Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods Coordinator

Job Details

Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods Coordinator

Ref     INT5248
Region     West Africa
Location     Bamako
Division     International
Department     Regional Programme & Operations
Position Type     Fixed Term
Job Family     Programme

Salary: £24,245 - 30,853 net p/a (net = take-home pay. Oxfam will meet any tax and social security liabilities of the post holder in addition to the net salary)

Hours per week: 40 hours  

Contract type:  Fixed term

Please be aware that due to the rapid scale up of our programme in Mali, we will long list applications as they are received, and may contact applicants for interviews or appoint suitable candidates prior to the closing date.

This is a call for applications for the position of Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods Coordinator to be based in Bamoko

BACKGROUND

The situation of agricultural production is characterized by early rains unevenly distributed in time and space with negative impacts in the harvest and the quality of pasture, the early drying up of ponds that were not fed as in previous years, the presence of seed-eating birds and grasshoppers. The impacts are already visible on people and their livestock. Among the areas most at risk of food insecurity in Mali, the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro and Gao are the most important. In response, Oxfam is scaling up its activities in Gao, Kayes et potentially Koulikoro, which are the main food security intervention areas of Oxfam Affiliates in Mali (OGB, Oxfam America, Oxfam Novib and Oxfam Belgique).

The upcoming 'hunger gap' or 'lean period' of 2012 is expected to be as harsh as in 2005, the severely eroded livelihoods of agricultural, agro-pastoral and pastoral communities throughout much of the regions are still too fragile to withstand the inevitable hardship ahead. Oxfam GB have committed to work with national governments and the international community to help communities through the 2012 lean period and on to a lasting recovery.

This is a slow-onset crisis and therefore mobilisation of actors and funds is a challenge at present times but we foresee large operations. For this purpose, Oxfam is scaling-up its teams and enhancing networks of allies. We are looking for humanitarian experts to manage the food security response in relationship with our partners working in the areas of intervention.

To prevent, mitigate and plan the response, Oxfam has developed and overall response strategy for the food crisis, including both EFSL and WASH interventions. The strategy is organized in three main phases: the first phase, aimed at strengthening the resilience avoiding the depletion of the livelihoods assets of the very poor and poor families; the second phase during the hunger/lean period aiming at increasing the access to food and the fight against malnutrition and the third phase, to support an early recovery of the most vulnerable families. The objective of the third phase is to guarantee also a link with the development projects that the organization is implementing in the area currently affected by the crisis. Advocay and community vulnerability indicators monitoring complete these actions.   

A project already started in Gao with the support of SIDA, ECHO and CATFUND under the lead of OGB.

Current assessment feeback illustrates a serious situation and the need to already start preparing a response. It should be noted that there is no experience of humanitarian work of Oxfam affiliates in Kayes region or with / by the partners. So the launch of a response also involves a process of capacity building of the local partners. An initial project fund is already secured from DFID (458,000 GBP).

Dimensions

Provide technical insight and advice for the food security response in Kayes.
Liaise with external technical actors involved in the response to the food crisis in Kayes.
Participate in the reporting to donors on the current grants and participate in the research of new grants (technical design of response, proposal writing).
Work closely and build the EFSL capacities of the partners implementing the response in the field.
Ensure that gender is mainstreamed in the response.

Key Responsibilities

·         Lead or participate in the preparation, planning and implementation of EFSL activities;
·         Lead on monitoring EFSL activities and support partners to do it effectively;
·         Lead and participate in the technical analysis of the food security situation within the team;
·         Support and supervise the development of EFSL activities by partners, provide technical advice;
·         Manage and train local health promotion and engineering staffs and supervise their activities; this may involve developing work plans and undertaking their induction, training and performance management.
·         Build the technical capacity of Oxfam and partners staffs involved in the response;
·         Write technical analysis papers and reports;
·         Analyse and follow-up the studies findings in the program area;
·         Ensure that technical decisions are in accordance with Oxfam policies;
·         Ensure that quality is maintained in all EFSL activities;
·         Ensure food security surveillance in operational areas together with other actors present:
NGOs, partners, government;
·         Monitor the food security situation across the program area and flag any humanitarian needs
which are not being met by others humanitarian agencies;
·         Participate to the write up periodic reports and donor reports;
·         Bring learning to the response from other similar experiences and contribute to learning from the response;


Skills and Competence

·         A masters degree or equivalent in food security & livelihoods discipline (rural development, agronomy, etc.);
·         Proven field experience of as an emergency food security specialist.
·         Proven practical experience in two or more of the following issues: food security assessments and nutritional surveys, agriculture and livestock interventions, food and cash based interventions, general food distribution and targeting;
·         Experience, proven ability and willingness to work with / accompany partners;
·         Experience and proven ability in proposals and reports writing to main humanitarian donors.
·         Excellent food security analytical skills;
·         Community development skills, including participatory community assessment and planning with skills in capacity building of communities and experience of organizing groups/community-based structures;
·         Fluent in French, good written and spoken English is desirable;
·         Ability & willingness to travel to the field;
·         Experience of working with partners;
·         Experience / knowledge of Sahelian context;
·         Previous experience with Oxfam affiliates advantageous
·         Ability to work with / in a team, but also in an autonomous way;
·         Excellent supportive, coordination and collaboration skills;
·         Understanding of, and commitment to, humanitarian principles and minimum standards for disaster response;
·         A sound understanding of the importance of integrating gender and diversity into emergency response programmes;
·         To be familiar with and abide by the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct, the People in Aid Code, Oxfam International procedures and other regulatory codes (e.g. InterAction Field Co-operation Protocol)

Additional Website Text

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization. Women and under represented groups are encouraged to apply

No Fee

AJS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND AJS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.

SOME EMPLOYERS MAY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR APPLICATION.