Organization: Trickle Up
Country: Costa Rica
Closing date: 09 Jun 2017
About Trickle Up:
Trickle Up’s mission is to empower people living on less than $1.90 a day to build sustainable livelihoods for a better quality of life utilizing the Graduation Approach to livelihood development, a proven strategy that combines elements of social protection, livelihoods, and microfinance to move people out of poverty. With programs in India, Central America and West Africa, Trickle Up has established expertise in livelihoods for difficult-to-serve populations. TU leverages this expertise by equipping large institutions to design and implement effective livelihood programs for people living in extreme poverty, and its largest client is the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Working in over 125 countries, UNHCR’s mandate is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, displaced persons, and the stateless, and to seek lasting solutions to their plight. Together, TU and UNHCR have established the first-ever Graduation pilots working with displaced populations and work in urban areas.
Position Overview:
Trickle Up will hire a Regional Livelihoods Specialist to be seconded to UNHCR’s office in San José, Costa Rica. The Regional Livelihoods Specialist will provide support to UNHCR livelihoods staff in the sub-region’s countries to achieve UNHCR’s Global Livelihood Strategy and to increase the adoption of the Graduation Approach, where appropriate.
Principal Functions:
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Senior Livelihoods Officer in UNHCR headquarters, the Regional Livelihoods Specialist will:
- Support the implementation of the UNHCR Global Strategy for Livelihoods in the region, and advise field operations on the design and implementation of their country strategies;
- Support the UNHCR operations in implementing livelihoods, and particularly the Graduation Approach;
- Support the adoption of good livelihoods models by NGOs, multilateral agencies, development actors, government and donors to enhance economic inclusion of refugees in the field;
- Ensure that livelihoods projects implemented by UNHCR operations in the region comply with UNHCR Minimum Criteria to achieve better impact on people of concern;
- Provide technical guidance to existing Graduation programs in the region;
- Support the development and implementation of Graduation projects, or the strengthening of existing livelihood projects using Graduation principles, Trickle Up and UNHCR best practices, and targeted capacity building;
- Compile lessons learned and best practices to share with UNHCR, TU stakeholders, and external audiences and ensure UNHCR monitoring and evaluation data is provided to Trickle Up.
Qualifications:
Education requirements
- Master’s degree in Development Studies, Socio-Economic Development, Economics/International Economics, Rural Development/Natural Resource Management, or other related fields.
Experience requirements
- At least 4 years of experience in international development, including experience in project management or capacity building for economic strengthening project(s)
- Experience with sustainable livelihoods, economic strengthening, and economic development for vulnerable populations (experience with refugees preferred)
- Experience as a technical advisor to capacity building/training/reform programs
- Experience working in large-scale donor or host government-led capacity building programs
- Experience with the UN is an asset
Knowledge and skills
- Excellent writing and speaking skills in English and Spanish
- Strong, developed leadership ability
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Excellent written and oral communications and presentation skills
- Excellent training skills
- Highly organized and analytical thinker
- Self-starter with strong initiative
- Proactive, creative problem-solver
- Flexible and productive under pressure
Behavioral competencies
- Responsible, dedicated, independent worker
- Proven ability to meet targets and deadlines
- Good interpersonal and diplomacy skills
- Cross-cultural sensitivity
Other requirements
- This position will be based in Costa Rica but requires frequent travel to other countries in the region.
Salary and Benefits:
We offer a competitive salary and benefits for this full-time position. The successful applicant will join a dynamic, passionate, multicultural team deeply committed to the alleviation of extreme poverty. Trickle Up promotes a collegial, high-performing organizational culture in which staff communicate clearly and openly, and are reflective, innovative, and mutually accountable.
How to apply:
To be considered, click the link and follow the instructions to upload your cover letter and resume. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until June 9. We are sorry we are unable to entertain phone calls related to this posting.
Trickle Up is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and extend equal opportunity to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
