Consultant, Innovation in Food Security and Livelihoods Programming Support to National Red Cross Societies in Zambia, Malawi and Kenya

Organizational Context

Please find here for the organizational context.

Job Purpose

This consultancy is intended to strengthen the innovation capacity of the ZRCS, KRCS and MRCS. It will support the three NSs, their partners, and communities to transform innovation ideas developed in stage one into tangible services or interventions around system priorities and aligned to NSs’ strengths, comparative advantages and partnership complementarity. These will be part of a wider bank of solutions being developed and offered in other sectors by the NS and partners, including health, climate action, migration, and environment. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The work of the consultant will involve the following activities that are expected to be carried out remotely and in-country:

• Country contextualization of systems map and in-depth analysis of challenges and opportunities related to system priorities identified by NSs during the first phase of the FSL Strategic Innovation Initiative [REMOTELY].
• Support to NSs and selected partners to carry out user/impact group research [IN-COUNTRY].
• Support to NSs and selected partners to refine and transform ideas developed during stage one innovation workshops into focused innovation concepts that are embedded in community perspectives, needs and aspirations and in wider system dynamics [IN-COUNTRY].
• Support NSs and selected partners to develop and test prototypes of a service or intervention for desirability, viability and feasibility with system actors, including communities, service providers, and gate-keepers/decision-makers [IN-COUNTRY].
• Support NSs and selected partners to develop high quality proofs-of-concept and project approaches [REMOTELY].

Deliverables

• Three revised systems maps and context analyses related to NS system priorities (one for each country)
• Three user/impact group research summaries
• Three proofs-of-concept for a service or intervention
• Three concept notes for project approach with approximate budgets

Timeline

Approximately 70 to 80 days from February to May 2024. The selected candidate will produce a work plan for the assignment and a detailed budget for country-level activities at the beginning of the consultancy.

Management and Coordination

The consultant will be managed by the IFRC Africa Zero Hunger Senior Coordinator and will technically collaborate with the IFRC FSL senior officers in Southern Africa and Geneva and the Kenya Red Cross Innovation Unit, I.O.Me254. Close collaboration and coordination will be required with National Society FSL and innovation focal points and leadership in the three countries as well as their community volunteers.

In-country logistics and community entry will be managed by the NS.

Education

Required

• University degree in social sciences, innovation, the humanitarian or other field relevant to the assignment.

Experience

Required

• Minimum of 10 years’ programmatic and operational experience working in innovation in the social sector in the Southern and Eastern African sub-regions. 
• Several years in systems and design thinking and the development of proofs of concept and successful proposals.  
• Strengthening the capacity of local actors through learning-by-doing.

Preferred

• Experience with Red Cross Red Crescent-National Societies is an advantage.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work and coordinate with various stakeholders.
• Proactive, self-starter that can work with minimal oversight.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Application Instructions

• Please submit your application in English only.
• Please include in your motivation letter your availability and your current Daily Fee Rate in CHF.

Remarks

Candidates will be asked to show proof of their experience working in complementarity with both communities/user groups and systems actors at various level and of the integration of scalability and sustainability considerations into the design of innovative or new solutions.

IFRC values equal opportunity, diversity and inclusivity. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, nationality, class, political opinions, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion, or belief.