Senior Program Officer (Livelihoods) at Women in the New Nigeria (WINN)

Women in the New Nigeria (WINN) is a leading women-led and women's rights non-governmental organization established in 2010 and legally incorporated in 2013, that focuses on women’s empowerment and enhancing the lives of youths. WINN has presence in 17 states in Nigeria, including FCT Abuja, and an international presence in eight (8) countries: North America (WINNA), WIN Ghana, WIN Mozambique, WIN South Africa, WIN Sierra Leone, WIN World UK, WIN Niger, WIN Cameroun.

We ensure that the structures and systems with which women, girls, and people with disabilities interact on a daily basis, such as safe spaces, health facilities, education, legal services, and community engagement activities, to name but a few, are accessible and conducive to the empowerment and support of all stakeholders through our programs.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Program Officer (Livelihoods)

Location: Biu, Borno
Employment Type: Full Time
Reporting to: Program Manager
Proposed Start Date: November 2024

Role Summary

• The Senior Program Officer (Livelihoods) will lead the implementation of livelihood activities under the project in the Biu Field Office, Borno State.
• The role holder will also be responsible for the prevention of gender based violence and disability based violence (GBV/DBV).
• The officer will serve as the project focal point in the field officer and will support the project team in delivering income-generating and vocational education activities for marginalized groups, especially women and persons with disabilities.
• The role includes providing technical support, monitoring, and reporting on activities of other project components while ensuring the highest standards of confidentiality and ethics in dealing with beneficiaries.

Key Responsibilities
Technical Oversight and Implementation:

• Oversee field-level activities related to the establishment, training, and support of Village Economic and Social Associations (VESAs), ensuring their alignment with the project’s inclusive livelihoods and protection goals.
• Lead the planning and implementation of vocational training initiatives, ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups.
• Monitor and provide technical support to ensure income-generating and entrepreneurial activities are sustainable and inclusive.
• Integrate protection mainstreaming principles into all livelihoods programming by ensuring beneficiary safety, dignity, meaningful participation, and access to services.
• Facilitate the identification and referral of cases requiring protection, including GBV/DBV and psychosocial support, through appropriate pathways.
• Promote financial literacy, business development, and life skills training for VESA members and other community beneficiaries.

Program Management and Support:

• Coordinate field activities, ensuring compliance with project implementation plans, timelines, and donor guidelines.
• Support the management of vocational training centers and ensure adherence to accessibility standards for persons with disabilities.
• Manage resources allocated for livelihoods interventions at the field level, ensuring efficient utilization and accountability.
• Provide logistical support for the distribution of materials and equipment for VESAs and vocational training programs.
• Ensure project implementation adheres to safeguarding policies and standards, including those related to GBV and child protection.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning:

• Collaborate with the MEAL team to develop tools for tracking progress on livelihood and protection outcomes, including gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive indicators.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor activities, provide technical support, and ensure quality delivery.
• Document lessons learned and success stories from livelihoods and protection interventions to inform future programming.
• Support the collection and analysis of data to assess the effectiveness of VESA, vocational training, and protection components, preparing comprehensive reports for the Program Manager.

Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy:

• Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, local authorities, training institutions, businesses, and other stakeholders to foster inclusive economic opportunities.
• Facilitate awareness sessions with community members to promote the benefits of VESAs, vocational training, and protection mainstreaming.
• Advocate for the rights and inclusion of women, girls, and persons with disabilities in livelihood and protection programming, including engaging with local authorities and partners.
• Coordinate with other NGOs, government bodies, and community-based organizations to enhance service delivery and prevent duplication of efforts.

Capacity Building and Team Collaboration:

• Provide training and mentorship to field staff, community facilitators, and volunteers on livelihoods programming, VESA management, and protection mainstreaming.
• Support the development of training materials and tools for community and staff capacity building.
• Work closely with other project components to ensure a multisectoral and integrated approach to livelihoods and protection programming.
• Promote teamwork and collaboration within the field team to achieve project objectives effectively.

Safeguarding and Protection:

• Ensure implementation of GBV prevention and survivor-centered support services through safe space centers and community activities.
• Conduct training for staff and community volunteers on GBV prevention, case management, and referral pathways.
• Lead protection mainstreaming efforts across all project activities, ensuring marginalized groups, including women and persons with disabilities, are prioritized.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in livelihoods programming, preferably within a humanitarian context.
• Demonstrated experience working with marginalized groups, especially women and persons with disabilities.
• Strong advocacy, project management, and monitoring and evaluation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Required Languages:

• English and Hausa are essential. Knowledge of one or more of the languages spoken in Southern Borno State, such as Babur/Burah is an advantage 

Travel:

• The post is based in Biu and frequent travel to other field locations

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound judgments.
• Demonstrable capacities in teamwork and cross-sectoral planning and implementation.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups 
• Experience in managing relationships and performance with partner organizations and representing programs to local stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports and make presentations;
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Staff supervision experience a plus.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of Cash and Asset transfer and for an NGO.
• Bachelor’s degree in information management, information technology, or any other relevant field; 
•  Experience working with consortium partners in multi-sectoral programs; 
• Experience in supervising and implementing CAT interventions is essential; 
• Experience monitoring projects and using data collection tools; 
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint);
• Extensive technical experience of using online data collection and data management platforms, particularly CommCare, RedRose and PowerBi ;
• At least three years of experience in managing MIS systems, preferably in the context of humanitarian or development programs;
• Strong technical skills in the use of data management software and systems.
• Strong coordination and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively;
• Strong supervisory, team management and delegation skills;
• Demonstrable capacities in facilitation, communication and training delivery MIS for non-technical end users.

Application Closing Date
30th November, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online