2023-11-29

Project Officer, Hudur, Bakool, Somalia

Hudur, Somalia
Posted on November 29, 2023

Action Against Hunger

Project Officer, Hudur, Bakool, Somalia

Position Title: Project Officer

Number of positions: 1

Reporting to: FSL Programme Manager

Duty Station: Hudur

Contract Duration: 12 Months

Organisational background:

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 24 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 50 countries, our 8,300 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $100 million in programs, and approximately 1,800 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices. Additional growth is anticipated.

Summary of Position

The Project Officer will take charge the implementation of the project activities under the strategic guidance of the FSL program manager. The officer ensures the day-to-day running of the project related matters, including visibility of the project, information sharing and monitoring. He/she will contribute to the execution and assurance of project success. He/she will work collaboratively with all team members but most closely with FSL program manager. The officer will be required to work in a changing and dynamic environment with multiple priorities and pressing demands.

Purpose:

The project officer will be responsible for the overall implementation of project deliverables as per the organizational and donor standards. He/she will work to ensure that professional standards of work are maintained and activities are completed on time and budget. He/she will ensure reporting on project deliverables in a timely manner. The project officer will develop methods of project initiation, execution and delivery and will ensure proper coordination and integration with other departments.

Engagement

He/she will closely engage with other project team members, relevant implementing stakeholders, community structures. He/she will ensure project coordination and information sharing at the district level.

Delivery

The project officer will develop work plans as per the detailed implementation plans and will produce BoQs, FRs, monitoring and trainings plans. He/she will prepare cash requests and other requisitions to facilitate project implementation, keeping accurate records for accountability purposes.

Essential job duties

The Positions and Responsibilities:

Action Against Hunger Somalia is looking for suitable candidates to fill the position of project officer. The position will be based in Hudur district. The project officer reports hierarchically & technically to the FSL Programme Manager for Bakool region.

Specific Duties

Objective 1: Social mobilization and need assessment in the field

The project officer facilitates community mobilization activities to support targeting and registration of beneficiaries and improve food, security and livelihood/cash based Intervention knowledge, attitudes and practices.
Assist in the preparation of monthly progress report, plans and provide leadership to the FSL team in Hudur.
Contribute, participate, and lead the registration of cash beneficiaries and answering technical questions
Contribute, participate, and lead the distribution and implementation of cash and agriculture activities that include cash, seed and tools distribution, cash and Agro-related training, and Agro-related interventions among others.
Organize and support running of agriculture activities in the target district.

Objective 2: Support field level FSL coordination elaboration

Coordinate closely with the FSL PM to ensure that FSL related activities in the assigned areas of operation are implemented harmoniously and with quality.
Provide inputs to the design & utilization of project information gathering tools & project activity manuals.
Work with the other program team members on cross-learning and beneficiary capacity building initiatives especially in relation to FSL.
Participate in FSL related data collection together with the MEAL team.
Work in close collaboration with Nutrition, WASH, and Health teams on ensuring field level integration and synergy.
Build capacity of other staff members in relation to project activities.
Other relevant duties as directed by the PM, Specialist or HOD or Specific responsibilities.

Objective 3: Spearhead community facilitation activities:

Contribute to the development of viable community mobilization strategies for targeting, registration, and follow-up of FSL beneficiaries.
Plan and execute FSL related capacity building for targeted communities.
Conduct follow up monitoring of FSL activities in the area of operation.

Objective 4: Documentation and reporting:

Prepare and compile FSL activity reports on weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and yearly and share with FSL PM.
Prepare Success histories with all legal documentation and share with the lead agency
Regular monitoring of project activities and provide timely inputs and feedback to the FSL PM.

Supervisory Responsibilities

No Supervisory Role

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.

Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

Foster an environment that reinforces values of people of all genders equal access to information.
Provide a work environment where people of all genders can be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.
Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
Value and respect all cultures.

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

Bachelor Degree in food security related fields; i.e. Agricultural engineering, Agronomy, Crop Science, development studies.
Minimum of 3+ years of experience in direct implementation of agriculture extension and working with subsistence farmers, knowledge of working environment. Development and oversight of small-scale rural agriculture projects.

Required Skills & Competencies

Extensive experience in community participation and consultative-implementation methods.
Flexibility to adjust to new implementation practices and new strategic guidance as per the changing political environment.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and be initiative
Good facilitation, analytical, planning and report writing skills
Experience in community and farmer group mobilization
Good supervisory and organizational skills, good interpersonal skills
Knowledge of livelihoods issues and techniques
Good knowledge of implementing projects
Self-motivated and reliable
Experience and knowledge of working with NGOs in agriculture programs in Somalia
Knowledge of written and spoken English, understanding of the local language is a must
Proficient in MS Excel, MS Word and Outlook
Willing to extensively travel throughout the project area.