Head of Livelihoods At Network for Africa UK

Network for Africa (N4A), Conforti Community Aid Children’s Organisation Port Loko (CCACO PL) and Health Poverty Action (HPA) are working in partnership to support access to quality mental health services in Port Loko district, Sierra Leone, through training of health workers and other duty bearers, providing counselling and community mental health clinics, and raising awareness about mental health issues in communities.

We have secured funding to start a livelihoods programme for people recovering from mental disorders and/or epilepsy (PMDEs) and their caregivers. The programme’s participants are in 9 self-help groups (SHGs), each with 20 members comprising PMDEs and their caregivers. The project’s goals are to reduce poverty and increase resilience for PMDEs and their caregivers, through providing livelihood inputs and associated training and support. We therefore, want to recruit a self-driven, motivated, competent and qualified candidate to help manage, facilitate and make a success of this programme.

Job Title: Head of Livelihoods – Livelihoods Component of a Mental Health Project

Supervisor: Programme Manager

Position Type: Full-Time

Location: Port Loko town and areas of Malal, Romene and Rothangbai zones, Port Loko district

We are looking for someone with the following skills:

• Patience & understanding: Understands the needs and experiences of people with mental disorders and/or epilepsy who are living in extreme poverty and facing multiple challenges. S/he is also a good verbal communicator.
• Management & leadership: Has leadership and management skills and experience, can follow a workplan and provide timely reports.
• Market orientation: Actively looks for information about developments in markets – at local and district level; recognises opportunities for filling gaps in markets.
• Livelihoods knowledge: Understands the relative nature and demands of different livelihood activities (including non-agricultural activities). Has experience of managing small-scale livelihoods run at an individual level.
• Results & teamwork orientated: Collaborates with others, and makes sure their activities and decisions contribute to the team’s result. Stimulates team members to take action where necessary and takes action him/herself when the achievement of results is threatened.
• Planning and organising: Understands what it takes to implement an activity effectively and to pre-empt challenges. Has high standards and recognises the need for procedures, planning, and co-ordination.
• Gender awareness: Shows, by displaying vision, action, and sticking to policy, commitment to achieving equality between men and women in society, taking into account the environment.
• Personality: Able to challenge, inspire, encourage and motivate poor/vulnerable people to take action to solve problems affecting them.

Duties and responsibilities

The Head of Livelihoods component is responsible for supporting the implementation of the livelihoods programme, supervising the Livelihoods Officer, and providing technical support to the project. S/he will be reporting to the Programme Manager of CCACO PL.

The main duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Supervise and build professional competencies of the livelihoods team to ensure effective delivery of the livelihoods project;
• Responsible for reporting on livelihoods activities as required;
• Assess markets, value chains and identify business opportunities in the local context;
• Helping self-help group (SHG) members choose the best enterprise/income-generating activities based on each PMDE/caregiver’s capability, condition, and the demand in the area;
• Provide support to PMDEs/caregivers to start small and manageable income generating activities, but to diversify their businesses as and when their income and savings grow;
• Conduct training of SHGs in running a small business, including basic bookkeeping, customer service and marketing of their goods/services, leadership and provide training in specific Income Generating Activities (IGAs) where necessary;
• Train SHG members in financial literacy;
• Liaise with local councils at district/ward level to ensure that SHG members have access to any government support/registration schemes;
• Provide ongoing advice/support to SHG members to develop work plans and budgets for their IGAs;
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor the performance of income-generating activities of SHG members;
• Deliver training to SHG members on village savings and loans schemes;
• Support monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning activities (MEAL) including base-line, midline and endline studies to understand the impact of IGAs on poverty and mental health.

Education and experience

• Education: National diploma or above in Business Administration, Community Development Studies, or related Field, from a recognised college or university.
• Active knowledge of English (verbal and written); Krio and Temne.
• Minimum of 2 years’ relevant working experience and expertise in supporting nano-businesses run by vulnerable groups of people. Work experience with persons with disabilities is desirable.

N4A, HPA and CCACO PL are Equal Opportunity Employers and do not discriminate against any individual or group of persons on the ground of sex, gender and/or disability. We believe in equal treatment of all people with dignity and respect. Candidates should have knowledge of safeguarding, and follow N4A’s Code of Conduct and associated policies.

Basic salary: up to SLL 16,900,000 per annum (subject to relevant tax and NASSIT deductions, and allowances). You will have the use of a motorbike and a laptop computer during working hours with which to fulfil your duties and responsibilities. You must have the right to live and work in Sierra Leone.