NLRC recruits 01 Livelihoods Delegate – Mali

We help to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience by responding to disasters and crises and by supporting community and institutional risk reduction and preparedness. In the Netherlands with more than thirty thousand volunteers and internationally with the aid of specialists or by sending relief supplies or money.

Together we act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

To strengthen the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) and Malian Red Cross Society (MRC) team in Mali, the department is looking for a:

Position title:     Livelihoods Delegate

Duty station:      Kayes, Mali

Time period:      1 year with possibility of extension after the first year (based on available funding)

Starting Date:    March (under condition of financing)

Status:                 Single posting/R&R

Rationale

The Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) and the Malian Red Cross Society (MRCS) have engaged since 2015 to define and work on a long-term partnership. The long-term cooperation between the MRCS and the NLRC is focused on supporting the resilience initiatives of the MRCS. This is in conformity with the international strategy of the NLRC as well as the Strategic Plan 2015 – 2019 of the MRCS. Three resilience projects started in 2016 and a project aimed at preventing and treating pneumonia among children under 5 started in April 2017. The NLRC has been implementing different projects in partnership with the MRCS and other partners:

MRCS was founded in 1965 and developed itself into a well-functioning National Society with 240 staff and 17,000 volunteers. At the MRCS there is a very few annual turnover. Staffs are rather stable at their positions. In the context of the cooperation and partnership a number of challenging points, are important and helpful to identify thematic areas of partnership with the MRCS in terms of areas where support is needed. The renewed strategic focus of NLRC is on communities that are exposed to natural and manmade hazards, so it will support engagement primarily with communities in community resilience and integrated risk management activities. Within a climate of collective responsibility, the NLRC believes this is where it can provide the most cost effective assistance. Based on NLRC vision in Mali, the cooperation with MRCS will be focused on four sectors of expertise:

Background about the Project: Drought and food insecurity in Kayes (MALI)

The project aims to Strengthening the response capacity and resilience of the most vulnerable communities who are facing the impacts of chronic drought in the circle of Kayes.

The project combines climate smart livelihood strategies (CSLS), water management with disaster risk reduction (DRR) approaches and harnessing the power of data, which together increase considerably and sustainably the resilience of communities. Communities are better protected, they can better manage risks, and they will grow stronger socially and economically.

In summary, the needs in the circle of Kayes related to chronic drought are mainly at two levels:

• Drought disaster response focusing on food and water security (on two levels: emergency support and long-term structural solutions)
• Disaster risk reduction integrating nature-based solutions to mitigate the effects of extended drought periods

In the three municipalities targeted in this project, in the Cercle of Kayes close to the Senegal border, no other humanitarian actors are currently present. Moreover, full community support has been observed during the implementation of previous projects. Therefore, the MRC has high credibility in the area.

In Kayes, the MRC branch will build on the achievements of the Climate Smart Livelihoods (CSL) project that has just ended. The capabilities built are still relevant in terms of skills, networking and results. The Kayes branch has a base of trained volunteers, experience in the implementation of community-based projects as well as projects on community resilience (CSL and PfR II). The MRC, with NLRC also has extensive experience in the domains of food security and DRR and the topics tackled by this project are part of the MRC 2021-2025 strategy.

Communities have a central role in the project implementation; they are beneficiaries and they are key actors. Most of the activities and objectives targeted by this project, were formulated by these communities during the closure workshop of the CSL project. All experience collected by NLRC and MRC will be capitalized to build the community engagement. An accountability mechanism will be in place to ensure community feedback and reaction to our project activities and approach. Communities will held central positions on all aspects and their feedback will allow us to correct and redirect actions.

Purpose of the position

The livelihoods and wash delegate is responsible for providing technical and program support to MRCS in design, planning and monitoring of the NLRC supported projects to ensure effective and efficient implementation as well as narrative and financial reporting. Accordingly, this position will aim to seek to maximize integration with sectoral interventions including  life skills, gender diversity, food and water security and livelihoods so as to increase beneficiary well-being in chronic crisis for the most vulnerable people in Kayes, Mali. The delegate works in collaboration with the branch of Kayes with a wide range of stakeholders to influence investment, policy and practice for delivery of high-quality interventions in livelihoods, water and food security, gender/diversity.

Position in the Organization

The livelihoods delegate will be based in Kayes and reports to the NLRC Country Representative based in Bamako.

