Senior Global Livelihood Off

Senior Global Livelihood Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Senior Global Livelihoods Officer will work under the supervision of the Chief of Section (OSTS) and in close collaboration with the Senior Livelihoods Officer heading the livelihoods unit in HQs. S/he will lead the East Africa regional office's involvement with livelihoods and related contacts with external stakeholders. S/he will establish close working relations with UNHCR field operations in the East Africa region, including but not limited to Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Somalia and Ethiopia.  S/he will also work closely with relevant support divisions and functional units in the country operations and regional office, including those dealing with performance and technical support, energy and environment, PHHIV, protection and durable solutions, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), community services, and gender/children/diversity. As noted above, since this is a Global position, he/she may be tasked to go beyond East Africa as needed by the Chief of OSTS.

Externally, s/he will establish and maintain close and effective partnerships with partners that take a market-oriented approach to livelihoods working in the region.  More specifically, s/he will partner with government line ministries, the private sector, development-oriented NGOs, UN agencies (e.g. FAO, ILO, ITC and UNDP), international financial institutions (e.g. World Bank), research and regional institutes and bilateral development agencies. S/he will also ensure UNHCR representation in appropriate regional coordination mechanisms and networks.

In order to ensure sufficient capacity to roll out the UNHCR Global Livelihoods Strategy 2014-18 in East Africa, it is essential that the incumbent is placed in the region with close proximity to the respective programmes, building extensive knowledge of the region as well as the socio-economic opportunities/challenges. S/he will supervise consultants, as required, working on different market-based livelihoods project, trainings, and on field-based assessments, strategic planning, review, evaluations and reporting.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Roll-out and implementation of the Global Strategy for Livelihoods in the East Africa region is ensured.
- Regional Office maintains and develops strategic partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders; including private sector companies, UN agencies, government institutions, international and local civil society organizations, Regional Economic Forums in order to maximize the impact and efficiency of operations and to accelerate the realization of shifting from direct assistance to a developmental approach for refugees and their host communities.
- Livelihoods programmes in the East Africa region (and beyond as tasked) are innovative and flexible in accommodating changes in the surrounding environment, particularly at the economic and political levels, while seek to expand the enabling environment for refugee self-reliance.
- The impact of implemented interventions is maximized through effective data-collection, monitoring and evaluation processes and best practices are disseminated to the UNHCR Livelihoods Practitioners Community in the region.
- Capacity of Implementing Partners and Livelihoods Staff is strengthened particularly in relation to data-collection, impact-monitoring and market-based livelihoods programming.

Responsibility
- In line with the Global Strategy for Livelihoods, improve and fine tune the national self-reliance strategies in the East Africa region, focusing on the development of clear operational plans and livelihoods projects for the upcoming three years, indicating the comprehensive needs and setting clear annual operational targets.
- Support country operations to comply with the minimum criteria for livelihoods programming and raise global awareness about these criteria.
- Ensure dissemination and implementation of internationally accepted standards, policies and guidelines within UNHCR and among partner.
- Identify and build solid partnerships with the private sector, research institutes, competent technical agencies and others that can bring knowledge, know-how and networks in support of creating economic opportunities for UNHCR's population of concern and hosting communities.
- Provide technical guidance to UNHCR field operations, in line with UNHCR tools and guidelines for livelihood programming, and ensuring technical integrity is maintained.
- Assist field operations in sourcing external expertise (consultants, deployments under stand-by agreements, and technical counterparts from operational partners) required for livelihood assessments, strategic planning, project design, reviews and evaluations exercises. Monitor the work of technical experts and contribute to reviewing draft reports/outputs, ensuring quality in methodologies used in particular for assessment and analytical tasks.
- Mainstream into livelihoods activities, the use of relevant innovative approaches and the "Graduation Model" to graduate vulnerable refugees out of poverty and into continued degrees of self-reliance.
- In line with a market-based approach, design and implement livelihoods activities tailor-made to and targeting different segments of the refugee population according to their potential for reaching self-reliance.
- Contribute to the development of a solid monitoring and evaluation system with clear indicators to monitor the impact of the livelihoods programming on refugees.
- Review and provide technical guidance to project proposals submitted by Implementing Partners (IPs).
- Participate in joint needs assessments.
- Contribute to the capacity building of IPs.
- Support the regular sharing of livelihoods related information among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders.
- Proactively seek new opportunities for effective shared value partnership building and resource mobilisation amongst highly qualified companies and NGOs, as well as development actors and donors.
- Perform other related duties as required.
- Undertake any other responsibilities or functions deemed necessary or as requested by the Chief of Section

