IRC in Côte d'Ivoire
IRC had a brief presence in south-west Côte d'Ivoire in the late 1990s to respond to the needs of Liberian refugees. It then re-opened its office in Abidjan in 2003 to respond to the humanitarian needs brought about by the civil conflict, as well as to address a new wave of Liberian refugees. Since then, it responded to major crisis in the country, including the post electoral breakout (2010-2011).
Currently, IRC conducts post conflict programming in the field sites of Man, Yamoussoukro, as well as in its Abidjan HQ office in the following Sectors: Governance & Rights, Gender Based Violence, Health, Child & Youth Protection & Development, Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), reaching approximately 2 million beneficiaries.
The IRC Côte d'Ivoire's current goal is to consolidate its post-conflict development program through increased partnerships and advocacy, aiming to achieve quality, impact, and sustainability. This goal is in line with Cote d'Ivoire's National Development Plan's for 2015.
ERD sector in Côte d'Ivoire
ERD activities began in November 2007 in the Western part of the country, and its first projects focused on improved economic and financial assets for vulnerable people through income-generating activities and Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLA). The sector then developed economic programming across other sectors of IRC (Health, Governance & Rights, Gender-Based Violence, Health, Child & Youth Protection & Development) so as to maximize the impact of interventions and make them more sustainable.
Right after the post electoral crisis, large projects aiming at restoring livelihoods of the most vulnerable were implemented in the Western provinces. Between 2007 and 2013, the sector has restored and improved livelihoods of more than 10,000 vulnerable households through income-generating activity (IGA) creation and reinforcement, business and marketing trainings, and community microfinance.
ERD's sector objective is to assist the vulnerable (women, youth, the poor) in finding productive livelihood opportunities. This is achieved by an increased access to: Skills and knowledge (though business skills training, specific technical trainings, and continuous coaching); Financial resources (through cash grants, community microfinance, and access to formal banking systems); Markets (through diverse market linkage activities, value chain development and public-private partnerships).
Currently, ERD is implementing the PRISE – Projet d'Insertion Socio-économique des populations vulnerables de l'Ouest ivoirien hand in hand with the Ministry of Employment and the World Bank (Japanese Social and Development fund). The project targets 8,000 vulnerable individuals over three (3) years. Its main objective is the creation of better livelihoods for vulnerable and marginalized groups in the Western provinces of Côte d'Ivoire through productivity increase and strengthened social cohesion. As a mean of achieving this objective, three (3) mechanisms of economic empowerment are implemented: VSLAs, cash grants, and loans. A strong capacity-building component including tailored modules adapted to an illiterate target comes to complement these mechanisms.
At the same time, the sector is involved in three multi-sectoral projects: Education: The Educate a child project which aims at bringing back out-of-school children (OOSC) back to school. Families with OOSC form Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) that enable members to save money and obtain small loans for economic activities. Simultaneously, families follow a 13-session discussion series that helps them send OOSC to local schools in collaboration with local authorities; Health/HIV prevention and treatment services: HIV-affected families and populations exposed to HIV are economically strengthened through VSLA and collective IGA activities.
Women Empowerment: The ERD sector technically supports the implementation of the EA$E component which includes VSLA, literacy and business skills, and discussion groups and aims at economically empowering women while ensuring they have more equitable relationships and experience a decrease in intimate partner violence.
Finally, the sector is developing several approaches to support the Government objective of job creation for youth and women both in urban and rural areas. These approaches include microfranchising, small enterprise creation, and value chain development. Discussions are currently ongoing with several donors to develop new projects in the coming months.
SCOPE OF WORK
As a senior member of the program country team, the ERD Coordinator will have overall responsibility of the ERD Sector. The ERD Coordinator will be based in Abidjan.
The ERD Coordinator is responsible for the overarching strategy of ERD programs in Cote d'Ivoire in line with the IRC National Strategy within IRC international priorities, frameworks and policies. S/he is also responsible for the general management of programs and the CYPD team in country. This includes reviewing the grant goals and objectives for the ongoing ERD activities, developing staff capacity, and working with the Country Director and Deputy Director of Programs to roll out and follow up on submission of solicited/unsolicited proposals. The ERD Coordinator will travel regularly to Man (estimate of one week per month).
COORDINATION OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
PARTNERSHIP
ADVOCACY, FUNDRAISING AND PROJECT DESIGN
Represent the ERD program and maintain effective and cordial relationships with national authorities, district officials, UN agencies and other NGOs
Attend relevant meetings to represent IRC's ERD activities in Côte d'Ivoire
Participate in inter-agency, multi-sectoral ERD working groups at district, national and international levels
Fundraising and project design
STAFF CAPACITY BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
REQUIREMENTS
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