Food Systems, Livelihood and Nutrition (FSI&N) Sector Lead needed at CARE

JOB SUMMARY

CARE Nigeria is seeking a Food Systems, Livelihood and Nutrition (FSL&N) Sector lead to provide technical leadership to CARE’s interventions in food, livelihood and nutrition sectors in Nigeria. The FLS&N Sector lead will support and promote food Systems and livelihoods response through establishment of sector strategies, technical guidelines, and response mechanisms in collaboration with the other Sectors’ leads to guide CARE Nigeria programming. The Sector Lead is expected to facilitate development of quality, gender-sensitive, accountable, and impact-focus interventions on livelihoods, food Systems, and Nutrition in Nigeria. This includes provision of technical advice, capacity building of staff and partners, as well as influencing policy and practice through research, analysis and advocacy and building resilience by linking to longer term programming. The position will be based in Abuja and report directly to the Program Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

Job Responsibility #1: Information Gathering, Assessments, Analysis and Technical Guidance 

• Set key priorities, establish key internal and external contacts to understand local food, livelihoods, and nutrition issues.
• Lead assessments, information collection, analysis, and use of sex- and age-disaggregated data in project design, implementation, and evaluation to be more effective in meeting the affected populations’ needs in areas of food Systems, livelihoods, and nutrition.
• Streamline needs assessment and analysis tools/processes, including templates, team composition and methodologies, and ensure that they are gender focused and embrace protection issues.
• Guide and manage project participant targeting with focus on most vulnerable groups including women, girls, and children.
• Ensure programme quality throughout the programme cycle by providing guidance to teams and ensure proper reporting and accountability to beneficiaries and donors. 
• Facilitate integration of emergency food & nutrition Systems and livelihoods interventions with other sectoral and cross-cutting teams under the resilience/risk reduction framework. 
• In the event of displacement of humanitarian emergency in areas of operation, work with partner organizations to conduct rapid need assessments of the food and livelihoods situation and make recommendations to the CARE Nigeria humanitarian team on how best to respond to those needs programmatically.

Job Responsibility #2: Strategy and Program Development

• Lead the CO program and program support teams in development of Food (and Nutrition) Systems & Livelihoods, strategy and appropriately guide CARE’s programming and practices in this sector. 
• Support preparation and development of concept notes/proposals and lead in discussion with relevant stakeholders in food & Nutrition, and livelihood Systems including donors, peer agencies and sector managers. Ensure the proposed activities/interventions align with the best practices in the food Systems/livelihood and nutrition sectors. 
• Coordinate CARE Nigeria’s Food Systems response and early recovery activities across a wide range of actors, including local partner organizations, donors, INGOs and UN/Cluster agencies to ensure consistency and avoid duplication in programming.
• Provide technical support to partners and team members implementing food Systems & livelihoods projects in both development and emergency response.
• Lead the process of developing project participant targeting strategy and its roll out and implementation.
• In the event of further displacement or in humanitarian emergencies, work with partner organizations to review on-going programming and make recommendations to the CARE Nigeria humanitarian team on how best to adjust the programs.
• Display technical and organizational leadership in sectoral activity commensurate with the role as a primary resource person for food Systems and livelihoods on the CARE Nigeria team.

Job Responsibility #3: Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and reporting

• Monitor the food and nutrition Systems’ outlook in Nigeria and provide clear periodic analysis on the impact and the implications for CARE Nigeria programming.
• Provide technical support on developing new MEAL tools to be used by the team to ensure that relevant information is being collected to inform strategy and implementation, and to ensure accountability and learning. 
• Guide field staff in effective monitoring on project outcomes/impacts and render advice for fine-tuning plans where required. 
• Guide on technical standards in operation reports (internal/ for donors). 
• Guide the team in planning and analysis in the baseline, mid-term review and final evaluations. 
• Ensure project learning is captured, consolidated, and disseminated.
• Provide technical guidance and close monitoring of partner organizations’ food Systems & livelihoods related activities

Job Responsibility #4: Coordination, Representation, Advocacy and Learning

• Ensure that the strategy is informed by sound analysis, with consultations with teams and concerned stakeholders. 
• Actively represent CARE Nigeria in food Systems, agriculture, and livelihood sector/cluster discussions and activities. 
• Ensure that CARE’s work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government.
• Take a leadership role within Inter agency coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of women and girls are being addressed. This may involve taking the lead in coordination working groups.
• In collaboration with senior programme staff, assist in advocacy activities that target decision-makers at all levels.
• Feed in learning, experiences, and evidence to relevant global advocacy objectives.
• Contribute to knowledge building and sharing good practices within Nigeria, Headquarters, and other offices, and globally.

Job Responsibility #5: Programme Design and MEAL Resources 

• Ensure that MEAL is an integral part of the programme design stage and features in all proposal development. 
• Responsible for effectively managing the MEAL budget.
• Ensure that data brought together and findings from across thematic and operational regions to form a coherent basis for analysis of impact which promotes learning, programming, and strategy development for the whole organisation.
• Lead on monitoring and improving the synergy and integration of thematic programmes to enhance delivery of outstanding results for children and their communities 
• Communicate top level learning / analysis reports and monitoring data to ensure that management is able to make informed decisions on a timely basis to scale up and face operational challenges

Resource Mobilization:

• Contribute to CARE’s resource mobilization efforts.
• Provide cutting edge food systems and livelihood solutions for new program development and resource mobilization.
• Work closely with Business Development Manager to identify new opportunities and partners to fund raise for CARE Food Systems and Livelihoods programming  

QUALIFICATION/EXPERIENCE/TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Required:

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in Agriculture or other relevant field.
• Over 8 years of progressive senior roles in food security, agriculture, and livelihoods, including experience in emergency response and recovery following natural/man-made disasters.
• Experience in assessment, program design & evaluation and technical training and support.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in leading food and livelihood security and nutrition sectors.
• Strong experience and knowledge of major donors, particularly USAID, ECHO, EU, BHA and FCDO and their requirements, including funding and reporting guidelines.
• Experience working in partnership with local organizations.
• Proficient analytical skills that demonstrate an understanding of the current concepts, priorities, and emerging local and global issues in food systems, livelihoods, and nutrition.
• Prior experience of Climate Smart Agriculture and Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture concepts
• Prior experience working with Ministry of Agriculture/ government agencies in Nigeria.

Technical Competencies Required 

• Fluency in English and strong oral and written communication skills; excellent demonstrated inter-cultural, interpersonal, and negotiation skills are required. 
• Knowledge of a local language is an asset.
• Strong data visualization and report writing skills, and ability to translate technical information for non-technical audiences.
• Experience recruiting, developing, and managing staff and teams.
• Demonstrated skills building and maintaining relationships with project stakeholders, local partners, and local organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to PSHEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Harassment, and Abuse).
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion (DEBI).

Competencies

1. Approachability                                 
2. Building Effective Teams
3. Customer Focus
4. Integrity and Trust
5. Drive for Results
6. Comfort around Higher management
7. Business Acumen
8. Negotiating
9. Organizational Agility

NOTE:

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CARE considers all applicants on the basis of merit without prejudice to race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, colour, national origin, marital status, or veteran status.
• There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job seekers. Please note that CARE will not request for any monetary payments from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process.

Qualified Women and Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.