Project Officer for Livelihood (Project REAP-UP) At Islamic Relief

About Islamic Relief Worldwide Philippines:

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is an international relief and development organization founded in the UK in 1984 that envisages a caring world where people unite to respond to the suffering of others, empowering them to fulfill their potential. Working in over 45 countries, it promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities to reduce poverty, and challenges on literacy and health and nutrition. IRW also responds to disasters and emergencies, helping people in crisis by providing them immediate relied and recover from the effects of the disaster.

In the Philippines, Islamic Relief started operations in response to the needs of the people affected by Typhoon Haiyan. We are currently working in Mindanao particularly in the Bangsamoro region and the rest of the country implementing development projects, humanitarian response, and disaster risk reduction/climate change adaptation. We work closely with the most vulnerable people regardless of race, belief, age, gender and diversity.

About the Project:

The “Road to Environmental Action and Poverty Graduation for the Underprivileged Population (REAP-UP)” project intends to improve the socio-economic conditions of the extreme poor families through context-specific and climate-resilient livelihood opportunities in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Project Outcomes:

1. Reduced number of families living in extreme poverty.
2. Increased percent of families that think the implemented measures have been effective in reducing the impact of disasters.
3. Strengthened systems and capacities, innovation and learning sharing and scaling-up of Poverty Graduation Model and DRR-CCA initiatives in Islamic Relief in-country, Maguindanao del Sur and Bangsamoro region.

This 24-month project will be implemented in the five (5) barangay/communities in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Reporting To: Programme Manager

About the position:

The Project Officer for Livelihoods will support the Programme Manager in the full implementation of the Road to Environmental Action and Poverty Alleviation for the Underprivileged Population (REAP-UP) project. The Project Officer will lead the technical implementation of the Livelihoods component of the project.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Technical lead in the overall implementation of the Livelihoods component of the project utilizing the Poverty Graduation Model Approach.
2. Lead community-level resilience initiatives in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur, facilitating action plans coordinating with local stakeholders.
3. Strengthen institutional capacities on livelihoods through training, mentoring and coaching.
4. Lead the development of high-quality activity designs of the project’s interventions on Livelihoods aligned with its logical framework and implementation plan.
5. Organize and oversee project activities on Livelihoods, including coordinating with program partners and stakeholders and documentation of project processes and approaches, budgeting, and preparing activity accomplishment reports.
6. Support the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team in monitoring and evaluating the project’s progress and organizing and conducting MEAL-related activities such as surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and project reviews and evaluation, including the collection of relevant data and information, as necessary.
7. Lead and facilitate capacity-building initiatives for the rightsholders and other stakeholders on Livelihoods and Income Generation Activities (IGAs).
8. Assist in the preparation of the project’s detailed implementation plan, annual work plan, interim reports and completion report in coherence with the project design, targets, timelines and budget.
9. Organize and lead Quarterly Project Reviews, reflection and knowledge-sharing sessions with the rightsholders, partners, staff and other stakeholders for continuous learning and improvement in project implementation.
10. Assume leadership responsibilities within technical areas of the organization’s programming, demonstrating expertise and providing mentorship to team members, as needed.
11. Provide support and expertise in other technical areas such as institutional strengthening, policy development, planning, and Islamic finance, as required.
12. Willingness to be deployed during humanitarian response and/or undertake any other assignment, as needed.

Educational Qualifications:

a. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in relevant field such as International Development, Economics, Business Administration, Agriculture and Fishery, any related discipline.

b. Proven experience, at least 5 years, in designing, implementing, and managing DRR/CCA projects, preferably utilizing the Extreme Poverty Graduation Model Approach or similar methodologies.

c. Strong understanding of monitoring and evaluation principles, with experience in conducting surveys, interviews, and data analysis.

d. Ability to build capacity and provide technical assistance to stakeholders, including community members, government officials, and partner organization.

e. Excellent project management skills, including budgeting, planning, and reporting.

f. Familiarity with industry cluster development, enterprise development, and Islamic finance principles is desirable.

g. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

Required Skills:

Projects Management: Ability to effectively plan, implement, and monitor projects, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.

Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of livelihood development methodologies, particularly the Extreme Poverty Graduation Model Approach, and the ability to apply this knowledge to project design and implementation.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Proficiency in monitoring and evaluation techniques, including data collection, analysis, and reporting, to track project progress and measure impact.

Capacity Building: Skills in facilitating capacity-building initiatives for stakeholders, such as training sessions, workshops, and mentorship programs, to enhance their skills and knowledge in relevant areas.

Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey project goals, outcomes, and progress to diverse audiences, including partners, stakeholders, and team members.

Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with partners, stakeholders, and team members, fostering collaboration and team work.

Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions to address them effectively.

Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing project needs and priorities, and willingness to take on new responsibilities as required.

Leadership: Capacity to lead and motivate a team, providing guidance, support, and mentorship to achieve project objectives.

Cross-Cultural Competence: Sensitivity and awareness of cultural differences, with the ability to work respectfully and effectively in diverse cultural contexts.

Required Experiences:

a. 3-5 years working experience with various international NGOs, preferably in the Philippines or other developing countries, with a track record of successfully implementing projects in humanitarian contexts.

b. Experience in leading or participating in community-level resilience initiatives, preferably in areas prone to natural disasters or climate change impacts.

c. Experience in capacity building, including designing and delivering training programs and mentoring stakeholders on Livelihoods and Income Generation Activities.

d. Proven experience in monitoring and evaluating project progress, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing reports for stakeholders.

e. Experience in coordinating with project partners and stakeholders to ensure collaboration and alignment of efforts.

f. Experience in providing technical guidance and support to community-based organizations in implementing resilient livelihood projects and initiatives.

g. Experience and commitment to participatory management approaches, fostering a supportive and open environment that promotes the learning and development of all staff members.

h. Experience contributing to the drafting of work plans, progress reports, and other project-related documents.

i. Ability to take on leadership responsibilities and provide mentorship to team members as needed.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.