Position: Head of Food Security, Livelihoods & Resilience

Report to: Programs Director

Location: Mogadishu -Somalia

Length of Contract: 12 months with possibility of extension

Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 40 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, and food security. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in 7 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Haiti and Somalia. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $92 million in programs, and approximately 1,700 staff based in in the various country offices and the Head Quarter in New York City and Operational Centre in Nairobi. Additional growth is anticipated.

Summary of Position

As a member of the Action Against Hunger Somalia Country Office, the Head of Food Security, Livelihoods and Resilience Department will provide managerial, technical and oversight support to the Food Security, Livelihoods, Resilience and Disaster Risk Management interventions, and be part of the broader Food Security & Livelihoods initiatives at the Country, Network and regional levels.

The Head of FSL & Resilience role’s purpose, engagement and delivery are as follows:

Purpose: The Head of FSL and Resilience Department Provides technical leadership to Action Against Hunger’s nutrition security programs through context analysis, development of strategic FSL & R priorities and promotion of technical innovations and learning capitalization.

Engagement: The Head of FSL & R Department provides internal and external representation to ensure a clear understanding of Action Against Hunger’s technical positioning among the various stakeholders. Coordinates with Government authorities, NGOs, UN agencies and donor representatives, create links with various technical actors working in the same geographical areas of interventions, and develop partnerships where relevant and appropriate.

Delivery: Development and promotion of FSL technical strategic interventions, multi-sectoral approaches. Develop of high quality concept papers, proposals and Strengthen coordination and partnerships with all relevant technical sectors and partner organizations. Identification of innovative research projects to address the root causes of undernutrition. Develop and maintaining relations with current and potential donors. Share context based innovative approaches during the evidence week

Essential job duties

• Support the analysis of the humanitarian context through high quality field assessments, consultation with stakeholders and collection/analysis of secondary data.
• Contribute to integrated surveillance through input on development of tools, analysis and interpretation, etc., as appropriate
• Develop strategic positioning for the technical department in close consultation with field teams and other technical departments, as appropriate
• Draw from the strategic plan, other mission documents and broader analysis to identify new geographical areas of interest and or confirm existing areas
• Identify, propose and develop new program orientations, strategies and activities
• Provide technical leadership in responding to emergencies, market-based programming, innovation, protection, environment and nutrition sensitive programming in the Livelihoods and Food Security sector
• Serve as lead on new proposal development, produce technical and necessary parts of proposals in accordance with donor formats and deadlines, and ensuring close coordination with all the relevant technical and support sectors of ACF and partner organizations.
• Validate the key stages and methodologies of the projects being undertaken (timetable, baseline/final surveys methodology and analysis, technical studies, call for tender, specifications, community approaches, external evaluations etc…)
• Ensure a close and regular coordination with other technical departments for overall program coherence; and support departments (logistics, administration and human resources) in procurement planning and follow-up, cash forecasts and budget follow-ups, human resources planning and overall staff management
• Conduct technical review of internal and external reports to support Action Against Hunger obligations to donors
• Supervise/provide technical support to field PMs and conduct regular field visits
• Ensure harmonization and coherence of program approach and activities across all program bases with the development of project implementation plans and regular follow-up, including the follow-up of APR and analysis with budget and logistics follow-up.
• Represent Action Against Hunger externally and coordinate with government authorities, NGOs, UN agencies and donor representatives as necessary
• Actively participate in national coordination meetings and co-lead Clusters or Cash Working Groups as necessary
• Create links with various technical actors working in the same geographical areas of intervention and develop partnerships where relevant and appropriate
• Collaborate and support the establishment of strategic partnerships with other institutions that can support Action Against Hunger work amplifying the impact of Action Against Hunger work in Somalia
• Ensure that relevant stakeholders have a clear understanding of ACF charter, background, program objectives and activities in the field
• Build staff capacity on new and emerging areas of FSL/DRM & Resilience

Supervisory Responsibilities

Technical and managerial supervisory line to Deputy HoD-FSL, PM and Officers.

Gender Equality Commitments

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures.

Fiscal Responsibility

The position will be in charge of the Food Security Livelihood Portfolio

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required. Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

Master’s degree in food security, Agricultural Education and Extension, Agricultural/Applied Economics, Agribusiness Management, Food Policy and Applied food science, Veterinary Sciences, or related courses.

At least Seven (7) years’ experience in food systems, nutrition sensitive agriculture, livelihoods, natural resource management and Disaster Risk Reduction.

Required Skills & Competencies

Experience working in humanitarian and development contexts, recovery and rehabilitation as well as with national governments, regional bodies, UN agencies and INGOs.

Excellent knowledge of technical fields related to Food Security & Livelihoods that includes excellent working knowledge of food security, Market systems and nutrition sensitive resilience.

Sound analytical and technical competence in the subject matter of food security and livelihoods

Field experience in FSL programming, including agro ecology, value chain analysis, income generation, emergency food assistance, COD, HEA, etc.

Strong analytical and writing skills is essential.

Knowledge and experience in assessment and research methods.

Strong organizational skills and technical review/writing of detailed technical documents.

Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work both independently and as a member of a team

Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.

Capacity to represent the organization in various fora.

Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of Action Against Hunger.