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JOB TITLE: Food Security & Livelihoods Coordinator
LOCATION: Gaza Province
JOB FAMILY: Programme -Technical
SALARY:
LEVEL: C2
OXFAM PURPOSE:
To work with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering
TEAM PURPOSE:
The Food Security and Livelihoods teams are responsible for delivering on all elements of the sectoral strategy, monitoring of interventions and contributing to learning, innovation and development of strategic direction.
JOB PURPOSE:
To be responsible for the operational planning and support in effective and efficient implementation of Livelihoods & Food Security and (L&FS) Programme according to the livelihoods strategy, seeking to maximise integration between elements and with other sectoral areas of intervention (WASH, health, protection, nutrition, governance, peace building and education), ensuring learning and further development. Work closely with the programme team, the Livelihoods and Food Security Advisor and other local agencies and key line-Government Ministry officials. Analysis and communication of L&FS information to a wider audience in collaboration with the L&FSA to influence policy and practice.
REPORTING LINES: Humanitarian Program manager
BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: no
Background:
Mozambique is on the brink of a significant economic transformation. Over the last decade there have been major investments in the coal sector. Huge gas deposits have been discovered in the northern part of the county and the government has been negotiating large investment deals with different international companies.
Against this background Oxfam’s new country strategy is geared towards working with civil society and government in advocating for pro-poor policies that will ensure that the country’s anticipated economic growth has a sustained positive impact on the lives of the less privileged. We are committed to a just world without poverty, and are continuously engaging with decision makers, opinion formers and supporters against poverty in more than 90 countries across the Globe; on the other side, Mozambique faces significant exposure to climate shocks, with the agriculture sector particularly vulnerable to droughts, floods, cyclones and other extreme weather events. This vulnerability reflects the ubiquitous reliance on rainfed farming systems and limited climate resilience and is further aggravated by high levels of poverty. The conflict in the north – which started in 2017 and resulted in enormous population displacement and disruptions to agricultural livelihoods – is compounding the adverse impact of weather shocks. The agriculture sector currently represents almost a quarter of the total gross domestic product (GDP), a share that has grown slightly in recent years. In 2023, the agriculture sector contributed 24.3 percent to the total GDP, only marginally higher than in 2014 (World Bank, 2024). Food crops account for the vast majority (90 percent) of the agricultural output and agriculture employs more than 70 percent of the national labour force. In 2023/24, El Niño-induced drought affected the entire cropping season and caused a decline in the national agricultural output, with production losses largely concentrated in central and southern Mozambique. In contrast, the northern region received significant rainfall, which caused flooding in several areas.
The effects of El Niño-driven rainfall shortages and above average temperatures posed a significant risk to agricultural production in Mozambique. Over 2.8 million people (2,785,751) face food insecurity (IPC 3 +) including 510,151 people in IPC 4 (emergency level of food insecurity) and 2,275,600 in IPC 3 (crisis level of food insecurity) between April and September 2024, according to the latest post shock IPC report conducted in 63 of 159 districts of the country. Of these, 1.8 million are in drought-affected areas, accounting for a third of the population in the affected districts, while 1.3 million are in conflict-affected areas, specifically in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces.
The situation is expected to further deteriorate between October 2024 and March 2025, with 3,264,540 food insecure people, including 776,639 in IPC 4 and 2,498,787 in IPC 3, mainly in the southern and central regions.
Drought impacts disproportionately women and girls who faced greater and differentiated risks and needs in terms food security, nutrition, health, protection and WASH. The limited access to water and food, increase the burden of unpaid care work and time poverty. It also contributes to negative coping mechanisms and risks of sexual exploitation and intimate partner violence. For girls and adolescents, the access to water directly affects menstrual management and school attendance.
In Mozambique, the 2023/24 rainy season commenced under the influence of El Niño, which predominantly manifested in persistent dryness, with many areas receiving less than half of their typical rainfall quantity. According to INAM, from November 2023 to February 2024, the southern and central regions of the country registered a deficit in precipitation. In January 2024, there were more than 23 consecutive days without significant precipitation in the southern and central parts of the country, with severe seasonal deficits recorded in Manica, Nampula, Sofala, Tete and Zambezia provinces.
To mitigate the impact of the drought, the Government of Mozambique is working with partners, including UN agencies and NGOs, to implement Anticipatory Actions (AA). AA Plans were activated for the first time in nine districts (five in Gaza, two in Tete, and two in Sofala. The coverage of this effort is, however, insufficient compared to the needs, with more resources urgently needed to scale-up interventions.
The impact of the lean season includes the rapid depletion of below-average food stocks for families who were able to harvest some of their own crops. For rural families headed by women this leads to greater food insecurity and lower access to income to address basic needs.
