Livelihoods and Food Security Specialist Colombia

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity, and accountability. These attitudes and beliefs shall guide our actions and relationships.

What we are looking for

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is looking for an experienced, dynamic, and highly strategic individual to take up the exciting new role of Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS) Specialist. The postholder will be responsible for the technical development of the LFS Core Competence (CC) in Colombia, Ecuador and Panama, the strategic direction and quality assurance, the LFS strategy and quality control. The position is responsible also for mentoring, training and capacity building staff on LFS technical capacity. And for providing specialist advice and guidance to the LFS team, Head of Programme and CC specialists at Operation level in ensuring that optimal LFS programme strategies, systems, policy, tools and practices are in place.

What you will do

• Support the consideration and inclusion of crosscutting issues and thematic areas as Safe and Inclusive Programming, environment, cash-based interventions, and market-based approaches within (and across)NRC core competency responses, where appropriate**.**
• Collaborate in the fundraising/resource mobilization for the increase in the Core Competency portfolio.
• Responsible for relevant technical and innovative development and the quality of response designin the country programme.
• Contribution to strategic partnership development
• Responsible for ensuring that best practices within the core competency are identified, documented, and disseminated within the country operation.
• Responsible for Livelihoods and Food Security contextual analysis including protection, risks and needs, as input to Country Strategy.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position.

What you will bring

• Minimum 4 years of experience within technical expertise area in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• LFS Core Competency expertise
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge and skills in market analysis, cash-based interventions and market-based programmes
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Fluency in English and Spanish, both written and verbal
• Valid driver’s license
• Experience in more than one field of the core competence and technical knowledge in the following areas:
  • Household and livelihoods capacities and vulnerability analysis
  • Food security assessments
  • Emergency Food assistance
  • Promotion of improved food production and processing
  • Market based approach/programming and market assessments
  • School feeding and gardening
  • Assets creation
  • Income generation &diversification
  • Financial inclusion
  • Business and value chain development
  • Integrated risk reduction and anticipatory actions related to livelihoods (livelihoods protection)
  • Experience in the Private Sector. Social Impact,Corporate Social Responsibility, green jobs is an asset
• Experience in drafting and encouraging implementation of policy/strategic guidance, and developing practical tools and resources
• Experience in partnership development and localization
• Integrated programming mindset and experience
• Knowledge of Latin American Context is an asset
• Experience in capacities assessment and capacity building
• Experience and ability to work in a matrix structure.

What we offer

• Duty station**: Bogotá, Colombia**
• Contract: national or international, 12 months, extendable
• Travel: up to 40%
• Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s regional salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions for international contracts
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• Internal candidates only: please click on the suitcase icon labelled “I am an employee” to be redirected to NRC’s internal careers site.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email [email protected] with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. From our Country Office in Bogota – Colombia we oversee a three-country operation in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panamá, one of our largest in the world, responding to the needs of persons affected by the internal conflict in Colombia and the migration crisis across the sub-region. Today, NRC is one of the leading humanitarian organizations in Colombia, with exceptional recognition with local communities and Government entities, and is the agency of choice for some of the major institutional donors.

Our strategy for 2025 focuses on delivering immediate lifesaving assistance; building resilience of at-risk communities; and contributing to durable solutions for displaced populations. Every year we reach almost half a million people in the sectors of Education; Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA); Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS), Protection from Violence (PfV), Shelter; and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

The LFS Specialist as part of a technical matrix structure has the overall technical responsibility of the Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS) Core Competence (CC) in Colombia, Ecuador and Panamá. This position has a threefold focus:

1. Livelihood Provisioning / Meet Basic Needs: provide first line response to ensure that immediate survival food needs are met, and livelihoods assets restored.

2. Livelihoods Protection: avert erosion of productive assets and protect affected households against further effects of risks and crisis by ensuring risks are identified and anticipatory actions to protect livelihoods taken.

3. Livelihoods strengthening: Support affected households and communities promoting recovery and resilience through the participation in livelihood opportunities that contribute to their self-reliance and durable solutions.

Given the geographical coverage it is expected a time dedication of 60 % to Colombia, 30 % to Ecuador and 10 % to Panamá.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Learn more about NRC