Livelihood Expert at WeForest

Livelihood Expert

Employer: WeForest

Employment: Full-Time | Contract

Place of Work: Mekelle - Ethiopia

Posted date: 5 years ago

Deadline: Submission date is over

WeForest is a fast-growing international non-profit association headquartered in Belgium and with current projects in Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Tanzania, and Zambia. The mission of the organization is to advance innovative, scalable and lasting solutions to restore forests and landscapes for climate, people and planet. We promote scientific evidence for the ways in which forests contribute to climate change mitigation, beyond their impacts as stocks of carbon, by increasing water availability, enhancing local cooling and improve rural livelihood and resilience. Our aim is to demonstrate, through the restoration of entire regions, that well-planned reforestation can be the solution to today’s biggest challenge: climate change. The organization is promoting Forest and Landscape Restoration best practices, creating a movement, engaging the greatest brands and their millions of customers to act positively. Our activities are growing, and the organization is urgently looking for the best possible talent to reinforce the Ethiopia team. Ethiopia Desa’a Project WeForest is active with the restoration of fragmented and degraded reminant forests and exclosures in Northern Ethiopia, Tigray since 2016. WeForest has launched a huge project “Nurturing sustainable forest management culture in Northern Ethiopia to Benefit Local Communities and the Landscape” in Eastern Tigray locally called ”Desa’a Forest.” The project has two main pillar programs; forest landscape restoration over 37,000 ha and forest-dependent community livelihood improvement programs. Desa’a forest which is one of the remaining patches of the few forest areas in Northern Ethiopia, covering an area of about 154,000 ha and located in the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. It is the largest secondary dry Afromontane forest in Tigray and Afar consisting mainly of Juniperus procera and Olea Europea. Role WeForest is looking for an experienced Livelihood Expert, who has good expertise in livelihood program planning and implementation. To support the implementation of sustainable and scalable Forest Landscape Restoration Projects in Ethiopia, particularly in Tigray project areas, the livelihood expert, will work in collaboration with vibrant WeForest team and partner institutions, such as smallholder farmers, local and international organizations and government bodies. The Livelihood Expert will be responsible for the overall planning, implementation, and reporting of identified livelihood improvement interventions in the project area. All inputs, technology transfers, and capacity building works should be proven for their meeting of the relevant specifications set ahead. Responsibilities in technical leadership and development programs include: Livelihoods Expert Responsible in providing technical assistance and advice to field operations on livelihoods improvement activities. Coordinate the overall livelihood programs of WeForest. Responsible in planning, facilitation, implementation and monitoring livelihood programs of the project set in the project log frame Together with the project field staff; work closely and support forest-dependent communities and government partners to effectively plan and implement WeForest livelihood development activities in the project supported areas, as set out in the project document. Draft expertise action plans as well as implementation guides, which is based on the project log frame. Coordinate and follow beneficiaries selection, livelihood input supplies, and distributions, as well as linking the livelihood improvement programs with Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) programs of WeForest. Progress towards achieving the specific FLR and rural economic development outcomes of project’s log frame. Assessment of progress towards achieving the outcome Issues and challenges. Progress towards Outputs relevant for the milestones in the programs. Support beneficiaries to diversify and enhance sustainable agriculture and forest friendly businesses’ income in the project area. Work closely with partner institutions in policy development programs related to FLR and livelihood Design and develop FLR and livelihood proposals in collaboration with other WeForest team Support livelihood budget planning, review, and follow-up on livelihood improvement budgets and allocations. Develop livelihood business plans, identify the challenges and opportunities in the value chain and create or propose market linkages Organize events necessary for the project, such as thematic team meetings and presenting findings to the WeForest working team as well as other partners during reviews or workshops. Organize training for experts, development agents, and the community at regional and lower levels Identify skill and knowledge gaps related to livelihoods intervention and device and implement capacity development work at all levels. Efficient and effective communication with WeForest project manager, local teams, local communities, and other relevant stakeholders Perform any other duties to ensure successful implementation of the project assignment General Terms & Conditions Start date: As soon as possible Duration of Contract: Three years, with the possibility of extension, subject to performance and funding availability. Probation Period: 3 months Salary: Competitive package for a small NGO, based on prior experience. Working hours: Full-time, working Monday through Saturday, 44 hours per week. Location: Mekelle, Tigray, with significant travel into the rural area (i.e. the position is primarily field-based) Reporting: Project Manager, Mekelle, Tigray, Candidate profile Essential: Advanced university degree (preferably M.Sc. or above) in the field of animal science, Rural development, Development studies, Agro-ecology and Sustainable development, or related field. Seven years of relevant working experience related to the above field with particular focus on livestock development and livelihood improvement, Demonstrable experience in livelihood programs such as designing, implementation, and reporting Abel to demonstrate sustainable livelihood value chains in collaboration with local stakeholders, farmers, communities and business sectors. Excellent coordination, training reporting, and communication skills Excellent team player Experience in quality data collection, analysis, and reporting Desirable Track record with gender-sensitive participatory approaches Teamwork and team spirit. Flexible in terms of traveling and living conditions Track record in the grant application Track record in writing scientific articles and donor reports Proficient in writing and speaking Tigrigna language Having NGO experience is an advantage