Food Security and Livelihood Expert

Scope of Work

Position Title: Food Security and Livelihood Expert

Position Location: Remote

Timeframe: Approximately 4 to 8 days per month, to begin on 15 January 2021, for duration of six months

Coordinator: COAR Project Manager

Overview: This scope of work (SoW) outlines the Food Security and Livelihood Expert consultancy with the Center for Operational Analysis and Research. The Food Security and Livelihood Expert will provide guidance, insight, and analysis to strengthen the research and production of thematic research that deals with Regional Food Security and Livelihood (RFSL) in Syria. The purpose of the research is to holistically map and analyze entry points and stakeholders to inform an EU strategy that improves the availability and access to sustainable food security for the Syrian population. The outcome of this consultancy is the development of a final research product covering seven core elements of the food security sector with analysis and programming recommendations. The Food Security and Livelihood Expert will work in unison with the COAR’s designated team from inception to completion of the assigned deliverable.

About COAR: COAR is an independent social enterprise that directly supports practitioners, policy-makers, and donors by facilitating humanitarian and development interventions in complex, fragile, and high-risk environments.

Objectives:

● Holistically map and analyze entry points and stakeholders to inform an EU strategy that improves the availability and access to sustainable food security for the Syrian population.

● Ensure final deliverable(s) are of high quality, accuracy, and include objective research and analysis.

Responsibilities and Deliverables:

The Food Security and Livelihood Expert will:

● Ensure the incorporation of intersectional analysis and RFSL-oriented approach in all stages of the research production (formulation of the research, its implementation, and content of the report);

● Build a methodology and plan to review EU-funded RFSL interventions synthesizing best practices and lessons learned focusing in particular —but not exclusively— on value for money, targeting criteria and risk management practices.

● Build a methodology and plan to review EU-funded RFSL interventions to analyse intervention-specific understandings of resilience as an organising concept across different interventions and inform a comprehensive understanding in order to strengthen coherence and inform a sector-wide strategy.

● Develop an evidence-based sector strategy to reposition current RFSL interventions and/or guide future investments towards improving the resilience of vulnerable Syrians, mitigating the socio-economic impact of the economic crisis, fostering employment creation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, supporting climate change adaptations and promoting sustainable growth

● Provide actionable, relevant recommendations based on risks, threats, challenges, and opportunities uncovered by primary research and analysis, Assist identifying relevant recommendations for donor-funded humanitarian, development, stabilization, and peacebuilding responses;

● Participate in face-to-face and remote donor engagements as requested;

● Respond to ad-hoc requests throughout the production phase in a timely and efficient manner, by providing remote or in-person verbal and/or written input;

● Work independently, but in collaboration with other junior and senior experts covering other parts of the research, and in coordination with COAR’s respective staff and project management.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate for the aforementioned position will have:

● A Master’s degree in Food Security and Development, or a related field. A PhD degree is considered an advantage;

● At least 8 years of professional experience as an agronomist or food security expert;

● At least 8 years of experience managing donor-funded FSL projects, to include the design and/or implementation of FSL programmers in complex, fragile, or conflict-affected contexts; significant experience in the Syria context preferred;

● At least 3 years of experience in either in-depth design and implementation of FSL research and analysis projects within donor-funded humanitarian and/or development responses. INGO/UN agency and MENA experience an advantage;

● Demonstrated ability to design and implement FSL research methodologies for the collection of primary data (i.e., semi-structured interviews) and analytical frameworks (to include stakeholder and project design analysis) in complex, fragile, or conflict-affected contexts;

● Previous work experience in projects in dry regions and cereals economies is preferred;

● Professional-level English and working Arabic is preferred both written and verbal;

● Strong presentation, reporting, and communication skills;

● Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the consultancy to Lebanon;

● Sound contextual understanding of Syria;

● Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, including teamwork and partnering abilities;

● Ability to remain impartial and objective;