Project Officer (PRO)new

JOB TITLE:   GCF Project Officers 

Team Programme: Programme Operations 

Location: Pujehun

GRADE: 4

Contract Length: 1 Year

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3 - The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children or young people; in this context all posts are considered to be level 3 in view of potential situations which may allow staff unsupervised access to vulnerable children and young people.

ROLE PURPOSE: Save the Children is recruiting 01 Project Officers to lead the implementation of the Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project at the community level, a $27M, five-year project funded by the Green Climate Fund. 

The Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project will be one of the largest community-based adaptation projects ever delivered in West Africa. Mainly funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), it has been designed to improve the climate resilience of communities across 5 coastal districts of Sierra Leone. It will increase communities’ resilience to climate variability, extremes, and change and build the adaptive capacity required to ensure communities can maintain a good quality of life in the face of climate change. 

The project will do this by:

1. Community mainstreaming of climate change adaptation through governance, partnerships, education and training,
2. Enhancing climate resilience of food production systems and value chains to secure food and livelihoods, especially for women, youth and children
3. Delivering ecosystem-based adaptation for coastal protection and natural resources

The SLCRP is a partnership between the Government of Sierra Leone through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Save the Children International Sierra Leone, supported by four other NGO implementing partners.

The Project Officer will be based in Pujehun, with frequent travel to stay overnight in riverine communities, and will be responsible for implementing project activities in their designated project communities, and in close collaboration with community structures, to achieve the overall project objectives; and will report to the Project Manager.  They will work in collaboration with the government, local partners, and other project stakeholders, and with all other SCI staff from other departments and offices.  In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, they will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Project Manager

Staff directly reporting to this role: None

Budget responsibility: No

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Project Implementation:

With guidance from the Project Manager and technical support from the Technical Advisor and Project Director:

• Conduct numerous project assessments (HEA/Market Assessment, Climate Health Assessment, etc.), in the community; and report the outcomes of the assessments to guide project interventions in the community.
• Develop community profiles and recommendations for the provision of programming and technical support to the benefiting households. 
• Using the agreed criteria, and in collaboration with the community, ensure a transparent, accountable, and gender-equitable selection of project beneficiaries. 
• Work closely with local partners to establish community adaptation communities, Community Mangrove Stewardship Committee, Coastal Livelihoods Circles and WASH maintenance committees with the representation of women, men, girls and boys. 
• Conduct training for communities (based on capacity assessment) ensuring representation of women and youth, on planning for and responding to climate hazards. 
• Work closely with the community mangrove stewardship committee to conduct monitoring and training and awareness raising on conservation and restoration of mangroves. 
• Lead in the distribution of livelihood materials to project beneficiaries, as part of component two.
• Work with MBSSE at the district level to conduct trainings for teachers and school pupils to build school-based resilience approach towards climate change and the establishment of gender-based school clubs for out of school adolescents. 
• Establish and train new VSLA groups in communities, and train existing groups where required using EA$E model.
• Identifying and training VSLA members on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and business skills, and accessing existing finance (e.g. microfinance, bank loans), focusing on women and youth and mobile last-mile banking.
• Train lead farmers and fishers / fish preservation practitioners on peer-to-peer extension services.
• Work with skilled fishermen to facilitate the construction of Fish smoking ovens, solar dries and ensure they are in line with the project design and standards. 
• Work with the project team and the SCI Advocacy and Communications team to generate public awareness on Climate Change issues (especially the advantages of local production, quality, climate change and safety); and to communicate the project to a wide range of stakeholders
• Facilitate the development of community bylaws on environmental protection and conservation/ community-led, participatory planning in national policy
• Plan and implement all project activities within the scope of its design and results framework; and within the PMM / PRIME methodologies and systems.
• Always upload project documents to the project team online shared folder.
• maintain a quarterly planning cycle with the development of concept notes on a timely basis.
•  ensure that the project fully meets all of SCI’s key performance indicators (KPIs) as relevant. 
• Perform any other duties and function as required by the Project Manager
• Project Monitoring, Learning, and Accountability
• Fully familiarize self with the project’s design, objectives, activities, and results framework, and implement activities in line with these documents.
• Work with the MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) team to ensure that the project’s MEAL plan and tools are fully implemented, with regular and accurate data collection.
•  produce timely and accurate project reports, case studies, and other documents as required.
•  ensure that all project activities are planned, implemented, and documented in line with Save the Children’s financial/procurement policies and procedures; and in line with the project budget.
• Work to maintain solid, positive relationships with the project communities, including all stakeholders, service providers, agencies, and beneficiaries, especially children.
• Participate in regular project review/learning sessions to assess anticipated & unanticipated outcomes, as well as all kick-off and closeout activities. 
•  Support the project managers in facilitating donor visits, meetings, updates, and other events as relevant.
• Work closely with the MEAL team to ensure that all beneficiary accountability and feedback mechanisms are operational, functional, and used, including by children.
• Work closely with other project/programme teams to ensure an integrated programme approach, identify ways of maximising links, sharing of experiences and lessons learnt,

