Food Security and Livelihood Officer

Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 40 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, and food security. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in seven countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Haiti and Somalia. Action Against Hunger-USA has approximately 1,500 staff based in the various country offices, Head Quarter in New York City and Operational Centre in Nairobi. Additional growth is anticipated.

I.            SUMMARY OF POSITION

FSL Assistant will be involved in implementation of FSL activities that include beneficiary targeting, distribution of vegetable seeds and farming tools, monitoring and evaluating the progress of activities, and documentation and reporting.

The FSL Officer provides comprehensive FSL support to implement activities, which will positively impact retention & growth of Action Against Hunger employees. The FSL Officer role has the following purpose, engagement and delivery:

Purpose: Execute different activities in areas of FSL such as, undertaking implementation of FSL project activities, documentation, monitoring and evaluation, and participating in any emergency emergency response activities.

Engagement: Liaise with beneficiaries, local government technical staff, ACF Logistics & Nutrition team and FSL staff in coordination office on FSL related issues and other operational factors that influence consistent delivery of FSL services at the Base level.

Delivery: Sustains FSL standards in the area of beneficiary targeting, activity implementation, documentation, monitoring & evaluation, report writing in line with internal rules and regulations, funding regulations and Action Against Hunger Charter of Principles and Core Values.

II.            Essential job functions

1.      Implementation of FSL Project Activities

Key to the role is overseeing quality and timely implementation of Food Security and Livelihood interventions to ensure continuity of effective service delivery and save lives.

• Oversee the implementation of activities and ensure activities are implemented in a timely manner and meeting the standards
• Develop plans for the implementation of the FSL project in the assigned Payams and Bomas
• Work closely with M&E Officer to ensure that programme indicators, monitoring formats, databases, data analysis, and reporting are maintained and harmonized.
• Identify community needs, understand the natural resource management challenges and suggest potential solutions appropriate to the programme.
• Through guidance support from FSL head, suggest innovative ideas and appropriate techniques for FSL interventions based on the context.
• Provide standards on job training and guidance on crop/vegetable production management practices, cash for asset implementation and resources management to project assistants, community supervisors/volunteers and field monitors.
• Ensure project plans, reports (activity weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports) etc. are prepared and submitted timely.
• Support the M& E in ensuring correct data collected providing regular activity monitoring, follow up and provide report on project key issues and any other challenge affecting the project.
• Provide supervision to the project assistance and supporting staffs and ensures technical support provided at field level.
• Represent ACF in sub-cluster meetings in the field level and provided update to the head of FSL and nutrition program manager field based.
• Take active role in all FSL related aspects in case of any emergency, under the guidance the FSL PM.
• Ensure active liaison with communities to ensure proper flow of information with respect to ACF’s role and community’s needs.
• To travel and actively participate in implementation of emergency FSL intervention to places assigned by manager.
• Perform any other duty as requested by line managers.
• Monitoring, Evaluation , Documentation and Reporting
• Under the supervision of the FSL PM, the FSL officer organize regular monitoring and evaluation exercises to ensure there a high quality of work at the project sites.
• Gives updates to the FSL PM on progress of the activities on weekly basis.
• Prepare monthly reports to the supervisor for review and consolidation.
• Document accomplishments, success stories, constraints and challenges; and share them with immediate supervisor.
• Crosscheck daily reporting forms and data gathered on daily basis and report all issue of interest to the FSL PM.
• Enter data into the computer and ensure proper management of project data. 
• With support from the MEAL team conducts PDM to all projects locations

2.      Emergency Response

• Take active role in all FSL related aspects in case of any emergency, under the guidance of the FSL PM.
• Ensure active liaison with communities and beneficiaries to ensure proper flow of information with respect to ACF’s role and community needs.
• Actively participate in implementation of emergency FSL intervention (if any) to places assigned by Supervisor.
• Support other ACF bases in case of emergency needs
• Any other activity assigned by line manager.

3.      Integration

• Coordinate Nutrition, Gender and WASH messaging into FSL at the community level
• Ensure there is coordinated refarrals from FSL to the nutrition’s centers and vise vasa.
• SBCC activities are well integrated into the FSL project 
• Ensure MtMSG /MtM forums are trained on mother MUAC approach with the support from Nutrition officers.

