Job Description

GOAL Sierra Leone

Job Description

Job Summary

General Description of GOAL’s Work in Sierra Leone

GOAL has been present in Sierra Leone since 1999, with an overall aim to contribute to poverty and vulnerability reduction through the implementation of integrated, multi-sectoral interventions, with a primary focus on improving Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent health (RMNCAH) specifically addressing teenage pregnancy. GOAL is also improving rural water supply, urban WASH focusing on faecal sludge management and promoting social inclusion, empowerment, and the promotion of decent work through systems-based programme approaches and community led social and behavioral change. GOAL currently operates in Western Area Urban (Freetown), Kambia, Bombali, Koinadugu, Moyamba and Kenema Districts, with funding from Irish Aid, Charity Water and DFID, and now the Community foundation Ireland for its new blue economy program that is focused on food security and livelihood improvement. 

General Description of the Programme

The Resilience of the Blue Economy: Livelihood Enhancement and Natural Resource Restoration for Coastal Communities of Western rural and Urban programme/project seeks to enhance food security and climate resilience of coastal communities in Sierra Leone through the development of a sustainable small-scale fisheries sector and the conservation of mangroves, as a critical ecosystem and climate-change asset. This program is housed in the blue economy department of GOAL Sierra Leone program and will last for three years. The project targets the Western Area Urban and rural of Sierra Leone, the project has four principal yet interlinked activities which will address the overall aim of limiting the impact of climate change on food security and biodiversity damage, while building community resilience to climate change. The project is designed to be community led, taking a gender-sensitive and youth-centred approach, ensuring that gaps, needs, barriers, and opportunities are identified for women, youth, and vulnerable communities through their direct participation in the project’s activities. This approach builds on the existing capacities, knowledge, and resources, drawing on local and indigenous knowledge wherever possible. To achieve this aim, the project has been designed to improve the food security for communities dependent on small-scale fisheries, whilst also protecting and restoring the mangrove ecosystem.

Overview of the role

The NRM officer (Agriculture engineer) supports in the facilitation of implementations of blue economy project activities on natural resources management, marine ecosystem conservation and assist in engineering designing of innovative solutions for sustainability in the utilization of coastal natural resources. 

Main responsibilities

• Program Management:

1. • Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of agricultural and natural resource management programs within the framework of the project.
   • Collaborate with stakeholders, government agencies, and local communities to ensure effective program delivery.
   • Monitor and report on program progress, ensuring adherence to timelines and budget constraints.
   • Identify and mitigate potential risks to program success.

• Technical Assistance:

1. • Provide technical expertise in agriculture engineering to enhance the productivity and sustainability of agricultural practices.
   • Conduct assessments and develop strategies for natural resource restoration in coastal areas.
   • Collaborate with small-scale fisheries actors and coastal communities to introduce innovative and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
   • Offer training and capacity-building programs to local communities on sustainable agricultural methods.

• Natural Resource Restoration:

1. • Support in the implementation activities for the restoration and conservation of natural resources, focusing on coastal ecosystems.
   • Develop and implement strategies for soil and water conservation, erosion control, and sustainable land use practices.
   • Collaborate with environmental experts to ensure compliance with conservation and restoration best practices.

• Community Engagement:

1. • Facilitatees community participation in project activities, ensuring that local knowledge and perspectives are considered.
   • Foster partnerships with local organizations, NGOs, and government agencies to maximize the impact of the project.
   • Facilitates community workshops and awareness campaigns on sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.

• Data Management and Reporting:

1. • Collect and analyse data related to agricultural productivity, natural resource utilization, and community well-being.
   • Prepare comprehensive reports on project achievements, challenges, and recommendations for future improvements.
   • Maintain accurate records and documentation of all project activities.

• Relationship Management

• Build good working relationships with other health stakeholders in the district including other NGOs, MFMR, Research institutions, other line ministries, CBOs and donors; and be ready to represent GOAL at relevant district meetings and blue economy forum as required or referred. 

• Strategy development

• Participate in developing plans, programme designs, proposals, and budgets for projects and project extensions in conjunction with the relevant team.

• Monitoring and Evaluation

• With relevant staff, support to develop and implement mechanisms for the collection of key data for programme monitoring and evaluation.
• Assist to check data collected and ensured that data is utilised to direct programme activities.
• Use the power BI as a project management and monitoring tool.
• Document and share success stories and case studies when requested to by line manager. 
• Support program manager to conduct supportive supervision and monitoring, develop a follow up plan that clearly state when & how each issue identified will be addressed which is updated or track on regularly basis. 

• Other

• Mainstream sustainable natural resource management strategies for coastal communities 
• Perform other duties as required by the line manager.

Behaviours

• Ability to facilitate staff delivery of programming. 
• Provide supportive supervision to blue economy team and delegate tasks as appropriate.
• Proactively raise issues and work with line managers to find solutions.

Requirements

Essential

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Natural Resource Management, Agriculture engineering or a related field or related field 
• Proven experience in managing agricultural and natural resource projects, preferably in coastal areas.
• Strong knowledge of sustainable agriculture practices, soil conservation, and ecosystem restoration.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and project management software.
• Experience in community development, natural resource management.

• Understanding of natural resources management principles 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and local communities.
• At least 4 years of relevant field experience with managing staff.
• Proven management experience, including work planning, report writing, monitoring and evaluation, staff management, and project coordination.
• Good report-writing skills; Highly organized.
• Ability to operate under time pressure and meet deadlines, to work independently, and take initiative.
• Good team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills and the ability to deal respectfully with people from varied backgrounds.
• Willingness to work in disadvantaged communities.
• Excellent English and Krio speaking/writing skills required.

General terms and conditions.

GOAL has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Child Protection Policy, which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants and children from exploitation. GOAL also has a confidentiality policy ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of GOAL, acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organisation without authority, except in the normal execution of duty. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to these policies any job offers made is also subject to police clearance. GOAL is an equal opportunities employer.

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document. Any published closing dates are estimated.  Due to the nature of GOAL’s work we aim to fill vacancies as quickly as possible.  This means that we will close adverts as soon as we have found the right candidate, and this may be before the published closing date.  We would therefore advise interested applicants to apply as early as possible.

I ______________________________ have read, understood and accepted this Job description. 

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Line Manager

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