Internal/ External Job Announcement
About CRS: “Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.”
In Ethiopia, CRS has a long and rich history of providing emergency relief and development assistance to the people of Ethiopia since 1958. At present, CRS/Ethiopia implements multiple projects through different partner organizations. CRS/Ethiopia has a highly diverse portfolio ranging from very large food-supported emergency response to cutting edge development programs. The current CRS/Ethiopia budget stands at $100 million with funding from the U.S. Government, UN agencies, private foundations, individual donors, and CRS private funds.
CRS strictly adheres to its Policy on Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults among its staff, consultants, volunteers, and affiliates. CRS is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer: women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
As part of CRS family, you will join the more than 5000 strong and vibrant individuals working globally to accomplish the mission of CRS. CRS/Ethiopia invites you, the qualified candidate, to apply for the following positions;
Position Title: ELRP Institutional Capacity Strengthening Officer
Duty Station: Shashemene (1) & Dire Dawa (1)
Employment term: Indefinite period contingent upon funding of the ELRP Program
Reports To: ELRP PSNP Systems Manager
Application Deadline: December 30, 2016
Purpose of the Position:
CRS will hire two Institutional Capacity Strengthening Officers, to be based in Dire Dawa and to work closely with implementing partners Hararghe Catholic Secreteriat (HCS). The incumbent will lead capacity building efforts for both the local implementing partners and relevant woreda and kebele government institutions. The incumbent will play a key role in facilitating the phased expansion of ELRP into additional woredas in program year 3, in accordance with capacity strengthening measures. Along with the ELRP PSNP Systems Manager, the incumbent will work closely with PSNP to facilitate sustainable graduation of participating households, limiting forced or early graduation. Towards this end the incumbent will lead efforts to prepare PSNP clients to diversify their livelihoods through market-driven value chains, facilitating linkages that will enable households to graduate from the program.
The incumbent will collaborate closely with Woreda and Kebele level Food Security Task Forces (K/WFSTF) to support their efforts and provide a platform to share learning across Oromia and the nation. The incumbent must have a strong understanding of the underlying causes of food insecurity in Ethiopia. The incumbent must be well-versed in the PSNP methodology, in particular the holistic approach of PSNP IV (including economic livelihoods and nutrition), aimed at increasing resilience of its beneficiaries.
Key /Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
To ensure the program’s strategic objectives and results are fully accomplished on time and meet expected technical quality standards, the Institutional Capacity Strengthening Officer must:
Leadership and Representation:
Program Quality and Management:
Along with Implementing Partners, engage WFSTFs in multi-year strategic planning, engaging a range of constituents so that community needs are equitably represented and planned;
Build capacity for partners, government institutions and communities through each ELRP phase:
Phase 1: Identify food security and nutrition objectives at the community level, that are tied to capacity, resources and motivation
Phase 2: provide a comprehensive package of resources (job aids), training (SBCC, knowledge and skills) and formative mentoring (supportive supervision) to initiate and conduct project activities for key woreda and kebele level actors
Phase 3: Facilitate independent operation of program activities and gradual withdrawal – based on increased organizational and management capacity
With ELRP Economic Livelihoods Manager, participate in training and capacity building efforts for development agents on crop and livestock production and management techniques;
Along with Health and Nutrition Manager, engage with Woreda Health Office (WoHO) to identify training gaps and use improved tools and job aids to provide health workers with counseling and negotiation skills;
Along with PSNP Systems Manager, participate in training for K/WFSTF and development agents in building technical and functional skills related to resilience, nutrition and livelihoods, as well as an introduction to community-managed disaster risk reduction (CM-DRR);
Build capacity of Implementing partners to train communities on governance of resources, including orientation to basic GoE guidelines regarding watershed, road and other infrastructure maintenance;
Along with M&E team, administer surveys to targeted communities to determine skills and governance capacity of community structures, and clients’ basic knowledge, participation and appreciation of activities;
Engage neighboring woreda structures in capacity development efforts as well to improve system sustainability;
Ensure the quality and appropriateness of activities to achieve the target indicators in a cost-effective, timely, and sustainable manner; and
Perform any other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party.
Supervision:
An advanced degree in a relevant field including public health, food security, organizational management, or international development. An advanced degree can be substituted with an additional 3 years of relevant experience.
Minimum 5 years (8 years preferred) demonstrated experience with USG or other similar development projects focused on capacity building (preferably with experience related to engaging local NGO and government partners, preferably Ethiopian with understanding of the Ethiopian context
Demonstrated ability to work and coordinate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including national and local government, donors, community-based organizations, and the private sector
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Amharic and other local languages;
Experience with USAID project implementation and familiarity with rules and regulations;
Strong Microsoft Word and Excel skills.
3.3 Emergency Competencies:
Communicates strategically under pressure
Manages stress and complexity
Actively promotes safety and security
Manages and implements high-quality emergency programs
3.4.Agency-wide Competencies
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.