The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network with 192-member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
The Secretariat of the IFRC implements its work based on Strategy 2030, employing Plan and Budget 2021-2025 (P&B) as a manner to support its membership (National Societies) and other actors to strengthen community resilience in face of disasters and crises. The P&B contains five priorities and three enabling actions in a results-based framework that enables integrated planning, monitoring, and reporting.
The Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, has five decentralized regional offices: one of which is in the Americas. The Americas Regional Office (ARO) provides supports to 35 National Societies of the Americas. ARO is organized in two main areas: a group of service-based departments and geographical configurations of (i) Country Cluster Delegations (CCD) and (ii) Country Delegation, each of them led by the Regional Director. The second area are the following seven units: (i) Partnerships and Resource Development (PRD); (ii) Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER); (iii) Policy, Strategy and Knowledge; (iv) Communication; (v) Disaster and Crisis: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (DCPRR); (vi) Health and Water and Sanitation; (vi) Logistics; each of which is led by the Deputy Regional Director.
The livelihoods senior officer is part of the Emergency Appeal COVID-19 operation and will report to the Head of Delegation.
The position of livelihoods senior officer will be located in the country cluster delegation for the Andean countries, with the possibility of working from the IFRC offices in Peru, Ecuador or Colombia.
Job Purpose:
The Livelihoods Senior Officer will have a lead role in the livelihoods components in the IFRC Emergency Appeal COVID-19 operation, other emergency operations and in livelihoods-related programmatic actions in the Andean cluster.
This position will provide operational support to the staff, volunteers and leadership of National Societies (NSs) in the management of the ongoing emergency response and transition to a recovery phase, as well as contributing to building the capacities of NSs and fostering peer exchanges and supports between NSs. In agreement with line manager, this person will plan and supervise the livelihoods recovery components, ensuring activities are implemented to a high standard in a timely and professional manner.
The person in this role has the primary responsibility to support livelihoods actions by National Societies and the IFRC in the Andean region, starting with a context and needs analysis to identify livelihoods recovery needs of affected population by COVID-19 and other emergency operations to ensure that people have safe access to livelihoods recovery assistance adequate quality and quantity and that their other basic needs are met. Based on the context, this could include the support for technical guidance to National Societies to train and identify livelihoods focal points.
Within the cluster, this role will contribute to promote the integration of livelihood actions in programmes and operations.
Job Duties:
- Technical guidance, support and capacity building for National Societies
- Provide support for the livelihoods actions of National Societies, including the technical guidance to train, identify and establish livelihoods focal points and programmes.
- Work with the National Society to identify the livelihoods recovery needs of affected population by COVID-19 or other emergencies and create programmes that facilitate safe access to livelihoods recovery assistance of adequate quality and quantity and that the meeting of other basic needs.
- Guide, monitor and evaluate livelihoods actions in National Society Response Plan (NSRPs) to achieve programme objectives with the targeted communities and populations to strengthen resilience, employing a protection and participatory approach that supports actions such as the replacement of productive assets, businesses, employment, among others.
- Support National Societies with technical guidance in livelihoods for the revision of their NSRPs, concept notes and project proposals to mobilize funds for livelihoods programming.
- Support National Societies to conduct livelihoods recovery assessments, feasibility studies, response options analysis and programme design based on IFRC standards, guidelines, tools adjusted to each context.
- In coordination with National Societies, participate in context analysis and assessments required to assess needs, rank vulnerability, and identify opportunities in the urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
- Accompany and guide National Societies with a response option analysis to identify the most feasible and appropriate modality for livelihoods recovery assistance through cash-based interventions, food assistance and livelihoods support activities based on market assessment, analysis and support.
- Support National Societies to ensure the quality of data collected during the assessment and targeting and the prioritization of the target population, using a gender and diversity approach that provides differentiated response options that contributes to livelihoods recovery at the household and community levels.
- Analyse the needs in capacity building within the National Societies and propose relevant capacity building plans.
- Provide technical advice, backstopping and training to National Societies’ staff and volunteers on the implementation of technical programmes.
- Facilitate training sessions, face-to-face or remote, for National Societies’ employees or volunteers on food security, livelihoods, cash-based interventions, digital tools and how to adapt methodologies, approaches and tools to COVID-19 and other emergencies.
- Enable peer exchanges and sharing of best practices in livelihoods and basic needs between National Societies.
Technical Contribution to Andean Cluster Delegation
- Serve as the technical lead for the coordination, monitoring and evaluation of livelihoods actions in programmes and operations in the Andean countries.
- Co-coordinate with Partnerships and Resource Development (PRD) staff, identification of funding opportunities for National Societies’ actions in livelihoods.
- Evaluate and capture learning from livelihoods recovery programmes within the COVID-19 context and/or conduct specific projects or tasks related to livelihoods programming, as defined by the line manager.
- Work with the COVID-19 operational teams to plan and effectively deliver all the planned interventions in a timely manner and in compliance with IFRC standards and procedures.
- In coordination with technical colleagues (community engagement and accountability- CEA and planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting- PMER), support National Societies to roll-out and implement post-distribution monitoring systems and complaint mechanisms.
- Oversee and manage the support, training and development of relevant IFRC staff in livelihoods recovery in emergency operations and programmes.
General Responsibilities
- Ensure efficient and transparent use of resources in accordance with internal standards and controls.
- Contribute to the monitoring of indicator progress and reporting and ensure quality data management for operational reporting.
- Develop and maintain appropriate databases and records for monitoring and evaluating the progress of operation and/or programme interventions.
- Prepare timely, high quality reports on livelihoods and basic needs interventions, as required.
- Document best practice/lessons learned to support knowledge management for the current operation and future operations and programmes.
Position Requirements:
- University degree or higher in Business Administration, Economics, Finance or the Social Sciences or relevant professional experience.
- Minimum 5 years of professional experience in the implementation of livelihoods programmes in emergencies, recovery or development contexts.
- Experience in market analysis/assessment and relevant tools (e.g., RAM/MAG, EMMA etc.)
- Experience in designing and implementing vulnerability targeting systems, including appropriate technical methodologies and criteria.
- Experience in participatory livelihoods programming with a gender and diversity approach (Preferred).
- Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection
- Experience in transferring knowledge and skills through formal and informal training to adults
- Experience of working for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement (Preferred).
Knowledge and Skills:
- Integrated project management including project planning and monitoring, tracking project progress and achievements
- Good understanding of project cycle management, including M&E, reporting and budget management
- Advanced computer skills (Windows, MS Office, Outlook, Internet, etc.)
- Knowledge of data collection tools (Kobo, ODK, others) (Preferred)
- Versatility and ability to adapt to different contexts and cultures
- Fluently spoken and written Spanish
- Fluently spoken and written English (Preferred)
How to apply:
Applications are to be submitted to fabiana.taramona@ifrc.org stating in the subject line: Livelihoods Officer.
The application should include:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Presentation letter