Specialist Sr., Livelihood

About ChildFund
ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that connects children with the people, resources and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, no matter where they are. We work directly in 23 countries, with extended reach to more than 60 countries through our global partnership network.

ChildFund’s Values
We aspire for every person in our organization—program, participants, supporters, staff, and volunteers alike—to feel free, safe, and confident to be themselves. In our culture of connection, you will have ample opportunity to grow, learn, and lead while contributing your talents and innovations to our inspiring mission.

ChildFund’s Commitment
ChildFund International has a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and all other forms of harm by its staff, partners, and other representatives in the delivery of its mission and services for children. ChildFund is committed to creating a safe environment in the workplace as well as in the communities where it delivers programs and services. ChildFund expects every staff member, partner, and representative to adhere to this commitment and to ensure all organizational policies and standards are followed. This position is subject to a range of vetting checks, including a criminal records check and/or disclosure to ensure program participants are safeguarded.

About This Role
The Senior Specialist, Livelihood will be responsible for providing technical and strategic leadership in agriculture, food security & livelihoods, S/He will be responsible for promoting and engaging in systematic implementation, design, monitoring, and evaluation and translating all FSL related strategic priorities in the Country Strategic Plan into implementable actions and interventions including identification, synthesis of best practices and lessons learned.
The holder of the position will lead the designing and development of FSL projects, identifying new business opportunities including proposal development, and engaging with current and new donors regarding FSL activities. S/He will ensure that FSL interventions implemented either directly or through local partners are of the highest technical quality through provision of regular technical oversight and support, program monitoring and reporting. S/He will provide strategic leadership and direction and ensure high quality, coherent and well-coordinated design and scale-up of FSL programming. S/He should will also be responsible for the designing of programs relating to youth in the livelihood sector S/He will foster partnerships with government ministries, technical institutions, financial service providers, producer organizations and private sector actors to expand market access, financial inclusion and economic opportunities for programme participants. The role will support the integration of livelihoods programming across sectors.

Required Experience and Education

• Bachelors degree in development studies or relevant field or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree a plus or equivalent experience.
• At least 6-8 years of experience in the management of Livelihood Project management with a non-governmental organization (NGO) or other international organization.
•  Experience Grants Acquisition and management
• Experience in designing and implementing Livelihood programs especially for youth.
• In-depth understanding of the Livelihood Sector, the Government’s Medium Development Plan, the Government’s 5 Game Changer
• Versatile in networking, advocacy and building relationships with donors, partners and line ministries
• Experience in gender-responsive and socially inclusive programming, including designing and adapting interventions for women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
• Proven ability to provide high-quality technical assistance, guidance, and coaching to field-based implementing staff and partners.
• At least 5 years’ experience of working on the Livelihood Sector in development and/or emergency contexts, preferably with an international development organization.
• Proven excellent oral and written communication, networking, presentation, public-speaking and interpersonal skills.
• At least three years’ work experience in formulation and development sector specific policy direction, documentation and replication of best practice
• Demonstrated experience working with children experiencing deprivation, exclusion and vulnerability and their families.
• Solid experience in the design and implementation of Livelihood programs/projects
• Proven ability in participatory training and capacity building for program design, delivery, and assessment.
• Strong monitoring and evaluation experience

Preferred

• Experience in managing and implementing cash transfers, conservation agriculture, carbon credit, climate smart technologies, voluntary/ Village Saving and Loan Schemes (VSLAs) and understanding of Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL).

Primary Responsibilities

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION

• Lead and provide technical support in the design and development of food security, livelihoods interventions in the country strategy(ies), frameworks and programs interventions.
• Contribute and participate in the development and review of country strategic plan and related country level strategies, policies, and frameworks.
• Support capacity development efforts of the ChildFund Country Office and its Implementing partners’ staff in collaboration with relevant technical and thematic teams.
• Advise the Senior Management Team (SMT) on FSL strategic issues, emerging opportunities and trends.
• Lead mapping of capabilities and capacity enhancement needs of LIPs in food security and livelihoods and climate smart agriculture and resilience programming.
• Promote integration of FSL programs with other sectors priorities through creation of linkages and joint participatory planning processes.

