Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer (Project Manager)

Operational Context:
Since October 2017, over 700,000 people have been internally displaced by violence and insecurity in Mozambique’s northern provinces. The country bears additional strain from 29,000 refugees and asylum seekers, with around 50% living in areas affected by the conflict, including the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa.
The country’s susceptibility to climate change, as evidenced by the cyclones in 2019, 2021, and most recently in 2022, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, further compound the vulnerabilities of most of the population to economic shocks, fragility, and poverty. Underlying the fragile situation in the country is the pervasive poverty and socio-economic exclusion, particularly for those in the rural areas, including the displaced and the communities that host them, and the inherently vulnerable such as women and youth, who face a number of concerns including risks of Gender-based Violence (GBV).
UNHCR understands that fostering sustainable socio-economic development that is inclusive underpins the pursuit of lasting solutions to address. A participatory and consultative dialogue process conducted with the displaced populations and the host communities reinforces the need to create market systems that enhance their socio-economic resilience.
The incumbent will adopting integrated and market-based approaches (targets both the displaced and host communities), to ensure exceptional project management focusing on building capacities and enhancing sustainable market linkages with the private sector. As a result, the project impact will ensure sustainability of livelihoods interventions, transforming the wellbeing of the families over time while also strengthening harmony and peace between the displaced and their hosts and stimulating local economic growth.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for asylum seekers, refugees, internally displaced, returnees and stateless people. The operation in Mozambique has its main office in Maputo, field office in Nampula, and sub-office in Pemba. The incumbent will be based in Nampula; however, s/he will also support the implementation of activities in Cabo Delgado, requiring frequent field missions. The working language in the UNHCR offices in Mozambique is English.

Please also note that engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme is subject to proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Duties:

• Lead project implementation in smooth coordination with relevant stakeholders – including the donor, government counterparts, implementing and operational partners, and UNHCR offices in the region – through follow up and monitoring, as well as liaising with UNHCR staff according to agreed-upon methodology.
• Support the conduction of necessary assessments in collaboration with relevant private and public stakeholders. This includes impact assessments and surveys that help to inform interventions and identify investment and funding opportunities that enhance the economic inclusion of UNHCR person of concern.
• The incumbent will lead project steering committees, i.e., an implementation committee alongside the relevant technical staff, and a project steering committee that includes the Head of Offices, Livelihoods Officer and the Development Officer. He/she will ensure that relevant project milestones are achieved in time and flag any challenges or divergence of the workplan to the implementation committee, trying to resolve and otherwise bring it to the attention of the steering committee.
• In order to meet the donor’s information needs, maintain regular communication with the donor on the project’s results and any requests for changes/adjustments in implementation.
• Ensure that donor reporting, and visibility requirements are fully and timely implemented in a consistent and harmonized manner. This responsibility will be assumed in close coordination and with the support of External Relations in Maputo.
• Identify obstacles to the implementation, provide solutions and ensure that necessary expertise is provided in the context of the project.
• Work in close collaboration with technical areas (Programme, Finance, Admin) and Implementing partners to ensure that budget and resources are adequately managed and that deliverables are met.
• Provide timely updates, information, and guidance on developments with the implementation of the project in order for UNHCR to take appropriate decisions on how best to engage with this project and funding facility.
• Support the respective country office and sub-offices in the provision of a collective and harmonised response and coordinate regular information sharing between the sub-offices and Maputo level.
• Liaise with other key partners and stakeholders whose activities might be of relevance for the implementation of the project, in full alignment with the project steering committee, ensuring a harmonized external engagement as to the project.
• Stay abreast of political, social, economic, and cultural developments that impact on the project environment and communicate to project steering committee.
• Identify potential opportunities for synergies with government development programmes and related projects, aiming at maximizing the impact of the project interventions.
• Support field visits from the donor as required.
• Approve the coordination mechanisms for implementation of the project.
• Manage the approved project budget in accordance with the project objectives.
• Coordinate with internal units (livelihoods, administration, and programme) with a view to implement the activities in accordance with UNHCR’s rules and regulations.
• Issue, in alignment to the External Relations unit, visibility and advocacy statements on behalf of UNHCR related to the project.
• Report situations or difficulties that could prevent the proper implementation of the activities.
• Advise on adjustments and improvements that could be made in managing and implementing the project.

Accountabilities:

• The project is implemented in accordance with the approved work plan .
• Technical, management and coordination support is provided to all project activities in the two country offices (Nampula and Pemba offices).
• Monitoring, reporting and overall coherence of programmes and activities implemented are ensured, including liaison with all relevant stakeholders inside and outside UNHCR.
• Contractual obligations set out by the donor are fully adhered to.

Minimum Qualifications:

**
Education & Professional Work Experience**

**
Years of Experience / Degree Level:**
3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1-year relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

Education: Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Management;
Socio-Economics Development;
Economics/International Economics;
Rural Development;
Financial Management;
or related areas.

Relevant Job Experience:
Essential
Technical competencies in sub-sectors relevant to livelihoods programming e.g., financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education, and training, etc.
Experience in facilitating the economic inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ideally in varied field contexts.
Experience in working with and developing partnerships with private sector, NGOs, UN organizations, development actors, and government authorities in sub-sectors relevant to livelihood programming e.g., financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education, and training, etc. Desirable

• Good understanding of the development actors funding and reporting mechanisms.
• Previous experience working on projects funded by development actors (e.g., AFDB), including experience in donor relations and reporting.
• Knowledge of livelihoods and financial inclusion approaches and projects.
• UNHCR protection and programme management experience.
• Proven experience in refugee/IDP contexts.
• Exposure to UNHCR-specific learning/training activities.**Functional skills:**
  EX-Experience with Inter/Non-Governmental Organization (INGO/NGO);
  LV-Livelihoods & sub-sectors (value-chain upgrading, microfinance, cash assistance, etc.);
  EX-Field experience;
  MG-Project Management;
  MG-Strategic Planning;
  MS-Networking;
  MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation;

Language Requirements:
Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.