4.      Team Management and Capacity Building

• Manage the FSL Assistant technically through definition of objectives that will help him/her reach his/her full potential and achieve the objectives of the program.
• Train the nutrition team on the national guidelines and conduct refresher training/orientation on regular intervals on key FSL basics.
• Train the newly recruited MtMSG/MtM groups on FSL aspects of both vegetables ad crop farming.
• Build capacity of the FSL team on monitoring and reporting of indicators and data management
• Coordinate with HR department in the recruitment and on boarding of qualified FSL staff and volunteers in collaboration with Nutrition PM and Head of Department.
• Support in the development and supervision of action plans for FSL team members.
• Conduct staff appraisals on the technical competencies, jointly with FSL PM.
• Work closely with the nutrition team  on the overall planning, coordination and distribution of work in the centres and at the community settings
• Provide feedback to  PM and FSL HoD  on regular basis and recommendations for further improvement
• Build the capacity of the FSL Assistants and extension workers  on administrative tasks of planning, organizing, supervising, budget management, implementation of the FSL  program,
• Ensure HR procedures defined for the mission are followed, in collaboration with HR and Head of Base.
• Work closely with Nutrition Head of Department to prioritize Nutrition Team training objectives.
• Conduct weekly meeting with FSL team and share minute/action points to the team, and monitor the implementation of the action points.

6. Collaboration and Coordination with Other Programs (WASH, Nutrition, Gender, Health, Emergency) and partners  

• Ensure the coordination of the FSL program with WASH, Nutrition and Emergency programs and among the staff of each department on various areas including training, resource use, data collection and analysis.
• Promote and facilitate the integration of Nutrition with WASH, FSL and Health programs
• Share program information and strategies with WASH and FSL departments as well as nutrition capacity building, nutrition surveillance and other NTPs to ensure integration of activities as much as possible
• Oversee FSL projects and team in the states
• Coordinate with national office and other Bases to ensure sharing of relevant information, best practices, knowledge and experience, resources, etc. 
• Reinforce collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture, donors and other partners at the state level.
• Actively participate in state level  food security and livelihood  cluster

III.            I. Reporting Responsibilities

• Daily formats and data gathering, Weekly contribution to project APR
• Monthly field activity report
• Post Distribution Monitoring and Distribution Reports
• Donor reports

IV.            Other Responsibilities

Exchange of information and coordination with FSL team and other programs to maximize the impact of activities.

V.            Reporting Responsibilities

This position will be required to supervise the work and activities of the FSL Project Assistants with oversight for FSL volunteers at the community level

VI.            Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis. To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations, which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

VII.            Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

The responsibilities of this position necessitate consistent attendance of at least five days each week. Candidates must be willing to work beyond regular office hours and on weekends when necessary. The employee should also be prepared to travel for typical domestic and international business needs. While executing job responsibilities in the field, the employee may find themselves in precarious environments with high security risks, as well as in basic living conditions and varying outdoor weather conditions, and could be exposed to infectious diseases.

VIII.            Gender Equality Commitments:

• Fostering environment that supports values of women and men’s equal access to information.
• Provides an environment where women and men must be promoted based on the performance objectives.
• Respect for beneficiaries, women, men, children (boys & girls) regardless of gender, sex, disability, religion, etc.
• Value and respect for all cultures & Promote and uphold the PSEA policy and procedures

IX.            Commitment to Safeguarding

• Responsible to fully understand and adhere to Action Against Hunger’s safeguarding policy, PSEA and child safeguarding policies as well as its Code of Conduct and Charter of Principles.
• Respect all policies during professional as well as private time and ask for clarification if needed.
• Accomplish tasks in a way not to harm children, vulnerable adults and other communities we serve, or expose them to risk of abuse and exploitation.
• Report all safeguarding concern according to the applicable reporting system.  
• Create and maintain an environment free of abuse and exploitation.

• Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Extension or related fields.
• Minimum of three years experience in Food Security and agriculture programming 

I.            Required Skills & Competencies

• Excellent communication skills in English, fluency in a local language is required;
• Intermediate computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Outlook);
• Experience in community development programming, preferably in food security or livelihoods; and experience in agricultural extension and training;
• Experience in developing training materials and facilitating workshops;
• Experience with participatory fieldwork methodologies, and monitoring and reporting;
• Excellent knowledge of local area (agricultural practices, seasons, seed varieties, cultural habits, geographic area of assignment – including road and village locations)
• Knowledge of project implementation, ability to analyze and synthesize & good organizational skills
• Previous experience with ACF or other NGOs in area of Food Security and Livelihood.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. The incumbent is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the Action Against Hunger Safeguarding policies (PSEA, Child safeguarding and Code of Conduct).  Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

This advert closes on 2 May 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis given the urgency of the recruitment.