Fresh Career Opportunity At Chemonics International Inc

Chemonics seeks a regional food security specialist – livelihoods (RFSS/L) for the ongoing USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems

Network (FEWS NET) project in West Africa. FEWS NET is a leading global provider of objective, evidence-based information and analysis of food security, early warning of threats to food security, and food assistance decision-support involving the understanding of livelihoods and household economies. The project uses the household economy approach to provide a basic context for integrated food security analysis. The RFSS/L will work in close collaboration with FEWS NET’s home-office technical team and regional and country teams, as well as with national, regional, and global partners, to design, execute, coordinate, and support livelihoods and household economy approach related activities in the region. This will include supporting the preparation of regional decision-support products, providing technical assistance and guidance to country teams, and strengthening local capacity to conduct relevant livelihoods analysis both within and outside FEWS NET. The RFSS/L will contribute to providing high-quality and effective early warning of threats to food security and support efforts to mitigate food insecurity and prevent food crises through the provision of actionable food security analysis. This position is open to qualified West African national citizens/residents and will be based in an existing FEWS NET office in West Africa (Dakar, Nouakchott, Bamako, Ouagadougou, Niamey, Ndjamena, Abuja). The full vacancy announcement for the RFSS/L can be found at www.fews.net/vacancies.​

The RFSS/L will work under the direct supervision of the regional technical manager (RTM) and in close collaboration with the livelihood advisor based in Washington, D.C., and may be required to supervise technical assistants and short-term consultants and act as interim RTM when delegated by the RTM. The RFSS/L will assist the RTM in providing technical oversight for national technical managers of the region. The RFSS/L will travel intensively within the West Africa region; some international travel in Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and the United States may be required. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include: 

• Monitor, analyze, and report on the status of food security and livelihoods


• Support the FEWS NET national office to maintain a knowledge base composed of, at a minimum, livelihood zone profiles, subnational seasonal monitoring calendars, and technical databases relevant to maintain livelihoods profiles and/or baselines


• Assist the RTM in maintaining relevant regional technical databases built from input from national offices and from regional partners


• Provide technical coverage according to the regional seasonal monitoring plans


• Collaborate with the RTM to provide high-quality and effective early warning of threats to food security and mitigate food insecurity and prevent food crises through the effective communication of actionable food security analysis


• Fulfill monthly reporting requirements including drafting food security outlooks and updates and providing regular briefings to the U.S. government and other partners


• Contribute to remote monitoring of non-presence countries in the region, including directly carrying out remote monitoring activities


• Work with the RTM to ensure current and accurate information on the regional page of the FEWS NET website


• Collaborate with relevant partners working on livelihood issues to build and strengthen a network of livelihoods monitoring and analysis in the context of FEWS NET’s network development strategy


• Provide guidance and ad hoc technical assistance to the region and to the project in livelihoods, household economy approach, and food security analysis


• Design, coordinate, and implement technical activities to maintain and update the livelihoods knowledge base for the region


• Support national offices to collect, archive, analyze, and share food security data and information


• Assist the RTM in executing technical activities including regional scenario development, livelihoods analyses, and other areas of food security analysis


• Collaborate with regional and international partners in food security monitoring and analysis through the implementation of the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) protocols and other IPC compatible tools that include the Cadre Harmonisé, vulnerability assessments, and chronic food insecurity assessments


• Coordinate with the RTM to design and implement capacity strengthening activities in the region, focusing on building livelihoods analysis skills


• Collaborate with the Washington, D.C.-based team and the RTM to transfer knowledge and provide short-term training to strengthen the capacity of country teams to understand the livelihoods context and functioning of household economies and to monitor, analyze, and report on livelihoods changes or coping that influence food security outcomes


• Contribute to other FEWS NET information products required regionally and by the Washington, D.C.-based technical team


• Contribute to FEWS NET methods development and testing


• Participate in strategic planning for the region, assist the RTM in coordinating regional activities, and oversee livelihoods activities in the region


• Contribute to the identification of priority country and areas where updates to the livelihoods knowledge base is needed to improve food security analysis, and work with the Washington, D.C.-based team and the RTM to implement the needed updates


• Coordinate with the RTM to develop and maintain strong collaborative relations, both formal and informal, with USAID missions/representatives, U.S. Embassy technical contacts, U.N. agency representatives, government ministries, and key international NGOs to facilitate technical exchanges, promote consensus building, and resolve any potential conflicts


• Liaise with regional partners in exchange of information and promote a dialogue on livelihoods issues pertaining to food security, early warning, and preparedness


• Contribute to activities undertaken outside FEWS NET that aim to enhance capabilities in livelihoods monitoring and analysis, early warning, and food assistance decision support


• Collaborate with regional partners to enhance the quality and impact of livelihoods work


• Work with USAID missions to support broad food security efforts including Feed the Future programs

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography required


• Minimum five years of relevant experience required in early warning/food security information systems and food security analysis, as well as other related fields such as markets and trade, agroclimatology, nutrition, agricultural sciences, field assessments, and IPC/Cadre Harmonisé


• Minimum two years of experience required in application of livelihoods and/or household economy approach analytical frameworks


• Excellent computer skills required


• West Africa national citizenship/residency required


• GIS applications and mapping skills preferred


• Experience working in a regional capacity preferred


• Experience working with the IPC or Cadre Harmonisé preferred


• Quantitative research methods skills preferred


• Presentation or training skills preferred


• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity


• Intermediate (professional) spoken and written communication skills in English​ and excellent spoken and written communication skills in French required

​​

Application Instructions:

Send electronic submissions to fewsnetwest.livelihoods@gmail.com by August 21, 2015. Please include “regional food security specialist – livelihoods” in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

In addition, please download and complete Chemonics’ equal employment opportunity self-identification form and submit it separately to EEOselfidentify@chemonics.com with only “regional food security specialist – livelihood – FEWS NET” in the subject line. If you prefer not to disclose your sex, race, or ethnicity, you may check “I do not wish to complete the information requested.” Thank you for completing the form and supporting our equal employment opportunity reporting requirements.

​​​​Chemonics is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.​​

Fresh Career Opportunity At Chemonics International Inc