The delegate will receive technical support and guidance from NLRC HQ advisors on food and water security and strategic resilience, PMER, livelihoods, as well as operational guidance from the Desk at NLRC HQ.

Summary statement and responsibilities

Project Management & Implementation

• Responsible for overall project management through MRC branch of Kayes, in close collaboration with the country representative in Mali, and working with the technical advisors, PMEAL, finance, logistics and the Desk, in HQ;
• Ensure that the goals, objectives and work plan are met in collaboration with the Country Representative, the Desk and relevant Advisors;
• Provide appropriate mentorship, capacity building and technical support to the branch of Kayes of the MRCS counterparts and volunteers including in assessment and identification of needs, priorities, objectives, outputs and core components and activities;
• Build capacities with training for the implementing project team and the branch;
• In collaboration with the Country Representative, the Desk and the HQ, presents the identified needs, new program opportunities and support the writing of new proposals;
• Strengthen livelihoods and food and water security programming;
• Assume the monitoring and evaluation with the support of the PEMEAL advisors in the HQ;
• Undertake regular monitoring with field visits and meetings with relevant actors including project partners in assessing trends, patterns and changing needs and consequently advise on appropriate strategies;
• Write reports following the donor’s rules.

Financial, logistic and administration Management

• He/she will be responsible for budget management (as NLRC budget-holder), adequate and timely quality narrative and financial reporting according to NLRC standards, and undertaking midterm and end of project evaluations;
• Assume responsibility as budget holder for NLRC Chronic Crisis project: preparation of the procurement list, monitoring of expenditure, checking and validating of vouchers, coding vouchers, compilation of budgets and submitting financial reports, budget revisions and amendments and seeking formal approval from NLRC HQ;
• Collaborate with MRCS accountant in charge of the project accountability, to ensure respect of both MRCS and NLRC financial, logistic and administration procedures et reporting rules;
• Supervise the procurements process;
• Be responsible for all financial questioning from internal or external audits.

Partnership, Coordination and Communication

• Support the cooperation of the MRC with the local services, authorities, technical partners, as well as International organizations and other RC/RC Movement partners as described in the project proposal;
• Promote humanitarian principles and key cross-cutting issues such as protection, gender and inclusion, environmental awareness and disaster risk reduction;
• Represent NLRC in the food and water security cluster and other relevant coordination mechanisms when applicable;
• Develop and maintain strong working relationship and coordination with Regional Technical Services , relevant international and local NGOs/agencies and relevant linking with the other projects and initiatives in the region;
• Present and communicate in a regular basis and in all transparency, the results, difficulties, development, of the project to the hierarchy, the HQ and other partners.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in either Agriculture, Water or Natural Resource Management or any other related field;
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience as a project/programme manager in a humanitarian/recovery/development context and in the field;
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in implementing food and water security and livelihoods projects with practical experience and understanding of the relevant technical competencies required;
• Sound working experience of disaster risk reduction, gender and diversity, community engagement, CVA;
• Proven experience in security management and context analysis;
• Strong knowledge of finance, logistic, administration and cost control procedures;
• Experience working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent is an advantage;
• Fluency in written and spoken French and English;
• (International) driving license.

Key competencies and skills

• Excellent communication skills with strong interpersonal and coaching skills;
• Natural team-player, with demonstrated ability to train, inspire and support the team;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in different cultural and organizational settings;
• High level of patience, as well as cultural sensitivity;
• Flexibility and adaptability;
• Strong managements skills;
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Computer literate (MS Office, spreadsheets, Outlook).

We offer

• A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for 1 year, with the possibility of extension;
• A flexible and human centered working environment in an international setting;
• Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.

Applications

• Please send your CV and letter of motivation in English with reference to Shelly Jonker to https://werkenbij.rodekruis.nl/nl/Vacature/Solliciteren/214958/job
• The vacancy will remain open for applications until the 31st of January 2022. The selection procedure will start as soon as applications are coming in.
• For further information regarding the position please contact Michela BORDIN, Country Representative in Mali: mbordin@redcross.nl
• Please note that an assessment forms part of the selection process.
• For more information about the work of the Netherlands Red Cross please go to www.rodekruis.nl and NLRC on Facebook: Facebook.com/rodekruis and Twitter: Twitter.com/rodekruis.