Technical Specialist - Self Reliance & Livelihoods

Based in Dadaab Refugee Camp

Kenyan Nationals only

Overall Objective:

The Technical Specialist – Self-Reliance & Livelihoods main role will be to work together with the Program Development & Grants Manager to develop and grow the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC) displaced and host community population’s livelihoods portfolio, and provide technical oversight in the implementation of the Kenya country program livelihood strategies

Background:

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC has been active in Kenya since 2005. The Kenya Program provides services and support in the sectors of livelihoods, community development, and protection and for refugees residing in Kenya and the resident hosting communities. DRC has operational offices in Nairobi, Dadaab and Kakuma implementing programs directly and in partnership with local NGOs.

Job Purpose:

The job holder will be responsible for the achievement of the overall objective of increasing the self-reliance and livelihood security of refugees and Kenyan host population. Responsibilities will include: Technical leadership, policy development, advocacy, networking and project cycle management/learning. S/he is responsible for coordinating and increasing the capacity of livelihoods teams of DRC and implementing partner staff to initiate, manage, monitor and evaluate the portfolio’s programmes. While working within the Program Development Unit, the job holder will network and articulate DRC’s position, policy and strategy in national and regional forums and play a key role in concept and proposal development. This position will coordinate with other technical colleagues to develop integrated approaches to self-reliance and livelihoods programming, and develop stronger linkages in the same themes between DRC, partner staff and donors.

Responsibilities:

Programme Management, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation

Play a lead role in refining and implementing the DRC Self-Reliance & Livelihoods strategies and the related pillars in Kenya to increase the livelihood security of refugee, displaced and host population households in Kenya.

Work to develop the Self-Reliance & Livelihoods sector, review proposals and ensure that lessons learned are fed into the design of livelihood security programs, donor responses and technical fora.

Review livelihoods internal and external reports to ensure technical quality reporting, according to donors requirements and DRC standards

Work with the Program Development & Grants Manager, other DRC and partner staff in ensuring the use of livelihoods information systems to develop high quality proposals, and for programme monitoring and evaluation.

Ensure HAP Principles & AGD are mainstreamed in the self-reliance & livelihoods portfolio

Training & Capacity development

Provide technical leadership and capacity-building to ongoing livelihoods, training scholarships and food security projects with a focus on cost-effectiveness, building a solid evidence base and moving projects to scale.

Through direct technical assistance provision, build the capacity of program and partner staff to identify, design and implement quality programs in the area of livelihood security.

Coordination & Partnership

Participate in the identification of requirements for external technical support, and the development of Terms of Reference for consultancy work, and the identification of competent expertise and manage consultants as required.

Develop and sustain food security, scholarships and livelihoods related relationships with relevant Government of Kenya partners, donors, private sector partners and academic institutions.

Participate in the development of livelihoods related policy and advocacy positions and support their dissemination.

Staff Management

Provide technical support to all livelihoods, scholarships and food security staff

Provide input into relevant staff performance management processes

Budget Management

Support livelihoods team leaders/coordinators in the management of livelihoods budgets in order to maintain programme expenditure within budget parameters, ensuring adherence to DRC financial procedures and donor requirements

Support the drafting livelihoods intervention budgets

Skills & Qualifications:

Essential

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in social sciences coupled with relevant postgraduate qualifications in Savings Groups (VSL), Value-Chain Development, Disaster Risk Reduction, Agri-business, Entrepreneurship and other similar studies


• 5-6 years’ experience at mid to senior level management, managing livelihood programs/projects within humanitarian and/or development contexts


• Demonstrate mid-level experience in livelihoods strategy development and in using livelihoods frameworks


• Skills in developing and implementing microenterprise programs/projects


• Experience with program/project and thematic assessments


• Concept and proposal development experience, particularly within the UN system, US and European-based donors and funding partners


• Proven track record in staff and partner capacity-building


• Proven excellent communication skills and fluency in written and spoken English essential. Excellent report writing skills is a must.


• Ability to work as part of a team (multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary and inter-agency)


• Ability to travel and to work independently, even in hardship environments


• Willingness to take responsibility for personal security and adhere to DRC’s security guidelines

Preferable:

• Experience in a refugee setting and knowledge of refugee issues.

Conditions

Commencement: Immediately

Duty Station: Dadaab, Garissa County, Kenya. Non-family duty station.

Contract: Until 31st December, 2015, with possibility of renewal

This position falls under the DRC Kenya National Salary Scale

General

Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework.

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk