Action Against Hunger-USA is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children and we enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 8,000 staff in over 50 countries, our programs reached 17 million people in 2019.

About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience.

Action Against Hunger currently operates in 5 different regions (Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz and Gambella) with a portfolio of 20m USD/year of emergency, resilience building, research and innovation programs. We have a country team of around 600 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2020/2021 are: BHA, ECHO, Europaid, UNHCR, UNICEF, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, WFP, CIAA and others.

General Assignments / Scope of the Role:

Action Against Hunger – USA seeks an experienced Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director for the anticipated USAID/Ethiopia Empowered Communities for Better Health (ECBH) program.  Under this anticipated program, USAID/Ethiopia seeks solutions to problems such as “communities and individuals are often treated as passive recipients of health and nutrition outreach and services

The Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director role’s purpose, engagement and deliverables are:

Purpose

The DCOP/Technical Director will be responsible for the overall technical excellence of the USAID ECBH project. This role will lead a team of technical experts who maximize the impact and effectiveness of the project by responding to the needs of the implementing team and maximizing integration across the project’s strategies and approaches.

Engagement

The DCOP/Technical Director guarantees that the project is guided by global best practices as well as current health research, community engagement and advocacy for healthier lives within the Ethiopian context.

Delivery

Reporting directly to the Chief of Party (COP), s/he will provide technical leadership in the development, management and support of a cohesive, technically rigorous project theory of change and work plan. The DCOP/TD holds the representational responsibilities in technical arena.

I.                    Essential job duties 

• Coordinate and manage all research, learning, monitoring and evaluation tasks, and deliverables for the project; including baselines, mid-term and final evaluations.
• Harmonize learning, monitoring and evaluation data collection and reporting systems with USAID policies and health and nutrition outcome indicators.
• Monitor and report on activities required to communicate program results and improve implementation, which includes establishing systems to gather, report and analyze performance data for impact and sustainability of project implementation; overseeing data collection processes as required within the project’s parameters; developing documentation of best practices, lessons learned, case studies ; and facilitating the use of data to drive program design and decision making.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports on the status of project implementation; contribute to other project reports such as annual work plans.Review and update the project’s M&E plan on an on-going basis

II.                  Supervisory Responsibilities

Not Applicable

III.               Gender Equality Commitments  

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures.

IV.              Fiscal Responsibility

Budgets and all grants are implemented in compliance with Action Against Hunger and donor regulations.

V.                 Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

VI.              Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required and in line with Labor Law.

Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.

• Master’s degree or higher required in public health, social sciences, health communication, community health, social work, nursing, midwifery or other relevant health or development field from an accredited university/college is required;
• At least ten (10+) years of experience in the successful implementation of international development activities, with preference given to behavior change and advocacy programs in both development and humanitarian settings.
• At least eight (8+) years of experience as a DCOP, Technical Director or in a comparable managerial position on donor-funded projects, preferably for USAID programs.
• Demonstrated understanding of the role of community engagement in Ethiopia, especially in 2^nd or 3^rd tier communities.
• Proven experience building capacity for local government and community leaders, especially those populations under 30 years of age in Ethiopia, through small grants or other methodologies.
• Familiarity with behavior change theories, community engagement and sustainability models/approaches
• Proven experience in developing programs that enhance social mobilization for essential health and nutrition services and resources
• Proven experience that fosters increased accountabilities and responsiveness to community health needs, such as strengthening platforms for community advocacy and provider accountability.
• Demonstrated work fostering gender equities both in the participant communities as well as in the mentorship of the ECBH program team.
• Demonstrated experience working with disadvantaged, marginalized or otherwise under-represented communities, including internally displaced persons, women and girls.
• Fluency in English (oral, writing, and reading).
• Ability to reside and work in Ethiopia full time.
• Travel within Ethiopia and internationally.

Highly Desirable Qualifications

• Fluency in Amharic (oral, writing, and reading)
• Knowledge of the current political, social, and economic context of Ethiopia
• Women and Ethiopia nationals are encouraged to apply, and will be given preferential review

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested, please send your application composed of none returnable CV, Covering Letter with “ Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director  ” written in the subject line, and three references, applicants to the following addresses:

Through www.ethiojobs.net or

Directly In Person to Action Against Hunger Addis Ababa office after Washington DC square to Mayor Muriel Bowser Street,

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.

Deadline: Sunday, 20 December 2020 before 5:00 pm

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be, communicated on and the selection process includes technical test and an interview.