I Job Summary

The Specialist–NRM/DRM will act as the key technical support person supporting the implementation and accomplishment of all natural resource management related activities within the Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA-North) program. The position will be based in Samara, Afar Regional states. With supervision and direction from the Sr. NRM & DRM Advisors, and the overall Component 1 (C1) Team Lead, Improved Disaster Risk Management Systems and Capacity. The NRM/DRM Specialist will be responsible for ensuring quality technical implementation and coordination around the NRM/DRM related activities as per the established RIPA-North program work plan, guidelines.  The incumbent will also be responsible for capacity building of field staff and government partners in RIPA’s key NRM/DRM tools, such as, Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM), CVCA-CAAP (Climate Vulnerability Capacity Assessment – Community Adaptation Action Plan) and other NRM/DRM technical approaches. S/he will work closely with the RIPA-North Afar Field Office Project Manager, as well as other field-based staffs of RIPA-North, to ensure NRM/DRM activities are implemented in a coordinated and harmonized manner, in support of the resilience building and livelihood expansion technical areas of the program.

II. Responsibilities and Tasks

Job Responsibility # 1: Technical Support and Capacity-Building

• Provide systematic technical support to ensure quality and impactful implementation of all NRM/DRM related activities in the area of operation, as per the agreed upon work plan and established guidance and support of the C1 leadership team.

• Support the identification and systematic inclusion of key NRM/DRM governance stakeholders at local and regional level in all relevant activities and processes.

• Support the facilitation of PRM approaches and NRM/DRM training, and community based NRM/DRM dialogue events for field stakeholders, to support sound implementation of NRM activities.

• Strengthen performance of the project team in NRM/DRM activities providing on-site support to government staffs/ field officers during activity implementation, and facilitating capacity-building workshops and trainings as agreed upon with Sr. NRM and DRM Advisors.

• Lead Gender mainstreaming approaches in all NRM/DRM activities.

• Identify areas for further capacity development in NRM/DRM for field level government staffs, rangeland councils, partners and communities. 

• Liaise with C1 leadership, and NRM and DRM Advisors to obtain appropriate support.

• Regularly provide feedback to the C1 leadership team on the progress of NRM/DRM activities in the field, through reporting, articulating successes, challenges and providing recommendations for maximizing impact.

• Provide support to C2 (Diversified Economic Opportunities for People Transitioning out of Pastoralism), C3 (Intensified and Sustained Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Production and Marketing) and C4 (Improved Nutrition and Hygiene Practice): around environmentally sustainable practices related to their field activities.

• Provide technical support in the implementation of the environmental mitigation and management plan at the field level, supporting all sectors to screen relevant activities against plans.

Job Responsibility #2:  Harmonization and Representation

• Establish and/or maintain strong working relationships, formal and informal communication mechanisms with all NRM/DRM stakeholders at field-level, and within the RIPA-North project and CARE’s field programming in NRM/DRM.

• Facilitate or strengthen field-level networks and forums on NRM/DRM related activities in the program implementation area.

• Coordinate systematically with the field–based livestock and alternative livelihoods Specialists, other government sector leaders and field-based program office staffs to ensure harmonization of approach in activity implementation and supporting activities across sectors to build off each other.

• Support buy-in and enhanced understanding of RIPA-North’s approach, strategy and intended impact in relation to NRM and DRM activities among communities, local government and other NRM/DRM stakeholders at the field level.

• Keep field offices and C1 leadership team up to date on government and partner strategies and activities related to NRM/ NRM/DRM; liaise with C1 leadership team to ensure RIPA-North activities are appropriately harmonized with GO and NGO interventions and initiatives.

• Support linking and harmonization of NRM/DRM activities with other components of RIPA activities, particularly those related to Livelihoods (C2), C3 (Intensified and Sustained Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Production and Marketing) and C4 (Improved and Sustained Nutrition and Hygiene Practices).

Job Responsibility # 3: Learning and Reporting

• Stay abreast of current trends and best-practices in relation to high-impact NRM/DRM techniques and technologies appropriate for dry land areas; work with C1 team and the leadership   to discuss application of these in the RIPA-North context.

• Work closely with the C1 leadership team, CARE/Mercy Corps Program Office Managers, and with field-based RIPA-North teams to monitor and assess program performance against the targets and areas of impact.

• Support sound implementation of established M&E systems related to NRM and DRM activities.

• Inform documentation of best-practices, challenges and lessons-learned from RIPA-North’s implementation; develop documents and presentations as requested.

• With support of direct supervisors (Sr. NRM & DRM Advisors), facilitate regular review and reflection meetings with partners in the field to assess accomplishments, challenges and lessons-learned with respect to NRM and DRM activities that support sustainability and resilience objectives.

• Provide regular reports and on-going feedback on NRM and DRM activities to the Project Manager. 

• Make recommendations on how programs can be improved and adjusted to incorporate on-going learning towards maximizing impact.

• Promote and adhere to the principles and objectives of CARE Ethiopia and its programs.

• Represent CARE professionally during and after work hours and perform any other duties assigned by supervisor.

Job Responsibility #4: Representation

• Promote and adhere to the principles and objectives of CARE Ethiopia and its programs.

• Represent CARE professionally during and after work hours.

• Perform any other duties assigned by supervisor. 

III. GENDER EQUALITY

• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.

• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and PSEAH (safeguarding), as evidenced in previous positions / programming

Salary - 1044$

IV. QUALIFICATIONS 

A EDUCATION/TRAINING 

Required:

• BSC in Rangeland Management, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science/Environmental Management, Disaster risk management, Rural development and other fields related to NRM/DRM or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Desired:

• Master’s degree in Range Science, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Rural development or other field related to climate change and NRM.

B EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience working on Disaster Risk Management, Natural Resources Management, Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM), Dryland NRM, Pastoral livelihoods and development. 

• Experience in practical field-based activity implementation in dryland areas.

• Willingness and ability to perform field work and spend extensive time in remote areas. 

C TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Good writing and communication skills in English.

• Knowledge PRM, participatory assessment, awareness-raising and planning tools for NRM and DRM.

• Skills in organizing and facilitating community field work actions, meetings and workshops. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to liaise with government, community leaders and other stakeholders at all levels.

• Ability to engage with and represent CARE and its programs to communities and all levels of government.

• Experience of working in Afar Region.

• Ability to communicate in local language (Afar language). 

• Able to work in a very challenging environment and complex context and team. 

D COMPETENCIES

• Respect, accountability, courage, excellence, adaptability, stress tolerance, innovation, building partnership, communicating with impact, coaching, facilitating change, developing teams, information monitoring, planning and organizing, leading through vision and value.

IIV. CONTACTS/KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• The incumbent is expected to establish and maintain open and cordial relationship with relevant government partners, local government officials, donors and other development organizations working in the Pastoral, NRM, DRM and climate change arena in order to obtain the required support and collaboration for the smooth coordination and implementation of program activities.

• The incumbent is also expected to maintain good working relationships with partner institutions, consortium members, and all CARE staff to promote and ensure complementary development efforts and synergy of results. 

V. WORKING CONDITIONS AND LEVEL OF TRAVEL REQUIRED. 

• The position is based at Samara, Afar with frequent travel to implementation woredas in Zone 1 and Zone 3 Woredas.