FEWSNET estimates that maize production for the 2023/24 season will be below-average due to the negative impact of climate shocks and conflict, suggesting a 25 to 35 per cent decrease compared to the five-year average. Supplies from the 2024 cereal harvest are expected to be insufficient to cover regional requirements for Marketing Year 2024/25 due to El Niño conditions, including extended dry periods, high temperatures, and early end of the rainy season. Further complicating the situation, some areas in southern Mozambique are still struggling to recover from the flood impact of cyclone Freddy, Tropical Storm Filippo and the persistence of extensive periods of drought.
The irregular distribution of rain resulted in contrasting sowing conditions across the country. In most central and southern semiarid areas, household food stocks have been depleted atypically early due to the cereal shortage caused by the El Niño-induced drought and resulting poor and/ or failed harvests.
Overall, the drought resulted in intense heat coupled with below average and unevenly distributed rainfall. Rainfall during the season was less than 80 per cent of the average, with some areas receiving less than 75 percent (USGS/FEWSNET). Unusually high temperatures further aggravated the situation, with the first quarter of the year marked by high temperatures in central and southern parts of the country. The situation was particularly critical in Tete province, where temperatures soared 8°C above average. These weather patterns led to deteriorating vegetation conditions and crop wilting in parts of central and south provinces.
In general, and according to the latest IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis, around 2.8 million people in Mozambique are classified as IPC3+, and during the projected period from October 2024 to March 2025, food insecurity is expected to worsen with an estimated population of 3.3 million at IPC3+. The number of people reported in IPC 4 (Emergency) increased significantly to 510,000 (18% of total IPC3+) for the period under review, and 777,000 (24% of total IPC3+) for the projected period. It is estimated that around 144,270 children under the age of 5 (equivalent to 11% of the total child population in the surveyed districts) and 23,158 pregnant and lactating women are affected by acute malnutrition. The crisis situation (IPC Phase 3) is expected to prevail until April 2025 in the El Niño-induced drought due to poor harvests, limited income-earning opportunities, and inability to participate in normal livelihood activities. In addition to these shocks, above-average food prices will make it difficult for poor and very poor families to access food in markets. The impact of the lean season combined with above-average food prices and below-average incomes, will lead to an expansion of areas facing crisis (IPC Phase 3) situations, particularly in areas affected by El Niño-induced drought. Areas of greatest concern include the semi-arid areas of the southern and central parts of the country, which are remote areas with limited access to markets, and conflict-affected areas in the southeast of Cabo Delgado, where insecurity is worsened.
Dimensions:
1. Manages complex, technically demanding programme elements.
2. Objectives set with manager, mainly relating to the quality of programme work in specialism for project or programme and the implementing team.
3. Diverse and complex problem solving, requiring professional knowledge, field experience and an understanding of development and humanitarian work.
4. Technical contribution in identifying, defining and providing evidence for innovative approaches and instruments operating along the humanitarian/development continuum.
5. Informs policy and practice internally and externally.
6. Problem-solving and analysis involves decision-making with senior managers and technical advisor.
7. Work patterns are not routine and often high pressure.
8. Creates opportunities to develop work and innovate within a framework plan.
9. Expected to ‘think outside the box’ drawing on sectoral technical and management experience.
10. Knowledge required includes broad understanding of and the relevance to own specialism.
11. Coordinates and collaborates with strategic actors and sectors to exchange information and improve the quality of the Oxfam program in Mozambique.
12. Coordinates and collaborates with SAF Cluster and OiA colleagues and platforms to exchange information and to improve the quality of program.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Make positive contribution as well as organisational planning and management of implementation of all FS&L programme work in programme within the overall strategic framework for the programme.
2. To coordinate the implementation of the livelihoods and food security interventions in programme, seeking cross-project multipliers and building a strong and collaborative team with a common vision and goals.
3. To provide technical guidance to the Food Security & Livelihoods Team and ensure proper integration of livelihoods related sectors within the wider Programme and liaise actively and constructively with the L&FSA on technical issues as needed.
4. Participate in assessments, collation and analysis of other primary and secondary information sources of relevance and use this effectively to contribute to the definition of FS&L project activities or lobbying positions as necessary.
5. Participate in the development of new proposals relevant to the context and coherent with the overall strategic approach.
6. Ensure that the coordination of all elements of the FS&L work is planned appropriately with other sectoral elements under the overall guidance of the DPC and ensure efficiency and coherence.
7. Ensure that all elements are adequately monitored (process and impact) according to agreed frameworks, that information is collated and analysed and effectively feeds into team and organisational learning. Actively prepare the team for and participate in 6-monthy monitoring reviews, including presentation of case studies of most significant change.
8. Line Manage staff (Project Officers and Field Supervisors) responsible for delivery of specified elements of FS&L programme according to Oxfam’s Performance.
9. Management Policy ensuring that they have the necessary induction, training, support and are effectively managed against agreed objectives.
10. Where appropriate, manage (or support the management of) activities of technical personnel provided by local government departments, agreeing work plans, indicators and reports and ensuring they are properly trained and equipped to do their tasks.
