Livelihood and Food Security Officer-1

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC leads the way from harm to home. Began work in Ethiopia, 1999 in response to severe drought that happened in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Currently, providing assistance in ten different regions implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview/Summary:

IRC is planning to implement Irish Aid funded BRIDGE Project-to Building Resilience, Inclusion, and Durable Growth for Empowerment of Women, Youth, and Other Shock-Affected Communities in East Hararghe (Chinaksen and Gursum) and Gambella (Itang especial woreda and Lare) woreda, Ethiopia. The primary Goal of the project is to Improve food security and resilience of vulnerable population against shocks and stress (Resilient Livelihoods and Food Security) in the intervention areas.

The Livelihood and Food Security Officer will be responsible for the planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring and reporting of livelihood, food security and climate resilience interventions under the project. The position will provide technical and field-level support to vulnerable households, smallholder farmers, pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, women, youth, SMEs, cooperatives and other targeted groups to improve food production, income, assets and resilience to climate and other shocks.

The Officer will support implementation of climate-smart agriculture, crop and livestock production, kitchen/keyhole gardening, climate-resilient agricultural inputs and seed systems, sustainable land and water management, irrigation, livelihood diversification, green enterprises, savings and financial inclusion, market linkages, anticipatory action and community resilience interventions.

The position will work closely with government extension services, community structures, implementing partners, cooperatives, producer organisations, private-sector actors and other stakeholders to ensure quality, inclusive and sustainable delivery of project activities..

Major responsibilities include:

Project planning and implementation:

• Support the Project Manager in planning and implementing livelihood and food security activities in line with the project work plan, budget and approved technical approaches.

• Develop detailed activity plans, schedules and field implementation plans for assigned interventions.

• Conduct regular field visits to monitor implementation, provide technical guidance and identify challenges requiring corrective action.

• Ensure project activities reach targeted households and communities in accordance with approved beneficiary selection criteria.

• Support integration of gender equality, social inclusion, climate resilience and environmental sustainability into all livelihood and food security interventions.

• Coordinate with local government offices and relevant technical departments to ensure alignment with government priorities and technical standards.

• Maintain effective communication with community representatives, beneficiaries and local stakeholders.

Climate-Smart Agriculture and Crop Production

• Support gender-sensitive assessments of barriers and opportunities affecting crop production and household food security.

• Support identification and selection of targeted food-insecure households for climate-smart agriculture interventions.

• Facilitate training of farmers on climate-smart and environmentally sustainable agricultural production practices.

• Support establishment and strengthening of lead farmer approaches for farmer-to-farmer learning and extension.

• Provide technical support on improved crop production, soil fertility management, water conservation and climate-resilient agricultural practices.

• Support strengthening of Farmer Training Centres and link them with appropriate extension and demonstration activities.

• Promote household food production through keyhole gardening and other appropriate technologies, with particular focus on women, displaced households and host communities.

• Support access to quality, climate-resilient agricultural inputs and sustainable seed supply systems.

• Work with government extension workers, research institutions and other technical partners to promote appropriate agricultural technologies and practices.

Livestock, Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Livelihoods

• Support women smallholder farmers, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists to improve livestock production and management.

• Facilitate training on livestock husbandry, animal health, feed and fodder management, breeding and other appropriate livestock production practices.

• Support beneficiaries to develop livestock-based livelihood and business opportunities.

• Promote climate-resilient livestock production practices suitable to local production systems.

• Coordinate with government livestock and veterinary services to facilitate appropriate technical support.

• Monitor livestock-related inputs, assets and services provided to project participants.

• Promote livelihood diversification to reduce household exposure to climate and economic shocks.

Sustainable Land, Water Management and Irrigation

• Support training of lead farmers and communities on sustainable land and water management practices.

• Promote soil and water conservation, tree planting, land rehabilitation and other environmentally sustainable practices.

• Support communities to adopt climate-resilient natural resource management practices.

• Facilitate household access to appropriate climate-resilient micro-irrigation technologies.

• Support establishment and strengthening of Irrigation Water Users Organizations (IWUOs).

• Faci