ABOUT THE ROLE 

• As the Regional Deployable Food Security and Livelihoods Specialist, you will report to the Head of Humanitarian Preparedness and Response based in MEESA. You are expected to deploy within 72 hours to provide technical, practical and thought leadership on food security and livelihoods both in MEESA and within the Federation.
• The Regional Deployable FSL Specialist will be responsible to provide technical support to Plan International country teams in order to successfully design and integrate food security & livelihoods into programme interventions and support implementation through both surge and desk support. The role is expected to deploy within 72 hours of an emergency for up to 6 months to support the set-up of new humanitarian responses, provide capacity building / on the job training and support emergency preparedness.
• The Regional Deployable FSL Specialist will be part of the MEESA Humanitarian team and will work closely with the Global Hub Hunger Response and Resilience Unit in the Global Humanitarian Team. The post holder will also work with technical teams in GH team, with other teams, departments, Country Offices, National Offices within the organisation to ensure that all Plan International’s work contributes to strengthening food security and livelihoods.
• The Regional Deployable FSL Specialist is expected to travel for over 50% of their time to provide technical assistance to country offices. This position demands technical knowledge, training experience, and work experience in a wide range of humanitarian contexts.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Technical Leadership & Programming (80%)

• Support Country Offices and Plan International’s National Organisations in real time to scale up food security, livelihoods and nutrition work especially in large scale emergencies.
• Lead the mapping of FSL programmes in the region and develop visual analysis/synthesis of the portfolio, building on existing portfolio mapping of ongoing programmes in food security, livelihoods, and nutrition, including youth economic empowerment initiatives in Plan’s Long-term programmes.
• Share Plan International’s FSL programmatic approach, with a particular emphasis on how FSL and nutrition contributes to protection and education outcomes, building on existing approaches.
• Work with the global FSL lead to guide and provide practise and thought leadership on Plan International’s food security, livelihoods and nutrition programmes in both chronic & acute food insecurity contexts.
• In collaboration with relevant technical sectors (child protection, education, Cash and Voucher Assistance, and Resilience) develop programme guidance and tools for Plan International Country Offices on integrated program approaches, with a particular emphasis on resilience, CP, GBV and school drop-out risk mitigation approaches.
• Support Country, Regional and National Offices to include and implement FSL & N within their respective strategies and to assess how food security can be used as a mechanism to promote and achieve child protection and education outcomes.
• Ensure all FSL & N interventions (including school meals programmes) within the region are contributing to gender transformative programming.
• Provide technical support in the development of stand-alone and cross-cutting FSL interventions to MEESA country offices through close coordination with COs.
• Lead and support COs in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation tools for measuring food and economic security outcomes, ensuring alignment with other thematic areas.

Learning, Capacity Building & Information Management (10%)

• Identify and disseminate lessons learned from COs work on food security and livelihoods
• Map capacity building needs and conduct mentoring, training to COs.
• Identify and develop FSL training manuals, guidance documents, and toolkits, as required.
• Engage with relevant technical working groups within Plan International, particularly on resilience, youth economic empowerment, Cash and Voucher Assistance, child protection and education.
• Develop lead and manage a network of food security, nutrition and livelihoods in the region.

External Representation (5%)

• Represent Plan International at relevant regional food security and livelihood Networks and events
• Network with relevant UN agencies, multi-laterals, peer organisations in the region to develop strategic partnerships and raising Plan International’s profile.
• Develop regional technical articles for external release and profiling of Plan International’s experience and good practices, with a focus on food insecurity & girls.

Fundraising (2.5%)

• Support COs and national offices to generate funding opportunities to increase the portfolio of FSL & N with an emphasis on integrated approaches across technical sectors.
• Work with Business development and program teams in COs to develop and submit strong food security and livelihood proposals

Policy and Advocacy (2.5%)    

• Work with the regional Communications specialist and Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Unit to ensure that programme evidence on linkages between food security, resilience, protection and education good practice are shared in relevant external influencing forums.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• University degree in Agriculture, Agroeconomics or related field. Master’s degree in relevant field preferred.
• Experience of working in an international NGO, UN, multi-lateral agency or the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in MEESA in a variety of humanitarian response contexts (protracted, complex, conflict & rapid onset)
• Expertise and substantial direct experience supporting humanitarian response with a focus on food security, livelihoods or nutrition.
• Up-to-date knowledge of food security and livelihoods programming approaches, and their integration with other sectors
• Proven experience of working in food security and livelihoods programming, especially from a girls’ rights perspective in a variety of contexts including acute & chronic food insecurity crises
• Highly competent with computer-based communications and information management technology
• Consistent decision making and sound judgement.
• Ability to work on a number or projects simultaneously and to manage competing demands and deadlines.
• Ability to network effectively and build good working relationships with colleagues across the organisation.
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English.
• Knowledge and commitment to international humanitarian principles, codes, guidelines and cluster system.
• Ability to work independently, as a team member, and in culturally diverse settings
• Ability to effectively manage and prioritise a diverse workload.
• Child rights-based programming principles and approaches
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity.
• An understanding of and commitment to Plan International’s mission and values

Desirable

• Training and facilitation skills
• Additional languages (Arabic, French or Spanish)