Authority
- Represent the Livelihoods unit in communication and meetings with internal and external stakeholders, particularly regarding technical partnerships and networks in East Africa.
- Decide when and how to orient livelihoods operations in: i) conducting socio economic assessments ii) developing comprehensive multiyear strategic plans; iii) implementing coherent programmes through suitable partners; iv) designing and implementing specific livelihood-support interventions, and expanding or halting pilot initiatives; and v) defining phase-out and hand-over strategies.
- Make judgments on the quality of project proposals coming from implementing partners, on the quality of CVs screened when fielding expert deployments, on the quality of material/outputs submitted by consultants,
- Set standard on what resources are required for livelihoods operations to do the above, in terms of technical expertise, staffing capacity, partner capacity, technical tools/guidelines, time and budgets, and ensure that critical resource requirements are communicated to managers as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Advanced University degree in Economics, Business Administration, Socio-economic Development, International Development/poverty reduction, or other related fields.
- Solid proven professional experience (minimum 10 years) at the international and national levels in designing, planning, delivering, managing, monitoring and evaluating local (rural and urban) economic development with a focus on employment generation and enterprise development and economic empowerment for vulnerable groups.
- Proven experience in developing and influencing organizational policy development on areas related to livelihood/economic programming.
- Experience in developing comprehensive multi-year strategic plans for local economic development (rural/urban)  and individual livelihoods programming support at the field-level.
- Proven experience in conducting livelihoods assessments using quality social-science methods and tools.
- Experience in working effectively with international and national NGOs and UN organizations and with government authorities at national and local level.
- Excellent networking skills with private and public sector institutions.
- Excellent computer skills including excel, word and power point.
- Excellent drafting skills in English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Work experience and knowledge of the norms and culture in the East Africa region.
- Experience in poverty reduction programmes using the graduation approach.
- Experience in developing partnership and inclusive value chains with the private sector (companies and/or business organizations) C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X004L3 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
X009L3 - Change Capability and Adaptability Level 3
X006L3 - Policy Development & Research Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3 Advanced University degree in economics, business administration, socio-economic development, international development/poverty reduction, or other related fields;
Solid proven professional experience (minimum 10 years) at the international and national levels in designing, planning, delivering, managing, monitoring and evaluating local (rural and urban) economic development with a focus on employment generation and enterprise development and economic empowerment for vulnerable groups.
Proven experience in developing and influencing organizational policy development on areas related to livelihood/economic programming;
Experience in developing comprehensive multi-year strategic plans for local economic development (rural/urban) and individual livelihoods programming support at the field-level;
Proven experience in conducting livelihoods assessments using quality social-science methods and tools;
Experience in working effectively with international and national NGOs and UN organizations and with government authorities at national and local level;
Excellent networking skills with private and public sector institutions;
Excellent analytical (quantitative and qualitative) skills;
Excellent computer skills including excel, word and power point;
Excellent drafting skills in English;
Preferably, the candidate should furthermore have experience from East Africa, with poverty reduction through the graduation approach, and with developing partnership and inclusive value chains with private sector.
Experience in global support functions is very important. The world is currently faced with an unprecedented 65 million forcibly displaced persons. The average length of displacement is still increasing with only one per cent returning to their country of origin in recent years and less than one percent having the option to be resettled to third countries.
The aim of livelihoods interventions in UNHCR is to promote protection and solutions for persons of concern through increased economic inclusion and self-reliance. Self-reliance is the ability of an individual, household or community to meet essential needs and to enjoy social and economic rights in a sustainable manner and with dignity.
To ensure sustainable impact of livelihoods interventions, UNHCR recognizes the need for market-based, results-driven livelihoods programming, as well as engagement with local, national and regional development and private sector actors. The Minimum Criteria for Livelihoods Programming are now mandatory for all operations engaging in livelihoods programming.
A Senior Global Livelihoods Officer working within the East Africa region will be able to follow up on and support compliance with the Minimum Criteria and the implementation of the Global Strategy for Livelihoods in East Africa, ensuring technically-sound livelihoods approaches. This includes supporting country operations in Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Somalia and Ethiopia with assessments, targeting, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, and partnership development and strengthening. The Senior Global Livelihoods Officer will play a key role in working with development actors and private sector to promote refugees inclusion in economics and development efforts. S/he will contribute to the implementation of the Comprehensive Refugee Response and the Global Comact for refugees planned to be adopted by the UNGA in 2018.
Since this is a Global position, he/she may be tasked to go beyond East Africa. Nairobi is a good duty station for families. It has good medical facilities and it is the regional medical evacuation centre for countries in the East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes sub-regions. Recreational facilities, schools and hotels are of international standards. Politically instigated demonstrations and riots may occur at any time. General crime in Nairobi is high and like many other large cities,  a high sense of vigilance and alertness is required. Experience in global support functions is very important

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add. 1 to March 2017 Compendium is Wednesday, 3 May 2017 (midnight Geneva time).