Advisor Senior, Livelihoods

About This Role

The role of the Global Livelihoods Senior Technical Advisor at ChildFund International encompasses several key elements crucial for the success of the organization's global livelihoods program portfolio. This position provides technical support and leadership to strengthen ChildFund International’s global livelihoods program portfolio, enhancing program quality and ensuring that livelihoods programs are designed with the latest best practices and ChildFund’s impact evidence.

Key Practice Areas

ChildFund’s livelihoods program portfolio covers three key practice areas:

• Economic empowerment for families (including women)
• Economic empowerment for youth
• Food security

Collaboration and Proposal Development

The Global Livelihoods Senior Technical Advisor works closely with the Director of Program and Product Design to ensure that grant proposals are well-crafted and aligned with ChildFund’s Results Framework, key sectoral and global practices, and evidence of global impact. These elements are integral to the role and contribute to the overall effectiveness and impact of ChildFund International’s global livelihoods programs.

Resource Expansion and Diversification

The role requires working closely with the Business Development and Grant Acquisitions teams to expand and diversify resources for ChildFund livelihoods programs, which is essential for securing funding and creating new opportunities for the organization's livelihoods initiatives and global aspiration of positively impacting 100 million children and their families around the world.

Grant Acquisition Portfolio Management

The Global Livelihoods Senior Technical Advisor, jointly with the Grant Acquisitions Advisor, leads the livelihoods grant acquisition portfolio, focusing on:

• Proposal development
• Proposal management
• Technical design
• Documentation of best practices

Partnerships and Collaboration

The Global Livelihoods Senior Technical Advisor partners with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) unit to guide ChildFund’s livelihoods program evidence and impact assessment needs, priorities, and thought leadership product development.

Position Details

This is a full-time, open-ended, remote position open to internal and external candidates in the following locations: Kenya, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Zambia. To be eligible, candidates must have current work authorization and residence in one of the above locations.

Qualification

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Master’s degree or higher in international development, agricultural/food science, agricultural economics, behavioral sciences, or another relevant field is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading program design for large-scale grants (e.g., USAID, EU, UNICEF, foundations, and multilaterals).
• 8 to 10 years of progressive program management or technical advisor experience in livelihoods programs focusing on economic empowerment (youth, women, families) and/or food security, with a minimum of 3 years of international field experience.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience as a regional or global livelihoods sector expert with responsibilities for program design, technical leadership, innovation, and business development within the international development or humanitarian sector.
• Demonstrated experience with program design for large-scale livelihood-focused grants, such as those from USAID, EU, UNICEF, foundations, and multilaterals.

Required Skills

• Strong technical writing and proposal development skills, including the ability to showcase well-designed, impact-focused model programs that highlight ChildFund’s capacities.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strategic relationships internally and externally, fostering a focus on strong donor engagement and creating effective funder-focused communications.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Technical Support and Leadership: Provides technical support and leadership to strengthen ChildFund International’s global livelihoods program portfolio.
2. Grant Proposal Development: Works closely with the Director of Program and Product Design to ensure that grant proposals are well-crafted and aligned with ChildFund’s Global Results Framework.
3. Resource Expansion and Diversification: Works closely with the Business Development and Grant Acquisitions teams to expand and diversify resources for ChildFund livelihoods programs.
4. Livelihoods Grant Acquisition Portfolio Management: Leads the livelihoods grant acquisition portfolio, focusing on proposal development and management.
5. Partnership Cultivation: Actively cultivates partnerships with external organizations, stakeholders, and donors.
6. Collaboration with MERL Unit: Partners with the MERL unit to guide ChildFund’s livelihoods program evidence and impact assessment needs.

Other Required Competencies

• Technical Expertise and Leadership: The ability to provide technical support and leadership for the Expansion and Diversification of revenue streams.
• Grant Proposal Development: Strong skills in technical writing; ability to collaborate with the Senior Director of Program and Product Design to craft well-aligned grant proposals that adhere to ChildFund’s Global Results Framework, key sectoral and global practices, and evidence of impact.
• Donor Relations and Funding Models: Proficiency in identifying global donors, cultivating relationships with key donors, advising on donor trends, knowledge and understanding of existing and emerging funding models.
• Livelihoods Grant Acquisition: Expertise in leading the livelihoods grant acquisition portfolio, focusing on proposal development.
• Impact Assessment and Collaboration: Competence in guiding ChildFund livelihoods program evidence and impact assessment needs, priorities, and thought leadership product development.
• Capacity Building and Training: Demonstrated ability to conduct effective capacity building and training in virtual settings.
• Work effectively in a matrix environment: involves the ability to navigate and collaborate within a matrix organizational structure, where multiple reporting lines and cross-functional teams are common.
• Effective representation and networking: represent the organization effectively in various forums and build strong networks with technical partners, multilateral agencies, foundations, and other stakeholders.
• Strong computer skills, with familiarity in using Microsoft Office suite applications: This competency requires proficiency in using Microsoft Office suite applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Skills Required:

• Agricultural / Studies
• Economics / Statistics
• Education / Teaching / Training
• Food / Technology / Science / Engineering