Job Summary

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Ethiopia is a registered charity operating in the working areas of Rural Infrastructure, Resilience Livelihoods and Natural Resources Management, Local Government Support through Civil Society Organizations capacity building, Youth Skills Development and Employment, and Emergency Responses. See also www.helvetas.org.

Background

NRM Borena is a project that works to contribute to improved food and nutritional security of (agro) pastoralist communities in the Borena Zone through context specific, sustainable and gender responsive NRM practices and income diversification. The project also focused in strengthening local government and customary institutions governance structures and practices for increased and more equitable access to resources, contribute to gender equality, better coordination between and among stakeholders and conflict prevention and resolution.

HELVETAS Ethiopia is presently looking for motivated and competent professionals for the following position for a project entitled “NRM Borena” in Borena zone of Oromia regional state.

Position: Governance Officer

Profile

The Governance Project Officer will be responsible to provide the key thematic and process support to the joint implementing partners (JIPs) of NRM-Borana project by ensuring governance is mainstreamed across all project activities in a strategic manner. The incumbent is responsible to strengthen both the customary institutions and the local government structures in relation to the objective of the project to ensure that:

• There is increased and more equitable access to pasture and water resources through improved governance
• Women’s access over productive resources is increased and control over assets is protected, supported, recognized and encouraged in local governance structures
• NRM interventions are better coordinated between government and customary institution.
• Ensure Governance and Peace (GOP) is properly mainstreamed as transversal theme into all components of the project through targeted interventions.
• Responsible to oversee and lead the implementation of dedicated Governance and Peace (including conflict prevention and resolution) action plans in relation to all project activities.
• Contribute to the M&E framework by ensuring clear governance indicators are part of the framework
• Contribute to the budgeting process to ensure governance is properly budgeted for.

Essential Job Functions

Technical Role

• Overall technical support for the planning and implementations of NRM-Borana project outcomes with a governance lens; 
• Provide the required technical support in the planning of project activities in all outcome areas the form of Do No Harm approach and deep understanding of the workings of existing governance structures;
• Ensures effective design, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the project in the lens of Governance and peace-building;
• Review the TORs that are initiated by local partner, and inception & assessment reports that are submitted by selected potential firms related to local governance and peacebuilding activities;
• Support the development of by-laws for the management and use of natural resources in inclusive manner; 
• Lead project implementation from a deep understanding and mastery of ‘Gada System or customary natural resources management and government structures’;

Capacity Building Role

• Coaching, mentoring, supporting and supervising the national implementing organization(s) concerning Governance in conceptually developing the activities, leading implementation, monitoring and learning
• Responsible for capacity development activities towards the local partners;
• Support joint capacity development of local government structures and customary institutions; 

Networking and Collaboration

• Support the integration and collaboration of all project components to maximize the intended impacts;
• Lead the Governance and Peace-building component as transversal issue in all components of the project;  
• Support the mapping of local partners or institutions responsible for natural resources governance and peacebuilding for synergy building; 
• Contribute for the strengthening of existing natural resource management network(s) such as the ongoing pastolasit development coordination forum that is promoted by NRM-Borana project;
• Linking the project’s experiences and results with decision makers at zone, region and national level to promote good practices and highlight areas that need the attention of higher government levels;
• Collaborate with other like-minded projects and stakeholders to harmonize approaches and scaling up of promising initiatives;

Monitoring and Evaluation Role

• Develops key monitoring and measuring indicators, milestones and plans in close collaboration with monitoring, evaluation and learning officer, and solely responsible for monitoring and reporting all output, outcome and impact indicators for respective local governance and peacebuilding component;
• Support partner, Woredas and Kebeles to monitor their own progress concerning good local governance and conflict prevention / resolution and encourage them to share the results with the community and higher level government.

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• Previous similar experience on local governance and peacebuilding mainly under NGO environment in Borana pastoralist area;
• Experience of working with Gada system or customary institution is strongly preferable;
• Knowledge of natural resource management, and capacity building to local actors;
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Anthropology, Sociology, Peacebuilding, Governance, law, gender studies or other related social science fields;
• Minimum of 5 years’ NGOs work experience in bringing customary institution and local government structures together on issues related to natural resource governance in pastoralist areas;

Other Required Skills

• Fluent in English, Afaan Oromo, and Amharic languages;
• Cultural sensitive, and practical experience of working with various ethnic groups; 
• Excellent communication, facilitation and networking skills with a wide range of actors
• Ability to multi-tasks;
• Attention to details and timelines;
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time. 

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by sending their application & updated CV through hr.ethiopia@helvetas.org  before/on 26th of March 2021. 

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Ethiopia is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable law. 

Please make sure you write the position title " Governance Officer-for Borena, Yabello"  in the subject line. Failure to do so will lead to application disqualify. 

Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.