Livelihoods and Economic Recovery Technical Lead

Country Programme: Ukraine

Base: Kyiv (with a regular travels to areas where Livelihood and Economic Recovery programs are being implemented – wester, eastern and southern oblasts of the country)

Reports to: Deputy Country Director Programme Quality

Start date: As soon as possible

Duration: 12 months

About PIN Ukraine:

People in Need (PIN) has been active in Ukraine since early August 2014. Currently, PIN is one of the major humanitarian actors in Ukraine responding to the recent military escalation providing humanitarian aid to conflict-affected people across Ukraine. Since 2014, PIN has implemented emergency food and cash assistance, NFI, shelter, protection, livelihoods and WASH interventions supporting 3 million vulnerable IDPs, returnees and host communities in urban and rural areas. PIN’s main humanitarian donors include ECHO, EU, BHA, UHF and the Czech Government.

About the role:

Main responsibility of the role is to provide technical support to PIN project staff on the design, planning, implementation, coordination and technical supervision of livelihoods and economic recovery (LER) interventions, with a special focus on restored livelihood, implemented in response to the crisis caused by the current military operations and considering the early recovery and reconstruction agendas in Ukraine as well as to ensure the LER programme is implemented in line with all technical standards and guidance.

Immediate priorities:

• Support the program teams with the identification of specific needs assessments on emergency and restored livelihood enhancing self-reliance, resilience and social cohesion. Based on the findings, support the program team in developing integrated restored livelihood-protection projects.
• Actively engage and participate in key coordination platforms including the Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster and the Food Assistance and Livelihoods Working Groups.
• External coordination with other stakeholders (i.e. national and international organizations implementing similar programming, business incubators present in the country, roundtables linking up public and private sectors, etc).
• Provide advice on ongoing and future implementation and scale-up strategy & plan for LER programming informed by the Ukraine context and relevant technical standards, considering also the early recovery and reconstruction agendas in Ukraine, and identify how it can be incorporated into implementation.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Support the design of early recovery and long-term interventions linking livelihood and protection enhancing self-reliance, resilience and social cohesion and contributing to durable solutions for vulnerable IDPs and war-affected host community members.
• Oversee the quality of the business development training and of the business grants schemes provided under livelihood projects. Support the program team with the organization of roundtables linking up grants recipients with public and private sectors.
• Draft implementation and monitoring SOPs, programme guidance and tools (on delivery options, service providers, data collection, targeting criteria, beneficiary selection, monitoring and evaluation etc.) in cooperation with MEAL and programme teams.
• Provide technical support to project teams with development/adaptation and use of technical tools, implementation of LER technical standards, etc.
• Identify the needs, barriers and opportunities related to the social responsibility of small, medium enterprises (SMEs) and, support the program team in developing projects accordingly.
• Ensure the evolving contextual developments in terms of national frameworks, markets, financial services in the country are well reflected in the existing and new projects and implementation methodologies.
• Update the internal strategic framework on livelihood-protection-social cohesion as part of PIN’s country strategy and its pillar related to early recovery, return, integration and durable solutions in Ukraine
• Support the program teams in feasibility and market assessments and setting-up/maintaining cooperation with LER suppliers.
• Coordinate specific needs assessments related to livelihood with the program team.
• Actively participate in proposal development for all projects with LER interventions and work with Grants department in identification of new opportunities for funding.
• Represent and ensure active participation of PIN in national coordination and technical forums.
• Develop functional partnerships with relevant partners, local authorities and other stakeholders.
• Identify capacity needs within PIN project teams and national partner’s staff involved in LER programming and provide advice on training needs.
• Ensure PIN’s LER programming is in line with key technical standards (SPHERE etc).
• In collaboration with the communication and advocacy department, identify the main advocacy messages to raise through various fora.
• Continuously evaluate PIN’s FSL intervention in terms of programme quality, relevance and effectiveness, help to identify gaps and implement improvements.

Main Requirements:

• At least 5 year’s professional experience with FSL and economic recovery interventions in a humanitarian organization.
• Experience of implementing emergency livelihood and economic recovery programmes in conflict settings with front line communities and IDPs.
• Experience of implementing livelihood programs in early recovery contexts (i.e. business grants, provision of business development technical training, organization of technical roundtables, etc).
• Experience in developing livelihood strategy.
• Knowledge of the main protection and resilience principles.
• Knowledge of social responsibility among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
• Degree and experience in Business Development preferred but practical experience more important.
• Familiarity with FSL and economic recovery technical guidelines of institutional donors and cluster;
• Strong grasp of all stages of programme cycle management and quality standards in humanitarian and FSL and economic recovery programming, including safeguarding and accountability mechanisms.
• Experience with Ukraine or the region required.
• Experience working with local partner organisations and in consortiums is desirable.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Experience of working with and through FSL Working Groups and demonstrable experience of developing/influencing technical guidelines.
• Excellent teamwork, communication, coordination and representation skills.
• Proven ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural team environment, with appropriate sensitivity to social and cultural norms.
• Proven ability to work in stressful environment.
• Experience with remotely managed programming is a plus.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Russian or Ukrainian with knowledge of the other.

Security situation in Ukraine

Humanitarian workers continue to operate throughout Ukraine, despite the occasional and at times chaotic shelling/airstrikes, which have intensified since 10 October 2022. However, PIN security SOPs require PIN staff to proceed to shelter each time when 4th level of threat is announced during air raid alert (i.e., launch of missiles and/or UAVs is confirmed, and/or explosions are heard prior to the air raid siren being activated) and remain in the shelter until the air raid siren is cancelled, which cumulatively can be several times a week for several hours a day. Staff are also recommended to proceed to shelter under 1-3 levels of threat at their own discretion. Airstrikes are mostly targeting critical infrastructure (e.g., energy infrastructure, governmental buildings, logistical hubs) and military objects, which may lead to power outages, water supply disruptions and mobile connection/internet/broadcasting disruptions throughout the country, affecting the living conditions of PIN staff in the cities. However, most services such as medical care, shops, public transportation as well as restaurants or leisure facilities remain operational.

The employee is expected to be able to travel to other PIN offices and other locations where PIN is conducting activities, however all travel must first be pre-approved by PIN security department. The employee must comply with all PIN security department SOPs, Safety and Security Management Plan and other relevant documentation.

This position is an unaccompanied position and team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and PIN’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

PIN Offers:

• Work experience with professional and largest NGO in Central-Eastern Europe;
• Flexible and challenging working environment with room for personal growth;
• Starting salary 2,450-2,600 EUR
• Hardship allowance;
• R&R allowance
• Accommodation allowance;
• Robust and thorough offline or online induction training (2 weeks);
• 25 days of paid leave annually;
• Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once per every 6 months of completed work;
• Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure;
• Free medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online;
• Travel health insurance provided;
• E-learning courses, webinars, training possibilities