Ethiopia: Diversified Economic Opportunities Team Lead, PARA - Ethiopia

Position is contingent on new funding

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004, and acts on behalf of people who have become disenfranchised and poor. We stand with Ethiopia to find and access opportunities, and to be part of lasting and meaningful transformation in the country. Mercy Corps seeks to be influential with government and development actors towards a more resilient country where poverty is tackled through the eyes of those who understand it best. This translates into ensuring that the population is financially stable, healthy & nourished, educated & unformed, and that natural resources are accessible, shared and utilized sustainably.

Mercy Corps anticipates a multi-year, multi-million dollar USAID funded initiative focused on: stimulating increased production, productivity and marketing through more competitive livestock and livestock products markets; increasing communities' resilience; improving alternative livelihood options through essential skills transfer; improving food security and nutrition, and contributing to the wider knowledge on pastoral development. The program will operate in multiple pastoral regions across Ethiopia.

General Position Summary

The Diversified Economic Opportunities Team Lead will lead Component 2 of the the $56.9 million dollar Pastoral Areas Resilience Activity (PARA) program, focused on developing alternative livelihoods for households that are chronically food insecure and/or transitioning out of pastoralism, mainly residing in urban and peri-urban areas. The Diversified Economic Opportunities Team Lead will help develop diversified and sustainable economic opportunities for people transitioning out of pastoralism (ToPs) and support the development of viable, less-climate dependent economic opportunities with a focus on women and youth. This component will address elements of the enabling environment such as access to finance and an improved business environment for entrepreneurs to take greater risk and thrive. The individual will work closely with the Chief of Party,Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Team Lead, the Livestock Production and marketing Team Lead, the Nutrition Team Lead and the Collaboration Learning and Adaptation (CLA) Team Lead. S/he will engage closely with counterparts from with other donor funded programs and the private sector actors. This position will be responsible for overall planning, coordination and implementation of alternative livelihoods activities in the program, ensuring interventions achieve maximum impact while remaining on schedule and budget. Essential Job Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide leadership and strategic vision while overseeing all alternative livelihoods activities ensuring that staff are following work plans, activities are on schedule to the highest standard, and that project deliverables are completed as planned.
• Advise on technical aspects of alternative livelihoods activities in the program to promote more resilient livelihoods. Work closely with partners on coordinating activities and harmonizing technical strategies and tactics.
• Provide technical support to program teams to help improve employment and entrepreneurship skills training, financial access and business development practices.
• Manage implementation of alternative livelihood activities providing technical direction, developing work plans in collaboration with national staff, monitoring implementation and impact, and ensuring staff are trained in commercialization, marketing and business skills enabling them to train beneficiary households and clients
• Provide technical support to cluster program teams to help improve access and availability of financial services, skills transfer for employment and entrepreneurship in alternative livelihoods, and the private and public sector to create jobs and link people transitioning out of pastoralism to employment opportunities.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

Program Implementation

• Oversee program and technical start-up and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work- plans, and ensure the delivery of the same.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Provide managerial and programmatic technical oversight to partners and sub-grantee(s).
• Document processes and achievements to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting activity adjustments in keeping with new insights.
• Produce written reports on program activities, capturing the impacts of activities.
• Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites - spend up to 50% of time in the field.

Internal and External Coordination

• Active contributor and collaborator with regional and global counterparts to promote the use of best practices.
• Strengthen linkages with other internal resources, including the Digital Library, Hub, and workplace, to enhance organizational learning.
• Maintain close working relationships with counterparts in other relevant international NGOs, and local NGOs and associations in Ethiopia and East Africa.

Security

• Work closely with the country team's security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

Alternative Livelihoods team members

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly With: Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Team Lead, the Livestock Production and Marketing Team Lead, the Nutrition Team Lead and the Collaboration Learning and Adaptation (CLA) Team LeadAlternative Livelihoods Advisor/DCOP, NRM/Climate Change Advisor, Knowledge and Learning Officer, Operations and Finance team.

Knowledge and Experience

• MA/S, or BA plus additional experience in Business, finance, agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, or related field
• 5-7 years' work experience with for profit organization, non-governmental organization (NGO) or profit agribusiness working with vulnerable, marginalized and pastoralists/agro-pastoralist groups.
• 5+ years' proven experience in innovative value chain development or business models using best practices.
• Knowledge and experience working on alternative livelihood issues in the pastoral areas, especially associated with individuals transitioning out of pastoralism.
• Experience with the development, implementation & compliance of donor funded programs including USAID agreements and strong understanding of USAID rules, regulations and compliance issues
• Established ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving
• Experience working with host governments, national and international NGOs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Preference given to candidates with prior experience in Ethiopia
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The Alternative Livelihoods Technical Lead is based in the capital city – Addis Ababa. This position requires 35% travel by road and air to field offices in often insecure environments.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

PI110330479

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