Food Security PM

1. Purpose

CARE is a leading relief and development non-governmental organization fighting global poverty. Established in 1946, it is now a confederation composed of 14 members and 4 affiliates. In 2016, CARE worked in 84 countries around the world, supporting development and humanitarian aid projects to reach more than 83 million people. While CARE is a large international organization with more than 11,000 employees worldwide, we have a strong local presence: 95% of our staff are nationals of the countries where our programs are run.

In Lebanon, CARE’s program strategy for the upcoming years will focus on strengthening and expanding its emergency response and capacity to provide basic assistance services while pursuing development projects in areas of food security and livelihood support, gender and protection. CARE intends to maintain its presence in all areas of Lebanon.

CARE Lebanon has scaled up rapidly over the past few years and today it has about 90 staff members, with more than 15 different local/international partner organizations. 90% of the team is composed of national staff, with a symbolic number of international members.

This position is responsible for assessment, response analysis, design and implementation of the food security and livelihood components of CARE’s emergency response. S/he will need to co-ordinate with other team members and CARE staff, especially food security, logistics, gender and protection and technical sectors, to ensure a rapid, proportionate and effective response. S/he will need to ensure response to immediate food security and livelihood issues with simultaneous consideration of longer term needs and possible scenarios. Depending on the situation the specialist may need to take a very active role in technical co-ordination, support and advocacy with the country specific Food Security and Nutrition Clusters and other stake holders and technical agencies relevant to the sector. The position is responsible for field activities as part of the project management cycle. S/he is expected to go to the field, including hard-to-reach areas.

2. Reporting Lines

Director of Programs

3. Organizational Relationship

Project Officer, Field Officers and Volunteers

4. Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Assessment:

• In close coordination with the Food Security and Livelihood Coordinator provide sectoral leadership and expertise in the assessment of the needs to inform decision making at the Country Office level.
• In close coordination with the Food Security and Livelihood Coordinator conduct initial rapid assessment of current situation in collaboration with local specialists and affected population; determine priorities and immediate activities and resources i.e. more detailed assessment versus need to address immediate nutritional and/or food security problems.
• Conduct thorough response analysis and recommend comprehensive and effective actions for response which may include both food and cash based interventions and recuperative programs to address moderate and severe acute malnutrition.
• In close coordination with the FSL Coordinator, represent CARE to food security and nutrition clusters, stakeholders and Governmental and non-Governmental agencies (and military where present) for the purposes of the nutrition and / or food security aspects of the assessment.
• Assess in-country resources, human, material and financial for response with relevant staff and agencies and assist in capacity building of national staff.

Program Design:

• In close coordination with the FSL Coordinator define aims and objectives of the overall livelihood and/ or food security program.
• Select and design most appropriate livelihood and/ or food security interventions based on the outcomes of assessments and the context.
• In coordination with the Gender and Protection Coordinator, develop gender analysis of both the external context to inform interventions and internal context to inform systems and structures such as food targets taking into consideration nutritional needs, and ensure gender balance within CARE’s teams especially at field level.
• Ensure that issues of protection, gender, livelihoods, DRR and environmental impact, operation and maintenance are factored into the program design.
• Ensure CARE’s guidelines and Sphere standards both qualitative and quantitative are considered and any departures documented.
• Work in close collaboration with broader Country Office programs to ensure that emergency interventions build upon and link in to longer term programming.
• In close coordination with the FSL Coordinator, develop letters of intent, concept papers, budgets and proposals in respect of the above.

Response Management and Implementation:

• Plan and manage program(s) in a phased and prioritized manner with full consultation and co-ordination with CARE staff and other agencies both governmental and non-governmental.
• Ensure gender is fully considered throughout the project cycle with women being enabled to influence decision-making around nutrition and /or food security issues.
• Organize with the Procurement, Commodity Management and Logistics Teams materials and support needed for all activities and guide the team on Local/Regional Purchase as required.
• Design and develop appropriate surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems for nutrition and or food security interventions.
• Ensure early and rigorous implementation of quality and accountability mechanisms.
• Integrate M&E systems to support beneficiary accountability, donor reporting and CARE’s Emergency protocols, performance metrics and organizational learning.

Information and Co-ordination:

• Provide regular updates to the director of programs and the wider team on progress, priorities and constraints – verbally and in writing on an agreed frequency.
• Engage and follow up with CARE CI technical sector support staff
• Represent CARE to governmental and non-governmental groups as needed and agreed with the Team Leader.
• Support the implementation of, and represent CARE in, food security & nutrition coordination mechanisms.
• Brief updates and reports on sectoral activities/strategies to donors and other stakeholders.
• All staff members understand and abide by the CARE Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) / Child Protection (CP) Policy.  All staff must sign the relevant Code of Conduct. Staff are required to report any suspicions of exploitation and abuse of children and vulnerable people via established internal mechanisms. All staff must adhere to CARE’s zero tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

Human Resources and Administration: 

• Coordinate and/or implement training and briefing of CARE staff and stakeholders on nutrition and/or food security issues.

5. Qualifications / special skills or knowledge

a. Skills & knowledge:

• Previous experience in emergency contexts, focusing on food security and livelihood interventions.
• Previous experience in working through existing humanitarian coordination structures.
• Previous experience in donor engagement and engagement with local authorities.
• Strong analytical and report writing skills.
• Wide knowledge about PSEA and Gender in Emergencies.
• Previous experience in managing a team
• Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train staff and also able to work with disaster affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner.
• Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of CARE. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.
• Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to CARE's core values and humanitarian principles.
• Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
• Work style: Is well planned and organized even within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Knowledge and skills: knowledge of CARE policies and procedures, Sphere NGO Code of Conduct. Requires general finance, administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills.

b. Experience:

At least   3-5  years of relevant experience, especially at NGOs, academic organizations, standard-setting bodies, public agencies focused on data collection and analysis.

c. Academic background:

Bachelor’s degree in one or several of the following areas: Food Security, Agriculture, public health, social science, humanitarian affairs or similar.

d. Languages: Emglish and Arabic are the working language of CARE International in Lebanon.

Knowledge of other languages is an asset

6. Other contract elements

• Advanced Excel knowledge
• Experience and knowledge of CP and GBV core concepts safe identification and referrals

PSEA and Safeguarding Child policy

CARE International in Lebanon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

CARE International in Lebanon and its employees and stakeholders abide by the CARE International Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding Policies.