Livelihood and Food Security Officer Afghanistan Maimana

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and beliefs shall guide our actions and relationships.

For more details about the Job Description and NRC’s Grade Structure please click on: Job Description and NRC Grade Structure

Caution: This role is national, only Internal candidates from Afghanistan can be considered.

1. Role and responsibilities

Livelihoods programmes support NRC’s broader strategy to promote durable solutions to displacement –beyond short-term emergency assistance – and to prevent further displacement. These programmes seek to enable vulnerable displaced people (returnees from Iran or Pakistan, as well as people internally displaced by conflict) focused on home-based livelihood intervention to start their own businesses, so they can support their families. 

The LFS Officer will be responsible for supporting the implementation and reporting of LFS project being implemented in Faryab. This will include participating in data collection field work; overseeing the project participant selection process in coordination with communities, local stakeholders and other NRC units and CC in terms of integration in the Faryab office ensuring that projects are being implemented on schedule; ensuring that monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans are being implemented, and immediately flagging any challenges or delays to the LFS PM.

The LFS Officer will support NRC’s Agriculture based -food production development projects, as well as other private sector and market-based livelihoods projects as needed. He/she will work under the direct supervision of Livelihoods & Food Security (LFS) PM. 

The LFS Officer will be responsible in conducting need assessment, Household food security assessment for agriculture interventions, conduct the capacity assessment of smallholder’s farmers and facilitate private sector engagement, mentoring and coaching in the household level.

Generic responsibilities: 

• Adhere to NRC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines
• Adhere to NRC‘s Code of Conduct, Standard Operating Procedures, and Guiding Principles to uphold the highest professional ethical obligations.
• Assist with the implementation of the support function portfolio according to plan of action
• Prepare status reports as required by management
• Share ideas for improvement and necessary changes in the activities.
• Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy
• Promote and share ideas for improvement of the support function

Specific responsibilities:

Support the implementation of Food Security & Livelihoods projects in Faryab, including:

• Conducting need and village assessment, Household food security assessment for agriculture interventions, overseeing the beneficiary selection process, conduct the capacity assessment of smallholder’s farmers and facilitate private sector engagement, mentoring and coaching in the household level. 
• Working closely with Ministry/Directorate of agriculture, FSAC, and other stakeholders to implement NRC’s Agribusiness livelihoods activities.
• Ensuring that baseline assessments are carried out on time, including participating in data collection and data analysis as needed.
• Support the LFS team on technical as well as extension methodology and the introduction of staple food crops, off-season production as well as exploring opportunities and models for contract farming.
• Support the LFS team on Integrated Pest and Diseases Management (IPM) Techniques, Surface irrigation, Storage, and transportation techniques.
• Ensuring that LFS plans are implemented on time, working closely with the M&E team in Mazar AO .
• Provide regular report and immediately report any challenges or implementation delays to the LFS PM.
• Assess existing situation for market-based programming and cash-based intervention, highlight the challenges and risks and report to the management.
• Prepare training materials and provide relevant training to the staff and project participants as required. 
• Work closely with WASH, Shelter and ICLA CCs in terms of integration, to ensure same project participants received a full package support.
• Maintain clear and up to date records of project participants and activities (project participants numbers, locations, contact details, activity progress).  
• Attend coordination meetings in governmental sectors whenever asked to do.
• Ensure, Market assessment is carried out whenever required.
• The LFS officer will also support private sector livelihood projects and provide business and life skill trainings to project participants enrolled in small-enterprise development project, in small groups (at beneficiaries’ houses or in communal spaces within the community). Helping project participants identify what type of business they want to establish, where, and with who.
• Assist LFS officer in drafting a business plan and budget for the new microenterprise business who they want to establish; spend the start-up cash grants and the delivered livelihood kits in the most effective way.
• Performs any other task as assigned by supervisor.

Critical interfaces

• Direct implementation: LFS PM 
• Coordination and Communication: Logistic, finance, Security, ICLA, Shelter, PfV and WASH department.
• Capacity Building and Support: LFS PM and HR

1. Competencies 

Professional competencies 

These are skills, knowledge and experience that are important for effective performance. 

Generic professional competencies for this position: 

• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Ability to be highly mobile and spend a lot of time in the field (beneficiary households, visiting local businesses, meeting with local authorities etc.)
• Creativity and willingness to try new things
• A positive and collaborative attitude and willingness to work in a team
• A willingness to work in a multi-cultural environment 
• Knowledge of cash-based interventions and market-based programs

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge, and experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree from, agriculture, economy, business Administration.
• Minimum 3 years of experience from working as in income generation activities, business development or similar role in a humanitarian/recovery context with NGO I-NGOs are preferred. 
• Excellent written & spoken English, Excellent spoken & written Dari and Pashto is an advantage.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word, report writing, planning, coordination skill.
• Experience establishing and managing agriculture-based livelihood projects and a small business.
• Good knowledge on home-based livelihood intervention and good knowledge about local market.

Behavioural competencies

• Managing resources to optimize results
• Managing performance and development
• Handling insecure environments
• Empowering and building trust
• Team player & working with people
• Flexible and creative
• Long term committed, honest & straightforward thinker.

1. Performance Management

• The Job Description
• The Work and Development Plan 
• The Mid-term/End-of-trial Period Performance Review Template
• The End-term Performance Review Template
• The NRC Competency Framework