Economic Recovery Specialist (Off Farm Programs)

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Description

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ABOUT THE JOB

The overall purpose of the role: The Economic Recovery Specialist-(Off-Farm) is a key member of the Economic Recovery department and assumes responsibility for the efficient, timely, and quality implementation of Economic Recovery interventions related to – Market System Development, Micro-Enterprise Development (MSMEs), Financial Inclusion, Business Management, Community Saving Groups, Vocational, Technical and Life-Skill Development. The overall purpose of the Economic Recovery Specialist position is to provide technical support and direct technical oversight of the assigned economic recovery portfolio focused on early recovery and sustainable livelihood interventions. The role requires technical expertise in Business Management, Financial Inclusion, microfinance development, Micro-Enterprise Development, and Market System Development, and Urban Livelihoods Development. Experience in Vocational, Technical, and Life-Skill training, and Community-Based Saving Groups interventions would be an added value. The Economic Recovery Specialist works closely with the Economic Recovery Coordinator and the field-based technical team leaders to ensure timely, coordinated, and hands-on technical support to the implementation teams. The role requires both remote management and direct support during frequent field deployments. In addition, the Economic Recovery Specialist coordinates with other technical units (Emergency, Protection, WASH, Shelter, Humanitarian Disarmament, and Peacebuilding,); Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL) unit; program support and support services departments in the Country Office to ensure timely and high-quality implementation. The Economic Recovery Specialist also provides progress updates and formal reports as per both internal and external reporting requirements. The post holder is expected to spend 50% of his/her time in the area offices providing orientation and training on interventions, tools, and approaches, conducting technical monitoring of implemented activities, and providing technical support to the field teams. 

Responsibilities:

Technical Support

• Develop or support the development of technical guidance documents (e.g. standard operating procedures, guidelines, tools) 
• Provide or facilitate the provision of induction, orientation, and capacity building to the field teams or other colleagues 
• Ensure compliance of the assigned economic recovery portfolio with national, organizational, and donor technical regulations and technical quality standards and other regulations, policies, and procedures. 
• Ensure harmonized approach, methodologies, and consistent usage of technical tools across the provinces and programs 
• Assess the appropriateness of different programming options and appropriateness of different program activities and ensure implementation modalities best respond to the needs and context. 
• Work alongside the EcRec Coordinator and technical managers to develop the sector’s strategic direction and plans including expanding economic programming based on the needs of target populations in Afghanistan 
• Conduct regular field visits to the Area Offices as well as program locations and support field teams to ensure smooth and timely implementation of the livelihood’s interventions to a high degree of program quality 
• Work closely with the Area Managers, Area Program Managers, area-level Economic Recovery Managers, and technical team leaders to address implementation challenges and identify needs for technical support 
• Ensure inclusive and gender-sensitive approach in the implementation, in line with the DRC’s Policy on Age, Gender, and Diversity Mainstreaming 
• Support field teams in conducting assessments, data collection, and analysis (using Kobo or manually) 
• Closely coordinate and engage with other Sector Coordinators and Specialists to ensure the implementation of integrated programming, including inputs on integrated program strategies and the development of tools and guidance to facilitate program integration 

Project cycle management support 

• Lead or support the technical coordinator in presenting the program, overall programmatic requirements, targets, quality standards, and processes during the grants opening meeting 
• Develop and provide support for updating project cycle management tools (PCM); provide continuous technical overview and follow-up on work plans and budget expenditure in close coordination with the Area Office teams 
• Provide technical lead on program revision alongside field teams during grant amendments; support the technical writing of the amendment request in consultation and collaboration with the technical coordinator and Area Managers.

Human Resource Management

• Build the capacity of and technically supervise members of the EcRec team with specific technical expertise in relevant areas to meet technical program needs and ensure implementation according to agreed standards (FSAC Cluster, CWG, SOPs, and humanitarian principles). 
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with staff’s direct line managers and Human Resources to document and address these by the National Staff Employment Policies 
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions. 

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Provide continuous monitoring and review of technical aspects of the implementation and ensure these are relevant to the target beneficiaries’ needs and interests, implemented in high quality and in line with contractual obligations and technical commitments made to donors, including support for the design of quality checklists used by technical and non-technical staff.
• Support with the drafting of timely and high-quality donor reports and other ad-hoc reports in collaboration with EcRec coordinator and program support unit 
• Collaborate with MEAL in analyzing trends on key economic recovery indicators to inform program design and quality.
• Work closely with the MEAL unit on developing the MEAL plan and related tools for assigned programs; review collected data in close coordination with the MEAL unit.
• Ensure that project, sub sectoral/sectoral lessons learned are documented and actions are taken from recommendations; facilitate learning workshops in close coordination with the MEAL unit.
• Follow up on action plans from technical team leaders based on debriefings from monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Provide technical inputs for internal/external reports including but not limited to: needs and gaps assessments, donor reports, communication materials, output trackers, etc. 

Program Development and Fundraising

• Contribute to the achievement of organizational mandate and the development of sub-sector-focused strategic documents.
• Provide technical inputs to proposal developments in line with the assigned programmatic portfolio; support the technical coordinator in data gathering/assessments during proposal development, and internal/external reviews.
• Contribute to the preparation of fact sheets, briefs, and progress updates and collect best practices useful for future programming.

Coordination and External Engagement

• When delegated, liaise with external governmental or private sector stakeholders (MoLSA, Chamber of Commerce, Micro-Finance Institutions), etc.
• When delegated, represent DRC in FSAC cluster meetings and CVWG cluster meetings; provide strategic inputs to cluster strategies; support the consultation of the relevant cluster regarding project proposals, as needed 
• Any other task assigned by the Supervisor or Line Manager
• Coordinate and liaise with governmental departments related to the EcRec program.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience:

• 3-5 years’ experience in a similar position 
• Technical expertise and implementation experience in alternative sustainable livelihoods with a focus on at least two of the following technical areas: Business Management, Financial Inclusion, Micro-Finance Development, Micro-Enterprise Development, Market System Development, and Urban Livelihoods Development.
• Experience in Vocational, Technical, and Life-Skill training, and Community-Based Saving Groups Agriculture Value Chains.
• Demonstrated experience in designing technical manuals and provision of technical capacity building and/or hands-on support 
• Previous experience in working with vulnerable displacement and/or conflict-affected Afghan communities. 
• Experience in project management of mid/large-scale grants administered by a national or international NGO 
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and/or managing multi-sectoral multi-location projects is a plus. 

Education/qualifications:

• A university degree in Micro-Economics, Business Management, Urban Development, Agri-Business Development, Financial Management, or another related field. 
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and analytical skills in English, Dari, and Pashto. 
• Solid writing skills and competency to prepare technical documents and informative, coherent, and accurate reports.
• Strong technical understanding of the needs of diverse displaced groups in Afghanistan and the challenges in responding to those needs. 
• Excellent planning, coordination, and management skills.
• Willingness to frequently travel to project locations. 

 Languages:

• Advanced skills in written and spoken English
• Advanced skills in written and spoken Pashto or Dari

Source: https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=171597&DepartmentId=19150&MediaId=5

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