Livelihood Officer (Gore), Addis Ababa,Eth Fed Dem Rep (P-3)

Job Title: Livelihood Officer (Gore)

Job ID: 10141

Location: Gore, Chad

APA Location: Addis Ababa,Eth Fed Dem Rep

Salary Grade: Hardship Level: E

P3

Family Type Location: Non-Family

Eligibility Information

Operational Context

Current Situation

UNHCR's operation in southern Chad is to ensure the international protection of persons under its mandate and research mixed solutions; it is being implemented in close coordination with regional and local authorities, humanitarian and development actors, including UN agencies such as WFP, UNDSS and UNICEF, Implementing Partners, refugees and Aboriginal communities.

Until late 2012, the UNHCR's south was part exclusively in the context of durable solutions and transition to community empowerment and self-reliance of CAR refugees. With the new influx of December 2012 caused by the crisis in Central African Republic, UNHCR has had to readjust its strategy to proceed concurrently:

The pursuit of durable solutions for protracted refugee;The establishment of an emergency response to the new influx.

In July 2014, the total number of CAR refugees in Chad amounts to 93,175 of which 85,105 registered in refugee camps and host villages in southern Chad (Gore and Maro Haraze).

Desirable Attributes

The Livelihood Officer will provide support as needed for the implementation of the Comprehensive Solutions Initiative, a three year effort focusing on solutions with an emphasis on livelihoods leading to economic and social self-sufficiency.

Within UNHCR, the incumbent of the post will establish close working relations with UNHCR branch Office and Maro field office. More specifically, she/he will partner with UN agencies (e.g. UNICEF, FAO and WFP) and international NGOs (e.g. FLM and CARE).

The incumbent will also ensure UNHCR representation in appropriate national coordination mechanisms and networks. Therefore the post requires a mix of training, strategic planning skills in addition to innovation and creativity. Excellent skills in report writing, preparing proposal, planning and evaluating programmes and field monitoring are essential. The incumbent must also possess good management skills within this complex and demanding environment.

The Livelihoods Officer will ensure age, gender and diversity analysis in his/her approach to livelihood strategies and take targeted action to support work with youth and the economic empowerment of women.

Working and Living Conditions

In terms of working and living conditions, Iriba is caracterised by very basic infrastructure as well as leisure and recreational facilities. Also, very limited health facilities are available locally. The office has established guest houses for the international colleagues but private accommodation is possible as well.

R&R cycle 8 weeks.

Security Considerations

The overall situation remains calm throughout the South and Southeast, and camps. The civilian character of camps has so far been preserved and secured by DPHR team (governmental organization responsible for the security of humanitarian staff). No threat directed specifically against the presence of the United Nations system and other partners in the international humanitarian community has so far been recorded or identified.

Regions of Logone Oriental, Moyen Chari and Salamat in which are located the CAR operation for refugees areas are Level II in security system of the United Nations, low risk. The main security challenges are characterized by attacks of bandits and some theft cases at home.

The risk of spillover of insecurity in northern CAR to southern Chad is minimal due to the security cordon set up by the Chadian state. Illicit cross-border trafficking, however, remains an ongoing risk.

Additional Factors

Duties and Qualifications

Livelihood Officer (Gore)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The incumbent will be responsible for planning, implementation and coordination of Livelihoods and Environmental activities mainstreaming policies and approaches to realise the transition from relief to development. He/she will be based in Gore and will be required to travel to Maro and Haraze. He/she will be defining the livelihoods strategy for the area, analysing available information such as operation plans of humanitarian agencies, national and regional development plans, results of the socio-economic survey and other assessments (such as JAM)/research projects/relevant UNHCR manuals. He/she will be integrating good practices from other countries and previous experiences and will be actively participating in national coordination frameworks such as UNDAF or PRSP, and assuring the conformity with the decentralisation plan of Chadian Government. The staff member will recommend new programme proposals in order to mobilise additional development resources and to fill the resource gaps for the transition strategy and the action plan.

The livelihood Officer (Gore) will work under the overall direction of the Head of SO and direct supervision of Senior Protection Officer. S/he will collaborate with Community Services and Programme colleagues on a daily basis. Moreover, the incumbent will work in close collaboration with the Livelihoods and Environment Section at N'djamena. He/she will also liaise with the Livelihoods unit at HQ to share good practice, tools and information.

The staff member should conduct training and workshops on the concepts and tools of livelihoods frameworks, Participatory and Rights-Based Development and Poverty Reduction for the government officials, NGO partners and beneficiary communities in refugee camps and the local villages; organise and facilitate the participatory planning process with the local governments and the beneficiary communities in order to elaborate development plans while assuring active participation of the refugees in this process. The staff member is required to use participatory methodologies such as PRA and PLA tools to create a truly participatory process.

The post requires a mix of training and strategic planning skills in addition to innovation and creativity in livelihoods programming. Excellent skills in report writing, preparing proposal, planning and evaluating programmes and field monitoring are essential. The incumbent must also possess good management skills, as strong guidance and support is required in the field of livelihoods.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

Food Security conditions increased.Self-reliance and autonomy of refugees and local population in the area improved.Mechanisms and technologies enabling refugees to take responsibility and to meet their domestic needs promoted.Income generation activities promoted in the camps.Sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the environment promoted through the implementation of HCR environmental strategy.Strategies (livelihood, durable shelters and environment-energy) updated and implemented.Technical support to UNHCR partners and rural development structures provided.

Responsibility

Establish a livelihood/environment working group involving national government, ILO, donors, other experts and implementing partners.Coordinate the development of livelihood/environment strategies.Develop an appropriate plan of action in support of sustainable livelihood.Ensure that socio-economic assessments and surveys are designed and implemented, and utilised to inform project design and, as necessary, to readjust objectives, activities and targets of the operational plan and of specific project documents and identify and select suitable partner to conduct assessments.Provide technical assistance to the development of UNHCR's and IP's livelihoods projects within the framework of an approved strategy.Review and provide technical guidance to the project proposals submitted by Implementing Partners (IPs), and guide and monitor livelihood/environment activities/programmes in line with UNHCR policies, mainstreaming gender, age and diversity.Identify opportunities and solutions to challenges identified in the socio-economic study, and advice on means to develop the local livelihood resources.Proactively seek new opportunities for effective partnership building and resource mobilisation amongst donors.Promote cooperation with national institutes in supporting income generation activities and access to microfinance for refugees.Maintain updated information on issues and policy changes that may affect sustainable livelihood opportunities for refugees, and on-going measures by the Government and other institutions that can affect or contribute to the achievement of strategic goals for refugee livelihoods.

Authority

Represent UNHCR in livelihood/ environment meetings and working group.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

University degree in Agronomy, Agro-Economy, Natural Resources Management and Forestry Engineer or socio-economic development, rural development, business administration, financial management or other related fields.Minimum of 8 years of previous job experience relevant to the function or in relevant fields of work within and outside UNHCR.Relevant professional experience, preferably in providing technical support to rural development in an international context. In-depth knowledge of rural development and sustainable management of natural resources.Proven experience in strategic planning, implementing, and monitoring livelihoods (or similar) programmes, and managing multiple projects.Experience in working in fairly big operations with a variety of programmes and projects directly targeting interest of refugees and persons of concern, containing similar context and notions of assistance.Fluency in French is required and a good command of English drafting and reporting.Good communication and writing skills.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

Outstanding analytical and organisational skill.Excellent networking skills with private and public sector institutions.Excellent oral and written communication skills, including listening, facilitating and influencing skills.Excellent computer skills, including excel, word and power point.

Position Competencies

C001L2 - Accountability Level 2C002L2 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 2C003L2 - Communication Level 2C004L2 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 2C005L2 - Client & Result Orientation Level 2C006L2 - Organizational Awareness Level 2M001L2 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 2M004L2 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 2M005L2 - Leadership Level 2X001L2 - Analytical Thinking Level 2X002L2 - Innovation and Creativity Level 2X005L2 - Planning and Organizing Level 2

Closing Date

Please note that the closing date for vacancies in the Autumn 2014 Compendium is Sunday 11 January 2015 (midnight Geneva time).

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