Livelihoods advisor

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Scope of work

The Livelihoods Advisor will be responsible for the strategic leadership and development of IRC Pakistan’s economic and livelihoods recovery program, working in close collaboration with senior program management and economic and livelihoods recovery project staff. S/he will play a key role in the direct technical oversight and monitoring of activities and staff in field sites, and serve as key technical liaison on economic recovery programming, including food security program issues, with relevant local authorities and in sector coordination forums. S/he will be involved with short term emergency and longer term resilience building programs. The Livelihoods Advisor reports to the Deputy Director for Program Implementation (DDPI).

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide technical support and guidance to all IRC Pakistan economic and livelihoods recovery activities currently in operation.
• Facilitate and advise the development of an overall livelihoods program strategy for 2011-2012, taking into account needs, the IRC’s strategic niche in Pakistan, its capacity, and the funding outlook.
• Act as technical lead to support the development of new program proposals based on the strategy – ensuring adherence to national and international standards – and incorporating disaster risk reduction where appropriate. Assist IRC Pakistan in assessment of humanitarian needs in the areas of economic and livelihood recovery in any parts of the country as needed and liaise with other senior coordinators. Lead assessment process, including planning and reporting, to determine capacities and economic and livelihoods recovery needs of affected communities.
• Work closely with the Deputy Director for Program Quality and Design (DDPDQ), DDPI, provincial Livelihoods Coordinators and provincial Program Coordinators (PCs) to ensure strategic livelihoods and food security planning in emergency and early recovery situations.

Program Design and Quality

• Ensure that IRC Pakistan economic and livelihoods recovery program demonstrates adherence to recognised best practices and international and national standards, including Sphere.
• Ensure the development of detailed program logframes, workplans, and monitoring tools; support their implementation in coordination with Provincial Coordinators, Program Coordinators, DDPDQ, Grants Unit and Livelihoods Coordinators.
• Liaise with other relevant IRC technical units on cross cutting issues in program design and implementation (e.g., Women Empowerment and Protection for gender mainstreaming or Governance and Rights for protection issues).
• Provide technical guidance to program staff in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into economic recovery and livelihoods programming.
• Conduct regular field visits to verify quality and progress of project interventions, providing technical guidance and advice.
• Review all technical designs, feasibility reports, assessment reports, program reports with Livelihoods Coordinators and project managers, ensuring technical quality and accuracy.

Capacity Building

• Develop or make use of existing tools to train the economic and livelihoods recovery teams in technical subjects, program design, project management, and other subjects as needed.
• Support project teams through regular feedback and guidance through coaching/training sessions and regular interaction to further develop their strategic planning, program design – including targeting and assessment, and ability to manage an expanded economic and livelihoods recovery program.
• In collaboration with M&E Coordinator, provide technical assistance and leadership for quality M&E of all ERD program activities Representation
• Represent the IRC to relevant clusters, agencies and ministries and any other relevant fora, as required; participate in advocacy initiatives as part of the cluster.
• Support new fundraising efforts by conducting outreach to potential donors in country.

Requirements

• Masters level qualification in the following topics or related subjects: Development Economics, Development Studies, Social Development and Sustainable Livelihoods, Agriculture and Rural Development
• At least 5 years of experience in leading/managing economic recovery, food security or livelihood initiatives with NGOs and INGOs including the design and implementation of cash transfer programming. Strong knowledge of economic recovery emergency standards (Sphere).
• Strong leadership, management, planning, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to live and work in an unstable, stressful and insecure environment.
• Knowledge and/or experience in disaster risk reduction, conflict management, climate change adaptation.
• Strong coordination and confident representation skills

Specific Security Situation/Housing

The security situation in Pakistan remains fluid and unpredictable. Candidates may expect periods of insecurity, periodic suspensions of, or restrictions in, program operation and/or field travel, and high levels of volatility in the operating environment. The position is based out of Islamabad, which currently faces tension but lower levels of insecurity. Portions of the city and its environs remain restricted in terms of access for international staff.

This is an unaccompanied post. Candidates can expect to live in shared housing, which is generally of high standard, according to the IRC Pakistan housing policy.