11. Where agreed, ensure full project collaboration and joint planning with key partners including relevant Ministries and NGOs.
12. Monitor expenditure against budget and advise the DPC in good time of any variations and of the costs of any unplanned activities.
13. Support the DPC and project staff to ensure that all donor requirements are met, including timely preparation of both narrative and financial reports.
14. Ensure that Oxfam’s gender policy and Code of Conduct are implemented at all levels and in all aspects of the FS&L programme.
15. Participate in the monitoring, analysis and management of security.
16. To be familiar with and abide by the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct, the People in Aid Code, Oxfam International procedures and other regulatory codes (e.g. InterAction Field Co-operation Protocol).
Skills and Competencies:
1. At least a degree (from a recognised institution) in Food Security and Livelihoods, natural resource management, Social Science, or relevant specialism.
2. At least 4 years experience of humanitarian project management with INGO or similar, preferably in innovative and integrated food security and livelihoods projects.
3. Proven practical experience and understanding of the relevant technical competencies required in food security and livelihoods related issues in humanitarian and development contexts (eg. food security assessment and surveillance, cash transfer programming, animal health, marketing & livestock production projects, social protection, support to community initiatives market strengthening).
4. Good understanding of both humanitarian and development issues and the policy contexts in pastoral areas is desirable.
5. Proven leadership skills and management experience, demonstrating ability to manage and support team members to develop their skills and make a greater contribution.
6. Ability to communicate and delegate effectively within a diverse, committed and motivated team.
7. Proven ability to analyse complex contexts, monitor change and translate into appropriate planning, ensuring appropriate application of SPHERE and links to longer-term development practice.
8. Ability to gather and apply lessons learned and to communicate this learning effectively in influencing others for action, at both internal and external levels
9. Able to plan and monitor the use of human and financial resources.
10. Excellent written and spoken English
11. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively within different value systems and cultures.
12. Demonstrated experience of integrating gender, HIV/AIDS, and diversity into programming.
13. Commitment to Humanitarian Principles and action. Knowledge of the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards a distinct advantage.
Key Behavioral Competencies
(based on Oxfam’s Leadership Model)
Competencies Description
Decisiveness We are comfortable to make transparent decisions and to adapt decision making modes to the context and needs.
Influencing We have the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders in a way that leads to increased impact for the organization We spot opportunities to influence effectively and where there are no opportunities we have the ability to create them in a respectful and impactful manner.
Humility We put ‘we’ before ‘me’ and place an emphasis on the power of the collective, nurture the team and play to the strengths of each individual. We are not concerned with hierarchical power, and we engage with, trust and value the knowledge and expertise of others across all levels of the organization.
Relationship Building We understand the importance of building relationship, within and outside the organization. We have the ability to engage with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in ways that lead to increased impact for the organization.
Listening We are good listeners who can see where deeper levels of thoughts and tacit assumptions differ. Our messages to others are clear and consider different preferences.
Mutual Accountability We can explain our decisions and how we have taken them based on our organizational values. We are ready to be held to account for what we do and how we behave, as we are also holding others to account in a consistent manner.
Agility, Complexity, and Ambiguity We scan the environment, anticipate changes, are comfortable with lack of clarity and deal with a large number of elements interacting in diverse and unpredictable ways.
Systems Thinking We view problems as parts of an overall system and in their relation to the whole system, rather than reacting to a specific part, outcome or event in isolation. We focus on cyclical rather than linear cause and effect. By consistently practicing systems thinking we are aware of and manage well unintended consequences of organizational decisions and actions.
Strategic Thinking and Judgment We use judgment, weighing risk against the imperative to act. We make decisions consistent with organizational strategies and values.
Vision Setting We have the ability to identify and lead visionary initiatives that are beneficial for our organization and we set high-level direction through a visioning process that engages the organization and diverse external stakeholders.
Self-Awareness We are able to develop a high degree of self-awareness around our own strengths and weaknesses and our impact on others. Our self-awareness enables us to moderate and self-regulate our behaviors to control and channel our impulses for good purposes.
Enabling
We all work to effectively empower and enable others to deliver the organizations goals through creating conditions of success. We passionately invest in others by developing their careers, not only their skills for the job. We provide freedom; demonstrate belief and trust provide appropriate support.
Apply for this job: https://jobs.oxfamnovib.nl/job/Maputo-%28MOZ_MAP%29-Food-security-and-livelihoods/1155905601/
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization. Therefore, people of all gender identities, sexes, sexual orientations, races, colors, religions, cultures, abilities, etc. are eligible for this position.
Oxfam aims to attract great talent that not only fits the job but also Oxfam’s high standard of values and principles, who shares and demonstrates Oxfam’s commitment to prevent and eradicate any type of misconduct including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any other type of misuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks, or integrity screenings/references relating to misconduct and disciplinary actions in prior employment.
