About us
For over 90 years, Save the Children has been making a difference in children’s lives in more than 120 countries.
We are the world’s largest independent child rights organization. From emergency
relief to long-term development, Save the Children secures a child’s right to
health, education and protection. For over 90 years, Save the Children has been making a difference in children’s lives in more than 120 countries.
Save the Children is an equal opportunity organization dedicated to our core values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity.
We are looking to recruit for this position to be based in Somalia / Somaliland Country Office (Nairobi).
Technical Specialist – Food Security & Livelihoods - Somalia / Somaliland Country Office
Team / Programme: Technical Support Team
Location: Nairobi
Grade: TBC (Competitive Package)
Post Type: National or International
Child Safeguarding:
Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people
Role Purpose: The Technical Specialist Food Security & Livelihoods will provide overall technical advice and support to all projects related to food security and livelihoods.
Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people
Role Purpose: The Technical Specialist Food Security & Livelihoods will provide overall technical advice and support to all projects related to food security and livelihoods.
It will play a leading role in capacity building of Area teams,
partners, consortium members and other local actors in Somalia/Somaliland in
the areas of food security & livelihoods.
The TS will also play a pivotal role in providing adequate
technical support to the Area/operations teams to ensure technical quality
throughout the project implementation cycle.
She/he will work with quality programmes and Area teams to
promote and disseminate good practices and lessons learned in technical aspects
in projects internally and support Area teams in advocacy on food security
& livelihoods at Area level.
Scope of Role:
Reports to: Head of Food Security & Livelihoods
Dimensions: Save the Children works in four regions of Somalia/Somaliland with a current staff complement of approximately 450 staff and current expenditure of approximately US$60 million in 2012.
Staff directly reporting to this post: None
Key Areas of Accountability:
Programme Development
- Contribute to
the development of food security & livelihoods thematic strategy in
line with Save the Children’s Country Strategic Plan for
Somalia/Somaliland programme
- Participate in
development of ambitious yet practical sectoral plans as part of the
Country Annual Plans
- Provide high
quality technical inputs in to developing cost-effective, innovative and
sustainable proposals related to livelihoods and social protection in Somalia/Somaliland
- Ensure that the
project designs take in to account minimum standards of humanitarian
relief in accordance with the Sphere standards and Red Cross Code of
Conduct in emergency response projects
- Plan and ensure
adequate budgets are available in proposals for staff, partner, community
capacity building in technical areas in line with project objectives
- Work with
quality programmes team to provide technical guidance and inputs to the
Area/operations teams for them to develop concept notes and proposals
related to livelihoods and social protection as mandated under the food
security & livelihoods strategy
- Forge links,
wherever applicable, with other thematic areas of Somalia/Somaliland
programme, more specifically with health, nutrition WASH and education for
developing integrated projects for difficult to reach children in
Somalia/Somaliland
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
- Develop and
implement a relevant and sustainable capacity building plan for
Area/operations teams, partners and consortium members on food security
& livelihoods for quality delivery of projects and enhanced local
capacity for sustainable promotion of Save the Children’s goals on food
security & livelihoods for children, families and communities in
Somalia/Somaliland
- Support
Area/operations teams and relevant project/programme managers in relevant
technical capacity of parents, communities, market and other institutions
and government to improve sustainable food security & livelihoods
opportunities in Somalia/Somaliland
- Build technical
capacity in the area teams, partners and consortium members to produce top
class donor reports of projects related to livelihoods and social
protection, by working with quality programmes team
- Support the
Area/operations team in identifying and addressing technical gaps in
planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of livelihoods and
social protection projects, in coordination with quality programmes team
Representation and Advocacy
- Work with
quality programmes team to support Area/operations teams in developing
local-specific advocacy strategies and messages in livelihoods and social
protection.
- Support Area
teams as requested and build their capacity to lead representation and advocacy
in technical, government and civil society fora within the Area, for food
security & livelihoods and related issues
- Participate as
delegated in relevant external fora including donor meetings and clusters
related to food security & livelihoods
- Support Head of
food security & livelihoods in identifying key opportunities and
events for Save the Children to position itself as the leading
organisation for child rights linked food security & livelihoods in
Somalia and Somaliland
- Along Head of
food security & livelihoods, identify and secure potential technical
resource persons and organisations for their support in advancing Save the
Children’s advocacy in the sector. This involves forging partnerships.
Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation
- Work closely
with quality programmes and operations teams to ensure that all projects
in food security & livelihoods have robust monitoring plans,
baselines, reviews and evaluations in line with project designs and donor
guidelines
- Assist the Area
teams in technical assessments of local/implementing partners
- Assist quality
programmes team technically to support Area teams and partners to carry
out regular monitoring and measure and report on achievement and progress
towards project objectives and results.
- Along with
quality programmes team, organise periodic technical project review
meetings with Area teams (programme/project managers) and consortium
partners and internally share progress and action
- Carry out
extensive field visits to document observations and experiences and share
them with Area, quality and technical teams and influence management
action for improvement of technical aspects in projects.
- Work with
quality programmes team to carry out relevant studies and document and
disseminate good practices in projects related to livelihoods and social
protection.
People Management and Coordination
- Work closely
with quality programme and operations team in a matrix management
environment for development and implementation of high quality projects in
livelihoods and social protection both in development as well as emergency
situations.
- Functionally
line manage the food security & livelihoods technical staff in the
Area/Operations teams by coaching, mentoring and providing periodic
constructive feedback for learning and development and capacity building
- Support the
development of an organisational culture that reflects our dual mandate
values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team
culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to
deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service
for our members and donors.
Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- Holds self
accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently,
achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- Holds the team
and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving
them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the
necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate
consequences when results are not achieved
Ambition:
- Sets ambitious
and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes
responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to
do the same
- Widely shares
their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- Future
orientated, thinks strategically
Collaboration:
- Builds and
maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members
and external partners and supporters
- Values
diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable,
good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
- Develops and
encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to take
disciplined risks
Integrity:
- Honest,
encourages openness and transparency
Qualifications and Experience
- Degree in social
sciences; economics, agricultural, natural resource management or a
related field with additional training in cash and non-cash-based social
protection and project planning and management techniques
- Recommended a
minimum of six years of relevant technical experience including two years
at senior level
- Proven skills
and experience in undertaking assessments and designing/writing quality
technical proposals in the sector
- Proven
experience in programme development, project cycle management and
monitoring and evaluation related to the sector including writing up high
quality project/donor reports
- Proven
experience of developing and managing high quality, innovative and
cost-effective technical livelihoods and social protection projects in
fragile and insecure environments, preferably in Somalia context and with
International NGOs
- Proven
experience and skills in advocacy and building work relationships with
local/national governments and influencing institutional, private and/or
corporate donors
- Solid experience
and excellent skills in capacity building of systems, staff, partners and
other actors related to livelihoods and social protection
- Ability to
extensively travel for project monitoring and provide on-site technical
support to field teams
- Highly developed
interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation
and coaching
- Highly developed
cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international
environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
- Strong results
orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets
- Experience of
solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward
and ensuring buy in
- Ability to
present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
- Ability and
willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with
incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
- Willingness to
be deployed part or full time in to emergency response as per need and as
directed
- Fluency in
English, both verbal and written, required
- Commitment to
Save the Children values
Child Safeguarding Policy:
Any employee, consultant, contractor or the supplier undertaking an activity on behalf of SC must sign the Child Safeguarding - Declaration of Acceptance Form] and comply with the SC Child Safeguarding Policy which is a statement of SC’s commitment to preventing abuse and protecting children with whom it comes into contact.
Any employee, consultant, contractor or the supplier undertaking an activity on behalf of SC must sign the Child Safeguarding - Declaration of Acceptance Form] and comply with the SC Child Safeguarding Policy which is a statement of SC’s commitment to preventing abuse and protecting children with whom it comes into contact.
This extends not only to children with whom SC and its partners
work directly, but also includes children whom staff are responsible
for.
SC believes that the situation of children must be improved
through the promotion of their rights supported and demonstrated by all members
of staff. Save the Children's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all
staff members must adhere to.
Interested candidates meeting the above qualifications are
required to submit a mandatory cover letter quoting the Job Title and Vacancy
Announcement No. SCI/SOM/02/13 on the subject line.
The file name of the attachments must be the applicants name and
sent to Somalia.vacancies@savethechildren.org.
For more information please visit our websitewww.savethechildren.net/jobs or www.somaliangoconsortium.org.
Applications close on 28th January 2013.
Applications close on 28th January 2013.
