Requisition ID: req5975

Job Title: Livelihoods Assistant

Sector: Economic Recovery & Livelihood

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Lodwar, Kenya

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Job Description :

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. Since 1992, the IRC has provided life-saving services to refugees and vulnerable local communities in Kenya. The IRC implements programs in the areas of integrated primary health care (including nutrition and HIV/AIDS); economic recovery and livelihoods; protection of rights; and women’s protection and empowerment of refugees in the camps as well as host communities.

With funding from OFDA, the IRC is implementing a project in Turkana Central and Loima sub-counties providing integrated early recovery and rehabilitation support focused interventions to the vulnerable communities experiencing high and extreme levels of malnutrition and poor livelihood outcomes impacting access to basic needs. Through its Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) unit, the IRC will support expansion and strengthening of additional income generating activities that will restore livelihoods while also supporting the aims of the other sector of Nutrition, WASH and livestock. The program will work closely with local partners to build skills and provide interventions that support employment and employability for women and youth.Market based principles and coordination with the local formal and non-formal financial institutions will be mainstreamed throughout approaches to ensure the most effective outcomes on employment and income generating activities. IRC is focused on encouraging the ability to generate income to sustain households during the lean periods of drought through sustainable ventures. The IRC will work with existing Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) groups engaged in small businesses to strengthen their savings and their income-generating capacity in businesses supporting animal health and sanitation. Furthermore, the IRC will also focus on economic empowerment approaches that foster gender equity and equality given that women and girls are even more vulnerable in situations of crisis and where marginalization happens.

Scope of Work :

The Livelihoods Assistant will work closely and support the Livelihoods officer to achieve the project objectives. S/he will work with the livelihoods officer to identify existing Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) for strengthening/capacity building and linkage to financial institutions. Working closely with the livelihoods officer and the M&E focal person, the livelihoods assistant will continually share data collected on income and asset generation.

Specific Responsibilities :

• Facilitate the formation, strengthening and monitoring of VSLA groups
• Training VLSA group members on business management skills
• Work closely with existing financial institutions to link the VSLA members for expanded financial services
• Support in Developing, managing and keeping track of activity work plans and training implementation schedules to ensure timely delivery of services and achievement of objectives.
• Support in developing, monitoring and data collection processes and carrying out regular monitoring visits to beneficiaries to collect data on people assisted through the livelihood restoration activities and track program progress
• Fully comply with IRC safety and security procedures and provide input to security monitoring and assessments to enable and promote a safe and secure environment for program implementation.
• Ensure confidentiality and ethical data collection throughout the monitoring and reporting phase.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.
• Facilitate vocational skills trainings to VSLA members.

Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Humanities, International Development, Political Science, Management or other relevant field.
• Minimum of 2 years professional experience in livelihoods and enterprise development approaches.
  

Required Experience & Competencies :

• Experience in working with marginalized communities/rural livelihoods
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.
• Strong leadership, analytical and organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to quickly assess priorities and effectively manage a variety of activities at a time while paying appropriate attention to detail.
• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Experience in humanitarian work
• Proven practical experience in partnership/stakeholder engagement and management
• Ability to work and adapt under pressure.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Computer literate (word processors, spreadsheet, database, CAD and statistical packages, etc)
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili.

Work Environment:

• The position will be based in IRC Kenya’s Lodwar office, with frequent travel to the field

Please make sure to include copy of Certificate of Good Conduct in your application.

Kenyan nationals are encouraged to apply.  International allowances are not available for this position. Salary and employee benefits are compliant to the Kenyan NGO Sector. 

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Disclaimer:

Please take note that International Rescue Committee (IRC) does not ask for any fees in connection with its recruitment processes. In the event that you receive any request for payment of any sort, please get in touch with us on Tel: +(254-020) 2727730, Email: IRCKenya@rescue.org or report to the nearest police.