ForAfrika is an African-rooted, globally connected organisation dedicated to empowering communities across the continent through sustainable development and humanitarian aid. With over 40 years of operational experience, ForAfrika works in environments that vary from emergency relief settings to long-term development, ensuring that every initiative is contextually aligned with the needs of the people it serves. Through a deep love for Africa and unwavering commitment, ForAfrika delivers programmes that transform lives by embracing an integrated approach to development. This includes enhancing education, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, food security and livelihoods, economic empowerment, and more, building environments where all Africans can thrive.
Position Summary
The Food Security and Livelihood Advisor serves as technical leader for Forafrika’s comprehensive food security and livelihood programming portfolio across multiple country operations in Africa. This role combines deep sectoral expertise with operational excellence to drive transformative change in some of the world’s most challenging contexts, including conflict-affected areas, fragile states, and rapidly urbanizing communities.
The Advisor will champion innovative, evidence-based interventions that not only address immediate food insecurity and livelihood vulnerabilities but also tackle the underlying structural causes of poverty and inequality. This includes designing and overseeing integrated programs spanning emergency food assistance, cash-based interventions, market systems development, agricultural value chain strengthening, climate-smart agriculture, economic recovery initiatives, and sustainable livelihood diversification strategies.
Operating at the nexus of humanitarian response and development programming, the position demands a seasoned professional who can seamlessly transition between rapid emergency deployment scenarios and long-term strategic planning initiatives. The Advisor will be responsible for building organizational capacity, fostering innovation, and ensuring that all interventions are technically sound, culturally appropriate, conflict-sensitive, and aligned with international humanitarian standards.
The successful candidate will work collaboratively across sectors, lead multidisciplinary teams, engage with high-level stakeholders, and contribute to global knowledge generation in the food security and livelihoods sector.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
1.Strategic Leadership and Program Development
-Develop and implement comprehensive food security and livelihood strategies aligned with for Afrika’s mission and donor requirements
-Lead the design of integrated, multi-sectoral programs that address root causes of food insecurity and livelihood vulnerability, with particular focus on conflict, fragile, and urban contexts
-Provide technical guidance on program approaches including cash-based interventions, market-based programming, value chain development, climate-smart agriculture, and economic recovery strategies
-Ensure programs incorporate cross-cutting themes of gender equality, environmental sustainability, conflict sensitivity, social inclusion, and child wellbeing outcomes
-Support income generation activities through comprehensive livelihood and economic recovery program design
2.Technical Support and Capacity Building
-Provide systematic training, mentoring, and coaching to field staff on food security and livelihood programming approaches
-Support country teams in conducting rapid and in-depth sector assessments, vulnerability analyses, and food security monitoring
-Develop technical guidance materials, standard operating procedures, programming tools, and best practice documentation
-Build organizational capacity in emerging approaches such as anticipatory action, resilience programming, nexus approaches, and economic recovery in emergencies
-Mentor and coach regional and national staff in food security and programming and international standards (Sphere, SEEP, MERS, HAP)
3.Business development
-Support proposal development and fundraising efforts for FSL programming initiatives
-Develop technical capability statements, pitch decks, and donor briefs tailored to FSL programming to support positioning and fundraising efforts.
-Support relationships with key partners and donors
-Participate in donor meetings, technical discussions etc
-Identify potential partners and donors and assist in developing pre-positioning plans
-Participate in preparing concept notes and project/programme proposals ensuring effective conceptualization of ForAfrika’s Theory of Change and Programming Framework
4.Program Quality Assurance and Monitoring
-Ensure adherence to international humanitarian standards and sector-specific guidelines (Sphere, Core Humanitarian Standard, etc.)
-Oversee monitoring and evaluation systems for food security and livelihood interventions
-Conduct field visits to assess program quality, identify challenges, and provide technical support
-Lead or support external evaluations and reviews of food security and livelihood programs
5.Partnership and Coordination
-Represent ForAfrika in relevant technical working groups, coordination forums, and interagency platforms
-Build and maintain strategic partnerships with government agencies, UN organizations, NGOs, private sector, and academic institutions
-Facilitate knowledge sharing and learning across the organization and with external partners
-Coordinate with other technical sectors (WASH, Health, Education, Protection) to ensure integrated programming
6.Research and Innovation
-Lead cutting-edge analysis, applied research, and documentation of lessons learned and best practices from emergency livelihood and economic recovery programs
-Identify and promote innovative approaches, methodologies, processes, and technologies in food security and livelihood programming
-Support operational research initiatives and evidence generation for program improvement
-Stay updated on global trends, best practices, and emerging approaches in the sector
-Contribute to organizational learning and adaptation based on field experience and research findings
-Lead development and field testing of programming tools to assist in operationalization of livelihood and economic recovery programs
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
-Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Rural Development, International Development, Social Sciences, or related field.
-Minimum 7-10 years of progressive experience in food security and livelihood programming in humanitarian and development contexts.
-At least 5 years of experience in senior technical or management roles.
-Demonstrated experience working in complex emergency and post-conflict environments.
-Experience in sub-Saharan Africa strongly preferred.
-Proven track record in program design, implementation, and evaluation
-Food Security Programming: Deep understanding of food security analysis frameworks, vulnerability assessment tools, and intervention modalities
-Livelihood Approaches: Expertise in sustainable livelihood frameworks, market systems development, value chain analysis, enterprise development, and economic recovery strategies
-Cash and Market Programming: Knowledge of cash-based interventions, market analysis, voucher systems, and market-based tools and approaches
-Climate and Resilience: Understanding of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and resilience programming
-Agriculture and Rural Development: Knowledge of agricultural extension, crop production, livestock management, rural finance, and agribusiness development
-Assessment and Analysis: Proficiency in food security and livelihood assessment methodologies, rapid assessment techniques, and analytical tools
-Emergency Programming: Proven technical knowledge and experience with agriculture and non-agriculture-based livelihood strategies in emergency contexts
-International Standards: Understanding of humanitarian standards including Sphere, SEEP, MERS, HAP, and People in Aid standards
Core Competencies
-Leadership: Ability to lead and inspire technical teams across multiple countries
-Strategic Thinking: Capacity to develop and implement strategic approaches to complex development challenges
-Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; French or Portuguese an advantage
-Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
-Cultural Competency: Sensitivity to cultural contexts and ability to work effectively in diverse environments
-Adaptability: Flexibility to work in challenging and rapidly changing environments
Behavioural Competencies
-Commitment to ForAfrika core values
-Commitment to humanitarian principles and values
-Results-oriented with attention to quality and detail
-Collaborative approach with strong interpersonal skills
-Innovation and continuous learning mindset
-Ethical integrity and professional accountability
Other Essential Qualifications
-Professional certification in project management (PMP) or humanitarian standards
-Membership of professional livelihood and economic development organizations
-Experience with specific technical approaches such as:
1.Graduation and resilience building models
2.Social protection programming
3. Private sector engagement and partnerships
4. Climate-smart agriculture and environmental programming
5. Digital innovations in agriculture
6. Technical education and vocational skills training
7. Entrepreneurship development and small enterprise support
-Multi-language capabilities (French, Portuguese, or local languages)
-Trainer or capacity building qualifications
-Experience in contextual analysis and conflict-sensitive programming
-Familiarity with local capacities for peace/do no harm approaches
-Security training and experience working in conflict zones
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit:
1.Cover Letter explaining motivation and suitability for the role
2.Detailed CV including relevant experience and achievements
3.Contact details for three professional references
Click HERE to apply