Job Description

Livelihoods Officer
(JOB REF: SOS/15/04/24)

Position title: ​​Livelihoods Officer x 2​
Working location: ​Shamva; Hwedza
Supervisor: ​Family-Strengthening Coordinator

Context of the position

Established in 1949, SOS Children's Villages International (CVI) is a dynamic, international social development organization working globally to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children without parental care and those who are at the risk of losing it.

SOS Children's Villages Association of Zimbabwe is a member of SOS International - a worldwide children's social welfare organisation, providing vulnerable children without homes with a family home and educational opportunities as well as strengthening families to reduce poverty.

Mission of the position:

The Livelihood Programme Officer is responsible for providing technical expertise to community based partners, community groups, young people and caregivers in the area of livelihoods/economic empowerment. He/she will be responsible for developing and supporting economic empowerment initiatives at individual, family and community levels. The Livelihood Programme Officer works closely with community based partners, government, CSOs, business corporates, faith-based institutions/NGOs, traditional leadership, etc. to enhance sustainable economic empowerment at individual, family and community levels.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key performance areas and main responsibilities:
• Participate in the formation and development of economic empowerment, self-help groups, associations and cooperatives
• Oversee the enrolment of programme beneficiaries who meet the project criteria;
• Facilitate active participation of children and young people in economic empowerment processes, including employability and entrepreneurship initiatives
• Ensure the inclusion of vulnerable children and women in all aspects of program activities;
• Support the development of an appropriate action plan to meet the needs of each household and community.
• Facilitate the identification of opportunities and mobilization of local resources for the action plan to meet the needs of each household and community.
• Promote modern, innovative and sustainable green and blue economic initiatives
• Facilitate the formation of community based trainer of trainers in agronomy, natural resource management and business/entrepreneurship development.
• Facilitate the development of value chains in identified community and family enterprises
• Facilitate the conducting of cost benefit analysis of FS programme investment in economic empowerment of caregivers, young people and communities
• Facilitate programme participants to access economic empowerment support through self-help association/cooperatives
• Conscientise beneficiaries and community on children’s rights and Child Protection issues and principles.
• Establish and maintain a good working relationship with stakeholders, Partners and beneficiary families; Provide support to community volunteers.
• Conduct field monitoring and reporting of economic empowerment; document programme processes and activities as per set guidelines;
• Document community, family and young people success stories on livelihood interventions.
• Prepare and submit comprehensive progress reports, specific activity reports, and any other reports when necessary to his / her supervisor in a timely manner.
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Qualifications and Experience

Requirements

Qualifications and Technical Competencies
• Degree in business and entrepreneurship and related social and natural sciences/disciplines such as Economics, entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Agri-business, Rural Development, Business Administration, Social work, Sociology, Development Studies, or any other relevant discipline etc.
• At least 3 years of professional work experience in Project Management, livelihood development or Microfinance enterprise development.
• Experience in community work and engagement Agricultural, Economic Development and Livelihood is and added advantage
• Experience in Climate Smart Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, micro finance and strong agribusiness skills




Skills & Knowledge
• Sound understanding of child rights, child development, family and community development, rights based programming and management of CBPs.
• Ability to apply community development participatory methodologies, ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Self-starter, ability to work in a team
• Experience of data collection, collation, analysis, and report writing
• Strong leadership, organizational and analytical skills, and ability to work under pressure
• Track record demonstrating high integrity, innovativeness, creativity, reliability and dependable
• Team player, Self-motivator, able to work with limited supervision.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Effective in written and verbal communication in official language of the country. Ability to communicate in applicable local language(s) is an added advantage

How to Apply

SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe holds strict child safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in the workplace and program activity locations. Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions will give due emphasize to assessing candidates value congruence and thorough background checks, police clearance reference check processes.

Candidates should be willing to work in any of the SOS Programme Locations.

How to Apply

Applications accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) with at least 3 traceable references and copies of certified academic certificates should be submitted electronically not later than 22 April 2024. Please note the applications will be reviewed as they come in. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
Applications that are late do not have a CV or certified certificates attached will be disqualified. E-mail applications should bear the reference number of the position in the subject line of the email.
E-mail: Applications should be sent electronically to:
[email protected]

SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe is an equal opportunities employer and encourages all eligible applicants to apply without any consideration to sex, cultural consideration, disability or creed.