Livelihoods Coordinator At GOAL

Livelihoods Coordinator for the Syria Programme, based in Jordan

Contract length: 12 months, renewable

Status: Accompanied, partner only

Reports to: Syria Programme Director

GOAL is an Irish international humanitarian organization founded in 1977 and currently operational in 14 countries ; in both protracted crisis and long-term development contexts. GOAL has four programmatic foci: people survive crisis; people have resilient health; people have food and nutrition security; and people have sustainable livelihoods. GOAL works to incorporate four pillars in its approach to programming: influencing systems, building resilience to shocks and stresses, fostering inclusion, and social and behavioural change. GOAL ensures that these processes are understood and used to inform programme design, with the aim of enabling people to participate in and shape their societies.

GOAL Syria began operations in Northwest (NW) Syria in 2012 responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities with a support structure based in Turkey and Jordan, focusing on Idlib and Northern Aleppo Governorates. GOAL’s programme responds to the acute needs of conflict affected communities and focuses on emergency response, food security, livelihoods, multi-purpose cash assistance, nutrition shelter, and WASH, with a growing emphasis on cash and voucher modalities. GOAL Syria implements its programmes directly, with over 800 staff based in Syria, as well as through Syrian NGO partners, working at the household, community, and system levels to improve community resilience and household’s coping strategies.
LLH
Job Purpose
The Livelihoods (LLH) Coordinator is charged with leading the strategic direction and positioning of GOAL’s livelihood programme in NW Syria, as well as managing the implementation of the portfolio and leading on the technical design for new initiatives. The Coordinator will be expected to inject new ideas, and incorporate approaches and methodologies that creatively meet the needs of the context.
The LLH Coordinator will also directly line manage and provide technical direction to several staff who are responsible for the implementation of livelihood activities. They will also lead the implementation of the Graduation Approach throughout all programming and partners.
This is a new role for GOAL Syria and therefore offers the candidate an excellent opportunity to shape and build upon a strategic area of work. The candidate will be part of the Programme Team, reporting to the Syria Programme Director.
Duties and responsibilities
Programme Strategy, Development & Implementation – 60%
• Provide overall strategic leadership, management and technical direction of the Livelihoods portfolio ensuring programs are on time and on budget; and that they remain inclusive, and gender and conflict sensitive.
• Lead the development of the technical/sectoral components of new programme designs, in consultation with Programme management, Grant, MEL and Operations teams.
• Ensure that Livelihood LLH programme activities implemented directly or through GOAL partners are executed in a quality and timely manner.
• Develop and manage tools, methodologies and processes pertaining to the effective LLH programme beneficiary selection, management of the program, including project workplans, monthly workplans, frequent team meetings with GOAL and implementing partners.
• Ensure that LLH implementation plans are informed by sound analysis, with consultations with teams and concerned stakeholders, and that programme activities and modalities are devised in promotion of GOAL Syria’s programme strategy.
• Develop and lead GOAL’s livelihoods team to undertake needs assessments to inform livelihood program design and strategic direction. Support GOAL LLH partners to do the same.
• Uphold the professional standards related to Economic Recovery programming in humanitarian assistance, in particular the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS).
• Develop and share with GOAL and partner LLH team monitoring and implementation tools/ guidance docs such as SOPs, tools and forms aligned with GOAL and donor standards and monitoring frameworks.
• Conduct regular situational analysis of the sector and feed recommendations back to GOAL for decision making on future priorities.
• Identify opportunities to build strategic partnerships with public and private sector actors linking GOAL and partner target project participant groups to markets and facilitate access to (waged and self-) employment opportunities.
• Provide inputs for the development of GOAL Syria’ s Livelihood strategy, theories of change and operational research initiatives.
• Support the identification of strong local partners.
• Strengthen staff and partner capacity on livelihoods and ensure a clear understanding of key concepts through trainings and other capacity strengthening activities.
• Lead on integrating LLH activities, with other core GOAL Syria programming including WASH, Emergency and Food Security.

