Position:                     Food Security & Livelihood (FSL) Project Assistant

Department:              Programs

Location:                    Burco, Somaliland

Contract Duration:   31st December 2023

Direct Hierarchy:       FSL Officer

Starting date:             October 2023

 Background on ACTED

Created in 1993, ACTED is an international non-governmental organization pursuing a dual mandate of emergency response and development interventions in 40 of some of the world’s most vulnerable countries affected by conflicts, disasters, or socio-economic hardship. With a team of 7,000 national staff and 400 international staff, ACTED implements 500 projects a year to support more than 20 million beneficiaries, notably in hard-to-reach areas.

ACTED goes to the last mile through programs and approaches that look beyond the immediate emergency towards opportunities for longer term livelihood reconstruction and sustainable development. Guided by the motto “Think Local, Act Global” and its 3Zero –Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty – strategy, ACTED puts local territories at the centre and provides a tailored support to local needs.

ACTED is looking for professionally confident, self-motivated, experienced, and committed team player to fill the Food Security & Livelihood (FSL) Project Assistant position in Burco, Somaliland.

Position Profile:

Under the supervision of the FSL PO, the FSL Project Assistant will be responsible for community mobilization and support to community governance activities, under the direct supervision of the Food Security & Livelihood (FSL) Project Officer.

This includes but is not limited to conducting information campaigns, implementing complaints and feedback mechanisms on the site, ensuring that vulnerable groups and people with specific needs are represented and participating in -FSL activities, and building the capacity project beneficiaries on Farmer’s Field Schools (FFS) on agricultural production.

Duties and Responsibilities

§   Community mobilization for all project activities, e.g. farmers’ training or meetings and encourage active farmers’ participation.

§   Conduct Project awareness and community meetings at the beginning of the project in project-targeted communities.

§   Supporting and promoting the participation of women, youth, and people with specific needs and marginalized groups in FSL Activities at the village level.

§   Organize community public meetings and facilitate the formation of project committees at the community level.

§   Assist project committees in following the selection criteria and identifying project beneficiaries in the targeted communities.

§   Responsible for the Beneficiary selection process, registration, and verifications.

§   Oversee the implementation of all project activities to ensure the project is completed in a timely and accountable manner.

§   In collaboration with FSL PO, Revive project manager and Community, leaders select the sites of Farmers Field School (FFS) communal demonstration plots.

§   Maintain proper records and documentation related to FFS groups at the field level in respective villages.

§   Participate in the design, and assessment of livelihood and food security components of the project activities.

§   Conducting information campaigns, implementing complaints and feedback mechanisms on the site, ensuring that vulnerable groups and people with specific needs are represented and participating in -FSL activities, and building the capacity project beneficiaries on Farmer’s Field Schools (FFS) on agricultural production

§   Involved in targeting and tracking distribution of agriculture inputs and cash for Work (CFW) tools.

§   Preparation of training material and training of project beneficiaries on Farmer’s Field Schools (FFS) on agricultural production.

§   Conduct farmer’s training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).

§   Conduct visits to provide individual, contact farmers & group farmers with practical application of useful extension knowledge.

§   Supporting the FSL PO to ensure efficient and effective project implementation, timely completion of high-quality work plans, accurate reports, and other mandated deliverables are achieved.

§   Ensuring that CASH/Voucher assistance is delivered to the targeted households as per the selection and targeting criteria. 

§   Assessing the needs and capacities of the community for cash/Voucher interventions

§   Following procedures and guidelines in the implementation of CVA interventions, and supporting in development of learning for improved cash strategies

§   Responsible for day-to-day activity implementation (with cash-based interventions being a core activity) through efficient and effective ways

§   Ensure that MUAC screening of SAM and MAM beneficiaries is conducted properly in line with beneficiary selection criteria.

§   Contributing and actively participating in the MUAC screening of malnourished children and PLW of the targeted population of the project

§   Supervise ongoing project activities including Cash for Work (CFW) at the field level.

§   Collect Post distribution monitoring monthly, market surveys, case studies, and most significant success stories.

§   Supporting FSL, interns in developing work plans and providing any necessary job training and guides.

§   Assess capacity-building needs and organize capacity-building events and processes.

§   Ensuring that the CRM mechanism integrates different ways of collecting complaints and feedback, not only through desk but also through formal and informal meetings with the community leaders, outreach activities, etc.

§   Lead transparent and accountable participatory targeting of project target groups and beneficiaries.

§   Considering gender, protection, and GBV concerns in all aspects of activities.

§   Promoting and adhering to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy and guidelines (for site residents, ACTED staff, partner agencies, casual labors)

§   Prepare and compile FSL activity reports on a weekly or monthly basis and share them with the respective line manager.

§   Coordinate ACTED Agriculture field activities with other partners, NGOs, local community, and relevant Government departments in line with THRIVE/REVIVE projects.

§   Ensure ACTED's participation in inter-agency livelihood coordination meetings and represent ACTED in National Agriculture Coordination meetings when needed.

§   Perform other duties as required by the relevant supervisor.