Project Officer – Livelihoods Job Vacancy: Care International Somalia / South Sudan

Care International Somalia / South Sudan

Project Officer – Livelihoods – Job Ref: SUD/EX00186

CARE Somalia/South Sudan is an International NGO working in Somalia and South Sudan. CARE and its partners work with vulnerable communities to address the underlying causes of poverty and promote peace and development, through its strategic goal to reduce poverty by empowering women, enhancing access to resources and services, and improving governance.

CARE is looking for a suitable candidate to fill the position of Project Officer – Livelihoods for its Upper Nile program to oversee the successful and effective implementation of the livelihood component of the CARE South Sudan’s CIDA initiative.

The CIDA initiative entitled ‘Promoting Reintegration of IDPs, Returnees and Host Communities in Upper Nile aims at addressing the underlying causes of poverty, social injustice and marginalization for conflict-affected HH.

The project will support the target communities through establishing inclusive mechanisms to re-start and strengthen sustainable livelihoods and access to potable water while enhancing institutional capacities of local communities’ and local administration to deliver basic services.

The PRIRHC program will also aim to empower and rehabilitate conflict affected and marginalized households in collaboration with civil society and local governments and enhance their accessibility to basic services increasing capabilities to mitigate conflicts and their greater involvement in planning local development initiatives.

The core initiatives of the program will include promotion of village savings and loans groups, promotion of environmentally sustainable agricultural production; access to water and strengthening capacity civil society and key community groups such as water user associations and development committees.

Working under the supervision of the Assistant Program Manager - CIDA, the PO - Livelihoods will be responsible for carrying out the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation livelihood activities of the PRIRHC initiative in accordance with CARE programming principles/standards and donors’ contractual obligations. The position will ensure active participation of civil society organizations in the project activities.

The Assistant Program Manager will maintain a proactive and vibrant linkage with the Upper Nile State Ministries of agriculture and other departments of relevance to these the livelihood component

Key Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Planning and organizing abilities;
• Strong leadership and teamwork abilities;
• Stress tolerance, adaptable with ability to pro-actively solve problems;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Integrity, commitment to service and respect for diversity;

Required skills and qualifications

• University degree in Agriculture, Economics or Social Sciences with specific training in Farmer Field Schools Approach, VSLA, or other relevant livelihoods area
• Experience in group organization and capacity building of saving groups
• At least 3 years working with an International Organization in the livelihoods, agriculture, or environment sectors with specific experience on technical oversight of actions in VSLA/Micro Finance, FFS, Environment and WASH primarily through local implementing partners.
• Solid experience of participatory approaches and coordination with governments/local authorities
• Experience in report writing, budget management and tracking of project resources.
• Good leadership qualities and ability to interact effectively with team members, counterparts and organizations.
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Excellent inter-personal and people management skills.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines yet effectively coordinate program activities with other CARE projects and other similar interventions being implemented in the same operational area.
• Advanced computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Desired skills and qualifications

• Knowledge of the Arabic language, written and spoken.

This is an unaccompanied position based out of Malakal/Pagak in Upper Nile State of Southern Sudan with frequent travel throughout the program areas.

Closing date for receiving application will be 11th November, 2009. The short-listed candidates will be contacted by 30th November, 2009.

Applications and CVs should be sent to:

The Human Resources Officer
CARE Somalia /South Sudan
P O Box 2039 KNH 00202
Nairobi, Kenya

Email: hr @ ci.or.ke

Applicants sending their applications through email should clearly mark on the subject “Project Officer, JOB REF: SUD/EX00186”

CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer, promoting gender, equity and diversity and women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.