Associate Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Officer, P2, Bertoua (JPO position, open to candidates with Norwegian nationality)

Organizational Context

The Associate Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Officer will work under the overall supervision of the Head of Sub Office and in close collaboration with staff from the Programme, Protection and Field units. She/he will provide support as needed for the implementation of the Comprehensive Livelihoods Strategy anchored on Cameroon Multi-Year, Multi-Partners Protection and Solutions Strategy 2022-2026 and Refugee Livelihoods, Economic Inclusion Global Strategy Concept Note 2019-2023. Externally, she/he will establish and maintain close and effective partnerships with relevant partners and related contacts with stakeholders. She/he proactively seeks out new appropriate livelihood and economic inclusion programming and approaches, including those being implemented by the private sector, development actors and UN agencies, and determine how best to incorporate into UNHCR operation. The incumbent will also ensure UNHCR representation in appropriate regional coordination mechanisms and networks.

Functional Statement

Accountability

– Multi-Year livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Strategy 2022-2026 implemented with relevant annual action plan to guide various levels of interventions.

– Community-based strategies developed for sustainable livelihood interventions in UNHCR sub delegation operation.

– UNHCR Implementing Partners and the Community Refugee groups engaged in livelihood activities are supported and monitored in the field.

– Information collected on legal, social and economic status/development in refugee hosting areas is analyzed to support livelihood activities.

– Network of partners with UN Agencies, private sectors and development actors is developed/strengthened and optimized in the livelihood cooperation and support.

– Impact assessment/evaluation for each livelihood’s projects and activities (improved refugee skills level, household income generation, and household employment creation reduced vulnerability) is developed.

Responsibility

– In line with the Global Strategy for Livelihoods, improve and fine tune the local self-reliance strategy, focusing on the development of clear operational plans and livelihoods projects for the upcoming three years, indicating the comprehensive needs and setting clear annual operational targets.

– Ensure dissemination and implementation of internationally accepted standards, policies and guidelines within UNHCR and among partners.

– Together with specialized organizations, set performance baseline targets and monitor impact indicators for the livelihood objectives in the Operations Plan.

– Provide technical guidance to the operation, in line with UNHCR tools and guidelines for livelihood programming, and ensure technical integrity is maintained.

– Assist in sourcing external expertise (consultancy firms, consultants, deployments under stand-by agreements, and technical counterparts from operational partners) required for livelihood assessments, strategic planning, project design, reviews and evaluations exercises. Monitor the work of technical experts and contribute to reviewing draft reports/outputs, ensuring quality in methodologies used in particular for assessment and analytical tasks.

– Mainstream into livelihoods activities, the use of relevant innovative approaches and the “Graduation Model” to graduate vulnerable refugees out of poverty and into continued degrees of self-reliance.

– In line with a market-based approach, design and implement livelihoods activities tailor-made to and targeting different segments of the refugee population according to their potential for reaching self-reliance (educational level, work-experience, previous skills training, etc.)

– Support the process of conducting a risk assessment for the livelihoods interventions undertaken by UNHCR and propose risk mitigation alternatives.

– Strategic Communications: Collect and articulate case studies achievements impacts and lessons learned to various external and internal audiences..

– Continuously monitor changes in the context to guide the directions of the livelihoods programmes; particularly with regards to the transfer of basic services to the government and maintain updated information on issues and policy changes that may affect livelihood opportunities for refugees, as well as ongoing measures by the Government and other institutions that can affect or contribute to the achievement of strategic goals for refugee livelihoods.

– Support the development of a solid monitoring and evaluation system with clear indicators to monitor the impact of the livelihoods programming on refugees.

– Review and provide technical guidance to project proposals submitted by Implementing Partners (IPs), and guide and monitor livelihoods activities/programmes for refugees in line with the global livelihoods strategy.

– Identify opportunities and implement solutions to challenges identified through livelihoods relevant assessments (Household Economy Approach/Baseline, market and value-chain).

– Emphasize the capacity building of IPs through technical assistance, institutional assessment, training and coaching.

– Promote cooperation with national institutions in supporting the inclusion of refugees in e.g. vocational training, access to finance, labour market.

– Support the regular sharing of livelihoods related information among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders.

Authority

– Negotiate locally with partners on behalf of UNHCR.

– Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.

– Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.

– Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

Essential Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience

Education/Qualification

Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master’s) obtained in a recognised institution (listed under www.whed.net), plus minimum 2 years of relevant professional work experience. An undergradute degree (equivalent of a Bachelor’s) plus 3 years or a Doctorate degree (equivalent to a PhD) plus 1 year may also be accepted.

Fields: Development Studies (including Development Economics, Finance and Management), Rural Development (including Agriculture & Livestock), Food Science, Natural Resource Management, Microfinance or Urban Policy & Planning, or other clearly related fields.

Work Experience:

– Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience to the function related to gender analysis, risks and vulnerability assessment; community development and participation; self-reliance; rural small business development and/or microfinance; agriculture/livestock; integrated rural development planning; food security; rapid and participatory rural appraisal.

– Previous experience in poverty reduction programmes, focused on linking safety net programmes (including usage of cash assistance) linked to access to employment and self-employment programme.

– Experience in developing partnership with the private sector (companies and/or business organizations).

– Proven drafting skills are an asset.

– Previous experience in working effectively with international and national NGOs and UN organizations, and with government authorities at national level.

Skills

– Technical competencies in at least two sub-sectors relevant to livelihood programming e.g. employment promotion, entrepreneurship building, private sector development, local economic recovery/poverty-reduction strategies, social finance,

– Excellent networking skills with private and public sector institutions,

– Excellent computer skills including Excel, Word and PowerPoint,

– Work experience and knowledge of the refugee operation in Central Africa.

Language Knowledge

Essential: English, French

Desirable: Working knowledge of any other UN language ( Spanish, Chinese, Russian or Arabic)

Desirable Qualifications and Competencies

– Demonstrated professional exposure to poverty-related issues in developing countries, especially rural poverty and gender analysis.

– Proven experience in planning, implementing, and monitoring livelihoods programmes.

– Experience in working effectively with UN organisations, international and national NGOs, and with government authorities at national level.

– Knowledge about latest development in the livelihoods sector, and in-depth knowledge of at least two technical sub-sectors in livelihoods (e.g. agriculture and livestock, vocational training and technical education, entrepreneurship building, cash assistance, community contracting, employment services, microfinance).

– PLP, People oriented planning, Participatory assessment, OMLP.

– Working experience with refugees would be an asset.