Local recruitment: Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist

I Job Summary

The Purpose of the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist position is to place a staff who will act as the key technical support person supporting the implementation and accomplishment of all crises modifier natural resource and disaster risk management related activities within the Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA) program. The position will be field based in the operational areas of Somali Regional State. With supervision and direction from the Senior DRM and NRM Advisors and Senior Geo-Spatial and Crises Response Advisor from the country office, the NRM Specialist will be responsible for the implementation and coordination of the Crises Modifier (CM) NRM related activities as per the established RIPA program work plan and implementation guidelines.  The NRM Specialist will act as the key field level staff supporting the implementation and accomplishment of all Crises Modifier activities that fall under the Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA)Program.

II. Responsibilities

Job Responsibility # 1: Technical Support (50%)

• Support the implementation of all CM activities in selected Woredas under the guidance and support of the NRM Specialist.
• Support the facilitation of training, and community-based dialogues and events for field stakeholders, to support sound implementation of NRM activities.
• Regularly provide feedback to the Senior DRM/NRM Advisors and Geo-Spatial and Senior Crises Response Advisor on the progress of NRM activities in the field, through reporting, articulating successes, challenges and providing recommendations to maximize impact.
• Provide support to C2 (Alternative livelihoods), C3 (Intensified Livestock Production and Marketing) and C4 (Nutrition and WASH): around environmentally sustainable practices related to their field activities.
• Support linking and harmonization of NRM activities with other components of RIPA activities, particularly those related to Livelihoods (C2), Intensified Livestock Production and Marketing (C3) and Improved and Sustained Nutrition and Hygiene Practices (C4).
• Provide technical support in the implementation of the CM activities at the field level, supporting all sectors to adopt community-led plans.  
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships, formal and informal communication mechanisms with all NRM/DRM stakeholders at field-level, and within the RIPA project and CARE’s field programming on NRM.
• Working with Gender Specialists, ensure Gender mainstreaming approaches in all NRM activities.

Job Responsibility # 2: Capacity Building (15 %)

• Identify areas for further capacity development on NRM for field level government staffs, partners, and communities.
• Build the capacity of the Somali Development Association (SDA) staffs, Facilitator for Empowerment (FFEs) and community members or groups around the plan implementation.
• Under the guidance of the Senior NRM/DRM Advisor work closely with and support of the implementing partners and program participants in the implementation of identified approaches; provide guidance and co-facilitate activities as per the program’s approach.
• Participate in and support trainings, workshops and dialogue sessions, resource and beneficiary assessments and other capacity-building activities, as and when required

Job Responsibility # 3: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting (15 %)

• Develops quality Activity Concept Notes reflecting the program approaches and processes through the established review/ approval cycle.
• With support of direct supervisor Senior NRM/DRM Advisors, facilitate regular review and reflection meetings with partners in the field to assess accomplishments, challenges and lessons learned with respect to NRM/DRM activities that support resilience objectives.
• Provide regular reports and on-going feedback on CM activities implementation to the Senior NRM/DRM Advisors and Cluster Project Manager, as appropriate.
• Make recommendations on how programs can be improved and adjusted to incorporate on-going learning towards maximizing impact.
• Monitor progress and evaluate successes, challenges and lessons-learned in application of the CM plans.
• Actively participate in regular team planning and review meetings; support identification of follow-up activities based on learning and findings from previous activities and implementation.
• Contributes to the development of field-level work plans, reflecting the larger work plan and approaches for strengthening facilitation of NRM/DRM activities.
• Ensures the program captures and responds to up-to-date information about NRM within the local operational context.
• Collaborating with the field M&E Specialist personnel and CO Senior MEL & GIS Advisor, ensures all NRM, CM activities are appropriately documented, and that data is captured as per established systems of the RIPA program.
• Contribute to case studies, success stories and best-practice example documentation and write-ups.

Job Responsibility # 4: Coordination and harmonization (15 %)

• Establish and/or maintain strong working relationships, formal and informal communication mechanisms with all NRM/DRM stakeholders at Regional, zonal, woreda and community levels and within the RIPA project and CARE’s and Mercy Corps field programming.
• Support the identification and systematic inclusion of key NRM/DRM government stakeholders at local and regional level in all relevant activities and processes. 
• Coordinate systematically with Mercy Corps and Somali Development Association (SDA) field–based staffs to ensure harmonization of approach in activity implementation and supporting activities across sectors.
• Support buy-in and enhanced understanding of RIPA approach, strategy and intended impact in relation to NRM/DRM among communities, local government, and other relevant stakeholders at the field level.
• Coordinate and create linkages among community institutions and stakeholders, government offices, and research institutions, in support of strengthening governance and a systems approach to NRM/DRM.
• Liaise with the field staff to ensure RIPA activities are appropriately harmonized with GO and NGO interventions and initiatives.
• Represents and ensures buy-in to RIPA’s tools and approaches, such as, Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM) and the Community Vulnerability Capacity Analysis – Community Adaptation Action Plan (CVCA-CAAP) among relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitate information exchange as appropriate.

Job Responsibility # 5: Other duties (5 %)

• Promote and adhere to the principles and objectives of CARE Ethiopia and its programs.
• Represent CARE professionally during and after work hours and perform any other duties assigned by supervisor.

III GENDER EQUALITY

• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and PSEAH (safeguarding), as evidenced in previous positions / programming

IV Qualifications

A) EDUCATION/TRAINING

Required:

• BSc in the field of Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change and Society Studies equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Desired:

• Master’s Degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change and Society, or equivalent combination of education and work experience

B) EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 4 years proven field based working experience for Maters Degree and 5 years for BA Degree Holders in NRM and DRM in pastoralist / lowland / dryland areas and willingness as well as ability to spend extensive time to work on field.
• Experience in pastoral area integrated development and Market System Development (MSD).
• Knowhow of opportunities and challenges of development in Ethiopia.
• Practical experience in the facilitation of multi-stakeholder NRM and DRM activities.
• Practical Experience of using GPS, and basic training of GIS.
• Experience of promoting Gender quality in development activities.

C)  TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Required:

• Proficiency in verbal and written English and Af-Somali.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working within a multi –disciplinary team and ability to liaise with government, community leaders and other stakeholders at all levels.
• Practical skill in the areas of non-controversial community development programming.
• Proven skill in DNH (Do-No-Harm) approaches in development.
• Understanding of consortium-based project including understanding of opportunities and challenges in pastoralist context.
• Operational planning, budget planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, report writing.
• Proven experience of working with pastoralist context.   
• Demonstrated leadership and managerial ability to inspire and empower others.
• Demonstrated technical and managerial ability, sound judgment, and ability to interact and work effectively with others at all levels.

Desired:

• Experience of working in Somali Region.
• Knowledge of the local Af-Somali language.
• Able to work in a very challenging environment and context.
• Skills in organizing and facilitating training events.
• Expertise in one or more of the following program areas: Pastoralism, DRM, NRM, Gender and Conflict, especially with Gender & Rights Based Approach focus.

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Starting salaries are based on internal equity, candidate experience, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.