Community Empowerment and Livelihoods Officer

We are looking for a highly qualified Candidate that is interested in being a vital part of our Community Driven Recovery and Safety team. 

Who are we? 

Danish Refugee Council is a leading protection agency pursuing our mandate to protect and promote durable solutions to displacement-affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), DRC apply a regional approach with operational presence in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Iraq.        

Present in Iraq since 2003, DRC is today operational in the Kurdish governorates, in and around Baghdad and in several South-Central governorates. Focused both on the influx of Syrian refugees and the current IDP crisis, DRC is providing assistance in a range of sectors including Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Protection, Livelihoods, Emergency Response (including food security, cash, and NFIs), WASH, Shelter and Mine Action. The Iraq programme presently employs some 450-national staff and 45 international staff, and is growing to meet new, emerging needs associated with ongoing and recent conflict in multiple locations. 

About the job:

The CDRS Community Empowerment and Livelihoods Officer (CELO) is part of the CDRS field team in Tikrit and will support in the design, implementation and monitoring of livelihoods activities carried out under the CDRS project. The field team is composed of one civil engineer, one database officer, two livelihood officers, two community development Workers (CDWs), and two project assistants hosted.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

Project planning and implementation:  

• Design and analyze labor and market assessments in target areas with communities including municipalities, community representatives and youth (maintaining gender balance).  
• In coordination with the CDW, lead on focus group discussions with target communities to identify common priorities for a particular area and help to strengthen the capacities of community actors to enable them to address concrete needs and problems in their communities.  
• Identify potential livelihood activities based on market and livelihood assessments (cash for work, life skills development, vocational trainings, and apprenticeship schemes) and ensure their timely implementation.   
• Identify beneficiaries to include in temporary income generation opportunities through Cash for Work via Community Support Projects and support the registration process.  
• Assist CDRS PM and TL in developing, planning and organizing livelihoods trainings/ workshops.   
• Oversee and act as the focal point for all project livelihoods activities as agreed with the CDRS PM and TL and address issues that may arise.   
• Support CDRS PM and TL in building local community capacity to ensure the handover plans and sustainability of projects.  
• Support the establishment of Community Development Committees (CDC), and assist in the development of Community Action Plans (CAP) and facilitate dialogue between local government authorities and community members.  

Project monitoring and reporting:   

• Coordinate field visits to ensure the quality of project activities and that targets are being achieved   
• Ensure regular and timely reporting of problems, potential delays or risks to project implementation to the relevant supervisor, and support in the development and execution of solutions and mitigating actions.   
• Ensure full compliance of all actors and partners with DRC Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics, HAP and other compulsory regulations. 
• In coordination with the procurement and warehouse department, be responsible for safe storage, inventory and maintenance of livelihoods materials, tools and equipment.  

Other Duties:  

• Carry out any other relevant duties as directed by the CDRS PM and Head of Field Office  
• Undertake any other duties that may be assigned by the Line Manager;  
• Conduct duties in accordance with DRC’s Programme and Operational handbooks  
• Conduct duties in accordance with DRC Code of Conduct, HAP and other key documents.  

About you:

To be successful in this role you must have:  

• University education and/or training in a relevant field ( social sciences, political science, international relations or sociology)  
• Fluent in Arabic and an excellent working knowledge of written and spoken English.  
• Experience working in income generating, livelihoods and cash assistance programs  
• Knowledge in designing and rolling out of labor and market assessments   
• Ability to work under pressure and priorities work responsibilities effectively.  
• Committed to being a team player and able to demonstrate constructive, cooperative and problem-solving skills  
• Good communication and negotiation skills;  
• High degree of computer literacy (mainly MS Word and MS Excel). 

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:  

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.  

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.  

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.  

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.  

Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.  

Moreover we also expect the following: 

Required qualifications:  

• Understanding of broader issues related to community participation, local governance, conflict analysis, safety, gender mainstreaming, and environment.   
• Previous work in community infrastructure rehabilitation and or income generating and livelihoods projects  
• Previous experience an international NGO or UN organization  
• Excellent time management skills and creative thinking. 

Desirable qualifications: 

Ideally, you will also have: 

• Communication Skills  
• Teamwork Skills   
• Analytical Skills   
• Planning Skills   
• Systematic   
• Initiative (proactive)   
• Result-oriented and Accountability   
• Professionalism. 

We offer: 

DRC will offer the successful applicant a 3 months contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work from 15 October 2017 and be willing and able to work in Tikrit.  

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment; please refer to www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level C. 

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. 

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered. 

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk  

Applications close 30 September  2017. The interviews are expected to take place 5 October 2017.   

Need further information? 

For more details on this position please contact job@drc.dk 

Please note that applications sent directly to job@drc.dk will not be considered. 

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.ngo