Livelihoods Technical Working Group Chair

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a Livelihoods Technical Working Group Chair to join our team in Kyiv.

Overall purpose of the role:

Ukraine on 24th February 2022 has substantially impacted and undermined the economy and livelihoods across Ukraine. The escalation of the conflict caused the worst humanitarian crisis in European history, leading to over eight million refugees and over three million internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The ongoing war threatens rural and urban households’ food security, livelihoods, and ability to meet basic needs. Disruption of value chains and supply chains, price volatility, and reliance on government and humanitarian aid in conflict-affected areas significantly impact access to food across the country. More than 14.6 million people are in need of humanitarian aid, with half requiring assistance in securing food and sustaining their livelihoods. The conflict has inflicted profound damage, leading to widespread job losses and income instability across the country. Extensive destruction of agricultural lands and loss of assets, particularly affecting the most vulnerable segments of society.

As the Ukraine context is in the third year since the escalation in February 2022, there is an increased need to ensure that relevant livelihood interventions are prioritized and coordinated across implementing partners. The Livelihoods Technical Working Group which sits under the Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster serves as an important forum for diverse stakeholders to collectively understand critical livelihood priority needs and develop relevant evidence-based programming to reduce the impacts of conflict induced/exacerbated livelihood gaps. The LTWG chair will ensure that in coordination with the FSL cluster coordinators, the LTWG is able to effectively support partners to coordinate their efforts, create a foundation of data and evidence to inform program, and support partners with relevant technical guidance and standards to inform coherent and harmonized implementation.

Your main responsibilities will be:

LTWG Meetings and ad hoc representation

• In coordination with cluster coordinators, the LTWG Chair will chair the monthly LTWG meetings, draft the agenda, and ensure timely dissemination of minutes.
• The LTWG Chair will work together with members to formalize work planning against identified LTWG member priorities, consistently updating LTWG members on the status of WG priority actions. The LTWG Chair will facilitate an efficient division of the assignment of responsibilities amongst partners/members, taking into account their comparative advantages, experience, and complementarities;
• The LTWG Chair will ensure that identified priorities are followed-up against agreed upon timelines.
•  In cooperation with cluster coordinators, theLTWG Chair may be requested to provide briefs in external fora or provide updates to various stakeholders on the priorities and key developments of the LTWG
• Ensure cooperation among members/partners to strengthen cooperation, and sharing of experience, expertise, and best practice.  

Support for the development of LTWG guidance, lessons learned, and strong livelihood evidence-base

• The LTWG Chair in cooperation with the FSL cluster coordinators will ensure that the WG promotes evidence-based practice and compliance with standards in dignified and sustainable livelihoods (including the development of standards and operational guidelines)
• The LTWG Chair shall develop the work plan, agenda, technical topics, meeting facilitation and report to the FSLC coordinators. 
• The LTWG Chair will work with LTWG members and FSL cluster coordinators to support in the generation of key guidelines, SOPs, and standards to facilitate a standardized livelihood response.
• The LTWG Chair will support the FSL cluster coordinators in formulating a solid evidence based for livelihood interventions through promoting common core livelihood indicators, and consolidating and disseminating livelihood assessment and analysis findings to inform program design and resource prioritization.
• The LTWG Chair will ensure that assessment and analysis findings which highlight the key livelihood needs in Ukraine are utilized for advocacy, program design, resource mobilization, and fed into the HNRP process upon request of the FSL cluster coordinators.
• The LTWG Chair will ensure that the WG serves as a platform to Promote and create awareness of international humanitarian standards that focus on livelihood-based projects in disasters, such the SEADS Standards (https://seads-standards.org), the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (https://seepnetwork.org/MERS) and, for livestock, the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) (https://www.livestock-emergency.net).
• Supporting the application of standards and sharing of technical information to the working group members and partners.

Technical/coordination support to LTWG members at national and subnational level

• The LTWG Chair in consultation with the FSL cluster coordinators will determine capacity building/training priorities to support partners.
• The LTWG Chair may travel to area hubs to consult with LTWG partners and ensure that subnational/operational voices and priorities are considered and fed into LTWG actions, priorities and discourse. 
• Support in the rollout of approved guidelines, SOPs, standards etc. including national and subnational dissemination and training.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 5-7 years ofexperience implementing FSL interventions in complex crises and at least 2 years of demonstrated coordination experience. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Proven experience in capacity building and training
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft office
• Strong data management skills
• Strong experience In drafting guidelines and standards based on evidence and context
• Bachelor’s degree in related field, Master’s degree an asset.
• Full professional proficiency in English. Ukrainian an asset.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length: One year contract
• Band: F-non-management 
• Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv (with approx. 20-25% travel)
• Start date: ASAP

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 22nd of September 2024

DRC is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.