This post is contingent on donor funding and donor approval of the candidate.

About CRS: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), social services, agriculture, education, microfinance, youth and peacebuilding.

Job Summary:  The ESSP Advisor will provide overall technical leadership and oversight for the design and implementation of the economic strengthening and social protection component. He/She will guide learning and adaptation for the Niger context while ensuring fidelity to the key graduation principles. The Advisor will support staff and partners to implement all related components and ensure multiplier effects across and between components.  The Advisor will design transparent, equitable and inclusive targeting processes and systems, and support linkages and alignment with local social protection systems, and adaptive safety and productive safety nets. The ESSP Advisor will ensure that the social dimensions of food security and community resilience are effectively addressed across all activity components. The ESSP Advisor will ensure that the approach addresses marginalized populations, gender inequality and youth integration. Finally, the Advisor is encouraged to apply and promote systems thinking to catalyze outcomes at scale.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• In collaboration with the Chief of Party (COP), M&E Manager and Strategic Learning Advisor oversee periodic programmatic and technical reviews, manage changes in program direction and focus.
• Ensure technical interventions are sequenced, layered and integrated (SLI) appropriately at all levels of implementation within the activity and with USAID investments, the private sector, other donors, and the Government of Niger (GON), particularly social protection programming.
• Participate in the collection, analysis, and utilization of information from a broad range of sources in close collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Manager, Resource Transfer Manager (RTM) and the Strategic Learning Advisor (SLA) to contextualize the Economic Strengthening and Social Protection approach.
• Coordinate and integrate inputs from sectoral specialists (Gender Youth Social Inclusion (GYSI), Health & Nutrition, Agriculture Livelihoods, Social Behavior Change (SBC), Resilience) to strengthen the economic and social impact of the graduation approach.
• Oversee the contextualization of the five-components of a risk-informed graduation approach that considers cultural norms, and gender dynamics and is conflict sensitive.
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a contextualized graduation approach in collaboration with the GON’s social protection programming and local stakeholders. The SOPs will set out the:
  • Process for targeting graduation participant households.
  • Amount, timing, duration, modalities and sequencing of consumption support.
  • Coaching and mentoring model.
  • Financial inclusion approach.
  • Training on business-related and other skills.
  • Amount, timing, duration and modality of productive asset transfers
• Develop and oversee the training approach across the training cascade; ensuring the curriculum and training tools are participant-aligned and appropriate. Lead quality assurance and quality improvement efforts for implementation.
• In collaboration with the Chief of Party (COP), M&E Manager and SLA, use a Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approach to optimize an effective and efficient graduation approach for improved resilience and food security at scale. Document and disseminate learning.
• In collaboration with the Chief of Party, participate in coordination meetings with GON, social protection actors and other key stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Participate in forums in Economic Strengthening and Social Protection to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in economics, International Development or related field required.
• Minimum of ten years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, international organization or government, with minimum of five years in the design and implementation of programming using the graduation approach.
• Minimum of five years of experience designing and implementing the graduation approach with an in-depth understanding of how gender, age, and other socio-cultural factors play a role in targeting participants. Preference for candidates with extensive work experience in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts of the graduation approach, cash and voucher assistance, and social protection and their intersection with climate change, natural resource management, risk reduction, positive youth development, conflict sensitivity/social cohesion, and gender transformative approaches.
• General knowledge of other related disciplines, to ensure technical interventions are integrated, layered and sequenced.
• Demonstrated capacity to collect, analyze, present and use information from a broad range of sources.
• Experience working in an advisory and/or management role on the implementation of cash assistance in humanitarian and/or development programming, specifically in relation to poverty alleviation, food security, risk reduction, financial inclusion, health, nutrition, education, and/or child protection.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation, and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, governments, international and peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Proactive, resourceful and results oriented.

Required Languages – Fluency in French and professional proficiency in English is required.

Travel Required: Position based in Niger. Up to 50% travel to project sites anticipated

Key Working Relationships: 

• Supervisory: To be determined by the final program design
• Internal: CoP, RFSA MEAL Team; CRS Niger, MEAL Manager and Information, Communications, and Technology for Development (ICT4D) unit, CRS Niger/Regional/HQ MEAL, Learning and Sector Technical Advisors.
• External: Local/regional governments, partners, USAID, national and international research and learning/university partners, private sector and other relevant stakeholders.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. This position is contingent upon award of the funding opportunity to CRS and USAID’s approval of the proposed candidate.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

CRS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. CRS does not unlawfully discriminate in any aspect of the employment process on the basis of race, color, ancestry or national origin, religion, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition or pregnancy, protected veteran status, or genetic information and any other non-merit-based status protected by Country law. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.