CARE seeks a Resilience & Economic Livelihoods Specialist for the anticipated USAID-funded Northern Economic Livelihoods for Youth, Women, and Vulnerable Populations (NELY) Activity in Benin. This Activity is intended to strengthen resilience in vulnerable populations, including women and youth, susceptible to violent extremism in high-risk areas of northern Benin. The Specialist will demonstrate experience in conflict-sensitive approaches, CVE (countering violent extremism) and employing this background in improving access to market, finance, and livelihood opportunities.
This activity is expected to be a five-year program in the $30-$40 million range.
This is a Key Personnel position, subject to USAID approval. It is also subject to project award and funding. National and regional candidates are encouraged to apply. This position will be based in Benin.
Application deadline: May 1, 2024.
Responsibilities:
- Provide technical support regarding sustainable on-farm, off-farm and non-farm livelihoods, skills building, and small grants.
- Develop and implement strategies for livelihood resilience, sustainable economic diversification, including financial literacy and VSLA approaches, and climate smart agricultural practices.
- Establish strong market linkages for input and output markets and engage closely and effectively with the private sector, linking them to participants.
- Apply experience in value addition, market systems, and addressing climate, environmental, and cultural constraints to livelihoods, especially those related to youth and women.
- Develop and enhance sustainable livelihood skill-building programs encompassing on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm livelihoods.
- Develop and encourage agricultural support across diverse value chains and activities to incentivize youth to be involved in agricultural livelihood activities.
- Provide mentoring and coaching support to women and youth entrepreneurs.
- Support agriculturalists farmers and herders, to address climate change and improve resilience to further climate impacts.
- Responsible for ensuring that interventions are sequenced, layered, and integrated appropriately at all levels of implementation.
- Report directly to the Chief of Party and contribute to the overall strategic direction of the project.
Qualifications:
- A graduate degree in a relevant technical field such as CVE, peacebuilding, peace and conflict resolution, economics, international development, natural resources management, etc.
- Minimum 8 years’ experience working in complex development projects, including on CVE or peace and conflict resolution.
- Technical expertise in designing and implementing community level CVE, livelihood and deliverable economic inclusion related responses, public-private partnerships, natural resource protection and socio-economic recovery, financial inclusion, and employment support.
- French and English required, and a local language preferred.
- In-depth understanding of all components of livelihood development including selection, planning, and management of small businesses; livelihood resilience and diversification strategies; establishment of market linkages; and engagement with the private sector. Experience with value addition, market systems, and environmental and cultural constraints to livelihoods.
- Experience with the development and enhancement of sustainable livelihood skill-building programs including on-farm, off-farm, and/or non-farm livelihoods, from
- self-employment to small business creation.
- Demonstrated experience in resilience programming in dynamic and uncertain contexts characterized by drought, displacement, and insecurity.
- Broad range of technical experience including urban/rural livelihoods, climate change adaptation, gender, youth and social inclusion.
- Proven ability to work in dynamic and uncertain environments.
- Strong management and interpersonal skills. Ability to network and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, and field experience in low resource environments.
- Demonstrated commitment to PSHEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Harassment, and Abuse).
- Demonstrated commitment to principles of Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion (DEBI).
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