EU Aid Volunteer: Livelihoods Officer Volunteer

About the position

The position-holder will support community mobilization, beneficiary identification and MEAL processes. The role will also support the DRC Kenya Livelihoods Working Group in various tasks – including desk research, report analysis & dissemination and participation in various livelihood stakeholder meetings. It will also work with Team Leaders/Managers and MEAL focal points to support specific livelihood research activities such as assessments and monitoring at Field Office sites.

About DRC Kenya

DRC Kenya works in some of the worst affected Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties, where the local population continues to rely on nomadic pastoralism for their survival, stretching their ability to adapt and survive to its limits. DRC Kenya has programmes with refugees, internally displaced and host communities in Kakuma, Dadaab and Nairobi. DRC is also implementing a cross border resilience programme in the Mandera Triangle in the North Easter region of the country. The programmes support a range of activities tailored to the ASAL way of life whilst acknowledging the rapidly changing natural environment.

Operational details & security context

The ASAL areas are largely borderlands, bordering Uganda to the West, South Sudan and Ethiopia to the North and Somalia to the East, with some of the Coastal areas also badly affected.

DRC Kenya has been operating in 4 of the most affected ASAL counties for many years and has developed very strong working relationships with the community, county authorities and national government. Some areas in North-Eastern Kenya are not easily accessible for international staff, and security assessments take place on a regular basis to ensure rules and procedures are updated with the changing context.

Turkana County (bordering Uganda and South Sudan) is calm and easily accessible for all staff. In areas not physically accessible, DRC Kenya has a system of remote management and support in place, including regular training workshops in Turkana County field sites and other areas. Security incidents involving NGO staff in Kenya are generally rare and UNDSS, INSO, security information services (SIS), internal and external training and other support mechanisms are all in place to minimize the risk even further.

All locations within the DRC Kenya programme are considered a level 2 or 3 (with 6 being the riskiest level and 1 being the least risky level) within the DRC Safety Level System.

Tasks

Program Management, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Supporta. Carry out participatory needs assessments and identify appropriate livelihoods interventions to increase incomes for the local community and reduce poverty in the target areas.
b. Participate in periodic program review and planning meetings; and external meetings as often as requested by the Team Leader/Managers.
c. Assist in developing livelihoods concept notes and proposals.
d. Participate in field reporting: prepare technical internal and external reporting.
e. Monitoring, evaluation, activity reporting and documentation.
f. Participation in community mobilization activities.

Coordination & Partnershipsa. Participate in relevant conferences, workshops, interagency coordination meetings and disseminate meeting reports within DRC.
b. Provide Support to the DRC Kenya Livelihoods Working Group in research and report-writing activities.

Project Communication (10%)

• 10% of the EUAV time will be allocated for communication tasks, to demonstrate the value added and impact of the EU Aid Volunteers initiative and its different actions, and the professional contribution of EU Aid Volunteers. This will be implemented through specific channels discussed with the communications officer.
• Get in touch with the ECHO’s RIOs (Regional Information Officers) to, previously approved by the line manager, share information about HOPE and the experience to be an EU Aid Volunteer.
• Develop one story from the field (an anecdotal story about their experience/work/ impact) produced during the assignment that may be uploaded into the network for use by sending/hosting organization and the European Union for communication purposes.
• Conference/workshop participation: Where appropriate, contribute to sharing experiences of life as an EU Aid Volunteer at conference/workshops organized by sending or hosting organizations and the European Commission.

Required Competencies

• Teamwork
• Creativity and Innovation
• Interpersonal Skills
• Basic appreciation of Self-Reliance, Livelihoods and Economic Recovery concepts
• Responsibility
• Commitment to career
• Commercial awareness
• Career motivation
• Communication

Eligibility and exception criteria

The candidate for EU Aid Volunteers must be a citizen of the EU or a third country national who is a long-term resident in an EU Member State, and must have a minimum age of 18 years.

Additionally, all DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:
• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Acting in line with DRC’s vision and values.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors or Master’s Degree in the Social Sciences or Business or Agriculture-related fields.
• Minimum of 2 years work experience.