As a Member of the Building Resilient Communities in Somalia (BRCiS) Consortium, IRC in partnership with BRiCS Members, is seeking a Food Security and Market System Technical Lead/Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for a USAID-funded 5-year project in Somalia to sustainably improve food and nutrition security and resilience among poor and chronically vulnerable households and communities in selected regions.
The Food Security and Market System Technical Lead/DCOP will provide oversight and guidance to the design and implementation of activity interventions. This person must have demonstrated experience effectively leading large-scale food security and resilience programming including through market system-based approaches. Experience specific to Somalia and/or BHA RFSA funding is highly advantageous. Demonstrated experience creating effective private sector linkages is highly valued. The Food Security and Market System Technical Lead/DCOP must have an in-depth understanding of all components of food system security including selection, planning, and management of small businesses; livelihood resilience and diversification strategies; establishment of market linkages; and engagement with the private sector. The DCOP should also have agriculture experience (crop and livestock) with seed systems, market systems, and environmental and cultural constraints to agriculture. This person should demonstrate experience with the development and enhancement of sustainable livelihood interventions including on-farm, off-farm, and/or non-farm livelihoods, from self-employment to small business creation.
The Food Security and Market System Technical Lead/DCOP will lead a team of technical sectoral experts/program managers and act on behalf of the Chief of Party as needed, including global representation to the donor. You will coordinate the development of annual work plans, strategic plans, and donor reports, while also maintaining systems to track program quality. This position is contingent on the BRICS being awarded funding and is anticipated to begin in 2024.
Job Responsibilities:
• Provide technical leadership in the design, implementation, and monitoring of food security and livelihoods interventions in alignment with project objectives and USAID guidelines.
• Collaborate with project partners, government agencies, logistics companies, market actors, and other stakeholders to ensure the integration of food security and livelihoods initiatives into broader resilience strategies.
• Contribute to the development of innovative approaches, methodologies, and tools to enhance project impact and sustainability.
• Lead capacity-building efforts for project staff, partners, and beneficiaries, ensuring the transfer of technical knowledge and skills.
• Promote gender equality and social inclusion in the design and implementation of program activities.
• Support the Chief of Party in project management, coordination, and reporting, including budget management and performance monitoring. Serves as Chief of Party during COP periods of unavailability, including all operational and administrative duties.
• Foster strong relationships with local communities, government counterparts, and implementing partners to promote collaboration and synergies.
• Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting on food security and livelihoods indicators to track project progress and inform adaptive management.
Requirements:
• Advanced degree (PhD or MA) from an accredited university in agribusiness, international development, or related field; equivalent experience may be substituted for graduate degree subject to donor approval.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in similar food security intervention activities, and experience managing complex international donor-funded development activities in challenging environments.
• Experience implementing or supporting technical assessments in fragile contexts, including translating assessment findings into program adaptations.
• Experience managing supply chains and title II commodities.
• Significant previous experience working in conflict or crisis situations;
• Experience working in the East Africa and/or Somalia on food security or nutrition programming, including previous RFSA or DFSA experience.
• Previous experience as DCOP for USAID-funded programs preferred;
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop relations with local counterparts, donors, and other stakeholders;
• Demonstrated innovation and success in staff capacity-building and in participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming and implementation;
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written;
• Fluency in English required; additional proficiency in local languages a strong plus.
BRiCS is a multi-donor, multi-programme consortium comprised of international and local NGOs implementing community-based resilience programmes in Somalia with a shared committed to high quality technical delivery, learning and innovation. The consortium includes eight NGO Members and more than ten local civil society partners with Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) as the lead agency. For the purposes of this application, only a subset of BRCiS Members are participating and candidates may be contacted by IRC and NRC on this requisition.
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