PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps is an International Humanitarian organization operating Water and Sanitation, Economic Development, Livelihoods, Capacity Building, Emergency Response, Health and Nutrition, and similar sectors in the regions of SNNPR, Somali, Oromia, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Mercy Corps works with communities, public and private sectors to implement appropriate relief, recovery and development interventions. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.
Position Title: Natural Resource Management and Climate Change Adaptation Officer
Location : Yabello (Oromia) and Babile (Somalia)
Number of Positions: Two
GENERAL POSITION SUNMMARY:
Under the direction of NRM/CCA Technical Team Leader, the officer filling this position will be responsible for working with program teams, communities, and local government agencies in the sound implementation of natural resource management, rangeland restoration and rehabilitation, climate change adaptation and alternative livelihood activities. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring quality technical implementation and coordination around the NRM, DRM, Early Warning and Livelihood Adaptation related activities as per established work plans, guidelines and direction from the technical leadership team.
The NRE/Watershed senior technical specialist will design plans and provide guidance on the most appropriate techniques for rehabilitation and restoration of natural resource areas, as identified through appropriate participatory assessment processes and community agreements. The NRE/Watershed senior technical specialist will consider multi-community access, use and management patterns in identification and guiding implementation of appropriate NRE techniques. The NRM/CCA officer will work in close collaboration with the EMD team and Nutrition teams, and ensure that all activities are implemented in a manner sensitive to the context, and according to principles and guidelines set forth by the program team in partnership with local partners and communities. The NRM/CCA officer will further work closely with the area manager and PRIME coordinator to ensure that all NRM/CCA activities are implemented in according with agreements and bylaws developed by local communities, and as per signed MoUs. As the position is a field-level implementation, the incumbent will be expected to spend up to 90% of her/his time in the field, directly supporting technical implementation and providing capacity-building support.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Technical Implementation
§ Conduct participatory land and resource surveys in proposed project areas, including all sites proposed by local communities for rehabilitation
§ Survey and/or document indigenous land management and restoration mechanisms
§ Propose appropriate natural resource enhancement activities and plans based on technical surveys and community assessments, considering indigenous knowledge, social criteria and multi-community needs
§ Develop concept notes for proposed activities with oversight of technical team leader, and field-level technical advisor, and implement as per agreed upon timeframes.
§ Work with the NRM/CCA TTL to apply participatory natural resource management for natural resource enhancement activities, and support program team in conducting community mobilization accordingly.
§ Work closely and coordinate with local community and government institutional structures, and particularly Rangeland Councils, Early Warning Committees, Social Analysis and Action groups in the identification and oversight of all NRM/CCA activities.
§ Support the development of rangeland management plans and community projects with communities and government partners to promote solution to multi-community interests
§ Ensure all NRM/CCA plans and processes are linked into and come out of participatory processes around natural resource access, use and management, access to climate information and improved alternative livelihood options as led by the technical team leader.
§ Provide technical support and oversee sound, quality implementation of community-based NRM/CCA activities as per community plans and agreements, including soil and water conservation, rangeland rehabilitation, water harvesting and conservation where appropriate, timely development and communication of early warning information and advisories.
§ Ensure all plans and processes engage all key sectors of communities, with special attention to women, youth and traditional leadership.
Partnership
§ Liaise, coordinate and work closely key government partners and community institutions on the implementation of all plans and activities.
§ Maintain and strengthen partnerships and active collaboration with district administrations, community leaders and project beneficiaries;
§ Ensure project activities are responsive to the needs of government and community partners;
Capacity-building
§ Provide training and on-site technical guidance to implementation rangeland rehabilitation and conservation measures and other rangeland restoration activities, including for DAs, rangeland councils, SAA groups, EW committees, community members, government partners and other program staff as applicable.
§ Organize and provide technical programmatic inputs and training to field team, government partners and community partners on natural resource planning and implementation techniques.
§ Organize and facilitate trainings, consultative workshops and field based institutional capacity building activities around multi-community activities that result from community-based agreements.
§ Identify and recommend areas for specific training and capacity-building, both for staff and target communities.
Coordination and Harmonization
§ Work in close collaboration with the NRM/CCA advisors, EMD and Nutrition teams, and consortium partners, to ensure that all identified and implemented activities are a result of local multi-community participatory processes, and are linked to joint community agreements.
§ Ensure all NRM/CCA activities follow a harmonized community mobilization approach across all sector areas.
§ Support linking and harmonization of NRM/CCA targets with other program activities related to EMD, Nutrition and livelihoods
§ Ensure the mainstreaming of multi-community approach to NRM/CCA-related activities, providing training to stakeholders in these areas where appropriate.
§ Coordinate regularly with the Water, Livelihoods, EMD and Health and Nutrition team to ensure activities and strategies are implemented in a coherent and coordinated way with other program activities in the cluster.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
§ Regularly monitor and assess program progress, documenting activities, outputs and outcomes, identifying successes, challenges and lessons-learned to adjust practices to improve performance as necessary;
§ Actively participate and report on progress of field activities, including successes, challenges and lessons-learned, providing feedback into methodologies, approaches, and workplans.
§ Play an active role in identifying sources and data for the development of new initiatives that foster relations and support environmental rehabilitation;
§ Maintain accurate and detailed records of the natural resource management and climate change adaptation implementation processes, ensuring that data is fed back to the project team;
§ Ensure that appropriate paperwork for all activities is completed according to the programs policies and procedures;
§ Complete activity and field reporting formats on all activities as per reporting schedules and formats
§ Write sub-activity reports other project reports and project documents as required;
§ Assist in the collection of up-to-date information on the effects of the drought on natural resource base in the areas
Representation
§ Promote and adhere to the principles and objectives of Mercy Corps and its programs;
§ Ensure that all relevant government officials and community leaders understand Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures and project implementation guidelines;
§ Represent Mercy Corps professionally during and after work hours
§ Perform other activities as requested
§ Ensure a safe working environment for all people involved in project implementation;
Knowledge & Experience:
§ Bachelor in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk management, or related field or extensive practical field experience in management and implementation of Natural resource and climate risk management activities;
§ At least 4 years of experience in NRM/CCA community-based development, soil and water management practices, preferably with an international NGO;
§ Knowledge of participatory assessment, awareness-raising and planning tools for rangeland and Early warning information development and communication
§ Experience in practical field-based activity implementation
§ Willingness and ability to perform field work and spend extensive time in remote areas
§ Ability to engage with communities and various traditional institutions, women’s and youth groups
§ Ability to effectively with diverse ethnic groups within the target area;
§ Experience in Do No Harm approach
§ Ability to write clear and concise reports in English. Strong written and spoken English skills a definite advantage.
§ Knowledge of local languages (Somali language for Babile and Afan Oromo for Yabello areas)
Success Factors
· Good organizational skills,
· Ability to analyze complex situations and to make recommendations for improvement of and contribute to overall program strategy.
· Experience in conducting training and workshops.
· Experience with monitoring and evaluation.
· Willingness and ability to perform fieldwork and travel to the most remote areas
· Hard-working, honest, dedicated, ability to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels – with colleagues, government and military officials, community leaders and community members.