Monitoring & Evaluation, Accountability and Learning – 15%
• In coordination with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning teams, contribute to building an evidence base for effective GOAL Syria livelihoods implementation approaches and modalities.
• In coordination with the GOAL Syria Programme Data Systems Coordinator and Management Information Systems department, design information management systems that support the effective implementation of Livelihoods activities. Support the development of suitable information management platforms, tools, and processes.
• Together with the Learning Coordinator, drive learning and thought leadership, develop learning agendas, and ensure learning from the LLH programme is captured, consolidated, and disseminated, contributing to knowledge building to be disseminated internally and externally.
• Support the capacity building and confidence of teams in the use of results chains and adaptive management, where appropriate.
• Together with the Accountability Coordinator support, all accountability activities to local communities and other beneficiaries, engaging all relevant actors in participatory design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of LLH programming.

Representation and coordination– 15%
• Coordinate activities and planning at the technical and operational level with other GOAL sector leads (Food Security, MPCA, Nutrition, Shelter, WASH) to ensure effective collaboration, integration, and synergies in the implementation of GOAL Syria programming.
• Support the Director of Programmes/RESTORE Director in identifying and developing opportunities for new collaborative partnerships with international and national NGOs, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Represent GOAL at UN cluster coordination forums (i.e., Early Recovery and Livelihoods Sector, Food and Agricultural Sector) as agreed with the Director of Programmes and RESTORE Director.
• Ensure that mapping of stakeholders implementing Economic Recovery programmes in GOAL areas of operation is routinely updated.
• Participate in GOAL HQ Programme Technical Network meetings, collaborate, and engage with GOAL’s Global Markets & Livelihoods Advisor.

Lead, Mentor and Manage Livelihood Staff 10%
• Recruit, manage and coach GOAL LLH programme staff. Develop staffing plans and ensure quality and timely performance management processes with staff
• Develop and deliver development and capacity building plans for the GOAL and partner LLH staff.
• Promote a professional environment conducive to collaboration, teamwork, confidence building in new approaches and professional development within GOAL Syria.

The duties and responsibilities set out above are not exhaustive and the LLH Coordinator may be required to carry out additional duties, within reason, and proportionate to their level of skill and experience.
Please note that this role will also requires the ability and willingness to travel to regionally when required once safe travel can resume.
Behaviours
• Act as a representative of GOAL and demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour towards children and vulnerable adults both in your private and professional lives.
• Collaboration: collaborative team player with the ability to work across teams and with partners.
• Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to manage a large workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines, and to continually reprioritise multiple tasks as a result of new information.
• Work style: Highly organized team player, pro-active and with demonstrated strong personal initiative. Proven solid analytical, and communication skills.
• Communication: Skilled communicator and ability to work effectively across multiple cultures, both in-person and remotely with diverse colleagues and stakeholders. Ability to communicate concepts and ideas in accessible formats for a variety of audiences.
• Self-motivation: proactive and results-oriented individual who can work on personal drive and initiative.
• Travel: Ability and willingness to travel to Turkey / Amman and regionally when required.

Requirements and Technical Competencies (in order of priority)
Essential

1. Fluency in English as GOAL’s working language.
2. Experience and confidence in all or some of the following: Market Systems Development (MSD), financial inclusion, market facing skill development, working with Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and agricultural value chains.
3. At least five years of management experience in Livelihood’s programming with an INGO.
4. Demonstrated ability in conceptual, analytical, and critical thinking with the ability to design impactful programming and winning proposals.
5. Experience in managing/capacity strengthening of staff and partners.
6. Experience in gender empowerment and social inclusion (GESI), conflict sensitivity and accountability.
7. Experience representing an organisation externally with technical networks, donors, academia and in other contexts, and building relationships with stakeholders.
8. University Degree in a relevant field, such as Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Social Sciences, International Development, or any other related field.
   Desirable

• Professional proficiency in Arabic.
• Previous experience in Graduation Approach Programming
• Programming experience in displacement contexts, including in protracted situations and fragile context is an asset/preferred.
• Proven familiarity and successful track record with USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) donor programming priorities.
• Understanding of or previous experience working within the Syria crisis, and the context of Northwest Syria.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Outlook and Office package.
Safeguarding
Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this ongoing commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.
Accountability within GOAL
Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:
• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.
General Terms and Conditions
This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document.