Food Security and Livelihoods Technical Lead

Country Programme: Ukraine
Base: Kyiv/Lviv (Dependant on Security)
Reports to: Programme Quality Director
Start date: As soon as possible
Duration: 12 months

About PIN Ukraine:

People in Need (PIN) has been active in Ukraine since early August 2014. Currently, PIN is one of the major humanitarian actors in Ukraine responding to the recent military escalation providing humanitarian aid to conflict-affected people across Ukraine. Since 2014, PIN has implemented emergency food and cash assistance, NFI, shelter, protection, livelihoods and WASH interventions supporting 3 million vulnerable IDPs, returnees and host communities in urban and rural areas. PIN’s main humanitarian donors include ECHO, EU, BHA, UHF and the Czech Government.

About the role:

Main responsibility of the role is to provide technical support to PIN project staff on planning, implementation and coordination of food security and livelihoods (FSL) interventions implemented in response to the crisis caused by the current military operations in Ukraine as well as to ensure the FSL programme is implemented in line with all technical standards and guidance.

Immediate priorities:

• Support food security interventions specifically the composition of food kits and/or food supplies to collective centre meals programs and distribution of food kits in the wider community. Examine how PIN can obtain and provide food kits for vulnerable populations in a more sustained and continuous way either through partnerships and/or funding.
• Support teams in the identification of potential emergency livelihoods interventions.
• Ensuring that FSL activities contribute to meeting upcoming winterisation needs.
• Actively engage and participate in key coordination platforms including the Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster and the Food Assistance and Livelihoods Working Groups.
• Provide advice on ongoing and future implementation and scale-up strategy & plan for FSL programming informed by the Ukraine context and relevant technical standards and identify how it can be incorporated into implementation.
• Support upcoming consultancy/technical advisory visit looking at assessing emergency livelihoods needs in Ukraine.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Support the design of new FSL projects and initiatives with a primary focus on food assistance to vulnerable front-line communities and Collective Centres and emergency livelihoods interventions.
• Support the design of livelihoods interventions including TVET, business support and livelihoods grants for vulnerable IDPs and host community members.
• Draft implementation and monitoring SOPs, programme guidance and tools (on delivery options, service providers, data collection, targeting criteria, beneficiary selection, monitoring and evaluation etc.) in cooperation with MEAL and programme teams.
• Provide technical support to project teams with development/adaptation and use of technical tools, implementation of FSL technical standards, winterisation etc.
• Ensure the evolving contextual developments in terms of markets, financial services in the country are well reflected in the existing and new projects and implementation methodologies.
• Support the program teams in feasibility and market assessments and setting-up/maintaining cooperation with FSL suppliers.
• Actively participate in proposal development for all projects with FSL interventions and work with Grants department in identification of new opportunities for funding.
• Represent and ensure active participation of PIN in national coordination and technical forums.
• Develop functional partnerships with relevant partners, local authorities and other stakeholders.
• Identify capacity needs within PIN project teams and national partner’s staff involved in FSL programming and provide advice on training needs.
• Ensure PIN’s FSL programming is in line with key technical standards (SPHERE etc).
• Continuously evaluate PIN’s FSL intervention in terms of programme quality, relevance and effectiveness, help to identify gaps and implement improvements.

Main Requirements:

• At least 5 year’s professional experience with FSL interventions in a humanitarian organization.
• Experience of implementing emergency FSL programmes in conflict settings with front line communities and IDPs.
• Degree and experience in Agriculture or Business Development preferred but practical experience more important.
• Familiarity with FSL technical guidelines of institutional donors and cluster;
• Strong grasp of all stages of programme cycle management and quality standards in humanitarian and FSL programming, including safeguarding and accountability mechanisms.
• Experience with Ukraine or the region required.
• Experience working with local partner organisations and in consortiums is desirable.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Experience of working with and through FSL Working Groups and demonstrable experience of developing/influencing technical guidelines.
• Excellent teamwork, communication, coordination and representation skills.
• Proven ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural team environment, with appropriate sensitivity to social and cultural norms.
• Proven ability to work in stressful environment.
• Experience with remotely managed programming is a plus.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Russian or Ukrainian with knowledge of the other.

Security situation in Ukraine

Humanitarian workers continue to operate throughout Ukraine, despite the occasional shelling, which has intensified since 10 October 2022. However, PIN security SOPs require PIN staff to proceed to shelter each time during an air raid siren and remain there until the air raid siren is cancelled, which cumulatively can be several times a week for several hours a day. Air strikes have mostly targeted energy-related infrastructure, resulting in frequent power outages and occasionally water supply disruptions throughout Kyiv, affecting the living conditions of PIN staff in the city. However, most services such as medical care, shops, public transportation as well as restaurants or leisure facilities remain operational.
The employee is expected to be able to travel to other PIN offices and other locations where PIN is conducting activities, however all travel must first be pre-approved by PIN security department. The employee must comply with all PIN security department SOPs and other relevant instructions.
This position is an unaccompanied position and team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and PIN's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

PIN Offers:

• Work experience with professional and largest NGO in Central-Eastern Europe;
• Flexible and challenging working environment with room for personal growth;
• Starting salary defined by PIN salary scale;
• Hardship allowance;
• Accommodation allowance;
• Robust and thorough online induction training (2 weeks);
• 25 days of paid leave annually;
• Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once per every 6 months of completed work;
• Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure;
• Free medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online;
• Travel health insurance provided;
• E-learning courses, webinars, training possibilities

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Send us your CV (no longer than 4 pages) and short cover letter via our application form. Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need Code of conduct and key policies (available at: www.peopleinneed.cz/policies).
 

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and is committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involves. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.