Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 700 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for an Economic Recovery Specialist (Rural Livelihoods Programs) for its activities in Kyiv.

About the role:

The Economic Recovery Specialist (Rural Livelihoods Programs) will be a key member of the Economic Recovery department and assumes responsibility for the efficient, timely, and quality implementation of Economic Recovery interventions. The overall purpose of the Economic Recovery Specialist position is to provide technical support and direct technical oversight of the assigned economic recovery portfolio focused on early recovery and sustainable livelihood interventions. The Economic Recovery Specialist will work closely with the Economic Recovery Coordinator and the field-based Economic Recovery Managers and Team Leaders to ensure timely, coordinated, and hands-on technical support to the implementation teams. The Specialist will also support in guiding country and area strategy development in relation to programming for rural livelihood support.

Your main responsibilities will be:

Capacity building, training, and technical support to DRC Economic Recovery (EcRec) teams

• Develop or support the development and review of technical guidance documents (e.g. standard operating procedures, guidelines, tools). Provide capacity building and training to teams on how to apply guidance for implementation.
• Provide or facilitate the provision of induction, orientation, and capacity building to the field teams or other colleagues.
• Ensure compliance of the assigned economic recovery portfolio with national, organizational, and donor technical regulations, technical quality standards and other regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure harmonized approach, methodologies, and consistent usage of technical tools across all areas and programs.
• Assess the appropriateness of different programming options and appropriateness of different program activities and ensure implementation modalities best respond to the needs and context.
• Work alongside the EcRec Coordinator and Area Program Managers to develop the sector’s strategic direction and plans including expanding economic programming based on the needs of target populations in Ukraine
• Work closely with the Area Managers, Area Program Managers, area-level Economic Recovery Managers, and technical team leaders to address implementation challenges and identify needs for technical support
• Ensure inclusive and gender-sensitive approach in the implementation, in line with the DRC’s Policy on Age, Gender, and Diversity Mainstreaming
• Support field teams in conducting assessments, data collection, and analysis
• Closely coordinate and engage with other Sector Coordinators and Specialists to ensure the implementation of integrated programming, including inputs on integrated program strategies and the development of tools and guidance to facilitate program integration

Monitoring and Evaluation and Quality Assurance of Economic Recovery programming

• Coordinate with DRC’s Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) department to ensure that mechanisms are in place for effective ongoing monitoring can take place across the implementation of on-farm economic recovery programming, and that impacts of the programming can be analysed and disseminated.
• Conduct regular field visits to the area offices as well as program locations and support field teams to ensure smooth and timely implementation of the livelihood’s interventions to a high degree of program quality.
• Together with the MEAL team and Economic Recovery Coordinator, design assessments which determine the needs of conflict affected rural populations to ensure that program design is rooted in robust data.

Program development and external representation

• Use primary and secondary data, field level contextual awareness, and discussions and priorities from various fora and stakeholders to provide high quality inputs into concept notes and proposals.
• Attend relevant FSL fora such as the Agriculture Technical Working Group and FSL cluster meetings and disseminate minutes and key messages/perspectives from these meetings internally.

About you:

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 2-3 years of experience implementing economic recovery programming with a focus on rural/agriculture outputs and activities and at least 2 years of experience with people management. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
• Knowledge and experience implementing protection programming in the areas of agricultural programming for subsistence, small and medium farms, rural value chain development, and agri-MSME programming
• Previous proven experience in programs implemented through local partners or in remote management
• Proven experience in capacity building and training of national staff and local partners
• Technical expertise in agriculture, food security, and early recovery; experience in climate-smart agricultural techniques would be a strong added value
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft office
• Full professional proficiency in English; Ukrainian professional proficiency will be an asset.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length: One-year contract after successful completion of three months’ probation period (renewable depending on performance and funding)
• Band: G non-management
• Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv
• Start date: October 1st, 2024

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National or Expatriates; please refer to Vacancies | DRC Danish Refugee Council

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: September 11th, 2024