Program Officer (Food Security & Livelihoods) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT No. 41
 

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) - Ethiopia Program  invites qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position. Currently, LWF-Ethiopia Program is implementing humanitarian and development projects in Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Oromia, Gambella and Somali Regional States and works closely with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), the Ethiopian Government, UN organizations and other funding partners.  Its thematic sectors, among others, include promotion of food security and sustainable livelihood, natural resources managment, emergency response, resilience building and capacity building: 

Position:                            Program Officer (Food Security & Livelihoods)
Job Grade:                         17
Department/Unit:              Program Coordination 
Reporting to:                     Program Coordinator
Duty Station:                     Addis Ababa
Employment Term:           One year with possibility of extension

Detailed responsibilities and tasks:

The Program Officer is responsible for long term development projects with components of food security and livelihoods.  He/she is responsible for quality assurance and excellence in the delivery of commitments entered with funding partners, target communities and other stakeholders.  Technically, he/she is accountable to the Program Coordinator for the day-to-day operation, as well as, closely works with all management team members.

Key Responsibilities:
 

• Promote, implement and uphold the vision, mission, core values and objectives of the LWF Ethiopia;
• Provide leadership, technical supervision and support in the development program planning, monitoring, implementation and reporting.
• Provide strategic overview and act as focal point for the organization in food security and livelihood related issues; including planning and monitoring of technical implementation of food security and livelihood activities;
• Continuously strive to improve the quality of the development projects in line with LWF Ethiopia’s empowerment and integrated approaches;
• Ensure that quality monthly status reports, quarterly and annual monitoring reports and financial reports are prepared and submitted to the concerned donors on time;
• Ensure mainstreaming of LWF-Ethiopia’s cross cutting issues of gender equity, HIV & AIDS, environmental protection and DRR throughout the program and projects and strengthen gender sensitivity in all activities;
• Liaison with relevant donors, regional government offices and other stakeholders;
• Ensure effective and proper utilization of funds/resources in the projects under his/her responsibilities;
• Create the conditions to ensure effective teamwork and moral in the field programs.  

Support and Supervise Project Coordinators:
 

• Line manage Project Coordinators (who have geographic responsibility for implementation in each working location) and provide coaching and technical support to the rest of the staff  in order to ensure delivery of services;
• Provide technical training especially in Food Security & Livelihoods to the project staff as deemed necessary and make sure that all the project staff have the required skills and trainings for their position;
• Provide technical guidance especially in Food Security & Livelihoods and advice field offices to address challenges and queries from donors, partners and other stakeholders;
• Work with Project Coordinators and the Program Coordinator to share good practice and lessons learned between project locations.

Ensure timely and quality monitoring as well as internal and external reporting:
 

• Ensure accurate and timely collection of data by field teams;
• Ensure accurate and complete financial records are maintained at field level;
• Compile reports from each working location into a monthly and quarterly progress reports;
• Contribute to narrative and financial aspects of reports to donors, government and other relevant partners;

Coordinate with partners and internal and external stakeholders:
 

• Meet with donors and other external stakeholders as required, including presenting the program objectives and progress;
• Provide information and updates to relevant parties of LWF/DWS including providing information for communications, fundraising and policy as required;
• Work closely with the Program Coordinator and the Country Representative to ensure effective flow of information and effective integration of food security & livelihood activities into LWF/DWS-ET’s long term programming
• With support of Administration, coordinate field visits plans from LWF/DWS-ET staff and external stakeholders;
• Contribute to fundraising proposals as required.

 

Job Requirements

Qualification:    
 
Masters or Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy or Rural Development or Agricultural Extension or any other related fields of study with related experiences of 6 years for Masters,  8 years for Bachelor out of which at least 2 years experience of coordinating Food Security & Livelihood programs. 

Key competencies: 
 

• Excellent written and oral English Language skills required
• Strong project management skills; and solid working experience in Food Security & Livelihoods
• Knowledge and experience in poverty reduction initiatives;  
• Commitment to accountability to affected communities;
• Experience in managing  a team of staff and providing coaching and support;
• Experience in monitoring and donor reporting;
• Excellent computer skills including Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• A strong organizer who is able to handle multitask and meet deadlines, including the ability to work flexibly in a fast paced and rapidly changing context;
• Ability to work sensitively and diplomatically, including experience of working with partners and diverse groups of people;
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently between different program locations

How To Apply

Female applicants are encouraged to apply. 
NGO Experience is advantageous
Closing Date for application:      29 March 2014
Only short-listed candidates shall be contacted

Interested, competent and qualified candidates are invited to send or mail their applications with copies of testimonials, including transcript, recommendation letters from past employers, C.V. and list of three references to the email address of:      hro.eth@lwfdws.org  or to post address of the following:
 
          The Human Resource & Administration Unit
                    Lutheran World Federation
                    P. O. Box 40132, Addis Ababa