Senior Officer, Cash & Livelihoods

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network established by and comprised of member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 192 countries. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. The IFRC is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional, country cluster teams and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the Movement; and expanding engagement with partners.

Established in 1990, the IFRC Country Delegation in Afghanistan operates as a platform It works to enhance the capacity, organizational development, auxiliary role to public authorities and outreach activities of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS). IFRC also facilitates collaboration with the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement as well as with non- Movement actors with a view to expand resilience outcomes across Afghanistan.

In line with IFRC strategic priorities derived from its Strategy 2030, the IFRC technical support ranges from climate action to disaster and crisis management, to health and WASH, to migration and displacement as well as empowerment and inclusion activities, with a particular focus on readiness to emergency response, livelihoods and c ash, immunization and community health.

IFRC is supporting ARCS in providing support through the Humanitarian Crises Emergency Appeal and other emergency operations in 2024 onwards as well as implementing its yearly country development programmes. Both emergency operations and programmes focus on multi-sectoral interventions: shelter, health and care; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and livelihoods and basic needs; disaster risk reduction (DRR), protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) and strengthening the capacity of ARCS.

Livelihoods is one of the key program areas ARCS and IFRC Country Delegation requires investment in capacity in addressing the humanitarian needs in the country. Livelihoods in emergencies includes supporting the provision, replacement and protection of vulnerable livelihoods while ensuring sustainability in programming. Cash-based interventions has become a critical modality for any emergency operation as well as through recovery and development programmes. IFRC and ARCS are also collaborating on enhancing livelihoods of the most fragile people and communities across the country, with a focus programme on Women’s empowerment targeting under-privileged women living in Marastoons or in impoverished communities.

Job Purpose

The Senior Emergency livelihoods officer will be part of the operations team within the country delegation with close and daily collaboration with ARCS focal points. S/he will report to the Field Coordinator with technical line to the Regional Livelihoods Coordinator in Asia Pacific Regional Office. Technically responsible for livelihoods and recovery initiatives within the country delegation, the Senior Officer must ensure design and implementation during emergencies, recovery is well coordinated with ARCS, while coaching them as ARCS teams as well.
S/he will be the principal representative of IFRC to ensure ARCS livelihoods and recovery activities are implemented in line with good practice and quality assurance that adheres to Sphere standards and IFRC Community Engagement Accountability (CEA) framework.
S/he will liaise with counterparts from ARCS, ICRC and partner National Societies, as well as external partners, such as UN agencies, I/NGOs, donors, bilateral and multilateral organizations and missions in line with the agreed work plan, as well as the priority tasks and responsibilities outlined in this job description. S/he will also represent IFRC a long with ARCS Counterpart in Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) and/or Cash working group cluster Coordination within the Country.
The Senior Officer will work in close collaboration with the line manager, technical colleagues and with the regional livelihoods’ coordinator. S/he will be responsible for effective planning and management and successful implementation of livelihoods and recovery activities according to the country programmes and country plans of action, IFRC guidelines and framework.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Development and Quality Programming Support

• Undertake livelihoods assessment to include market mapping and risk analysis related to the livelihood and cash component and contribute to the development of mitigation
• Ensure that ARCS livelihoods and cash field activities are supported technically and operationally with all necessary resources and all necessary milestones are captured, tracked and reported
• Support to ARCS team to prepare plans for effective implementation of the livelihoods and cash activities that targets most vulnerable and marginalized groups and increases the resilience of the target rural communities including women affected by natural and made disasters.
• Support ARCS to identify, prioritize and support communities to implement potential livelihood strategies that are less sensitive to existing and potential hazards and resilient to
• To Support strategies and interventions that promote the economic and social empowerment of women & youth to enable their full and responsible participation.
• Support the development and implementation of strategies and interventions for household income-generation and savings among targeted women and youth. This includes assisting marginalized groups especially women in earning and saving income, managing money, provide guidance on financial management and allocating household resources for improved household security and achievement of projects
• Develop livelihoods and recovery tools that will be assess the targeted households or cases eligible for the livelihoods and recovery interventions.
• Support and develop the cash and IM officer in delivering his/her tasks, while setting clear deliverables for the role.

Capacity Building of National Society Staff

• Facilitate capacity building of ARCS staff and volunteers in livelihoods and recovery programme including provision of technical support during implementation of the programme and ensure adherence to good practice and Community Engagement and Accountability framework.
• Support the implementation of baseline and PDM analysis including price monitoring surveys to determine the impact of livelihoods and cash assistance.
• Develop market- based interventions and tools for market assessment and need
•  Maintain close coordination with IFRC and ARCS livelihoods, Maraston and cash focal points to ensure timely execution of the projects under emergency appeal and operational country plan.
•  Assist ARCS project counterparts on project implementation in field monitoring and accompany counterparts in field monitoring where appropriate and allowed.
•  Mentor and transfer project management knowledge to ARCS.
•  Assist ARCS project counterparts in developing meetings, workshops and field trip plans and facilitation.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Coordination and Partnership

• Maintain close coordination with ARCS, ICRC, partner national societies, local clusters, cash working group, food & agriculture cluster and government authorities and keep them fully informed of the Country.
• Attend and report on UN cluster and working groups on livelihoods and cash together with ARCS focal points.

Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Develop narrative reports, updates and case studies on the livelihoods, women empowerment and cash interventions
• In collaboration with country office and national society, draft and distribute timely information updates on activities of National Societies and the IFRC.
• Develop project financial plans and check both financial and narrative reports coming from ARCS project
• Translate/interpret to English and vice versa to Dari and Pashto (local languages) when
• Develop project proposals collaboratively with ARCS focal points, IFRC relevant technical leads and, as applicable, with external stakeholders.
• Undertake other tasks and responsibilities as may be reasonably requested by line manage.

Education

Required:

• University degree (or equivalent relevant experience) preferably in economics, business administration, agriculture development, social sciences and or related field.
• Training courses: livelihoods programming, recovery programming, cash and market-based programming, Kobo toolbox/data collection tools etc.
• Knowledge of relevant tools, conceptual frameworks and current good practices in livelihoods including the use of cash transfer programming.
• Results focus and accountability

Experience

Required:

• At least a4 years of professional experience implementing livelihoods and recovery programming.
• At least 2years of experience working with an international humanitarian organization.
• Experience in project management including project planning and monitoring.
• Experience in designing approaches to beneficiary management and communication that enhance accountability to beneficiaries.

Preferred:

• Understanding of the work of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required :

• Ability to provide quality technical analysis and assessments
• Skills in livelihoods and recovery assessments and project implementation using participatory methodologies.
• Excellent computer knowledge and skills of using Microsoft word, power point and excel.
• Demonstrate technical skills in coordinating and developing activities related to livelihoods and cash.
• Comfortable working and communicating with number of National Societies in a diverse environment.
• Detail oriented, able to multi-task.
• Fluency in Dari and knowledge of Pashto.
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Strong commitment to teamwork and ability to work in a large team of volunteers

Competencies, Values and Comments

Core competencies: Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust.

Functional competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others.

Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability.