Food Security and Livelihoods Technical Advisor

FSL Technical Advisor will oversee and develop high quality design and implementation of long-term development and emergency programs and lead the development of new and innovative initiatives that effectively address the underlying causes of poverty. The successful candidate must also ensure that systems and people are in place to ensure proper management of these projects and programs.

• S/he will work closely with all FSL cluster and ensure standard FSL practices are applied throughout the Programme area.
• S/he will also play a pivotal role in building the capacity of the country on MSD, local partners, national staff and other stakeholders in the principles and practices of MSD in FSL.
• S/he will design and conduct appropriate training modules and mentor staff, colleagues, and partners in order to build their capacity on MSD across key outcome areas.
• S/he will work with the country team and TSU to develop MSD strategy for Mercy Corps South Sudan ensuring MSD is mainstreamed across the 4 objectives of Food Security, Economic Opportunities, Water Security, Peace and Good Governance.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• The FSL Advisor is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and ensuring integration between Mercy Corps South Sudan FSL programs as well as liaising with various external stakeholders.
• Provide Technical FSL Support to the FSL cluster and Relief Rehabilitation Commission partners.
• Provide technical advice to cluster program managers to ensure that partner FSL strategies are aligned, and to help provide quality control.
• Provide trainings to partner FSL staff as required
• Conduct monitoring visits to partner field projects, where security permits
• In coordination with the WASH Technical lead, develop a monthly monitoring tool to track project progress.
• Represent the Mercy Corps at FSL cluster meetings
• Provide Technical FSL Support and Coordination of Mercy Corps FSL projects.
• Lead roll out of all STREAM program activities        
• Identify priorities in term of assessments, designing and overseeing KAP and other surveys
• Provide technical advice to program managers (including quality control monitoring visits) and trainings/workshops as required
• Proposal / concept note development

Report writing:

• Set-up of an information management/project monitoring system for FSL Programmes
• Lead development of a Food Security and Expanding Economic Opportunities strategy to contribute to Mercy Corps country strategy, especially ensuring integration of MSD principles in the strategy
• External coordination
• Share relevant project information with other stakeholders

Participate in FSL coordination meetings:  

• Examine and pursue funding opportunities from donors and partners, in collaboration with the CD (including developing and submitting concept papers, proposals, etc)

Quality and Accountability:

• Coordinate with the team in the Country Office and in HQ to build systems that promote beneficiary accountability by ensuring that communities participate in initial assessments and program design.
• Ensure that communities are informed about our programs and what we do, are aware of their entitlements, are comfortable to give feedback and that feedback is used to improve the quality of our programs.
• Support and inculcate a culture of learning between programs through consistent sharing of M&E processes and systems.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills:  

• Degree in Social Sciences or Agriculture related
• Experience in donor relations in a humanitarian/developmental context
• A min of 5 years’ experience in FSL projects
• Significant experience in developing NGO country FSL strategies
• Good understanding of MSD approach
• Must have extensive training skills and experience working with a variety of donors;
• Advance computer skills and experience developing data management systems;
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methodologies required;
• Previous experience in South Sudan and/or Sudan strongly preferred
• Team player who takes initiative and is a problem-solver;
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking and organizational skill;
• Ability to manage priorities autonomously
• Willingness to travel to field frequently (security permitting)
• Professional language skills in English (required), and Arabic (strongly preferred)
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking and organizational skill;
• Prior experience living overseas and ability to work in a fluid security environment;

Source: https://jobs.jobvite.com/mercycorps/job/oV2Tqfw0