Project Assistant - Food Security and Livelihoods

Job Summary

The PA-FSL will assist in the implementation, monitoring, and data collection for DCA’s Food Security and Livelihoods Project/s to ensure self-reliance and resilience building especially for the vulnerable and disaster affected refugees and host communities in Turkana West.

The PA is responsible for offering technical support to the incentive workers and will work jointly with other DCA staff in promoting the Hum/Dev Nexus as well as working closely with the financial Inclusion Project Assistants to support the implementation of the relevant Cash Based Interventions/VSLA including the relevant digitization. The PA will also assist in supporting and facilitating innovative programming initiatives in the relevant projects.

The main responsibilities of the Loan Assistant are:

• Provide technical support to DCA incentive staff in the implementation of Food Security and Livelihoods projects activities.
• Train communities on appropriate Food security and Livelihood’s skills necessary for the success of the projects.
• Work closely with PA/ PO – Financial Inclusion to facilitate and support relevant cash-based interventions & VSLA in DCA food security & livelihoods projects.
• Assist in supporting development of innovation in the sector of food security & livelihoods including relevant digitisation.
• Ensure effective selection, mobilization, and sensitization of all the relevant project stakeholders.
• Prepare and submit project progress updates or informatics to the Project Officer on food security and livelihoods aspects.
• Promote adoption of insect farming (Black Soldier Fly and Crickets) and utilization including capacity building of project beneficiaries and incentive workers.
• Train, mentor and facilitate incentive staff and project beneficiaries to ensure successful implementation of project activities.
• Create linkages with community leadership, local partners, and the relevant private sector players to promote breeding and utilization of insects for food and feed.
• Prepare and submit project reports to the Project Officer on food security and livelihoods aspects.
• Facilitate the incentive staff to prepare individual project implementation plans.
• Participate in project monitoring and learning initiatives.
• Share relevant information on project activities with the project beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
• Support routine day to day monitoring and data collection and management actions.
• Undertake any other duties as may be assigned by the direct supervisor.

Key Qualifications and Experience:

• University level education in Agriculture, Agricultural Education and extension, Agribusiness, or any other academic qualification in agricultural sciences.
• Technical skills and hands on experience in agricultural extension, community mobilization and training.  
• Knowledge of the rights-based approach & Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) is an added advantage.
• Good interpersonal skills and a proven team player. Self-driven, analytical and results orientated in challenging rural working environments.
• Experience in training at field/community level and excellent reporting skills. Excellence in English, oral and written.
• Prior experience in the field of insect farming will be a great advantage.
• Excellent relationship management skills in a multi-stakeholder context.
• A working knowledge of refugee programming and/or programming in pastoral & agro-pastoralist settings is an added advantage.
• Experience in implementing graduation model in programming is an added advantage