Regional Food Security and Resilient Livelihoods Officer - MENA

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”  The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The MENA regional office based in Beirut; Lebanon supports 17 national societies in the region. The MENA Disasters, Climate and Crises (prevention, response and recovery) unit within the MENA regional office and works with one regional plan as well as provides the technical support & quality assurance to country cluster support teams and country offices.

The MENA DCC unit has articulated its alignment with the IFRC global 5 Strategies for Implementation and the relevant Areas of Focus.

In the context of COVID-19 and other crises, food security and livelihoods support to vulnerable populations is essential ensuring that many are able to meet their basic needs and protect key livelihoods assets. In the MENA region, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been working on adapting existing FSL programmes to the COVID-19 and other humanitarian contexts and seeking ways to support additional vulnerable populations and communities. To this end, IFRC MENA aims to support NSs in FSL programming by identifying priorities and support needs in the rapidly changing context.

Job Purpose

Livelihoods approaches were traditionally considered in longer-term development programming. However, since 2007, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) recognized that early food security and livelihoods programming has increasingly been seen as a key intervention for addressing humanitarian needs and to support the recovery process of individuals, households and communities. The first strategic objective of the Strategy 2020 aimed at protecting livelihoods[1]. The Strategy 2030 refers directly to livelihoods as a key area under Goal 2, while and also includes livelihoods and food needs as challenges we will face in the next decade, and even if not directly mentioned, food security and livelihoods are completely linked with all the goals and challenges identified. 

In the Disaster Risk Management Policy, the fourth commitment under its approach is “Save lives and livelihoods by responding to disasters in an effective, coherent and timely manner with consideration for long-term effects of humanitarian response” with a clear people centred approach and focusing on a locally led response, utilizing the capacity of the National Society in the affected country and leveraging the collective capacity of the IFRC and Movement network.

The aim of this position is to provide MENA national societies with technical support in assessing, analysing and identifying food security and livelihoods capacity development, programming and strategic priorities and in close coordination with other Movement actors who have programme and/or expertise in this area.

Supporting NSs with existing or planned food security and livelihoods programmes which require focused technical guidance on adapting and expanding programmes in response to COVID-19 and other emergencies and crisis and to contribute to a strong and sustained recovery. Keeping in mind current travel restrictions and access challenges; there is an additional need to identify ways to support effective assessment and providing remote support and capacity development to NS in the region and provide recommendations to the MENA RO on the strategic direction on the FSL programming based on the identified NS needs.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Policy and Planning:

• Lead the development and implementation of regional work plans for Food security and resilient livelihoods programming and provide technical support and guidance for planning of food security and livelihoods operations and programs with National Societies and IFRC offices in MENA in coordinated manner in line with their own strategies, IFRC Strategy 2030, IFRC’s policies and plans.
• Provide strategic and policy guidance to National Societies and the Secretariat staff on how RCRC can contribute through resilient livelihoods and food security programming to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework for DRR and Paris Agreement and New Urban Agenda.
• Promote coherence and alignment of livelihoods initiatives, including research initiatives, livelihoods operations and programs in urban and rural areas supported by various external actors, partners as well as National Societies and IFRC offices.
• Lead the analysis of livelihoods trends and innovations, mapping of relevant initiatives and networks, including conducting the household covid-19 impact survey together with the MENA NSs

Coordination and Technical Support:

• Coordinate and provide technical leadership for Food security and livelihoods programmes across the MENA Region and maintain the overview of the livelihoods area of focus for the regional Operational Plan.
• In close collaboration and coordination with the relevant IFRC thematic leads (cash and voucher coordinator, DRM, climate, migration, among others), technical units and offices, provide timely technical livelihoods support (technical reviews and guidance) for new and ongoing initiatives and emergency operations, including through monitoring and follow-up, as well as explore synergies and establish collaboration across themes and technical sectors for the implementation of resilient livelihoods programming.
• Support NS to identify gaps and design interventions that enable to protect livelihoods before, during and after emergencies and foster economic recovery in the aftermath of disasters
• Support the development and update of monitoring tools to track indicators and measure impact
• Support or participate in evaluation exercises of emergencies interventions or programmes to make recommendations to improve delivery of livelihoods interventions.
• Support effective coordination, collaboration, and networking within and beyond the IFRC with regard to all issues related to food security and resilient livelihoods contributing towards community resilience.
• Support appropriate systems for ensuring that all food security and livelihoods programmes take measures to address the specific needs of the most vulnerable including IDPs and host communities, migrants, disabled, single parent households, women, the elderly, and orphans and vulnerable children.

Support learning, knowledge management and exchange in MENA region:

• Act as a regional Focal Point for the IFRC Livelihood Resource Centre and ensure technical support to national societies for enhancing livelihoods capacities. This support will be centered around guiding livelihoods assessments and analysis, country level planning, training and capacity development, and external coordination.
• Identify training needs, support the organization and facilitation of training sessions for technical teams (needs assessments, rural/urban livelihoods, skills needed for livelihoods diversification, value-chain and markets analysis, development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) among others).
• Document the livelihoods preparedness process in line with the Preparedness for Effective Response process, and identify and document case studies, innovative approaches and lessons learnt to profile the work of the NS, highlighting good practice and lessons learnt. Share and disseminate relevant latest livelihoods related information, documentation and training opportunities that exist within and outside the RCRC Movement.
• Promote and expose NS to innovative methodologies and approaches in food security and resilient livelihoods.
• Support the NS with its own communications and advocacy capacity in food security and livelihoods to represent in relevant external coordination groups as necessary
• Maintain up to date information of livelihoods interventions (emergency operations and long-term programmes) and livelihoods focal points/experts to ensure access to clear figures regarding budgets, type of activities, and number of people reached.
• Support knowledge management and sharing on livelihoods interventions, including through the organization of trainings, meetings, webinars at regional level.
• Facilitate exchanges between different stakeholders and sharing of knowledge and expertise amongst RCRC and partner networks in MENA and across regions.
• Contribute to the establishment of a beneficiary accountability framework for the NSs in the region together with the CEA senior officer

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

• Establish collaboration and/or support strategies to seek further collaboration with partners and other stakeholders, including with MENA based regional, national and local organizations, on identifying joint strategies, approaches and challenges, and facilitate support for enhanced approaches, tool and methodologies at field level.
• Contribute to building stronger partnerships, coordinate activities, support better positioning of IFRC, identify areas of collaboration with external key stakeholders, UN Agencies, International NGOs, Private and Academic Sector in the region.
• Support fundraising efforts by identifying areas of potential interest with relevant donors in close coordination with the Resource Mobilization team in the region.
• Support NS, CCST/CO, RO in the development, review and submission of quality proposals in response to identified opportunities.

Management and reporting

• Manage both technical consultancies and support staff, to complete specific livelihoods related tasks, if assigned.
• Prepare, quarterly/biannual and annual plans and reports, and provide inputs to weekly DCC reports.
• Undertake any other task as required by the line manager.

Education

Graduate of Agricultural Sciences, Economy or Socio-Economy or equivalent experience and knowledge - Required

Experience

• Considerable experience (3-5 years) in implementing and/or supporting Food Security and Livelihoods programs in emergency and recovery contexts - Required 
• Experience in implementing and/or supporting Food Security and Livelihoods programs in emergency and recovery contexts in Middle East and North Africa Region - Preferred
• Strong analytical skills, including experience of providing remote support to food security and livelihoods assessments and analysis in an emergency and recovery contexts - Required 
• Proven practical experience of designing food security and livelihoods programmes in an emergency, recovery and conflict contexts - Required 
• Skills in organisational capacity analysis and assessment to support capacity development -Preferred
• Proven capacity building experience with NS or equivalent, delivering trainings and providing on the job training and coaching - Required 
• Experience coordinating and advocating to external stakeholders including government, NGOs, UN and Donor organisations - Required 
• Capable to work under stress and non-optimal working conditions, including remotely - Required 
• Previous experience with the Movement -Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Language

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of FSL concepts (Sustainable and Resilient Livelihoods Framework, HES/HEA approach, Market Assessments etc…) - Required 
• Good understanding of relief, development, and resilience issues, also under active conflict conditions and good practice in emergency and recovery food security and livelihoods - Preferred
• Good oral and report writing skills - Required 
• Fluently spoken and written English - Required 
• Good command of another IFRC official language (Arabic) - Required 
  

Competencies and Values

• VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
• FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Building Alliances; Empowering Others
• CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Pro-activity; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust