host communities in Metema or Aftit refugee sites. This role involves close collaboration with refugees, host communities, partners, and other stakeholders to create sustainable and inclusive livelihood opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Program Planning and Implementation

• Develop, plan, and implement livelihood interventions tailored to the needs of refugees and host communities, ensuring alignment with organizational strategies and donor requirements.
• Conduct needs assessments, market analyses, and feasibility studies to identify viable livelihood opportunities.
• Facilitate the development of business plans, vocational skills training, and income-generating activities.

2. Stakeholder Coordination

• Conduct stakeholders mapping on livelihood such as finance institutions, agriculture institutions, research institutions, private sectors, vocation colleges and entrprises.
• Coordinate with relevant government agencies, NGOs, UNHCR, private sector actors, and community groups to ensure effective program delivery and alignment with local development plans.
• Build relationships and maintain regular communication with refugee and host community representatives to promote participation and ownership.

3. Capacity Building

• Organize and oversee vocational skills training, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building workshops for refugees and host communities.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to participants to enhance their skills and self-reliance.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Monitoring and reporting implementation progress and results.
• Develop and implement tools to monitor and evaluate the impact of livelihood interventions.
• Prepare regular progress reports, case studies, and success stories for internal and external audiences.
• Ensure timely and accurate data collection and analysis to inform program adjustments.

5. Resource Mobilization and Advocacy

• Identify funding opportunities and contribute to proposal writing for livelihood programs.
• Advocate for policies and initiatives that promote refugee integration and economic empowerment at the local and regional levels.

6. Operational and Administrative Support

• Develop household livelihood planning and assessment tools together with relevant institutions.
• Coordinate day-to-day implementation of the livelihood activities at Aftit Refugee site and host community.
• Coordination functions including technical oversight, ensuring timely deliverables of work-plans; coordinating with operational partners and project staff.
• Ensure effective use of program resources, including budget tracking and procurement in accordance with organizational policies.
• Ensure compliance with donor and organizational regulations in all program activities.
• Provide technical inputs and feedback to livelihood-related products, specifically, assessments, methodologies and knowledge-product.
• Represent IHS in meetings in the areas of livelihood development and poverty alleviation.

Reports To: Regional program coordinator/Regional Manager

Employment Type: Full-time/ contract

Required number for the position: One

Closing date February 26/2025

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Economics, Agriculture, Business Administration, or a related field. A master’s degree is an added advantage.

Experience:

The Coordinator will be experienced in the design and implementation of rural and semi-urban livelihoods that will strengthen community based natural resource management and provide refugees and host communities with technical and organizational skills around agriculture, livestock, petty businesses, wage employment appropriate for the location including.

• Minimum of 6-8years of experience in livelihoods, coordinator, economic empowerment coordinator, livelihood programming coordinator or related fields coordinator, preferably in humanitarian or development settings.
• Proven experience working in refugee camps and/or integrated host community settings.
• Experience in marketing related as well as production training (improving product quality, enhancing foundation skills such as numeracy and business plan development).
• Experience in market-based approaches, vocational training, entrepreneurship, and small business development in rural and semi urban context.
• Experience on agriculture, off-farm agriculture, business and entrepreneurship.

Skills

• Strong project management, planning, and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder coordination abilities.
• Proficiency in monitoring and evaluation tools and methodologies.
• Financial management and budgeting experience.
• Proficiency in MS Office and other relevant tools.

Key Competencies:

• Strong understanding of refugee contexts and socio-economic dynamics in Ethiopia.
• Knowledge of government policies, humanitarian standards, and donor requirements related to livelihoods.
• Ability to work under pressure and in a multicultural environment.
• Fluency in English and Amharic.
• Commitment to accountability, inclusiveness, and gender-sensitive programming.

Work Conditions:

• Based in Metema or Aftit refugee site, with frequent travel within the operation area.
• Fieldwork may involve working in challenging environments, requiring flexibility and adaptability

Safeguarding and Compliance

• Ensuring compliance with IHS`s PSEA, Child safeguarding, Anti-fraud and others policies.
• Ensuring Code of conduct and prevention from sexual exploitation and abuse policies and uphold the highest standards according to her/his area of responsibility.

Female applicants are highly encouraged