Save the Children has been working in Tanzania for more than 30 years. We are working with the government, local organizations and other international agencies to reduce child malnutrition, improve new-born and maternal health, support and strengthen early childhood development and primary education systems. We strengthen child protection systems for vulnerable children, promote children’s participation and contribution to policy and resource allocation for services which concern them, support, and respond to emergencies.

Our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

Role Purpose

Save the Children seeks a Household Economic Strengthening (HES) project Officer for a USAID-funded Kizazi Hodari - Sothern Zone project in Tanzania. The HES project Officer will be responsible for providing technical assistance in the design and implementation of strategies and interventions to improve the economic stability of OVC households, as well as the economic empowerment of AGYW and their households supported under DREAMS.

The Household Economic Strengthening (HES) Officer will guide and support the programme in the implementation of a range of PEPFAR-approved evidence-based interventions that have proven effective in improving the economic stability of vulnerable households, and the economic empowerment of AGYW, such as: social protection and livelihoods; savings and financial access; agriculture and food security; economic and market development.

The HES officer will lead capacity building efforts and facilitate and support the coordination and execution of activities under the Economic Strengthening component of the program. She/he will also manage the formation of village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLA)/WORTH groups composed of members who voluntarily wish to join. He/she will be responsible for ensuring high quality project implementation, monitoring and reporting of all HES project activities. S/he will provide support to all livelihoods or household economic strengthening work at field level and will be also involved in the research and learning, monitoring and evaluation of livelihoods aspects of the USAID Kizazi Hodari Project. Liaise with the HES

Coordinator to ensure LGAs staff receive the necessary and appropriate technical support. In consultation with the HES coordinator agree on the range of advice, support, training and/or other assistance required by the other arms of USAID Kizazi Hodari Project to ensure sequencing, layering and integration as per the agreed model of poverty graduation component of USAID Kizazi Hodari - Sothern Zone project programme.

Contract Duration:   1 year

No of Vacancies: One (1) Position  

Reporting to: HES and Food security Coordinator

Location: Iringa

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Technical

• Work closely with the local government partners in implementation of the HES and livelihoods component of the USAID Kizazi Hodari Project
• Liaise with other consortium implementing teams to ensure sequencing, layering and integration and implementation of various components of USAID Kizazi Hodari project
• Lead the implementation and management of community-based interventions such as: savings groups (for OVC/AGYW caregivers and AGYW), financial literacy, market assessment and opportunity identification, linkage to internships and job opportunities, entrepreneurship and micro-enterprise management, and value addition along identified value-chains.
• Provide technical support in the design and implementation of Economic Strengthening strategies and activities, ensuring they are in line with state-of-the-art, globally-recognized best practices for addressing the needs of AGYW, OVC, and their caregivers. This includes making sure all Economic Strengthening strategies are gender-sensitive and promote gender equity.
• Ensure the project deploy effective methodologies for identifying the most appropriate Economic Strengthening interventions for specific OVC/AGYW households and AGYW based on their individual economic vulnerability and needs.
• Ensure trainings/mentorships conducted adhered to the principles and standards for effective implementation of, or linkages to, Economic Strengthening interventions.
• Collaborate with other technical staff responsible for OVC Comprehensive activities to ensure that OVC/AGYW household care plans incorporate economic and food security considerations and promote graduation.
• Support and facilitate linkages with other relevant sectors and service providers to increase access to Economic Strengthening services and support for program beneficiaries (e.g., government, social protection programs, and vocational training institutions). This will involve supporting the project in developing and implementing a plan to engage the private sector in economic strengthening activities for greater and sustainable impacts.
• With guidance from HES and Food security Coordinator, design, plan and implement capacity building activities (e.g., training, mentoring, coaching) for community cadres responsible for Economic Strengthening activities and interventions.
• Support development of HES technical guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and tools to ensure standardized approaches in the implementation of Economic Strengthening interventions across project sites.
• Conduct supportive supervision to ensure adherence to ES guidelines, quality standards and SOPs.
• Closely monitor program performance on ES outcomes and assist in addressing any programmatic gaps and performance issues through quality and performance improvement approaches.
• Support formative research activities that help strengthen ES interventions, as well as evaluation activities that help identify and document the outcomes of ES activities. This includes supporting the development and implementation of pilot or demonstration projects to test and adopt specific ES activities.
• Support supply-chain staff in the coordination and quality control of livelihoods supplies.
• Support local organizations to ensure the timely documentation and dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned in the implementation of ES interventions.
• Utilize data to informed decision making and foster learning and innovation.
• Support coordination and collaboration efforts with other PEPFAR (clinical and community partners) on ES interventions.
• Identify and train VSLA/WORTH group facilitators, manage the formation of and provide training to VSLA/WORTH groups, and monitor group activities and progress.
• Participate actively in USAID Kizazi Hodari programme meetings, planning and review activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Operational

1. Provide timely and accurate written and verbal reporting.
2. Contribute to project strategic planning and to well-written, focused project reports, annual implementation plans, success stories and other written products.
3. Ensure high quality project implementation, monitoring and reporting.
4. Make regular field visits to monitor project quality and collect data.
5. Collaborate with MEAL staff to ensure that collection and analysis of data is accurate, rigorous and incorporated into project implementation. 
6. Coordinate with AGYW, Nutrition and Community Mobilization Project Officers in work planning development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and adaptation
7. Participate in regional technical working groups and liaise with other project implementing organizations.

  Qualifications and Experience 

• Bachelor’s Degree in agriculture, Social Sciences, Community Development or other discipline relevant to rural livelihoods.  Master’s Degree preferred.
• At least five (5) years of experience designing, implementing, and monitoring household economic strengthening and youth economic empowerment activities working in multifaceted and complex international development programs. Experience within PEPFAR funded OVC and/or DREAMS programs strongly preferred.
• Good technical knowledge of policy and practice in the field of livelihoods, crop and livestock production/rural livelihood programming as well as other cross cutting issues.
• Solid knowledge of international and national social protection, household economic strengthening, and microenterprise and market development instruments and frameworks. Experience, knowledge and skills in improved homestead garden production, demonstration plots, agricultural extension agent engagement, food preservation, and post-harvest handling and storage practices.
• Understanding and experience in implementing nutrition security, food security and livelihoods programmes.
• Experience in leveraging private sector partnerships and resources for creation of business opportunities, business mentorship and skills training, and market access, strategies
• Strong experience in providing technical assistance and mentorship
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders including government representatives, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and writing skills
• Ability to work independently and manage a high-volume workflow.
• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office)
• Demonstrated experience in project and time management.
• Familiarity and understanding of donor policies and procedures is a plus.
• Local candidates are encouraged to apply. 

How to Apply

Please read the full details of the position at https://tanzania.savethechildren.net/careers and apply as instructed. Only short listed candidates will be contacted for Interview. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Application closing Date: 26^th April 2022

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy.  All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy. 

 Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best-qualified talent. 

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply 

Please note: 

Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process