Other

• Other significant duties may be assigned by the line manager; participate in required training.
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures, including, but not limited to fraud and anti-bribery, safeguarding and code of conduct, sexual harassment and gender equality; and ensure all project activities are implemented in line with safe programming protocols.
• Ensure all project activities are implemented in line with safe programming procedures and protocols.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• accuracy and timeliness in all areas of responsibility
• high level of accuracy in work, and ability to analyse complex sets of relationships and situations
• holds self and others accountable

Ambition

• future-orientated, thinks pro-actively
• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• working effectively with stakeholders to achieve common goals
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Integrity:

Honest, encourages openness and transparency, demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS 

BSc. /HND Certificate, Diploma in development studies, social work, sociology, agriculture, environment, with at least 2 years’ experience in Food Security/Livelihoods, agricultural extension services or rural development.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Experience implementing community development programmes, especially in rural communities, with a food security and livelihoods component (agriculture, savings and loan groups, cash/voucher assistance, etc.).
• Experience in implementing conservation projects, Education, Community based adaptation projects (Social and Behavioural Change) and other multi-sectoral Programs is an advantage.
  • Good written and spoken English; including documentation and report-writing skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to engage positively with people at all levels.
  • Good training/facilitation skills.
  • Experience in working with Government, NGOs, civil society organisations, etc., is an added advantage.
  • Good skills in computers, e.g. MS Word, MS PowerPoint and Excel. 
  • Experience developing activity budgets.
  • Willingness to promote gender equality and social inclusion.
• Ability to be self-sufficient and resourceful, proactive in identifying and addressing challenges, yet consulting and asking for assistance as needed/relevant.
  • Ability and willingness to be based in project communities.
  • Willingness to work in riverine communities.  
  • Possesses a valid motorbike rider’s licence or is willing to learn.
  • Willing to commit to Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.
• SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
• Experience implementing community development programmes, especially in rural communities, with a food security and livelihoods component (agriculture, savings and loan groups, cash/voucher assistance, etc.).
• Experience in implementing conservation projects, Education, Community based adaptation projects (Social and Behavioural Change) and other multi-sectoral Programs is an advantage.
  • Good written and spoken English; including documentation and report-writing skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to engage positively with people at all levels.
  • Good training/facilitation skills.
  • Experience in working with Government, NGOs, civil society organisations, etc., is an added advantage.
  • Good skills in computers, e.g. MS Word, MS PowerPoint and Excel. 
  • Experience developing activity budgets.
  • Willingness to promote gender equality and social inclusion.
• Ability to be self-sufficient and resourceful, proactive in identifying and addressing challenges, yet consulting and asking for assistance as needed/relevant.
  • Ability and willingness to be based in project communities.
  • Willingness to work in riverine communities.  
  • Possesses a valid motorbike rider’s licence or is willing to learn.
  • Willing to commit to Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe, so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties per SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.