Food Security and Livelihood Coordinator

Solidarités International is a French humanitarian organization which provides aid and assistance to victims of war or natural disaster. For over 30 years the association has focused on meeting three vital needs - water, food and shelter - by carrying out emergency programmes followed by longer-term reconstruction projects.

Whilst fully respecting the assisted populations’ customs and culture, Solidarités International’s programmes are implemented through the joint expertise of around 180 expatriates and 1500 local managerial staff and employees.

Solidarités International is currently present in Africa (Central African Republic, Southern Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Liberia, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe), in Asia (Afghanistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar) and in Haiti.

Context of Intervention

The Kenya/Somalia mission was started in March 2007.

Kenya

In Kenya, Solidarites is implementing a WASH and Food Security/LVH program in Marsabit District (pastoral north of Kenya) and a Food Security program in the Nairobi slums.

The Kenya program strategy is DRR-orientated, while maintaining a significant emergency response component.

Current donors/funding partners for the Kenya program include EC, DFID, AFD and French Cooperation and UN-ERF.

Somalia

Solidarites International has been implementing projects in Sothern Somalia since 2007. Solidarités' program in Somalia focuses on resilience and emergency response in the sectors of WASH and Food Security/Livelihoods.

The resilience program includes rehabilitation and construction of water points, agricultural training and inputs (drought resistant seeds etc), rehabilitation of infrastructure, training/inputs for livestock health, food/cash for work and various livelihoods interventions.

Current donors/funding partners for the Kenya program include ECHO, DFID, AFD and French Cooperation, UNHCR and UN-CHF.

Outline of Position

The Food Security Coordinator will be based in Nairobi with travel to field sites in Kenya (approx. 80% of time in Nairobi).

The FSL Coordinator, as technical advisor on the mission, contributes to the development of Solidarités International’s strategy by developing and proposing sector-based strategies in the field of food security and livelihoods.

He/she specifically guarantees the quality and suitability of proposed technical approaches and ensures the appropriateness of FSL activities and general SI objectives to the needs of the local populations.

He/she contributes to the process of capitalization and the improvement of Solidarités International’s FSL methods and techniques.

Current Food Security and Livelihoods programming includes:

* Slum program: urban agriculture (sack gardening and greenhouse production); and nutrition awareness
* Marsabit program: agriculture inputs (training and seeds/tools); livestock health; fodder production; land reclamation; nutrition awareness; food-for-work; cash for work; study and development of activities that impact on resilience of communities to drought (DRR).
* Somalia program (3 sites): agriculture inputs (training and seeds/tools); livestock health; fodder production; land reclamation; nutrition awareness; food-for-work; cash for work.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Strategic orientation:

* Propose and develop a sector-based strategy in accordance with SI’s policies and priorities
* Oversee and lead the process of programme development through drafting concepts and proposals
* Propose and organize diagnostic missions
* Support the Head of Mission in the monitoring and analysis of SI’s intervention sectors and the analysis of the donors’ strategies
* Be the driving force for putting new activities into place

Relevance and quality of projects:

* Validate the relevance of any assessments carried out
* Propose and organize evaluation missions
* Support the programme supervisor/s in setting up a technical approach and assessing the financial, human, and logistical elements of programmes
* Ensure that all programmes respect Solidarités International annual operational strategy, technical requirements, and the criteria stipulated by financial backers
* Ensure the relevance and consistency of all programmes vis-à-vis the needs of the populations
* Develop team capacities with techniques and new methodologies

Coordination, technical support and operational monitoring:

* Ensure that resources from the SI Tool Box are used correctly for project cycle management
* Approve quality criteria and performance indicators; ensure that monitoring indicators are in place and relevant
* Take part in a monthly programme review (budgetary, operational, logistical)
* Provide support and advice to logistics for programme material purchasing
* Provide technical and methodological support to programme managers
* Propose reorientation of activities and indicators according to changing contexts
* Organize the sharing of experiences among the different field teams through workshops, regular communications etc.
* Organize capacity-building activities for the various Food Security and Livelihood teams
* Support field Food Security and Livelihood teams in preparing Bill of Quantities for all Food Security and Livelihood activities involving materials

Capitalization:

* Ensure that SI’s capitalization tools are correctly used and disseminated to relevant HQ departments
* Participate in the centralization and dissemination of procedures, guides and tools linked to activities
* Form a network of experts; develop technical partnerships with other actors in the intervention zone
* Capitalize on intervention methods, and on the experiences acquired by SI and other actors in the field
* Ensure that handover reports are written by all programme managers before the end of their contract

Personnel management:

* In conjunction with HQ HR, define the prerequisites for technical position openings and adapt existing criteria
* Welcome and brief expatriates working on the programmes
* Identify training requirements and implement technical training in line with operational needs
* Lead workshops, coordination meetings and/or technical exchange programmes
* Evaluate and assess the performance of collaborators under his/her direct supervision
* Ensure adherence to security regulations

Reporting / communication / representation:

* Support the Head of Mission in fundraising and the negotiation and examination of project proposals
* Convey information to the relevant authorities on security matters having a possible consequence on SI activities and the security of the teams
* Consolidate activity reports, supervise the preparation of, review and validate reports and/or amendments
* In conjunction with the HoM, establish and maintain good relations with local/government authorities, donors’ representatives, FSL Cluster and cluster partners, UN agencies and other international/national agencies
* Ensure that SI is represented at all meetings or forums concerning its programmes

Candidate Profile

Education: Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred) in Food Security, livelihoods or another relevant technical discipline.

Experience:

* At least 2 years of field experience with NGOs in senior Food security or livelihoods technical position (Field Coordinator or Programs Coordinator).
* At least 5 years of experience working with NGO’s.
* Broad experience of livelihoods systems and food security required, with experience of at least 2 international working contexts.
* Proven experience in project cycle.
* Experience of semi-arid and pastoralists context is a strong advantage
* Experience on DRR is a strong advantage

Technical skills and knowledge:

* Food security and livelihoods in developing countries
* Agriculture technical knowledge is a strong advantage
* Veterinary services technical knowledge is a strong advantage
* DRR technical knowledge is a great advantage

Transferable skills: Very comfortable with standard office software and internet research.

Languages:

* English: Fluent with excellent writing capacities
* French: Working knowledge would be advantageous

Other desirable qualities:

* Calm, diplomatic
* Ability to motivate others to adopt new ideas and bring about change
* Natural ability to connect with other stakeholders and team members
* Strong capacity to work with initiative and without close supervision
* Multitasking
* Ability to deal with heavy workload and constantly reassess priorities
* Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team
* Ability to meet strict deadlines

Conditions Salaried post: from 1700 euros gross per month, according to experience, plus 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly, and a monthly Per Diem of 600 USD.

NB. In-country benefit package included. Solidarités International will cover accommodation and travel expenses from the expatriate’s home country to the site of the assignment.

Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a break during the 3rd and the 9th month (with 500 euros allocated by Solidarités). He or she will also be entitled to go back to his or her home country for a 15-day period after six months spent on the mission (Solidarités will cover travel costs).

Duration: 12 months, beginning as soon as possible.

How to Apply Kindly send your cover letter, CV and contact details for 3 referees by closing date, 25th October 2011 through our website www.solidarites.org

Please clearly indicate the position you are applying for in the title of your email.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Solidarites international is an equal opportunity employer