🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ Action Against Hunger – Food Security and Livelihoods Head of Department

Food Security and Livelihoods Head of Department

(FSL HOD)

 (National Status)

Action Against Hunger is an equal opportunity employer

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

ABOUT US

International Non-governmental organization, Action Against Hunger has been working to fight undernutrition and support communities affected by crisis across the globe for almost 40 years and across nearly 50 countries. Action Against Hunger established its presence in Sierra Leone in 1991 during the Civil War and since then has been operational by implementing various humanitarian and development programs related to health, nutrition, food security/livelihoods and advocacy geared towards the reduction of the prevalence rates of under-nutrition in the country. Action Against Hunger Sierra Leone Coordination office is based in Freetown, overseeing the current operations in Bonthe and Moyamba.

Action Against Hunger is recruiting a suitably qualified Sierra Leonean as Food Security and Livelihoods Head of Department (FSL HoD), to guarantee the quality, relevance and scaling of FSL strategy and interventions at the mission, in conformity with Action Against Hunger and international standards, and national policies.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Contribute to defining the country strategy as well as the sector strategy and positioning of the FSL technical department  in the country context. Specifically provide technical guidance to the country team on the ACF FSL positioning, sector development and alignment with national priorities. 
• You will be responsible to ensure the understanding by the field teams of the situation regarding FSL and of the context of intervention, and its continuous, systematic and thorough monitoring
• You will also be in charge of the analysis of the FSL situation
• You are expected to champion the dissemination of information gathered and analyzed both internally and externally, including headquarters
• Oversight of the production and the quality of the mission sectoral strategy document in line with ACF international and national frameworks is also your responsibility
• You are expected to give contribution to the mission strategy and the ACFIN sectoral strategy
• You will be taking account of DRM in FSL strategy and projects, including participation in drafting the plan to prepare for and respond to emergencies
• Integrating the FSL sector with the other technical sectors (FSL, MHCP, Nutrition and Health) is your duty as well
• You are also expected to monitor the implementation of the FSL mission strategy, its revision and its cost effectiveness
• You will be contributing to the technical and operational advocacy strategies of the mission, the region and headquarters (in line with the advocacy objectives defined in the ACF reference documentation)
• You will be also identifying the subjects for sectoral advocacy specific to the mission, in collaboration with the Country Director

• Coordinate the identification of needs and the formulation of project proposals, by working with the program teams, partners, authorities and communities.  You will be responsible for project design (FSL component), in coordination with other sectors and departments, and sector development. 
• It’s your duty to coordinate the identification of FSL needs
• You’re expected to formulate, finance and implement the feasibility study of FSL projects (public health, technical, socio-economic, cultural and environmental aspects)
• You will be involving the logistic and Finance departments in the definition/validation of FSL projects
• You will also be contributing to the search for funding bodies for his/her sector and ensuring that there is an exchange of technical information with the funding bodies identified
• You are expected to participate in visits by funding agencies whenever requested by the Country Director or the Field Coordinator
• You are also responsible for producing the FSL sections of project proposals in accordance with the formats and deadlines of funding bodies

• Oversee the technical implementation of programs/projects and ensure that quality reports are submitted timely. Specifically develop the technical capacity of the program team, provide technical oversight and monitor  the quality of implementation of the interventions.
• You will be validating the key stages and the methodologies of the projects being undertaken (timetable, CAP survey (baseline/final) systematics, technical studies, call for tender, specifications, community approach, external evaluations…)
• You will provide technical support (direct and at a distance) to the PMs, and implementing partners
• You will also be ensuring that systems of monitoring and evaluation are in place and that their results are integrated to guarantee the improvement of the projects
• You are expected to do timely validation of the FSL parts of internal reports and reports to funding agencies, as well as amendments to projects, with contributions by the teams

• Guarantee the quality and cost-effectiveness of projects, work closely with the project managers, field coordinators, MEAL and support departments in overseeing quality delivery, project budgets reviews and adjustment to meet the desired outcomes. 
• You will ensure technical conformity of programs with international rules, orientations and technical standards, and the ACF framework documents and technical works
• You will boost the overall standard of implementation of projects in order to maximize their impact (cf CAD criteria of OECD)
• You will also ensuring, by use of ACF specific monitoring (project  quality, field visits, external audit…), that norms (SPHERE and OMS), and national and international standards of technical quality are respected
• You are expected to issue and follow up technical recommendations
• You will be alerting the Country Director and the Technical Advisor at Headquarters to all major difficulties encountered in applying necessary recommendations and/or adaptations
• You will also be alerting the Country Director and asking that precautionary measures be taken in the case of major risks to public health
• You will be responsible for the promotion of external and internal evaluations of projects, in line with ACF evaluation policy
• Promotion of transparency and ethical standards in the projects by highlighting complaints/grievance procedures, particularly in respect of the beneficiary population

