FSL Sector Manager - Social Protection at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International

Location: Nangere, Yobe
Job type: Full Time
Starting date: as soon as possible
Direct Line Manager: Senior Project Manager

Tasks & Responsibilities
Objective 1 - Provide technical lead in the implementation of the social protection component of the project:

• Develop detailed planning and implementation strategies for Cash based Transfer and IGA Social Protection intervention;
• In close coordination with the field team, coordinate mapping of most vulnerable groups and coordinate beneficiary selection, cash disbursement and regular monitoring of cash utilization by target beneficiaries;
• Identify program implementation modalities that enhance partnership & coordination with government official, local leaders and local communities, internal integration within sectors and other programs (Nutrition, WASH);
• Identify areas of cross-program linkages with other Action Against Hunger programs in Yobe State;
• Ensure program quality and adherence to program objectives, including respect of Action Against Hunger technical guidelines, systems, and established deadlines;
• Support program budget design and updates, budget monitoring and cash projections;
• Contribute to organizational and sector-wide learning through documentation of lessons learnt, best practices and evaluations from the Cash Based Transfer and IGA Social Protection components;
• Contribute to preparing social protection internal and external reports including case studies and success stories as relate to Cash Based Transfer and IGA Social Protection.

Objective 2 - Social Protection Programme development and m,anagement:

• Support the design and manage the AAH’s Social Protection programme component including planning, monitoring and management of the Mission’s support in the area;
• Design and develop purposive, persistent, context specific and innovative social behavioral change messages aimed at improving the capacity, ability and willingness of vulnerable people to improve their livelihoods;
• Develop key partnerships with the LGA and State Government  and other stakeholders including traditional leaders;
• Conduct relevant trainings to build capacity of LGA staff on cash based transfers and saving schemes, food production, food storage and investments at small scale. Strengthen livelihood enhancement  in social protection programmes;
• Working with the FSL Manager, SPM and WASH and Nutrition Sector Managers to ensure gender equality ensuring women’s economic empowerment, is effectively mainstreamed through the Mission’s programming in the area;
• Represent the organzation on appropriate working groups and coordination structures for the Productive Social Safety Net programme and the Social Protection Policy;
• Support identification and commissioning of relevant research and analysis which informs AAH approach to social protection in Nigeria;
• Co-ordinate research and documentation of lessons learnt, ‘best practice’ and emerging thinking relating to social protection in Yobe State and the AAH Mission in Nigeria;
• Ensure effective management of project stakeholders, in-line with the AAH Management Standards.

Objective 3 - Foster Coordination and Integration of Social Protection in other sectors:

• Build synergies between social protection and livelihoods, WASH and nutrition interventions
• Support the integration of climate resilience into social protection and foster the development of durable solution in the emergency – development nexus.
• Undertake effective coordination, and proper documentation to ensure proper and timely reporting to relevant clusters throughout the period i.e. food security sector working group, early recovery cluster and Cash working group.
• Represent AAH in external Sector Coordination meetings as requested;
• Prepare and share minutes and clear action points of meetings/trainings attended;
• Provide briefing material as required, including regular updates on  social protection policy environment.

Objective 4 - Support the strategy of building evidence for learning:

• Produce regular success stories on project implementation;
• Support wider learning by leading on project(s) based learning and research;
• Support development of project(s) proposals, concepts and improvements;
• Produce analytical summaries of lessons learnt for internal use and / or policy application;
• Conduct analysis on socio-economic behavior change practices.
• Explore areas where AAH can enhance its contribution to policy research, in accordance with the commitments in the mission strategy;
• Contribute brief articles, accounts, photographs and or case studies with particular emphasis on demonstrating the evidence and impact of the AAH;
• Actively work with other members of the FSL team on issues relating to social protection strategies, to ensure consistency with AAH policies.

Objective 5 - Performance Management:

• Communicate Action Against Hunger performance standards and expectations to team members which includes;10 minutes monthly conversation, 3 months/end of probation performance appraisal and annual/ end of contract appraisal.
• Establish performance objectives, provide feedback, and identify strengths and areas for professional improvement.
• Contribute to the professional development and improvement of team members by providing support.
• Produce weekly, monthly and quarterly internal and external reports as requested;
• Track the progress of activities and outcomes as well as ensuring the tracking of relevant indicators;
• Participate in the weekly coordination meetings, or other ad hoc internal meetings as requested; Prepare handover/end of mission reports to cover periods of leave and/or upon exit from the project(s).

Internal & External Relationship
Internal:

• Senior Project Manager-line management, exchange of information and collaboration;
• Field Coordinator, Other Sector Managers & team-close collaboration on planning and implementation; exchange of information;
• Social protection and economic empowerment Officers: Line management;
• Support team-exchange of information, collaboration and coordination.

External:

• Ministry of Agriculture,State Primary Health Care Management Board (SPHCMB), State Ministry of Health (SMOH): exchange of information, coordination;
• LGA Team/ Department of agriculture team/Community leaders: exchange of information, coordination;
• UN Agencies and other INGOs within the state.

Qualifications

• A degree in Development, Social Policy, Rural Development, Development Economics or related discipline relevant to the position;
• Minimum of 4 years relevant experience working in the field of social protection. It is desirable that at least 3 of these years will have been spent working at a senior level with a locally based or international organization.

Skills & Experience
Essential:

• Sound understanding of the political, economic, social and cultural environments impacting on social protection and livelihoods in North eastern Nigeria, including a clear understanding of the relevant Federal Republic of Nigeria policies and institutional frameworks.
• Ability to influence and communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences at local and state level.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability and ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with community members and leaders, partner agencies and key contacts in the government.
• Previous Managerial role.
• Strong sense of organization and attention to details.

Preferred:

• Excellent management skills and experience of working with government authorities;
• Experience with / proficiency in the analysis, management and synthesis of reports; research skills and experience in managing research also desirable;
• Excellent communication skills including excellent written and verbal skills in English; fluency in Hausa and Kanuri will be desirable;
• Experience in farmers institution development and management;
• Value chain development and marketing;
• Evidence of good interpersonal networking and communication skills.