GRADUATION ADVISOR, NIGER – Niger

CARE is seeking a Graduation Approach (GA) Advisor for the anticipated five-year USAID-funded Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Niger. This activity aims to improve and sustain the food and nutrition security of vulnerable populations by addressing the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition. The activity will work at the individual, household, community, and institutional levels to address the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition and strengthen transformative opportunities. It is designed to strengthen the resilience of populations vulnerable to acute, chronic hunger and malnutrition; recurrent shocks, stresses, and crises; and to reduce the need for ongoing or future emergency food assistance.

The GA Advisor ensures that the design of the activity is aligned with the principles of the Graduation Approach and that the technical quality and integrity of the project are maintained. The GA Advisor plays a crucial role in integrating social dimensions, particularly focusing on social inclusion and the resilience of marginalized populations, into food security and community resilience activities.

This activity is expected to be a five-year program with a budget of $50-100 million.

This is a Key Personnel position, subject to USAID approval. It is also subject to project award and funding. This position will be based in Niamey.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership in the development and implementation of the activity’s graduation approach, ensuring adherence to the project framework and goals. Ensure that handovers are effectively timed and targeted appropriately. Also, ensure that livelihood options for participants are those that will enhance their income to most effectively achieve the project’s defined goals. Finally, ensure that coaching methodologies and training curricula are robust and will achieve participants’ income goals.
• Apply deep insights into gender, age, and sociocultural factors when selecting participants and designing programs.
• Ensure that the social dimensions of food security and community resilience are effectively addressed in all parts of the activity throughout the award period.
• Focus on social inclusion, especially marginalized populations, gender and youth integration, to achieve the intended results.
• Work with the M&E Lead, Strategic Learning Advisor and Resilience and Livelihoods Technical Advisor in collecting, analyzing and using information from a variety of sources.
• Ensure that all components of the graduation approach are integrated and create multiplier effects across and between components
• Ensure consistent, high-quality technical implementation across subcontractors and implementation sites.
• Promote gender equality and social inclusion when designing and implementing programme activities.
• 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 Government of Niger.
• Ensure that all activities are conducted in a manner that maximizes return on investment for participants and donors.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Health, Agriculture, Economics or a related discipline. An advanced degree is preferred.
• Five years of relevant experience in implementing the graduation approach is required.
• Demonstrable experience in designing and implementing the five components of the graduation approach and in-depth understanding of how gender, age and other locally relevant socio-cultural factors can play a role in selecting participants.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead the collection, analysis and use of information from a wide range of sources, in collaboration with the M&E Lead, Strategic Learning Advisor and Resilience and Livelihoods Technical Advisor.
• Excellent management, interpersonal, facilitation and supervisory skills, the ability to network and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders and field experience in resource-limited environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of gender equality, diversity and inclusion as demonstrated through previous management positions and programming.
• Demonstrable commitment to the prevention of sexual exploitation and harassment (PSEAH).
• Possibility to travel within Niger if necessary.