Chemonics International Inc., a leading international development firm based in Washington, D.C, seeks qualified candidates for a five-year agricultural value-chain development project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to head its Grants and Subcontract Fund (GSF) unit:

We seek application from qualified candidate to fill the position below:

Position: Regional Food Security Specialist-Livelihoods


Position Descriptions

• The Regional Food Security Specialist-Livelihoods (RFSS/L) will work in close collaboration with FEWS NET's home office technical team, regional and country teams, and with national, regional and global partners to design, execute, coordinate and support livelihoods and HEA related activities in the region. This will include supporting the preparation of regional decision-support products, providing technical assistance and guidance to country teams, and strengthening local capacity to conduct relevant livelihoods analysis both inside and outside FEWS NET.
• The RFSS/L will contribute to providing high-quality and effective early warning of threats to food security and support efforts to mitigate food insecurity and prevent food crises through the provision of actionable food security analysis.

Responsibilities
The main activities of the RFSS/L will include, but are not limited to:

Monitoring, analysis, and reporting:

• In collaboration with the RTM, providing high quality and effective early warning of threats to food security and supporting efforts to mitigate food insecurity and prevent food crises through the effective communication of actionable food security analysis;
• Fulfilling monthly reporting requirements including drafting food security outlooks and updates and providing regular briefings to the US Government and other partners;
• Supporting national office to maintain a knowledge base composed of, at a minimum, livelihood zone profiles, sub-national seasonal monitoring calendars, and technical databases relevant to maintain livelihoods profiles and/or baselines;
• Assisting the RTM in maintaining relevant regional technical databases built from input from national offices and from regional partners;
• Providing technical coverage according to the regional seasonal monitoring plans;
• Contributing to remote monitoring of non-presence countries in the region, including directly carrying out remote monitoring activities; and
• Working with the RTM to ensure current and accurate information on the regional page of the FEWS NET website.
• Collaborating with relevant partners working on livelihood issues to build and strengthen a network of livelihoods monitoring and analysis in the context of FEWS NET’s network development strategy.

Technical capacity development and guidance:

• Assisting the RTM in executing technical activities including regional scenario development, livelihoods analyses, and other areas of food security analysis;
• Collaborating with regional and international partners in food security monitoring and analysis through the implementation of the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) protocols and other IPC compatible tools that includes the Cadre Harmonise, vulnerability assessments, chronic food insecurity assessments, etc.;
• Providing guidance and ad hoc technical assistance to the region and to the project in livelihoods, HEA, and food security analysis;
• Designing, coordinating, and implementing technical activities to maintain and update the livelihoods knowledge base for the region;
• Supporting national offices to collect, archive, analyze and share food security data and information;
• Working in coordination with the RTM to design and implement capacity strengthening activities in the region, focusing on building livelihoods analysis skills;
• In collaboration with the Washington-based team and the RTM, transferring knowledge and providing short-term training to strengthen the capacity of country teams to understand the livelihoods context and functioning of household economies; and to monitor, analyze, and report on livelihoods changes or coping that affect food security outcomes;
• Contributing to other FEWS NET information products required regionally and by the Washington-based technical team; and
• Contributing to FEWS NET methods development and testing.

Leadership, representation, and liaison:

• Coordinating with the RTM to develop and maintain strong collaborative relations, both formal and informal, with USAID missions/representatives, U.S. Embassy technical contacts, U.N. agency representatives, government ministries, and key international NGO5 to facilitate technical exchanges, promote consensus-building, and resolve any potential conflicts;
• Liaising with regional partners in exchange of information and promote a dialogue on livelihoods issues pertaining to food security, early warning, and preparedness;
• Contributing to activities undertaken outside FEWS NET that aim to enhance capabilities in livelihoods monitoring and analysis, early warning, and food assistance decision-support;
• Participating in strategic planning for the region, assisting the RTM in coordinating regional activities, and overseeing livelihoods activities in the region;
• Contributing to the identification of priority country and areas where updates to the livelihoods knowledge base is needed to improve food security analysis, and working with the Washington-based team and the RTM to implement the needed updates;
• Seeking collaboration with regional partners to enhance the quality and impact of livelihoods work;
• Working with USAID missions to support broad food security efforts including Feed the Future programs; and
• Assisting the RTM in carrying out other technical, management, and representational functions of the regional office upon request.
• The RFSS/L will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Technical Manager (RTM) and in close collaboration with the Livelihood Advisor based in Washington.
• S/He may be required to supervise technical assistants and short-term consultants and act as interim RTM when delegated by the RTM.
• The RFSS/L will the RTM in providing technical oversight for national technical managers of the region.
• The RFSS/L will be required to travel intensely within his/her region of posting, and some international travel in sub-Saharan Europe, and the United States may be required.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least two years in application of Livelihoods and/or HEA analytical frameworks
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in French
• Intermediate (professional) spoken and written communication skills in English
• A Master's Degree in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Nutrition, Climatology, Anthropology or Social Geography;
• At least five years of relevant experience in early warning/food security information systems, food security analysis, as well as other related fields (markets and trade, agro climatology, nutrition, agricultural sciences, field assessments, IPC/Cadre Harmonise);
• Excellent computer skills
• West Africa national

Preferred Skills

• Experience working in a regional capacity
• Experience working with the IPC or Cadre Harmonisé
• GIS applications and mapping skills
• Quantitative research methods skills
• Presentation or training skills.

Selection Criteria
Candidates will be evaluated against the following core competencies and technical skills.

Core Competencies

• Computer skills
• Evidence of working with and coordinating partners, networking and collaboration
• Coordination and representational experience
• Relevance of education to the work of FEWS NET
• French language ability (spoken and written)
• English language ability (spoken and written)
• Presentation skills
• Evidence of working independently and in different context/countries in West Africa

Technical Skills (depth of understanding and experience on the following topics):

• Field assessments (quantitative and/or qualitative)
• Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)
• Use of livelihoods methods and tools for food security analysis
• Household economy approach (HEA)
• Knowledge of related food security sectors (markets and trade, agro-climatology, nutrition, agricultural sciences)
• Analytical skills, including use of spreadsheets, GIS and statistical packages
• Reporting skills, including quality of writing

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and cover letter to: fewsnetwest.livelihoods@gmail.com

Note: Please include "regional food security specialist - livelihoods" in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

In addition, please download and complete Chemonics’ equal employment opportunity self-identification form and submit it separately to: EEOselfidentify@chemonics.com with only "regional food security specialist - livelihood - FEWS NET" in the subject line. If you prefer not to disclose your sex, race, or ethnicity, you may check “I do not wish to complete the information requested." Thank you for completing the form and supporting our equal employment opportunity reporting requirements.