Senior Livelihoods Program Manager

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refuguees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Context and scope of the position:

IRC has been working in Ethiopia since 2000, devoted in providing comprehensive support to vulnerable peoples to improve their live and get out of poverty. The IRC program currently operates through five field bases in Somali, Gambella, Tigray, SNNPR, Oromia, and Benishangule Gumuz regional states. IRC is almost working in 24 refugees’ camps out of 26 camps all over the country.

IRC has developed livelihood program to enhance the resilience of South Sudanese refugee and their hosting community in Gambella region. It implements a range of livelihood activities (business and life skill trainings, vocational skill training, off farm, income generation, market system development) in Kule and Tierkidi refugee camps for improving the lives of target vulnerable and poor youth over the period. It aims to engage them in decent work opportunities and increase access to relevant financial services. This helps to flourish business and relevant skills, access to decent employment opportunities, financial access and improved wellbeing for young refugee, host communities & IDPs.

The position holder will engage in and responsible for the management of livelihood program with the support and guidance from ERD program unit from Addis Ababa

Dimension of Responsibilities

• Program design: the program requires technical skill in youth employment, resilience and livelihoods programming and give technical inputs in design of new proposals.
• Project management: responsible for effective management and implementation of the activities stipulated in the technical and financial project documents; and ensuring their adherence to timelines and the existing financial, procurement and administrative procedures and policies of IRC, donor, and the government.
• Budget management: overlook and supervises the spending, and budget utilization as per the project’s target, and ensure financial management and budgets utilization per plans, IRC procedures and commitments made to donor.
• Reporting: timely completion and submission of standard quality and factual progress report.
• Representation: representing IRC towards relevant partners; and establish and maintain cordial relationship with relevant partners.
• Thinking strategically: high level critical thinking and analysis required.

Accountability

• Reports to the field Coordinator and ERD Coordinator on the administrative CVA tasks
• Supervises livelihood project officer(s) and the team members.
• Ensure effective program budget management.

Key Areas of Accountability

• With support from the IRC ERD unit, the senior livelihood program manager shall:
• Participate technically in the design and preparation of new livelihood proposal,
• Prepare and put in place program detail implementation workplan and ensure the respective team members are aware and understand well and properly implement.
• Ensure physical target achievements are as agreed; and review regularly the progress and maintain regular update of the workplan and track outputs.
• Lead and handle as well as technically responsible in undertaking livelihood diversification and resilience building programming.
• Ensure project implementation is on time, target and budget as describe in the grant, and take required action to ensure timely implementation of activities wherever vital.
• Ensuring technical quality and standards are considered and respected during implementation.
• Ensure the full participation and engagement of key partners (ARRA, donor, Government offices, the community, and target clients) in all stages of program management cycle.
• Ensure all due dates anticipated and are met without delay per the grant contracts,
• Supervise that all activities are important to community needs; and gender issues promote the full and equal participation of women in all aspects and make sure that the program is an opportunity for peace making, not community division.
• Ensure partners are familiar with the program purpose and expected outcome and requirements on building the community resilience and improve the livelihood of target clients.
• Regularly and systematically follow partners program activity and budget implementation and ensure that standard financial management followed and maintained.
• Overlook and closely supervises the budget spending as per the plan.
• Properly budget plan and forecast monthly cash requirements and submit on time.
• Review the implementation of budget plans together with the finance, grant, and project team.
• Identify areas that need revision, and as vital, prepare appropriate revisions and adjustments and communicate the responsible supervisor,
• Prepare accurate and precise procurement and recruitment requests on time; and provide the require technical support and follow for timely procurement and delivery of quality items.
• Coordinate with support departments such as supply chain, HR, and finance that matters the program.
• Coordinate the establishment of effective work and supply plans of the partners.
• Participate in technical staff recruitment; and ensure competent and skillful staff are recruit and deploy for project implementation, and the new staff receive proper induction.
• Management of technical staff assigned to the project, mobilizing the required project equipment and services ensuring positive working environment and good team dynamics.
• Layout and plan team movements; and ensure proper management and use of the assets.
• Undertake regular appraisals of staff and ensure capacity building among staff in relevant sectors.
• Ensure the communities (refugees and host community), the government offices and agencies (ARRA), civil society organizations, and relevant partners are adequately participated and involved in program design, implementation, and monitoring stages.
• Represent the field office with partners, ARRA, UN agencies, donors, and other NGO staff at field level as appropriate.
• Ensure that IRC is adequately represented in formal coordination activities including clusters, working group and refugee coordination meetings and informally recognized by partners including local NGOs, INGOs and UN.
• Close engagement for adequate inclusion and development of implementing partners towards the independent execution of program activities.
• Ensure external and internal visibility activities properly handle in collaboration with relevant internal deportment team.
• Timely prepare and submit quality and insightful program progress narrative reporting and financial accounting to IRC (internal), donor, and partners on time.
• Ensure that an effective monitoring and evaluation system is in place to measure results and outcome of the program.
• Conduct ongoing monitoring and assessments and provide clear analysis of the context
• Provide regular support and technical supervision and advice support to partners, the communities, and field staffs
• Organize regular project coordination and review meetings with project team and partners.
• Host and handle donor visits and give accurate update:

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages willingness and clarity; demonstrates the highest levels of integrity.

Equal Opportunities:

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the IRC Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Overall:

• Working for the best of your ability and demonstrate high levels of dedication to IRC and our vision, mission, and values to ensure the objectives of your role and the country programs are met.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of all IRC resources in order to keep costs low and ensure safety in the workplace.