Lead or contribute to market assessments, value chain analyses, and labor market studies to inform evidence-based livelihoods programme design and resource mobilization.

Program Management

• Oversee country FSL program portfolio, supporting with new program/project start-ups and close-down.
• Support local partners in the mobilization and set-up processes for new FSL grants and Non-Sponsorship Projects (NSP).
• Ensure donor requirements for data collection, reporting, and targets/achievements for FSL programs are met.
• Contribute in the development and regular review of Country Annual Operation Plans (AOPs) .
• Support the development and through review of Implementing partners Annual Operation Plan and Budgets (AOPB) and ensure FSL program priorities are incorporated.
• Closely work with other members of the ChildFund program and Local Partner program teams to achieve FSL program objectives.
• Monitor program expenditure and regularly liaise with finance staff to address spending issues.
• Effectively participate in program monitoring and review meetings to identify program constraints and challenges during implementation, propose solutions and accordingly oversee implementation of proposed changes.
• Develop technical reports (internal and external) and proposals reflective of government, organization, and donor guidelines, ensuring timely submission to line manager.
• Identify, assess and manage programme risks while developing mitigation measures to ensure continuity and achievement of project outcomes.

Program Design and Development

• Work closely with the Grants Acquisition and Management (GAAM) team in the design and formulation of new project concept notes and proposals providing technical and budgetary input throughout the program development and design phase on FSL and CCA funding opportunities.
• Support resource mobilization efforts on food security and livelihoods & climate smart agriculture technologies.
• Identify, initiate, and participate in the recruitment of potential FSL partnerships and lead on funding opportunities (e.g. consortiums, new calls for proposals).
• Lead scoping missions, engage with new donors on FSL opportunities and identify potential new business opportunities
• Coordinate with the GAAM Team and support donor stewardship, communications and cultivation of major global donors and prospects.
• Reporting, Documentation, and Information Sharing
• Participate in and provide technical support (development of TOR, data tools review etc) in FSL baseline and other related studies.
• Support in the timely preparation and/or review of the quarterly and annual programmatic and donor quality reports.
• Promote and engage in systematic monitoring and evaluation of environmental sustainability adaptation, food security and livelihoods and the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.
• Document success (most significant) stories, lessons learnt and best practices and share with SMT, ESMT, Implementation Partners, donor and other stakeholders.
• Closely work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge Management unit to ensure all information and data on FSL programs are incorporated in the Country Office M&E system.
• Organize and facilitate regular learning and sharing sessions with stakeholders on FSL and CCA programs.
• Integrate climate adaptation and resilience approaches into livelihoods programming, including climate-smart agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and ecosystem-based solutions where relevant to the Sierra Leone context.

Program representation

• Participate in the FSL and CCA Forums, networks and other coordination activities through active reporting and communication with field and national level focal points.
• Represent and promote ChildFund Sierra Leone FSL and CCA programs externally with relevant stakeholders, including national and county Governments, Sector Working Groups and Networks, donors and NGO partners.
• Represent the organization professionally and uphold its values, policies and strategic priorities in all external engagements.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING

• Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Child Safeguarding Policy

SUPPORT:

• The Senior Specialist, Livelihood can draw on the support of global team members in the development of his/her responsibilities. Preferably, these global team members provide input into recruitment, performance planning and evaluation. The primary Country Officer team members for this position will be:

-Program and Partnership Manager
-M&E/KLM Specialist
-Business Development Specialist
– Senior Education Specialist
-Sponsorship Specialist
-Security Focal Persons

Required Competencies
ChildFund’s Core Competencies

• Teamwork: the ability to work effectively and collaborate with others; values and respects individual differences.
• Communication: demonstrates empathy and tact when communicating with others and uses a storytelling approach when appropriate.
• Results orientation gets things done; takes proactive steps to achieve organizational goals and quality standards.
• Decision making uses good judgement, critical thinking, and non-traditional ways to evaluate problems and opportunities; reflects and innovates to improve decisions and outcomes.
• Resilience: thrives and grows in rapidly changing, demanding, and complex environments.
• Digital literacy: adopts and champions new technology to relevant contexts, stays aware of technological trends and embraces technological solutions to business challenges.