Economic Recovery Specialist At Danish Refugee Council

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Economic Recovery Specialist (EcRec)

Reynosa, Tamaulipas

Mexico

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in over 40 countries providing timely and appropriate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, people in transit and in contexts of human mobility. DRC is currently seeking a highly qualified Economic Recovery Specialist (EcRec Specialist), Spanish speaking and with English skills, for a 6-month contract (renewable, based on available funding and professional performance).

The position will be based in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. This is an incredible opportunity for a person who is not only experienced, but also enthusiastic, proactive and eager to serve and help people with needs in livelihoods and income generation, and under protection risks, as part of the emergency response that DRC has been implementing in Mexico since 2021.

ABOUT THE JOB

The economic recovery sector in DRC includes a combination of interventions aimed at supporting people and communities affected by conflict and displacement to recover, protect and improve their economic health. It includes interventions to ensure the satisfaction of basic needs and food security in emergency contexts, the recovery and/or strengthening of decent livelihoods, and sustainable financial inclusion.

The role of the Economic Recovery Specialist (EcRecSP) has as its main objective the development and implementation of the sector strategy for DRC Mexico, including projects aimed at strengthening the livelihoods of people of interest to DRC. Additionally, the Specialist is responsible for providing technical support to the team in monetary and livelihood transfers, guiding the development of tools and technical work guidelines, ensuring the strengthening of the teams’ capacities and coordinating with the protection sector to ensure programmatic coherence and integration.

The Economic Recovery Specialist is also responsible for making actions visible and positioning DRC in the Economic Recovery sector vis-à-vis national, regional and international actors, identifying opportunities for synergy, financing, association and collaboration to ensure the relevance and sustainability of the sector in the country.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Programmatic and strategic development

• Lead, coordinate and consolidate the development and strategic and operational implementation of the Economic Recovery sector in the country
• Support the development and ongoing updating of the Economic Recovery Strategy with regular context analysis and monitoring of programmatic, collaboration and partnership opportunities
• Lead and guide teams in developing and implementing needs assessments by the sector
• Support advocacy initiatives led by the program team, with contextual and technical knowledge

Project management

• Ensure quality and compliance with minimum standards in the implementation of Economic Recovery activities: monetary transfer, entrepreneurship, employability, financial inclusion
• Ensure coherence in the implementation and development of all projects in accordance with the sector strategy
• Support the efficient implementation of projects in accordance with work plans and financial execution forecasts
• Develop working guidelines for economic recovery activities
• Support in the preparation of project and sectoral reports
• Participate in the launch, review and closing meetings of projects with an Economic Recovery component

Technical support

• Ensure technical support to technical specialists and managers in the national office and territorial offices
• Support the design and development of projects, work plans and budgets
• In collaboration with the MEAL team, help develop tools and strategies for monitoring, evaluating and systematizing learning
• Develop capacity building plans for field teams
• In collaboration with program coordinators and area managers, monitor the effective implementation, as well as the budgetary and efficient execution of program activities

Coordination and representation

• Collaborate with relevant internal and external stakeholders, including agencies and technical experts
• Represent DRC in national coordination spaces and, when necessary, with donors
• Ensuring the integration of economic recovery activities with the DRC protection sector
• Coordinate with sectoral focal points at global and regional level for the development and strategic positioning of the sector in Colombia
• Actively participate in internal coordination spaces

ABOUT YOU

Our ideal candidate, to successfully perform his/her duties, must meet the following requirements:

ESSENTIAL AND REQUIRED

• 3-5 years of experience with international humanitarian or development assistance organizations with a programmatic focus on economic recovery in conflict and/or displacement contexts
• Practical experience and up-to-date knowledge on:
• Concepts, methodologies and effective forms of support for livelihoods in relation to key DRC activities: employability, income generation and support for entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, support and development of technical and interpersonal capacities, development of value chains, etc.
• Current trends in the area of ​​economic recovery: building self-sufficiency, graduation approach, private and public partnerships, and innovative approaches.
• Concepts, evaluation methodologies and design of cash transfer programs
• Market assessment and analysis, ability to support the development of market-based programs
• Experience providing direct and remote technical support to operational teams
• Experience in direct project execution
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement theories of change, strategic approach
• Knowledge of the program management cycle and impact evaluation and monitoring methodologies for economic recovery activities
• Demonstrated capacity in capacity building, development of teaching materials, facilitation of workshops and training
• Experience working in complex institutional contexts and building relationships and collaborations with a variety of government, civic and private actors
• Ability for critical analysis and strategic thinking
• Excellent communication, representation and coordination skills
• Excellent writing skills in Spanish. Intermediate to advanced level of English desirable
• Previous knowledge and experience in the Mexican and/or Latin American context (preferable)

Education: (including certificates, licenses, etc.)

• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Economics, Political Sciences or any related field.
• Master’s degree in economics, international development, humanitarian assistance, political science or other field relevant to the position is desirable

Languages: (indicate level)

• Medium English
• Advanced Spanish

Key interlocutors: (internal and external)

• Country Director
• Base Manager
• Head of Program
• Specialist and sector managers
• United Nations agencies, consortium partners, other national and international NGOs
• State institutions and institutes
• Regional technical team (LAC and WANALAC)

WE OFFER

Contract duration: 6 months

Salary band: G 2 non-managerial

Salary: $41,736 MXN gross monthly

Contract start date: 1 February 2025

Registration with IMSS INFONAVIT

Major Medical Expenses Insurance

25 days of annual vacation