Graduation approach Team Leader – Niger

About Trickle-Up

Since 1979, Trickle Up has focused on the poorest and most vulnerable, working with participants living in extreme poverty and facing multiple levels of exclusion due to gender, ethnicity, religion and disability. The organization has worked with more than 485,000 participants and their families and has helped sustainably lift more than two million people out of extreme poverty in India, Africa and America. Our mission is to work with women in extreme poverty to create economic opportunities and drive inclusion. Trickle Up works through partner organizations to build pathways to savings, food security and freedom of choice, resulting in sustainable poverty reduction on a large scale.

Position overview

Trickle Up Program is looking for a team leader for the graduation approach, as part of its participation in a consortium that is preparing a bid. USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) is expected to release a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Niger Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in or around January 2025. Trickle Up plans to join a consortium, which will cover an approximate project. five-year period beginning in or around October 2025.

The RFSA program will work to improve and sustain the food and nutrition security of vulnerable populations through multi-year resilient food and nutrition security activities. Trickle Up expects that BHA will rely heavily on a graduation approach in the design of this Niger RFSA.

This position is critical to ensure that the design of the activity aligns with the principles of the Graduation Approach, and to maintain the technical quality and integrity of the project. The Graduation Approach Team Leader will play a crucial role in integrating all aspects of the dimensions of a complete graduation approach, in particular focusing on social inclusion and the resilience of marginalized populations, into food security and community resilience activities.

This is a Key Personnel position, subject to approval by USAID. It also depends on the allocation and financing of projects. National and international candidates are encouraged to apply. This position will be based in Niamey. This is an unaccompanied postal location.

Main responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the implementation of the five components of the graduate approach, ensuring adherence to the project’s framework and objectives.
• Apply a deep understanding of gender, age and socio-cultural factors when targeting participants and designing programs.
• Ensure that the social dimensions of food security and community resilience are effectively addressed in all components of the activity.
• Focus on social inclusion, especially on displaced persons, marginalized populations, gender and youth inclusion, to achieve the intended results.
• Work with the party chief, M&E leader and other key personnel to collect, analyze and use information from various sources.
• Ensure that all components of the graduation approach are integrated and create multiplier effects.
• Maintain consistent, high-quality technical implementation among sub-awardees and implementation locations.
• Ensure that technical interventions are appropriately integrated, layered and sequenced within the activity and with external stakeholders, including USAID, the private sector, other donors and the Republic of Niger.

Qualifications

Education requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred.

Language requirements

• Fluent in English and French (spoken and written)

Experience Requirements

• 10 years of related experience implementing the graduate approach in challenging contexts is required.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing the five components of the graduation approach and an in-depth understanding of how gender, age and other locally relevant socio-cultural factors can play a role in targeting participants.
• Demonstrated ability to lead the collection, analysis and use of information from a wide range of sources in collaboration with the M&E Lead.
• Excellent management, interpersonal, facilitation and monitoring skills, and the ability to network and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders and field experience in resource-poor settings.
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of gender equality, diversity and inclusion, as evidenced by previous management positions and programming.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Harassment (PSEAH).

Knowledge and skills

• Strong writing, editing and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and grow a fundraising portfolio.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in an environment with limited resources.
• Well-organized, experienced project manager with strong analytical and creative skills. Able to set priorities, manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Strong attention to detail.
• Research skills ahead.
• A working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge or a similar donor database.

Behavioral competencies

• Thrives in a small, highly collaborative, fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Great people skills.
• A naturally optimistic and enthusiastic personality who talks about solutions, not problems.
• A sincere commitment to help alleviate poverty.