Livelihood Specialist (Markets and Private sector engagement) - NRC Jordan

Contract

This is a Professional contract, Grade 9 (NRC) contract. More about Professional contract, Grade 9 (NRC) contracts.

Background

NRC currently has over 3,000 staff across the Middle East dedicated to assisting people affected by displacement in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine. NRC’s interventions are based upon its programming expertise in six Core Competencies (CC): Shelter & Settlements, Education, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS), Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), and Protection of vulnerable civilians affected by displacement against violence. To support its work in these Core Competencies, NRC has also elected globally to focus on a few cross-cutting thematic areas, including Cash & Markets, Climate Change and Environment, Durable Solutions and Self-Reliance, Integrated Programming, as well as Safe and Inclusive Programming.

Jordan currently hosts nearly 670,000 registered Syrian refugees. On average, they have lived in in Jordan for over seven years. In addition, there are nearly 90,000 refugees of other nationalities residing in Jordan and registered with UNHCR, who have quite a different set of needs and constraints than Syrian refugees. For the time being, the focus is on increasing the self-reliance of these populations as a pathway towards more durable solutions in the future: since the border with Syria re-opened in October 2018, only 7% of Syrian refugees have returned and no more than 1% resettle annually. Often cited as amongst the most welcoming environment for refugees in the region, Jordan has put in place over the years a myriad of progressive policies in support of refugee presence in the country. Yet, despite tremendous efforts and goodwill from the Jordanian population, its government and the international community over the past decade, effective progress in terms of access of these refugees to decent and sustainable work opportunities has been limited. This is in part related to existing restrictive regulations for refugees in terms of access to various sectors of labour markets.

Livelihoods Programming in NRC Jordan

The overall goal of NRC’s livelihoods programming is to increase the level of self-reliance of displacement-affected populations through their meaningful engagement with labour market systems. In order to foster decent and sustainable employment opportunities for refugees, NRC Jordan engages with wage employment and self-employment types of livelihoods programming in both camps and non-camps settings.

In the host community, NRC’s livelihoods programs currently includes cash-for-work activities, as well as coaching and mentoring for young people to navigate their job search. In Zaatari and Azraq Camps, existing programs include technical vocational training for youth as well as various linkages with effective job opportunities. NRC Jordan is also building on the recent roll-out of e-wallets in camps as a means to expand the financial inclusion of refugees. In the future, NRC Jordan is keen on exploring further innovative and modern designs for its livelihoods programming that would be relevant and appropriate to the specific context in Jordan. This includes in particular considering the use of a wider variety of cash components in support of generating decent and sustainable work opportunities, as well as a broader engagement with labour markets both on the demand-side and the supply-side through market-based approaches and more strategic partnerships with local civil society, authorities and the private sector.

Job Purpose

The Livelihoods Specialist is responsible for the setting the strategic direction of NRC Jordan’s livelihoods programs, advocating on relevant issues and leading on fundraising for the strategy. The Specialist also works with NRC’s implementation teams in the field to ensure the program is technically sound and adapts to the context and programmatic learning

What you will do

• Develop the country LFS strategy, as well as technical guidance and Macro LFAs that are aligned with regional and global strategies and priorities.
• Ensure compliance with and adherence of LFS programs to NRC policies, guidance and procedures.
• Contribute to fundraising, develop and revise funding proposal, budgets and donor reports.
• Identify trends, technical standards and donor priorities for LFS programming.
• Follow-up on compliance with contractual commitments for LFS programming, and ensure high technical quality and synergies with other CCs & thematic areas in project implementation.
• Provide technical direction and support to project implementation.
• Ensure that key learnings are extracted from CC implementation, and incorporate them in CC and staff development processes.
• Provide systematic training and build capacity of technical staff, in modern livelihoods programming as well as in financial inclusion, cash-based interventions in support of LFS, and market-based programming for livelihoods.
• Represent NRC in relevant forums/clusters, including with national authorities and donors
• Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with NRC’s Advocacy strategy

Specifically you will;

• Lead the review of the 2022-25 Livelihood programme strategy (including plan of actions) to ensure the response in addressing the protracted needs of refugees while in displacement.
• Lead on fundraising for the Livelihood program strategy, taking the lead on interfacing with donors and proposal writing.
• Develop advocacy strategy, in collaboration with Advocacy and Policy Advisor, and lead on livelihood advocacy priorities, and any other priority, as identified in the program strategy.
• Maintain and develop innovative, strategic partnerships with international, regional and local public and private sector actors, including industry leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society and relevant authorities.
• Proposal writing, including proposals for financial inclusion components, in collaboration with the regional LFS advisor and Cash & Markets advisor.
• Ensure revision and timely submission of donor reporting with the support of the project managers.
• Contribute to the strengthening of the position of NRC in Jordan through active role in coordination bodies relevant to the refugee livelihoods, including the Livelihoods Working Group and Basic Needs Working Group. Support in the development of the relevant chapters of the national response plan (JRP).
• Ensure that the Livelihoods strategy and programming contributes to broadening functionality and access to financial services for refugees and better leverages existing opportunities or explores new opportunities such the expansion of the e-wallet system.
• Ensure that the Livelihoods strategy and programming adopts a market-based approach and explore opportunities to better leverage program components that not only use existing and functional local market systems, but also support & strengthen them as well as possibly change and develop them wherever possible, relevant and appropriate. In particular, consider how market-based approaches could be adopted and adapted in support of Livelihoods objectives for Zaatari and Azraq Camps settings.
• Ensure Livelihoods programme quality throughout the programme cycle management (PCM) (including beneficiary participation, mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues such as gender, protection, disability, environment, value for money, etc).

What you will bring

• Minimum 6 years of professional experience related to Livelihoods programming, including some technical expertise area in a humanitarian/recovery context.
• Experience working with displacement-affected populations and experience in middle-income or high-income humanitarian contexts.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Proficiency in Arabic is an asset.
• Valid driver’s license.

Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of the context in Jordan and/or neighbouring or similar countries.
• Experience designing and implementing programs in urban displacement setting and/or camps setting in protracted displacement.

• Some demonstrated knowledge and skills in market-based programming, cash-based interventions, and / or financial inclusion is an asset, as well as experience developing innovative approaches within an organization.

• Significant experience leading the development and/or support of market-based components, cash components or financial inclusion components in support of Livelihoods programming.

• Experience engaging with and building strategic partnerships with various stakeholders, including civil society, national authorities and / or the private sector.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency with data collection and analysis.

Behavioral competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Empowering and building trust
• Influencing

• Initiate action and change

• Analysing

For more information, here is the detailed Job Description

What We Offer

NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality and physical ability.

We offer an opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause and a chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take initiative.

We are also looking for people who share our values:

• To be dedicated in what we do;
• To be innovative with our solutions;
• To act as one unified and inclusive team;
• To be accountable to the donors that make our work possible; the people we exist to serve, and to each other… the members of our NRC family.

Additional Information:

Duty Station: Amman, Jordan

Travel: Up to 30% within Jordan

Grade 9 in NRC's grading structure

Reporting to: Head of Programme

We invite applications from all qualified and interested candidates. Send in your application by latest March 20, 2023.

Please ensure you attach copies of your academic and professional certificates.

For any queries, please email us at mero.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.