Liberia Food Security Volunteer

Job Description:

Food Security Program Officer (Supported Volunteer) Lofa and Nimba Counties, Liberia

Visions in Action has immediate openings for two Food Security Program Officers, one each in Lofa and Nimba counties. The Food Security Program Officers will have a wide range of responsibilities, including but not limited to:

Program Support:

• Implementing a project to promote food security and livelihoods improvement for Liberian rice farms and fisheries in rural Lofa and Nimba Counties
• Attending regular coordination meetings concerning food security with the Ministry of Agriculture and other local partners
• Supervising and monitoring the daily activities of the field technicians and office assistants, supporting them to develop work plans and deliver project objectives in an efficient, effective and accountable way
• Supporting national staff to carry out rapid community assessments and situational analyses in rice production and aquaculture
• Ensuring that project implementation complies with donor standards, completing frequent monitoring and evaluation trips, suggesting improvements, and writing M&E reports
• Fostering and maintaining positive relationships with all stakeholders of the project including international and local partners, local authorities and contractors
• Producing accurate and timely monthly reports (programmatic and financial) measuring the implementation of project activities against targets, identifying challenges and proposing solutions

Program Development:

• Building relationships with other local, national and international organizations, raising awareness of VIA’s work and identifying partnership opportunities that will benefit VIA’s programs
• Researching new funding opportunities and assisting with writing concept papers and proposals

Administration, Finance and Logistics:

• Assisting with organizing and preparing financial documentation, budget analysis, cash reconciliation and bookkeeping, including filing monthly financial reports to Monrovia
• Ensuring that logistics and procurement processes are monitored closely, including creating and implementing logistics plan and tracking system
• Performing administrative duties as needed alongside any assigned special projects, including filing, database entry, photocopying, and any other clerical duty as needed
• Treating all national and international staff and community members with dignity and respect
• Representing the organization appropriately to the wider public
• Reporting on a regular basis to the Finance Manager and Country Director in Monrovia, including monthly narrative reports detailing inputs, outputs, successes and challenges, and overall impact

Background:

Visions in Action is an international volunteer and development organization that has worked in Africa since 1989. VIA’s program in Liberia has focused on food security, livelihoods and education since 2002. VIA currently has programs and offices in Monrovia, Voinjama, Gbarnga, Sacelpea and Harper. VIA is headquartered in Washington DC and has programs in Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa and Haiti.

Start Date: January 1, 2012 (as soon as possible after January 1) Term: 6 months+ January-June 2012, with possibility of renewal depending on performance and donor funding Housing: Shared housing is provided in the VIA compounds in Voinjama, Lofa County or Saclepea, Nimba County, which double as the VIA office and guest house Stipend: A stipend of $350/month is provided, plus basic medical insurance

Volunteer is responsible for roundtrip airfare to and from Liberia

To apply: Send a cover letter, CV and three references to jobs@visionsinaction.org

How to apply:

Send a cover letter, CV and 3 references to jobs@visionsinaction.org