Livelihoods and community development coordinator

General Description of the Programme

GOAL’s programmes in Haiti operate in both the urban and rural context in Port au Prince and Gressier respectively. The overall goal of the programme is to provide support to families affected by the earthquake in Haiti whilst developing longer term sustainable solutions to specific issues effecting both the rural and urban population.

GOAL Haiti is now moving in to a new phase of its activities after a successful two years of operation focusing on relief operations in the wake of the January 2010 earthquake. GOAL Haiti is now looking to expand in to a long term strategy of supporting the economic and social development of communities that have been affected by the earthquake. The newly created Livelihoods and Community Development department will look to support the creation of economic opportunities in underserved areas, and this will require the hiring of an experienced Livelihoods and Development Coordinator to help build the new department and lead it through its first year of growth, create a strategic direction for its activities and identify key sectors requiring GOAL’s intervention.

General Description of the Role

As GOAL moves in to a new phase of its operations there will also be the need to explore new programme directions that can create sustainable solutions that facilitate economic and social growth in underserved communities. It is envisioned that the Coordinator will have a central role in exploring new programmes that expand the economic opportunities available to communities, increase community engagement in the activities and local actors and work with the under-served and vulnerable in creating opportunities. Options to be explored may include micro-credit and saving and loan activities, community mobilisation, vocational and work skills training, DRR training, community development issues, and other opportunities identified by the coordinator.

The Livelihoods and Community Development Department is a new direction for GOAL Haiti, which will require a manager with experience and the strategic acumen to give the programme a future direction for several years to come, as well as putting the department on a solid footing for future fundraising.

The Livelihoods and Community Development Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating the newly formed Livelihoods and Community Development department, which comprises:

- A UNH Community Planning Project
- A GOAL funded Integrated community development project, currently under design
- A women’s enterprise development project

The Livelihoods and Community Development Coordinator will line-manage each of the programme managers and will have oversight of their progress against performance indicators and budget expenditure. The Coordinator will work alongside the M&E and Programme Managers to capture lessons learned through activities to continue and build on the programme.

Key Duties

- Line-manage the Community Planning, Integrated Community Development and Women’s Enterprises Programme Managers and other project managers as new projects come on stream;
- Track progress against programme objectives, ensuring full completion by the end of the project period
- Develop and implement effective systems for the collection, management and use of information by programme, and implement a system of on-going programme development based on lessons learned;
- In coordination with the Assistant Country Director for Programmes create and launch a 3 year strategy for the Department, which will include clear objectives for focused interventions that maximise sustainable community activities that will have an impact beyond GOAL’s activities.
- Support and advise the M&E officer in developing and implementing an effective, inclusive system of monitoring and evaluating GOALs quality of work, including the engagement with, and receive feedback from, beneficiary communities on quality of programming;
- Put in place a learning culture that can build the basis for long-term project activities in the Livelihoods sector for GOAL
- Supervise staff on a daily basis reporting to the position, assisting with recruitment and performance management;
- Be responsible for the department finances, including monitoring expenditure against budgets, ensuring responsible use of project funds and ensuring funds are properly utilised in meeting the objectives of the projects
- Develop the capacity of team members, programmes staff and volunteers to apply participatory approach methodologies and community led recovery and development strategies, to increase effective programming and beneficiary ‘buy in’ to GOAL activities;
- Plan the activities of the community team and ensure effective implementation of the programme schedules;
- Advise and support the increase in coordination with Community Based Organisations in GOAL’s area of implementation to promote further community buy in and strengthen strategic partnerships;
- Liaise with the local authorities and community leaders to ensure they are involved and informed of all GOAL’s activities in the relevant area;
- Liaise with other organisations working in the area;
- Prepare reports for the ACD as required;
- Identify realistic, pragmatic and achievable livelihood opportunities for GOAL’s target beneficiaries.
- Design and implement the necessary programme framework and inputs required to facilitate GOAL’s beneficiaries availing of these opportunities.
- Carry out other activities as requested.

Person Specifications (Requirements)

Essential

- Fluent French or Creole speaker
- Third Level qualification in any Social Science or Technical Science.
- Extensive experience in the field of livelihoods, community development and implementation of social programmes. A particular emphasis on enterprise development and private sector development is essential
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in community development programmes.
- Experience of working with NGOs, or other assistance agencies.
- Demonstrated capability in devising and implementing assessments, mapping exercises, monitoring and evaluation tools.
- Demonstrated capability in the implementation and management of PRA and community consultation.
- Demonstrated capability in managing teams and capacity building.
- Demonstrated skills in information management and report writing.
- High level analytical and strategic planning skills, creative approach to problem solving.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Commitment to beneficiary accountability and humanitarian ethics.
- Demonstrative experience of creating successful & sustainable livelihood opportunities for similar beneficiary populations in the same or comparable environments.

Confidentiality

Ensuring the non disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of GOAL, acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organisation without authority, except in the normal execution of duty.

This position description is intended to be a guide and is not or cannot be construed as a full account of what an employee is expected to perform in their job now or in the future. An employee’s position may be changed, modified, or altered at any time and employees are expected to assume new assignments enthusiastically and perform to the best of their abilities.