International Rescue Committee Vacancy for a Nigeria Food Security Coordinator

International Rescue Committee - Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a prominent international organization working in relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression.


IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In early 2014, IRC opened a field office in Mubi town of Adamawa state in NE Nigeria. IRC has ECHO, OFDA, and Gates funds to respond to health, nutrition, GBV, and WASH activities. In September 2014, IRC received additional funds to carry out emergency food distributions, shelter support, and NFI distributions to newly displaced IDPs in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state. IRC also received funds to carry out a child protection rapid assessment and program start up activities.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Nigeria Food Security Coordinator

 Job ID: #1285226
Location: Nigeria

BAackground
The IRC entered Nigeria in October 2012 in response to a widespread flood disaster. IRC's Emergency Response Team, with local partner CISCOPE (Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication), implemented a project to support livelihoods and improve WASH in Kogi State from February to May 2013. This was followed by a 3-month nutrition and food security program in the same location from October 2013 to January 2014. Beginning of January, IRC shifted geographical location to the North East, in Adamawa state to provide humanitarian response to the conflict-affected populations. In Adamawa state, IRC has two operational offices with one based in the state capital of Yola providing emergency response to internally displaced populations hosted in IDP camps, camp like settings and host communities and the second based in Mubi town and providing humanitarian support to returnee populations and IDPs from conflict stricken neighbouring states. October 1 2015, the IRC expanded humanitarian interventions to the neighbouring state of Borno, which hosts the largest number of IDPs in the North East region

A multi-sectoral approach is being employed through the implementation of sectors: Health and Nutrition; Environmental Health; Child Protection; Education; Women's Protection; Food Security and Protection. Most of these programs are driven in partnership with strategic local NGOs.

In the economic well-being (EWB) sector, since March 2016, IRC is implementing a food security voucher program with the support of the Food for Peace (FFP) targeting over 3,500 vulnerable households per month. Additionally, through the Women Protection and Empowerment program, a VSLA component with 625 women is being implemented. IRC is willing to expand its cash programming over other crisis-affected areas and to gradually move towards economic recovery programming, including in the agricultural sector, and across other IRC core technical sectors.

Scope of Work

• The Food Security Coordinator is responsible for the strategy development, program design, and technical support to ensure quality implementation, standardization, monitoring and evaluation of all activities in the Economic Wellbeing Outcome sector.
• The EWB Coordinator will strengthen sector activities and provide technical oversight of the program across all sites of implementation in the North East of Nigeria.
• S/he will focus on emergency response capability, with the ability to respond to a fluid programming context, and deliver key services rapidly and effectively.

• In collaboration with the Senior Management Team, ensure that the Economic Wellbeing projects are delivered according to the donor contractual requirements and that all activities and deliverables are completed within the agreed timescale and budget.
• Design and regularly update detailed gender responsive work plans and ensure these are used by the team appropriately to monitor progress towards completion and achievement of program objectives;
• Ensure that all economic wellbeing activities are consistent with established best practices, are evidence-based and gender-sensitive;
• Remain relevant with the developing trends in the Nigeria humanitarian food security and livelihoods sector working group and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary;
• Collaborate with the Technical Advisors and country Senior Management Team to lead the development of an economic wellbeing program strategy that is aligned to the IRC Nigeria Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2015-2020.
• Provide the technical supervision and support of the IRC Nigeria Country Program economic wellbeing activities; with a focus on food vouchers and cash-based programming;
• Support the Economic Wellbeing program have and utilize customized protocols, policies and guidelines;
• Supervise the development of relevant M&E systems and ensure regular follow-up on monitoring data relevant to IRC economic wellbeing programs to feed into on-going review of project cycle and decision-making for programming;

• Ensure that programmatic and financial reports for donors and IRC country program are prepared as required, ensuring these are of the highest quality and submitted in a timely manner to the donor;
• Be fully aware of the grant compliance regulations of IRC as well as USAID and specifically Food for Peace component;
• Collaborate with other in-country program teams to ensure an integrated strategy to achieve economic wellbeing outcomes as in the country's SAP;
• Develop program and project proposals, including theories of change, logical frameworks, program design and implementation plans and SMART indicators for the IRC Nigeria economic wellbeing program under the supervision of the SPC and in consultation and collaboration with field-based technical and management staff.
• Assist with the preparation and revision of a realistic budget, authorizing and monitoring expenditure in line with the budget, donor guidelines and IRC's grant management and financial regulations;
• Identify opportunities for program development;
• Design and lead technical assessments as a basis for economic wellbeing program development;

• Develop and implement continuous staff capacity building plan to ensure quality gender-sensitive economic wellbeing programming;
• Ensure respect for IRC HR policies;
• Provide timely and quality performance evaluations;
• Promote the IRC Way with all supervisees;
• Identify and execute modalities for teamwork.

• In coordination with the supervisor, represent IRC to UN, international and national NGOs, relevant line ministries, and donors for economic recovery, food security and technical working groups;
• Coordinate closely with the operations teams including: administration, HR, supply chain and finance as they relate to the program; and actively participate in periodic program meetings and ensure a summary of progress and challenges are prepared and presented with follow-up actions as required;
• Participate in internal coordination and management meetings to promote effective and efficient information sharing and program integration.
• Participate actively in national food security, early warning networks and technical working groups;

• Professional Degree preferably at the advanced level (Master) in international development, economics, business management, agronomy etc;
• Minimum of five years' of experience managing experience in field based food security, enterprise development, cash programming and recovery settings. nutrition and emergency programming;
• Experience working on gender transformative food security projects or food security projects that address gender constraints across sectors related to the availability, access, and utilization/consumption of food resources is preferable
• Proven coordination skills with the ability to bring together multiple program requirements and stakeholders. Strong presentation and facilitation skills
• Strong analytical skills and excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
• International experience with preference in Africa;
• Able to respond rapidly to changing environments and work under pressure
• International work experience and experience working in a multi-cultural setting essential.
• Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, budget development and management, gender responsive multi-sector work plan development, and program reporting for diverse audiences;
• Experience working in development or humanitarian assistance
• Must be familiar with USAID rules, regulations and policies
• Proven skills in leadership and supervision, with an ability to work effectively and efficiently in a challenging, complex work environment
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equity in management as well as programmatic contexts
• Demonstrated ability to systematize and streamline organizational operations

• The North East Nigeria is security phase 3 (ORANGE) so the Economic Wellbeing Coordinator will be expected to respect the various security protocols in place in country. Phase 3 requires clear contingency planning in place with staff prepared should hibernation or evacuation be called.