Livelihood Officer at International Medical Corps

Job Summary

• The Income Generation Activity/ Livelihood Officer will be expected to work as part of the core FSL team and lead the team in implementing selected Income Generation Activities/ Livelihood for the Integrated Nutrition Project (INP) as well as the beneficiaries of the Blanket Supplementary Feeding Program (BSFP) through livelihood interventions, enterprise management, technical trainings and capacity building to improve skills or production in new/pre-existing livelihood activities.
• S/he will contribute to ensuring that viable income-generating activities are supported
• In addition, the selected candidate will ensure that most vulnerable beneficiaries are selected, trained, have access to income-generating opportunities (support, equipment or materials) and monitored so that the livelihoods of beneficiaries are improved and incomes enhanced
• These activities will target beneficiaries within the areas currently covered by IMC in Konduga, Biu, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar LGAs in Borno State.

Implementation of Programs Activities:

• Facilitate community mobilization, meetings and trainings during community-led IGA activities.
• Work closely with selected community committees/leaders to ensure the identification and selection of the most vulnerable IDPs and residents of host communities, and provide information to ensure accountability, fairness and transparency during implementation of activities.
• Work closely with community structures to follow up on implementation of income generation activity plans.
• Gather information and data on Income Generation Activates at site level through surveys, assessments, regular post-distribution monitoring and field supervision visits to beneficiary households.
• Supervise and collect the required program information to facilitate capacity building and training programs, with the support of the Field Assistants.
• Lead and supervise assessment teams during thematic surveys, needs assessment and data collection for livelihood-related research.
• Support the M&E team in the collation and analysis of beneficiary data.
• Support the Program Manager in developing existing livelihood programs and possible new interventions to the humanitarian response.
• Coordinate closely with the FSL Manager to ensure that cross-LGA programs are being implemented in synergy.
• Sensitize beneficiaries on available feedback mechanisms and maintain an open line of communication with them to obtain feedback and complaints with regards to the existing IGA/ Livelihood activities and suggestions for new livelihoods opportunities.
• Administer hands-on livelihoods trainings, as necessary, and provide guidance to targeted beneficiaries to enhance their capacity to engage in income-generation activities.
• Contribute to the development of systems, procedures, tools, associated methodologies for the implementation of livelihood activities.
• Ensure most vulnerable people are identified and prioritized for assistance during program activities.
• Mobilize and raise awareness about the organization, program objectives and activities to local authorities and the population, and act as a link between the organization and the beneficiaries at program site and LGA level.

Coordination:

• Develop lines of communication and close collaboration with the other IGA/ Livelihood implementing stakeholders and contribute to a coordinated humanitarian response.
• Liaise with the Logistics and Procurement Department to ensure that the resources required for the IGA/Livelihood activities are acquired timely. Complete and keep records of the necessary paperwork.
• Represent IMC at external stakeholder meetings in coordination with Program Manager.
• Coordinate field activities with other IMC teams.
• Participate in regular internal and external Livelihood coordination meetings for the program at Camp, LGA and state levels when required.
• Ensure maximum visibility of the organization amongst the Government of Nigeria, and NGO/UN community
• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the organization’s Code of Conduct, values and stand-point with regard to internal and external actors
• Maintain open lines of communication with all field staff and service departments and a good working atmosphere.

Reporting:

• Produce IGA and Livelihood updates that including in field visit reports.
• Organize and prepare regular Livelihoods analysis reports.
• Contribute to program biweekly/monthly reports, donor reports and proposals.
• Prepare weekly and monthly plans and facilitation of community awareness sessions on basic and specialist IGA and Livelihood activities and their management.
• Support and coordinate with M&E Officers and data clerks for surveys, post-distribution and other program monitoring activities.
• Support program teams to ensure M&E aspects of the IGA and Livelihood activities and learning experiences are captured.

Miscellaneous:

• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within International Medical Corps and amongst beneficiaries served by International Medical Corps.

Compliance & Ethics:

• Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout International Medical Corps. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards
• Conducts work with the highest level of integrity.

Qualifications and Experience

• University Degree in FSL related studies like Agriculture/Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Economics, Natural Resource Management, Anthropology, Disaster Risk Management or a closely related field.
• Minimum of two years’ work experience in humanitarian or development contexts, with at least 1 year in conflict/insecure contexts.
• Previous experience managing Food Security and Livelihoods interventions (i.e. cash based transfer, IGA, agriculture/livelihoods).
• Experience implementing donor (e.g. USAID, ECHO, DFID, WFP) funded programs.
• Previous experience with food security and livelihoods programming.
• Experience in working in northeastern Nigeria, preferably Borno State
• Capacity and willingness to regularly travel to IMC field locations.
• Very good interpersonal skills, particularly in networking, working with communities, local civil society and local authorities.
• Previous experience in using and adapting community-led approaches.
• Good understanding and knowledge in application of do no harm, conflict sensitivity principles and IMC standards and ethics for protection work.
• Good understanding of protection concerns, including GBV issues in displacement, human rights, and international humanitarian law.
• Proven analytical skills.
• Understanding of monitoring processes, learning, adaptation and evaluation
• Fluent in English, Hausa and other local languages (Fulani and Kanuri).
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and action, and to IMC’s mission, values and policies.
• Excellent computer knowledge and skills of using Microsoft Word, Outlook, Power point and Excel.