Background

Yemen’s transition that started in 2011 with the support of the international community tragically unraveled after the conclusion of the National Dialogue Conference and spiraled into a full blown war by March 2015 with little prospect of an immediate peaceful political solution. More than half of the 25 million Yemeni population were already below the poverty line before the crisis and 8 million were already receiving humanitarian assistance.

The war since March 2015 created a humanitarian disaster in Yemen. According to the revised Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan in June, it is estimated that 21.1 million people are in need of assistance. With civilian casualties rising, Yemeni citizens –, women, men, children, young and old – suffer from multiple and entrenched hardships. The combination of war, political crisis and stifling of imports has led to the widespread loss of power, fuel, infrastructure, commodities, businesses, livelihoods, jobs and the rapid erosion of public administration and services.
The remarkable resilience of the Yemeni population that has endured decades of underdevelopment is now tested to its limits. The protracted war erodes all coping mechanisms they have left, plunging them into further vulnerability, poverty and insecurity in an unprecedented scale of humanitarian disaster.

The war has left many women vulnerable and burdened with the responsibility of caring for the family as their breadwinners were lost in fighting. Many breadwinners have also suffered injuries and disabilities.     
Under the Yemen Resilience Programme, Outcome 1 will aim at increasing people’s self-reliance and revitalizing the local economy. Under this objective, emergency employment such as community-based cash-for-work will be conducted to stabilize livelihoods in a crisis-affected/post-conflict environment, with a focus on the inclusion of vulnerable groups. This will be led by UNDP’s trusted network of partners, local NGOs, the Social Fund for Development and other actors, liaising with local authorities as relevant.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Emergency Employment Specialist will work under the guidance and supervision of the Programme Specialist and in collaboration with project team members, and implementing partners. She/he will be responsible for all the Emergency Employment activities under the Livelihoods and Economic Recovery unit.

Specific responsibilities include the following:

  • Acting as focal point internally and externally for all Emergency Employment activities led by UNDP;
  • Design community-based labour intensive initiatives, with a focus on the formulation of gender-sensitive interventions that is suitable for vulnerable groups;
  • Define targeting criteria for participants that are inclusive, transparent and participatory, with stakeholders;
  • Maintain a database of trusted NGOs at the governorate level that can be mobilized for emergency employment interventions;
  • Oversee the contracting process of implementing partners, including budget, work plans and capacity assessments, according to UNDP rules and regulations;
  • Develop an M&E framework for Emergency Employment activities, in close coordination with the UNDP M&E Specialist, according to UNDP rules and regulations, and standards for donor reporting;
  • Conduct spot checks and field visits to project location sites;
  • Liaise with relevant actors for the financial inclusion of beneficiaries, linking them with micro-finance institutions and training as relevant, in close coordination with the Entrepreneurship Specialist;
  • Record issues, risks and lessons learnt before, during and after projects completion;
  • Develop the capacities of implementing partners on key technical and managerial areas where UNDP support would be beneficial;
  • Develop the capacities of UNDP staff in the area of Emergency Employment, with a focus on field staff;
  • Contribute to timely communication and outreach, in close coordination with the Communications Specialist, through social media, success stories, blog and press releases;
  • Any other duties as requested.

Competencies

  • Strong project management skills;
  • Good understanding of livelihoods approaches in a crisis setting;
  • Excellent communication skills;
  • Excellent analytical skills;
  • Excellent partnership building, communication and management skills to work with the local actors, communities, the private sector, microfinance institutions government institutions, NGOs, and development partners; 
  • The ability to solve problems and take the appropriate decision;
  • Proficiency in computer software application, report preparation, and data management;
  • Hardworking, commitment, ability to communicate and self- motivated person.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:    

  • Bachelor Degree in Economics, Accounting, Development Studies or related field.

Experience:    

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience with livelihoods support, cash-for-work interventions, micro-business development, and M&E
  • Experience with results-based management tools;
  • Previous experience in supervising cash-for-work activities;
  • Recognized knowledge on community-based initiatives, focusing on livelihoods;
  • Professional experience with UN agencies or other recognised organizations would be an asset;
  • Good IT literacy, i.e. MS. Word and MS Excel.

Language:   

  • Excellent knowledge of Arabic;
  • English language is an asset.

Additional Information:
Interested candidates should complete United Nations Personal History Form (P.11) available in the link below and upload it electronically to the site when applying:

Incomplete P.11 form unfortunately will not be processed.