CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: International Medical Corps
Country: Chad
Closing date: 05 Mar 2015

Position Summary & Responsibilities:

Since 2003, eastern Chad has seen more than 200,000 refugees flee across the border from Darfur, Sudan. These refugees have been registered and are now living in 12 camps in the east. In 2012 and 2013, a new influx of refugees arrived in Tissi, Chad. The improved relation between Chad and Sudan has allowed security in the area to remain relatively stable. Currently, Chad and Sudan collaboratively monitor the border and relations between the countries are good. The fate of the Darfur refugees in Chad remains unknown, key issues, namely land, security, and access to basic services have still not been addressed and there are no clear plans or mechanisms for organized, large-scale returns. Within this context, assistance from the humanitarian organizations will continue to the 12 refugee camps in eastern Chad as prospects of repatriation in 2014/2015 remains unlikely.

After 11 years of emergency assistance to refugees there is need for transition from emergency assistance to longer term solutions. The limited capacity of the Chadian government to provide access to basic social services to its own population, further compounds the context. Chad and in particular the Sahel belt east, face chronic problems, such as food insecurity and malnutrition, which are also complicated by factors that are environmental (flooding, drought, diseases outbreaks i.e. meningitis, measles, etc.), economic (soaring prices of food, basic commodities, etc.) and insecurity. There is also a considerable disparity in access to basic social services, with women and children in rural areas affected by forms of social exclusions.

The refugees are mainly Muslim nomads from the following ethnic groups - the Zaghawa and Tama tribes are mostly pastoralists and semi-nomadic, while Massalite and Dadjo tribes are agriculturalists.

The reduction of WFP food assistance for refugees (since January 2014, refugees receive less than 1000 kcal/person/day; normal standard is 2100/kcal/person/day) is a concern. While currently its impact has not yet been seen, there is a risk that the nutrition status of refugees will deteriorate in the near future. IMC will continue to monitor closely and alert as early as possible when/if the situation deteriorates.

IMC has instigated a household garden activity; this garden progamme component is designed to be simple in the hope that the participants will then assume responsibility and persevere. Demonstrations were made to build the capacity of the refugees in growing various vegetables. The products will help the families to improve their diet diversity and enhance their health status. At the end of the first year, International Medical Corps will not directly fund the maintenance of the gardens, but will continue to support peer group leaders. This support is designed to ensure that the gardens and supportive activities are maintained even without external funding. At the end of the second year, the peer groups will also be transitioned to be self-sustaining and self-supported. International Medical Corps has added a food security/livelihood component to develop on the UNHCR’s 2015 strategy aimed at self-reliance and sustainability (funding has reduced considerably, thus, as no repatriation in sight, the UNHCR’s idea is one of integrating the refugees into the local Chadian social and economic system). The goal is, for the coming years, to find a smooth and progressive exit strategy with the idea that relief and early recovery activities are also partnered with this, so as to create self-reliance of the refugees within the local populations.

JOB SUMMARY

IMC will do a food security/livelihood and WASH study in the goal of writing a proposal to settle thousands of refugees (the most vulnerable as per the upcoming UNHCR multi-sectorial indicator vulnerability survey and our malnutrition coverage survey) out of the camp by providing them access to water, agricultural activities, design and initiate income out of the camp by providing them training on income generating activities, business management skills and various inputs for food security activities.

The idea is to evaluate the context and a location so as to provide selected refugees access to agricultural activities, execute water points and wells/irrigation systems, design and initiate income generating activities associated with the food production idea i.e. crop farming, poultry, livestock, apiculture, water harvesting structures/ponds etc., on land negotiated through UNHCR and the government to house these refugees within the host population.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Identify the social, economic ethnic diversities in the camps and evaluate their survival strategies in regards to food production;

· To assess the level of food security and self-sufficiency, in the host community as well as refugee population;

· Determine of the abilities of different groups to exploit the opportunities existing in the region to increase self-sufficiency and food security;

· To assess the likelihood of having a functional water system, taking into account geological and hydrological factors of the area. Making recommendations related to the specific needs to ensure a water supply for the community to ensure a self-sustaining community.

· To make recommendations relating to measures and specific forms of support necessary to build community resilience to drought by designing appropriate food security projects to increase food production, increase income and employment, address identified issues in structural or market distribution in support of overall food security and self-sufficiency ;

· Determine if a sustainable agricultural structure (access to land for the refugee communities) is viable in the location (and where), assessing impact on local population and possible conflict that could arise;

· Assess the possibilities of combined agricultural activities that can benefit both host and refugee populations; assess and identify land where a number of refugees could be re-settled with the encompassing infrastructure so FS and livelihoods could be implemented. This will need to be presided over in collaboration with the UNHCR and local authorities to see just where the Government and UNHCR are with the resettling idea;

· Evaluate and identify livelihood activities that relate to the FS side, in addition to uncovering further possibilities within IGA for this area;

· Mapping of major actors in the area in FSL interventions and identify gaps in the existing interventions; specific emphasis to be directed at SECADEV the local NGO with initiatives in the camps, what determining their future goals

· Assess the capacity of respective government ministries in addressing the needs of the refugees as well as the collection of data for the project – this is at capital level as well as local level – national agricultural agency, Governor’s office, major’s office, local elders, local agricultural and water authorities

· Approach GIZ/GTZ, a major actor in this sector, for information and advice on the water table and drilling

METHODOLOGY

For this specific assessment, the Food Security/Livelihoods/ WASH consultant will be expected to use a broad range of participatory methodologies that are also gender sensitive so that the role of men and women can be looked into. Participation to the assessment of vulnerable men and women in the intervention area of IMC, in addition to partners from various sectors who are considered to be instrumental in providing a comprehensive picture of the current food security and WASH situation and the nature of the interventions being implemented will be crucial.

In line with the above, the Food Security/Livelihood/ WASH consultant will work in close collaboration with the IMC Guereda field team and Programme Manager, the local partners, local authorities to ensure that the assessment is inclusive and adhering to IMC evaluation principles.

In terms of methodologies that can be applied:

· A review of program documents

· Briefing meetings and further discussion with relevant IMC staff and partners

· Visit to the areas of intervention

· Interviews with key informants/stakeholders at all levels (Region, departments, districts and villages)

· Focus group discussions with the communities in the interventions areas

Skills & Requirements:

• Specialist in WASH or FSL with a good background in WASH
• Minimum 6 years’ experience in design, management and evaluation of projects with strong focus on FSL or WASH or all 3
• Previous experience in humanitarian work a necessity, field level experience also a requisite for a long duration of time i.e. more than a few years in total
• Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of donors, UN agencies, and NGOs
• Ability to live and work in difficult environments
• Complete familiarity with Project Cycle Management
• Knowledge and experiences of budget preparation and management and donors requirements
• Profound cross-cultural awareness and insight in WASH/FSL
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently following consultative processes
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations and frustrations
• Ability to relate to and motivate local staff effectively
• Creativity and the ability to work with limited resources
• Team player and strong communication skills, both oral and written
• Proficient in computer applications, especially with MS Word and MS Excel, MS PowerPoint a plus
• Must have a good level in French and in English (both written and speaking).

Other Relevant Information (if applicable):

• N/A

How to apply:

How to apply:

To officially begin the application process, qualified candidates please go to our career page http://careers.internationalmedicalcorps.org/careers.aspx , noting where you noticed the position you are applying for and complete the online employment application form.