Food Security and Livelihoods Specialist

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Food Security and Livelihoods Specialist will play a leadership role in the technical program quality of a national portfolio, particularly through providing technical advice and mentorship, and supporting project staff to ensure programming objectives are successfully achieved. They will also contribute to achieving high program quality through evidence-based work, and/or supporting new evidence around FSL programming, including all sub-thematic priorities within Save the Children’s Child Poverty global theme.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Food Security and Livelihoods and Social Protection Technical Adviser. 

Budget responsibility: NA

Staff reporting to this post: None; works closely with programme staff and partner staff 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

 Emergency Response Planning

• In coordination with the FSL and Social Protection Advisor, support the integration of emergency response planning within the national FSL strategy, ensuring the program is well-prepared to respond to acute food security and livelihood crises.
• Collaborate with relevant internal and external stakeholders to align emergency response objectives with broader FSL and resilience-building strategies.
• Support the establishment of rapid assessment tools and processes to quickly evaluate FSL needs and inform emergency response strategies in crises.

Program Quality and Standards:

• Support the assessment of Cash, and FSL needs and collect lessons learned from field teams to ensure that they are appropriately reflected in sectoral strategies and improvements on approaches
• Lead on the delivery of technical capacity development for Save the Children’s Cash and FSL programming, including the full spectrum of humanitarian and long-term development programming
• Work collaboratively with other sectors on the cross-sectoral integration of Cash and FSL with other programs, in particular with regard to nutrition, in order to maximize impact for children and families
• Provide technical oversight to maintain high program quality, including developing and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for program activities.
• Support in the assessment, selection, and monitoring of FSL implementing partners
• Conduct regular visits to the field offices to coordinate with field managers and senior field staff, including to support technical development objectives
• Contribute to project reporting to ensure reports to donors are of the highest quality, that there is alignment between the narrative and financial, and that they are submitted in a timely fashion;
• Analyze and provide feedback on program implementation to ensure gender equity and adequate child participation
• Ensure that programming supports and demonstrates good practice in child safeguarding and gender and inclusion mainstreaming

Program Development and Resource Mobilization:

• Supported by the FSL and Social Protection Advisor, contribute to proposal development including lessons learned from existing projects
• Identify key learning opportunities and gaps in knowledge, and lead research initiatives to ensure SC’s programme is rooted in evidence. 
• Maintain a gender-sensitive and youth-sensitive lens and work towards gender equity in programs

Advocacy and representation:

• Engage with representatives from relevant Departments of the GoL (e.g. MoSA and MoL) to develop and maintain positive relationships and potential collaborations in the absence of the FSL and Social Protection Advisor
• Represent Save the Children in sector working group meetings and other sector coordination forums in Lebanon, in absence of FSLSP Adviser
• Contribute to development of advocacy messages and materials in conjunction with SC’s Policy & Advocacy unit

General Management

• As a member of the Lebanon Head Office demonstrate behaviors that are consistent with Save the Children’s Mission, Vision and Values and ensure their broader application by staff across the program
• Contribute to a conducive and productive work environment typified by teamwork and collaboration
• Support the effective implementation the Save the Children Program Quality Framework
• Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within the country office portfolio, as required
• Comply with and promote Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures
• Support in the strategic leadership direction, guidance and technical support to development of thematic sectors and projects in the Lebanon office.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Development professional with a relevant Masters’ Degree or equivalent professional experience. Recommended 6 years’ experience in FSL or social protection, with experience in humanitarian and developmental contexts;
• Excellent understanding of household level economics and market dynamics in Lebanon;
• Prior experience in assessment, design, and implementation of social protection, cash transfer, food distribution, and livelihood programs; familiarity with nutrition programming is a plus
• Experience monitoring and supporting partner organizations 
• Ability to link micro-level impacts on children with macro trends at national and regional level;
• Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels;
• Excellent writing/editing and presentation/communication skills. Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner;
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures;
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively to field sites and work independently;
• Fluency in Arabic and English, both verbal and written, required;
• Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy.
• Experience in Household Economy Approach (HEA), Cost of Diet (CoD), Integrated Food Security Phased Classification (IPC), Cash Transfer Programming (CTP), Emergency Markets Mapping and Assessment (EMMA), Graduation and Self-reliance Programme