• Ensure the active participation of ACF in national sectoral coordination and technical forums and develop sectoral partnerships, by participating the different in country forums –Food security technical working group, INGOs sector coordination. 
• You will be representing ACF in sectoral coordination at national and sub-national levels (sectoral and/or cluster) and with the technical authorities
• You will be in interaction with regional sectoral coordination
• You are expected to provide technical communications concerning the FSL projects in liaison with the Country Director/Field Coordinator)
• You will be in charge to promote of sectoral partnerships (civil society, NGOs, authorities, private sector.. .) and the enhancement of their capacities

• Team Management- when delegated to or have direct line reportees 
• You are the functional management of FSL personnel
• You will be responsible for the evaluation of the technical performance of all FSL teams (PMs and DPMs)
• You are expected to develop FSL competences throughout the mission

• Promote capitalization, technical development and research within the FSL Department, to ensure there is evidence generation and  lessons learnt dissemination. Ensure the research works meets the ACF standards. 
• You will be in charge of the capitalization within the FSL sector at the level of the mission, consolidation and transmission to headquarters (technical developments, pilot projects, innovative or little documented approaches, operational approaches which may serve as a reference for the ACF network, successes and failures, contextual analyses etc)
• You are responsible to supervise the task of capitalization undertaken by PM and the FSL Department
• You are expected to share experience with actors in the FSL sector at country and regional levels
• You will be maintaining continuity in respect of the FSL expertise and the history of the mission
• You are expected to apply new approaches proposed by Headquarters or at mission level
• You will be reporting to Headquarters on technical development and research requirements and on the implementation of projects (notably  in response to calls for internal ACF research projects)
• You are expected to set up research projects
• You will be responsible to explore the modalities of scientific and technical partnerships (laboratories, universities, private sector)
• You are also expected to develop technical skills in line with the evolution of the sector

• Gender Action
• Contribute to the development of necessary gender methods and tools.
• Demonstrate experience and/or personal commitment to promoting gender equality within the Action Against Hunger work environment.
• Works with project teams to ensure access and participation of women, men, girls and boys at risk to Action Against Hunger’s response, recovery and rehabilitation work

• Arrange for the preparation of special reports as needed, on particular gender issues.

• Others
• Timely Filling and submission of timesheets and checking and approving for staff s/he supervises.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master Degree in relevant field: Agronomy, Rural development OR BSC Degree with relevant years of experience.
• At least 5-10 years of experience in the same field.
• Previous experience in Humanitarian field, especially with INGOs will be an asset.
• Humanitarian values
• Knowledge in Agriculture, Food Security Nutrition and etc
• Good Project and team management skills
• Excellent computer skills (Excel, Word, Outlook, Internet)
• Pro-activity

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Excellent computer skills (Excel, Word, Outlook, Internet)
• Excellent written and verbal skills in English, with ability to draft quality reports
• Strong results oriented and pro-active personnel, with the ability to take initiative and challenge existing issues.
• Aptitude to work in remote environment when situation demands
• Personal features : Human quality (calm, diplomacy, self-control, respect of values and cultural differences), Flexibility and pragmatism, rigor and team spirit
• Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility, reliability and solidity, discernment and initiative.
• Common sense is however your key tool, along with empathy, listening skills and persuasiveness.
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in execution of assigned responsibilities
• Ability and willingness to take responsibility and decisions on behalf of the team.
• Commitment to Action Against Hunger values

WORK CONDITIONS

STARTING DATE: October 2023

MONTHLY BASIC SALARY: SLE19,852.53 to SLE21,440.73 based on profile

HOUSING AND TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE: 15% of basic salary each

DURATION OF CONTRACT: Initial 11 Months – with possible extensions  

LOCATION: Freetown, with frequent travels to Moyamba, Bonthe, and other field areas

HOW TO APPLY:

Send Motivation Letter, CV saved in your name – for example (Joe Blue CV) for your CV, and (Joe Blue Motivation Letter) for your motivation letter, with names of three (3) referees by EMAIL, under the Subject  “Food Security and Livelihoods HoD”  to

[email protected]

Deadline for the receipt of applications is Thursday 5th October 2023. 

Due to the urgency of this position, applications may be sorted on a rolling basis.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for a written test and oral interview.

Please state the position applied for on the subject line of your email.

Action Against Hunger is an equal opportunity employer.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.