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Background
CARE International in Zimbabwe is one of the leading INGO’s implementing programmes targeted at communities who suffer from food insecurity, lack opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and are at risk for drought and other environmental and health hazards including cholera.
Zimbabwe has faced numerous sustained humanitarian crises over the past decade, mainly exhibited by large scale food insecurity. Despite marked improvements in the food security situation in Zimbabwe following the height of the hyperinflationary crisis in 2008, there remain pockets of severe and chronic food insecurity. These are primarily found in the drier, drought-prone, natural regions IV and V that suffer from mid-season dry spells and the effects of a changing climate. CARE’s programming is designed to address immediate food needs with a view to supporting long-term approaches that ensure access, availability and utilization of nutritious foods in sustainable ways. CARE’s programming centers around the creation of sustainable productive assets that support agriculture and livestock production, links to markets and income sources for food and other household needs, and equity in access and availability of food for women and other vulnerable populations.
Most of the rural population in the ten districts where CARE has programming focused on food security live on less than $1 a day. Their asset-bases and savings were depleted during the economic crisis of the last decade and they remain exceedingly vulnerable. The 2011 ZimVAC still estimates that 1 million Zimbabwean’s will need food assistance for the 2011/12 hungry season.
Similarly, Zimbabwe faced a devastating cholera outbreak that infected more than 98,000 Zimbabwean’s at its height in 2008/09. While significant efforts have been taken to address declining WASH infrastructure and to improve hygiene behaviour at the household level, risk of future outbreaks remains in the absence of long-term solutions to these infrastructure and capacity issues.
It is in this context, that CARE is looking for a highly experienced Food Security & Relief Coordinator to lead a variety of programmes including those funded under USAID’s Food for Peace (FFP), World Food Programme (WFP), USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and other as directed by the Assistant Country Director - Programmes.
Position summary
The Food Security and Relief Coordinator directly leads the teams responsible for the final stages of the implementation of the FFP PRIZE program, an OFDA disaster risk reduction project and WFP programs along with other humanitarian response teams as necessary. The position is responsible for the entire spectrum of activities from development, implementation, compliance, budgeting and reporting on humanitarian and food security activities in strict accordance with USAID FFP regulations, WFP & other donor regulations and procedures and CARE Food Security Policies and Strategies.
The Coordinator is the key person responsible for liaising with in-country USAID – FFP, WFP, and other donors and stakeholders, including the government. S/he will also collaborate closely with lead consortium management unit and logistics department and CARE’s logistics co-ordinator. S/he will be responsible for oversight, management, planning, compliance and reporting for all food and non-food items within his/her program portfolio, in concert with the logistic co-ordinator and in keeping with all country office and donor policies/regulations.
S/he will coordinate and cooperate with all other Sector Coordinators and CARE administrative and financial departments at the sub-offices and country office to ensure established CARE procedures and polices are followed and to maximize support for project activities.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities and tasks
The Food Security & Relief Coordinator will be directly responsible for supervision of the Project Managers in this sector, and work in close coordination with the Logistics Coordinator, ACD Programme and ACD Finance and Administration to ensure full compliance with donor rules and regulations and the achievement of program objectives and goals, including:
• conducting regular field visits and coordinating with donors/suppliers to ensure effective implementation of activities
• monitoring performance of project managers & ensuring high quality programming in keeping with contractual commitments and CARE programming standards
• leading on the design of food security initiatives for the country office
• building capacity of team in overall design and quality of food security and relief interventions
• encouraging, training and disciplining all/any staff in effective management of the project cycle at all stages
• coordinating activities to ensure effective use of time and resources,
• supervising the implementation of contracts and project activities to meet timelines and budget limits,
• attending coordination meetings, providing regular reports
• providing guidance and technical information on donor rules and regulations
• monitoring project deliverables and the changing humanitarian context in country to ensure effective, quality project deliverables and early response/advocacy to any changes in context that put lives or livelihoods at risk
• with ACD-P liaising with the relevant CARE International emergency response and coordination structures as relevant/needed
Authority
Reporting directly to the Assistant Country Director, Programmes and working with Sector Coordinators, and the Logistics Coordinator, the Food Security & Relief Coordinator will be responsible for supervision of up to 150 national staff and resources.
The Relief Coordinator will request appropriate approval and provide advice to ACD, and CD, Regional Offices, CARE Canada, CARE USA, and/or the donor concerning changes to program objectives/activities/deadlines, staff discipline, unplanned or out-of-budget expenditures, agreements with local officials, safety and security incidents.
Internal/External Relations
The Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining a professional image for CARE, and continuing good relations with local government authorities. S/he must maintain effective working relations and realize agreements with consortium partners, government officials, community-based groups, contractors, and national and international NGOs. The Food Security & Relief Coordinator must facilitate timely reporting and maintain professional, supportive relations with donor representatives and CARE personnel.