PRODUCTIVE SAFETY NET PROGRAM PHASE FIVE

TERMS OF REFERENCE for TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST (TSS)

Technical Assistance to Strengthen Capacity Development for PSNP5 (TASC) is a consultancy funded by the Development Partners to support the implementation of PSNP5 for chronically food insecure people in Ethiopia. Alinea International Ltd. is implementing the Technical Assistance to Strengthen Capacity Development (TASC). The purpose of TASC is to strengthen institutional systems, processes, coordination mechanisms, human resources, and organizational capacity of federal, regional, zonal and woreda institutions to deliver PSNP5. TASC provides the management oversight and payroll functions for the identified federal level Technical Support Specialists.

To facilitate and support the implementation of the above-mentioned objectives, one TSS specializing in Gender, Social Development and Nutrition is required to support the FSCD.

 Description of Assignment

• General Objective: Technical Support Specialists provide specialized expertise to the Government of Ethiopia and to the Directorate to which they are assigned. Their role is to perform PSNP5-related services which government-funded staff are not currently in a position to perform, and to provide guidance to government staff as they learn new skills related to implementation of PSNP functions.
• Directorate of Assignment: The Senior Gender, Social Development and Nutrition TSS will be assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture, in support of the Food Security Coordination Directorate, in Addis Ababa.
• Specific objectives: The Senior Gender, Social Development and Nutrition TSS will carry out the following specific tasks:

Coordination

• To support institutionalizing coordination among the relevant stakeholders (within the MoA, such as Food and Nutrition Coordination Office and Women, Children Youth Affairs Directorate; and external to the MoA such as MoH and MoLSA) to implement and/or support the quality implementation of the Social Development and nutrition aspects of PSNP5.
• Collaborate with the PSNP team in general, and with those responsible for program planning and reporting, to ensure that relevant GSD, LASS, ECD and Nutrition elements are integrated across the components, and that implementation progress is measured, analyzed, and fed into the monitoring and reporting systems for evidence-based decision making.

Technical Advice

• Provide technical advice to FSCD as well as MoH and MoLSA on GSD, nutrition, social safeguards, ECD, and linkages to social services aspects of program implementation (planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation).
• Establish a regular system of communication with regional GSD experts to provide continuous technical backstopping.
• Draft a synthesis/options paper for GSD, Nutrition, LASS and social safeguard interventions beyond 2021.

Capacity Development

• Plan and implement frequent capacity development interventions targeted towards the regional GSDN experts.
• Support the capacity development of the LASS, ECD, and Social Development & Nutrition Technical Committee to support the GOE in monitoring and implementing the social and nutrition aspects of the PSNP.
• Facilitate GSD, Nutrition, LASS, ECD and social safeguard mainstreaming in PSNP5 trainings and learning opportunities to government stakeholders at different levels, and NGO implementing partners.
• Ensure capacity development interventions mainstream relevant GSD, LASS, ECD and Nutrition messages.
• Develop the capacity of FSCD to implement and report on the safeguard policy (OP 4.10)[1] related to indigenous people (as part of Enhanced Social Assessment and Consultation) as well as the program’s Gender Action Plan.

 Knowledge Management

• Support the M&E and research of the program to properly record and assess PSNP’s effectiveness on nutrition outcome indicators.
• Support the integration of SD and Nutrition issues in different studies.
• Support the development and rolling-out of GSD, Nutrition, ECD, social safeguard and linkages to social services-specific, as well as responsive program, monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Coach and mentor government staff on supporting the planning, implementation and monitoring of GSD and nutrition aspects of PSNP5.
• Support the transfer of the TSS’s functions to government staff where possible.
• Indigenous Peoples is triggered as it is determined that the physical and sociocultural characteristics of the sites where subproject activities could be implemented, and the people living in these sites, meet the policy requirements.

 Accountability measures: Performance reviews, based on the Description of the Assignment and Deliverables will be conducted regularly by representatives from the FSCD, WB/DCT and TASC

Location and Duration

• Start date and expected duration of assignment: The Gender, Social Development and Nutrition TSS assignment is a full-time position beginning approximately 1 September 2021. The initial assignment will be for four months.
• Probation period: There will be a probation period of 60 working days, followed by the first performance review conducted by WB/DCT, GoE and TASC.
• Location of assignment: The Technical Support Specialist will be based in the Ministry of Agriculture in Addis Ababa, within the Food Security Coordination Directorate.
• Expectation of travel beyond primary location of assignment: Travel to the regions, zones and woredas that are implementing PSNP5 may be required, as assigned by the Directorate or TASC. Approved travel expenses will be reimbursed by TASC.

 Reporting Responsibilities

• Type(s) of reports required: Provide monthly reports of progress against the items mentioned in the Terms of Reference for the position. Contribute to the TASC monthly reports, including lessons learned and best practices.
• Purpose of the reports: To keep the GoE and Development Partners apprised of progress toward the achievement of the PSNP objectives.
• To whom are reports submitted: Reports are to be prepared with the assistance and oversight of TASC and are to be submitted to the Director of FSCD, with copies to the DCT/WB and TASC.

 Management Oversight

• The Senior Gender, Social Development and Nutrition TSS will act as a counterpart to the GoE PSNP Senior Gender, Social Development and Nutrition expert, and will report directly to the Director of the PSNP/FSCD.
• Joint management oversight will be provided by the WB/DCT, GoE and TASC. TSS performance will be evaluated on a regular basis, at which time performance against the TSS’s work plan and deliverables will be assessed.
• TASC will provide operational oversight and assistance in the preparation of plans, and reports, and in the implementation of the individual work plan.
• Payroll services and administrative oversight is provided by the TASC consultancy.

Contract Duration: Up to December 31, 2021, with possibility of extension.

Job Requirements

Expert’s Profile

• Full time: maximum 22 paid days per month as an employee of the TASC consultancy.
• Minimum number of years relevant or equivalent experience required: at least 10 years of directly related working experience in Gender and Social Development Specialist activity, with knowledge of nutrition issues relevant to food security
• Required level of Education: Minimum of Master's degree in Rural Development, Economics, Gender Studies, Nutrition, Psychology, Development; Population Sciences; Regional and Local Development, Rural Livelihoods or any relevant discipline.

Specific skills required:

• Sound working knowledge of the public sector in Ethiopia
• Demonstrated analytical clarity, problem solving skills, with ability to balance program objectives and client needs

Gender analysis skill

• Knowledge on the National Nutrition Program in general and its link with Social Protection and Agricultural Programs
• Ability to build strong networks and engage with both technical and high-level government and donor officials
• Task/project/program management skills
• Strong communication skills in presenting, discussing, and resolving difficult issues, both orally and in writing and excellent listening skills
• Ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams with a matrix management environment
• Knowledge of Ethiopia’s national development plan, aide effectiveness issues
• Language skills and proficiency: Fluency in spoken and written English and Amharic.

How to Apply

Please submit a CV and covering letter that highlights your competencies in relation to this TOR at info@tascethiopia.org and on or before August 25, 2021. 

NB: Please be advised that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Alinea.