Economic Strengthening Specialist

Job Description

ANPPCAN-Ethiopia is a nonprofit child protection organization re-registered in the Agency of Civil Societies organizations with registration number 0385. It is dedicated to improving lives of highly vulnerable children and their family in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. ANPPCAN-Ethiopia works in different regions of Ethiopia and we are currently seeking qualified candidates to fill the position Economic Strengthening Specialist based at Addis Ababa:

Position Summary:

We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Economic Strengthening Specialist for an anticipated USAID-funded Support of HIV Epidemic Control through Delivery of High Impact services to Orphan and Vulnerable Children. The project will work to improve health and well-being outcomes for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) through utilizing services to improving HIV/AIDS care, health, nutrition, economic security, education, protection, and psychosocial well-being. The Economic Strengthening Specialist will contribute to USAID and Government of Ethiopia efforts to sustainably reduce poverty by strengthening approaches to prevent and mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on economically vulnerable households. This position reports to the Program Manager and supports the management of the project including assessment of progress and performance. The position requires comprehensive understanding of and significant experience in the areas of household economic strengthening and livelihoods with skills in capacity building and technical assistance provision. The ESS will provide technical leadership to project staff and sub-grantees with the objective to build technical capacity with a particular focus on creating economic resilience and food secure households within vulnerable populations, particularly focusing on those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and OVC. The position will assist other partners to develop and implement high quality Economic Strengthening (ES) programs; provide on-going technical training and mentoring; and promote interactive learning and monitoring to deliver meaningful outcomes related to economic vulnerability, food security, and child wellbeing.  

Key Responsibilities and Contributions:

• Assist the project office with supervision and management of all program activities while working together to identify issues and risks related to project implementation in a timely manner, and provide technical suggestions.
• Technically supervise ES program activities including in the design, development and implementation of technical guidance as it relates to ES.
• Exercising a supportive supervision approach, train and mentor implementing partner and institutional stakeholder and technical staff responsible for child wellbeing including social protection, and livelihoods; savings and financial access; agriculture and food security; economic and market development.
• Build awareness of key Household Economic Strengthening (HES) concepts and principles among partner organizations and institutions; contribute to policy and guideline development within collaborative working groups.
• Develop and instruct project team in effective methodologies for identifying appropriate HES interventions for specific households, depending on the needs and resources of those households; train/mentor these partners in principles and standards for good implementation of these interventions.
• Equip project offices with skills and resources to assess outcomes, as well as strengths and weaknesses of HES activities.
• Oversee pilot or demonstration projects to test and adopt specific HES activities.
• Facilitate exchanges and a Community of Practice to foster peer-to-peer learning.
• Engage in regular monitoring visits to evaluate the success of HES activities.
• Supervise staff as assigned.
• Other tasks and duties as assigned.
• Produce and present papers at local and regional forums to share experiences and emerging best practices.
• Develop/produce contractual deliverables (quarterly, annual, field project evaluations, etc.) in conjunction with other key staff and external evaluators
• Keep abreast of global, regional and national developments in economic strengthening focusing on the field of HIV / AIDS, and protection issues.
• Contribute to maintaining a strong relationship with government and relevant stakeholders (at regional and district levels)
• Perform other tasks assigned to him/her by ANPPCAN-Ethiopia.

Report to:

• Technically to OVC Program Manager and Administratively to Gondar Project Office project coordinator

Location:

• ANPPCAN-Ethiopia Gondar Project Office, Gondar

Terms of employment: 

• One year contract with possible extension

Job Requirement

Minimum Requirements

Education/Experience: 

• BA/MA degree in economics, economic development, international development, agriculture, nutrition or related field of study; Master’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum of 4/6 years of experience in the field for MA/BA degree respectively.
• Technical expertise and significant experience specific to livelihoods development including household resilience, agriculture, entrepreneurial skills development, local economic development, systems strengthening; experience with OVC and PLHIV is a highly preferred.
• Experience in providing training to project team, government units and other stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated experience in the use of training and information dissemination to transfer concepts and skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel to program areas as required.
• Experience with quality improvement is desirable.
• Ability to liaise with government and donor partner.
• Proven track record managing a project team composed of technical experts and fostering team work
• Familiarity with USAID or other US Government administrative, management and reporting procedures and systems
• Strong interpersonal skills, initiative, demonstrated team leadership and problem-solving abilities.