Livelihood Officer | - 2015

Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) is an international African humanitarian and development organization that positively contributes towards improving the living standards and conditions of those adversely affected by disasters and conflict in the Horn, East & Central Africa by implementing WASH, Health, Education, Livelihoods, Community service & development and Protection programs in the region for a period of more than 20 years.

HIJRA with funding from the UNHCR in Uganda is implementing a multi-Sectoral Program for refugees Oruchinga settlement (Isingiro District) and transit centers in Kisoro and Bundibugyo districts. HIJRA, in a strategy to expand existing program implementing team, is now seeking for qualified person to fill the position of Livelihood Officer.

Job Purpose

The job holder is responsible for planning, implementation and coordination of all livelihood activities and promoting environment activities in the settlement through supervision of staff involved in livelihood and environment activities with the aim of making refugees self-reliant and living in a good environment.

Key responsibilities

Post holder will be responsible for; Project planning, implementation and coordination:

· Guide the livelihood sector in long-term planning.

· Coordinate Livelihood projects being implemented in the settlement.

· Ensure cross cutting themes are mainstreamed in Livelihood projects.

· Writing weekly reports, weekly work plans, monthly activity reports, quarterly and annual reports.

· Carrying out routine monitoring of livelihood field activities, check on progress and write achievements.

· Distributing of procured inputs to livelihood groups to enable them carry out their activities successfully

· Supervising the livelihood Field Assistant and Livelihood Extension Workers

· Identify potential groups to participate in livelihood activities.

· Promote environmental protection for sustainable livelihood strategies

· Promoting group cohesion by ensuring good leadership of group leaders and solving conflicts among group members

· Hold weekly meetings with Livelihood Field Assistant and livelihood extension workers to coordinate activities, monitor their implementation and progress.

· Track and manage budgets allocated for the Livelihood sector

Capacity building and training:

· Mobilization of farmer groups and conducting training in agronomic practices through farmer field school approach which include right crop spacing, manure application, integrated disease and pest management, proper use of fungicides and pesticides.

· Providing mentoring and coaching to community groups to build refugee capacity for understanding and connecting with different refugee community linkages.

· Identify technical experts to train livelihood community groups in the settlement.

· Train livestock groups basic livestock husbandry practices through farmer field school approach.

M&E and documentation:

· Effectively document all information relating to project successes, innovations and promising practices and disseminate through appropriate mechanisms.

· Ensure identification of research areas, conduct research and document learning’s.

· Spear head the Livelihood sector in outputs and outcome monitoring processes.

· Support processes of Livelihood sector baselines and evaluation of livelihood projects and interventions

· Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

People Management

· The position holder will supervise staff, conduct performance evaluation/appraisals and monitor progress, capacity development and motivate others.

Essential Qualities and AttributesMinimum Qualifications:

Post graduate/Degree in Agriculture /Rural Agricultural innovation/Development studies or equivalent from a recognized University

Experience:

At least 3 years of working experience in the relevant field.
Ability to speak more than one indigenous and foreign language would be desirable i.e. Kiswahili or Kinyarwanda.
Demonstrated skills in working with rural communities
Demonstrated skills in participatory community development methodologies
Working knowledge of IGAs

Personal Attributes:

Excellent people management skills
Strong skills in networking
Community mobilization
Good skills in research, analysis, report and proposal writing and development.
Ability and willingness to learn
Excellent organization skills and able to work under pressure
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Reliable and accountable
Team player
High proficiency in use of computer in day to day work.