JOB DESCRIPTION

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Technical Specialist – Livelihoods is responsible for leading the implementation of district level program activities in the livelihood work stream which aim to establish school gardens and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).

The role of the post holder is to work with the provincial agriculture department (PDoA) officials, especially with Agriculture Instructors, respective school principals and teachers to strengthen the capacity of establishing and managing school gardens. The post holder will also work with School Meal Providers (SMPs) to establish and running VSLAs to save and obtain low interest productive loans to support their daily operations in providing school meals. In addition, the role would be closely coordinating with the Education Facilitator (seconded by Sarvodaya) to ensure smooth coordination with the school administration to  deliver school gardening activities in the schools.

The role holder reports directly to the Senior Technical – Livelihoods and will work closely with the MEAL coordinators at the field to generate evidence of quality implementation through case studies, capturing best practices/learning, and ongoing monitoring assessments. The role includes collaboration with Field Managers, LRP Manager, other Senior Managers, and external stakeholders as necessary to ensure sustainability.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Quality implementation of Project activities as per the activity plan and coordination with Senior Manager – Livelihoods

Project Management and Quality: 

• Supports the Senior Manager – Livelihoods to coordinate the effective implementation of program activities of school gardening by ensuring coordination of Provincial Ministry of Education and Zone Education levels and Provincial Department of Agriculture and VSLA activities with School Meal Providers and other relevant interested stakeholders through open, timely, intentional and clear communication.
• Responsible for project activity planning and implementation of school gardening activities in coordination with schools along with VSLA activities in coordination with Zonal Education Officers and SMPs and other interested stakeholders.
• Subjected to final review by Senior Manager – Livelihoods to develop VSLA strategy training modules, materials, tools and activities to ensure technical rigor of implementation of VSLA groups.
• Co- facilitate awareness creation session and training for school gardens and VSLA with Senior Manager – Livelihoods
• With the close coordination of Senior Manager – Livelihoods, mobilize the relevant partner staff to monitor school gardening activity implementation in the schools.
• With the close coordination of Senior Manager – Livelihoods, conduct independent monitoring visits to the field to monitor implementation of school gardens and the progress of VSLA groups.
• With the technical guidance of Senior – Livelihoods, facilitate to establish and maintain virtual peer learning platforms to share best practices, success stories, questions and technical matters among the schools on establishing and running school gardens.
• Ensure that all project components meet quality benchmarks (i.e school gardens and VSLAs)
• Identify and build strategic linkages, relationships, collaborations and networks with partners and other stakeholders in implementation and advocacy at the district/provincial levels.
• Ensure safer programming through safeguarding risk assessment, applying safeguarding policies & procedures and strengthening stakeholders including the beneficiaries on safeguarding reporting protocols in implementing project activities relating to the school gardening and VSLA components

MEAL System and Approaches:

• Coordinate evaluation assessments at the provincial and zonal levels with the MEAL team.
• Work closely with MEAL team on MEAL initiatives.
• Regular school visits to monitor the implementation of the quality of school gardens and VSLAs.
• Support Senior Manager – Livelihoods in effective documentation of data on improved learning outcomes, overall program successes, innovations and promising practices related to establishing school gardens and VSLAs and dissemination through appropriate mechanisms.
• Produce timely, accurate, compliant and quality data.

Representation at Provincial and District Levels:

• Support to maintain and improve active and regular working relationships with other organizations who are linked to the school gardening and community saving activities in Province/district levels.
• Support to maintain good relationships with Province, Zonal and Divisional Education Officers and Schools as well as other key stakeholders.
• Represent Save the Children in provincial/district clusters and other platforms as per the guidance from Senior Manager – Livelihoods

People Management:

• Ensure all direct report staff understand their responsibilities and have clearly defined performance objectives including plans and activities to develop their professional capacities.
• Administer the vehicle usage and monitor the field travel of all direct reports
• Encourage a team culture of learning, creativity, and innovation
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure the availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff and implement the talent review programs

QUALIFICATIONS 

Master’s degree in agriculture, business administration, economics, international relations, development studies or similar field.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• At least 7 – 10 years of experience in agriculture and livelihood development in implementing agriculture and livelihood development programming in developing countries involving multiple stakeholders
• Proven Strong project management experience
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in working with communities
• Experienced trainer with professional skills in community training
• Experience with implementing school gardening and community savings programs or similar
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels taking into account cultural and language differences.
• Strong results orientation with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Ability and willingness to travel to project locations in difficult conditions.
• Excellent communication skills in English and language capability in Sinhala and/or Tamil
• Excellent computer literate (including working knowledge of Microsoft Office)
• Proven ability to lead a diverse team, provide clear direction, delegate tasks, and ensure efficient collaboration among team members and stakeholders.
• A good understanding of the mandate of Save the Children, commitment to and understanding of child rights, the aims and principles of Save the Children, and its humanitarian standards such as Child Safeguarding and the Code of Conduct.