Economic Inclusion Specialist

Position Title: Economic Inclusion Specialist

2024-11-30 Kabul Full Time 3

Job Location:	Kabul
Nationality:	National
Category:	Program
Employment Type:	Full Time
Salary:	As per HI Scale
Vacancy Number:	HI-2024-0234
No. Of Jobs:	1
City:	Kabul and Roving

Organization:	Handicap International
Years of Experience:	Minimum 4 years’ field experience in livelihoods project implementation in challenging international development or humanitarian response with INGOs.
Contract Duration:	1 Year, Extendable (subjected to funding)
Gender:	Male/Female
Education:	At least a bachelor’s degree in disciplines related to economics, development economics, and livelihoods
Close date:	2024-11-30

About Handicap International:

HI has been supporting the Afghan people since 1987, starting its operations in Pakistan. Since 1996, HI has been operating across Afghanistan in order to launch victim assistance interventions, working at different levels of the society and adopting a cross-sectoral approach. While present on the ground to directly support victims of the conflict through the provision of a range of services – from physical rehabilitation, to mine risk education and inclusive livelihoods – HI has been continuously advocating to increase the rights of victims and other people with disabilities in the country. In particular, and in line with its global strategy and priorities, HI has been advocating to reduce the use of landmines and conventional weapons. Acknowledging the need to respond to the urgent emergency crises combined with longer term, chronic gaps in the provision of services, HI has steadily expanded its range of activities and services in order to support the most vulnerable people, enhancing their resilience while strengthening participation and inclusion of all individuals.

Job Descriptions:

Job Purpose:

Under the responsibility of the Technical Head of Unit Manager in Afghanistan, the Economic Inclusion Specialist will contribute to the implementation of HI’s's mandate and 10-year strategy. The Economic Inclusion Specialist ensures optimal quality and impact of the livelihoods projects implemented in the country, through a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms. The Specialist will share with all HI managers the responsibility of a sound management and successful functioning of the global organization, through paradigm changes. The Specialist will focus specifically on developing the capacity of livelihoods-related programming and technical skills for HI Afghanistan.

The position has 3 main objectives:

Expertise: Provide technical expertise in economic inclusion by defining and guiding technical standards aligned with international guidelines, HI policy papers, and STRATECH strategies. Ensure the relevance of technical practices across projects from design through implementation and strategy development. The Specialist will harmonize practices within Afghanistan by facilitating exchanges, lessons learned, and support across projects and teams, including pooling resources for consultancies and training as needed. Responsibilities also include leading and supporting the development of technical documents, tools, situational analysis, and research. The Specialist will promote inter-sectoral activities, connecting economic inclusion with Protection, REHAB, and other relevant HI sectors, while integrating HI’s Disability, Gender, Age Policy and protection principles into economic inclusion projects.

Influence: Build effective networks with other technical actors in the Afghanistan and support missions to foster partnerships and influence HI mission to better approach and include basic needs and economic inclusion in its programme.

Business Development: Stay updated on the latest international practices, trends, and opportunities in economic inclusion to guide the Afghanistan programme toward innovative and efficient technical programming. Ensure the alignment of technical practices in project design and strategy development to enhance relevance and impact.

The Duties and responsibilities may include but not limited to:

The Economic Inclusion Field Technical Specialist will provide functional technical supervision over other technical roles supporting Economic Inclusion projects in Afghanistan. Additionally, the Specialist will oversee consultants within their area of expertise to ensure alignment with HI’s technical framework.

1.1 Contributes to the Afghanistanl livelihood strategies in line with HI global strategies

a. Provides sector-specific technical input to the country program's Operational Strategy (StratOps) in alignment with the global technical division's strategy (StraTech) and ensures appropriate follow-up.

1.2 Ensures Technical Support to Projects Aligned with Global Frameworks and Standards in Economic Inclusion

a. Provide technical guidance and support to Project Managers, including adapting standards to project tools, assisting in proposal writing, adapt standards to PM tools and reporting in alignment with HI strategies, global standards, and cross-cutting approaches.

b. Contribute to the development and piloting of internal standard operating procedures (SOPs), financial protocols, tools, and guidelines to strengthen economic inclusion programming.

c. Support multi-sectoral project responses in coordination with other Specialists, ensuring integrated approaches.

d. Provide leadership and coordinate the development, dissemination, and promotion of guidance, standards, and tools for economic inclusion in humanitarian and development programming, ensuring their consistent application at the country level.

e. Ensures a local and global sectoral watch, best practices to adopt within the scope of economic inclusion programming

f. Ensures mainstreaming of disability inclusion in economic inclusion programming

g. Contributes to recruitment and briefing of relevant staff

1.3 Ensures technical learning from livelihoods projects

a. Contribute to projects’ capitalization/lessons learned and ensure technical learning from projects within the sector scope of livelihoods

1.4 Ensures the control & monitoring of the technical quality and the relevance of HI’s activities within livelihood programming

a. Ensure regular technical quality control of projects and programmes and issue warnings and

recommendations

b. Monitor the implementation of audit recommendations, if applicable,

1.5 Contributes to the development of research and innovation projects relating to livelihoods in the Afghanistan when relevant

a. Suggest and steer technical innovation projects

b. Identify the priorities of Research and Studies and steer R&S

1. Contributes to the Technical Division’s professional channel animation

a. Contribute to the global professional channels for livelihoods and inclusion programming, including communities of practice led by the Technical Divisions.

b. Develop a local talent pool for livelihoods, conducting technical interviews, providing recommendations, and identifying training needs.2. Influence

Enhance HI's local reputation and influence in livelihoods programming expertise.

Network internally and externally in order to remain abreast of the latest Afghanistan livelihood programming trends.
Participate and actively contribute in local relevant network forums, working groups, cluster meetings and inter-agency networks related to livelihoods and resilience economic inclusion programming to position HI as a key player credible and influential actor in livelihoods
Liaise with local and national government and non-government stakeholders (including NGO and private sector bodies) active within their area of work

d. Contribute to advocacy on specific livelihoods themes in line with the global advocacy priorities

e. Contribute to communication messages locally in line with the global communication priorities

3. Business development

Ensure the development of major opportunities or new projects in the region related to livelihoods programming

a. Contributes to the context analysis for livelihoods programming

b. Contribute to the design and writing of livelihoods proposal development, providing strategic direction, innovative approaches in consultation with team and HQ focal point. Support the Grants Team in the definition and description of economic inclusion/livelihood activities, on the preparation of log frames with SMART indicators and on the development of the budget. 

c. Identify & transform major opportunities in Afghanistan for inclusive livelihoods programming

d. Identify & develop local partnerships and/or consortium with NGOs, Institutions, Companies on

technical priorities or important topics in the region involving livelihoods programming

e. Liaise with local and national government and non-government stakeholders (including NGO and private sector bodies) active within their area of work

Job Requirements:

Qualifications and Skills:

Essential:

At least a bachelor’s degree in disciplines related to economics, development economics, and livelihoods.

Preferable:

Master Degree in Degree in economics, international development or humanitarian response.

Experience:

Essential:

Minimum 4 years’ field experience in livelihoods project implementation in challenging international development or humanitarian response with INGOs.

Experience in assessments, design and implementation of livelihoods

Experience in technical livelihood advisory and project management

Experience designing curriculum for livelihoods related trainings and capacity building activities

Previous experience in Afghanistan and/or other humanitarian contexts

Experience in coaching, mentoring and training staff.

Strong experience in conducting detailed market, labor market and livelihoods assessments

Previous experience with projects funded by UN agencies.

Preferable:

Demonstrated experience in conducting assessments (markets, needs, food security, and livelihood assessments and provide prioritized recommendations for programme interventions to the Country programme

Previous experience from Afghanistan desirable

Experience in Cash and Vouchers Assistance

Excellent understanding of economic inclusion and resilience
Experience in building and developing local partnerships, including with the private sector.
Working knowledge of

Experienced with conflict related displacement issues

Experience working with persons with disabilities

Experience in Afghanistan

Skills:

Strong strategic analytical skills; capacity to establish clear frameworks, rules and limits

Advanced writing capacities in English

Producing clear, concise and responsible communication suited to different stakeholders and interlocutors (adult or child); adapting communication and messages to an intercultural environment, and remotely.

Submission Guidelines:

Application Process:

Applicants can login to the online application system by copying and pasting the following link into their web browser https://airtable.com/appFp03PHO5MPTHrr/shr2y2JE8E8RjNrd3 to submit their details and upload their required documents prior to the deadline.

Important notes:

Please note that only the applications received through the online platform will be considered for this position.
It is important to note that applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Therefore, timely submission is crucial.
After the review process, please be aware that only candidates who have been shortlisted will be contacted for the next stages of the recruitment process. If you do not hear from us within one week from the closing date , please consider that your application has not been shortlisted for further process.

- HI has got strong stand on protection of beneficiaries.

"The Role Holder will have to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of the code of conduct"

HI promotes and upholds the principles of equal opportunities and its policies (PSEAH, Child Protection etc). HI has a zero tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or a child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. Recruitment to all jobs in HI includes, in particular, criminal
record checks and the collection of relevant references. Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do.

Individuals with disabilities and female candidates are especially encouraged to apply. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly value the unique perspectives and contributions that you can bring to our team.