Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The Strategies for Northern Development (SND) is a local non-governmental organization working with nomadic pastoralist communities in Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia. SND was registered in Kenya with NGO coordination board as a fully-fledged NGO on 6th of December 2007 and Agency for Civil Society organization in Fe...

The Livelihood Officer will support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of targeted livelihood and economic strengthening interventions under the PROTECT Project in the Moyale cross-border cluster (Kenya–Ethiopia).

The officer will work closely with vulnerable households, at-risk youth, women’s groups, community structures, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen sustainable and context-appropriate livelihood opportunities that contribute to reducing child protection risks, including unsafe migration, harmful practices, and economic vulnerability.

The role focuses on promoting small-scale, diversified income-generating activities, vocational skills development, and financial inclusion, while ensuring strong linkages between livelihoods, protection outcomes, and community resilience in fragile cross-border contexts.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Livelihoods, Community Development, Business Development, or a related field

Skills and Competencies

• Strong communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and training skills
• Proficiency in monitoring tools such as KoboCollect and Power BI is desirable
• Fluency in English, with knowledge of local language (Borana) considered an asset
• Ability to prioritize workload and work with minimal supervision
• Strong teamwork skills
• Self-driven with ability to meet tight deadlines
• Detail-oriented, dependable, flexible, and capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously

Experience needed

Professional Experience

• At least 3–5 years’ experience in livelihood development, climate-smart agriculture, or related sectors in ASAL and cross-border contexts
• Strong background in community mobilization and capacity building
• Experience with financial inclusion initiatives such as Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), SACCOs, and market linkage facilitation
• Proven ability to integrate gender equality, child protection, youth empowerment, and conflict-sensitive approaches
• Good understanding of pastoralist and cross-border community dynamics in Kenya–Ethiopia is an added advantage

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Contract Duration: 1 year, with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds

• Coordinate delivery of Income Generating Activities (IGAs) for vulnerable households
• Oversee distribution and proper utilization of livelihood starter kits
• Support households to engage in small-scale livelihoods such as: Poultry and small ruminant livestock, Kitchen gardening, Micro-trading and small businesses
• Ensure livelihood support is context-appropriate and aligned to household capacity
• Support implementation of local vocational training programmes for vulnerable youth
• Coordinate with training centres and artisans to deliver practical, low-threshold skills training such as: Tailoring, Mechanics, Hairdressing, Other vocational skills
• Monitor progress of trainees and support transition into self-employment or income-generating activities
• Facilitate basic financial education and business skills training
• Support beneficiaries in: Simple business planning, Managing small income-generating activities
• Link beneficiaries to existing Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) where applicable
• Ensure livelihood support targets highly vulnerable households, especially those: At risk of child trafficking, Affected by harmful traditional practices, Supporting reintegrated children
• Work closely with protection teams to ensure livelihoods reduce risk factors for children
• Conduct regular field visits and mentoring sessions for supported households and youth
• Provide practical guidance to improve sustainability of income-generating activities
• Identify challenges early and support adaptive solutions
• Track progress of livelihood beneficiaries in terms of income, stability, and engagement
• Maintain accurate records of: Starter kit distribution, Training participation, Beneficiary outcomes
• Contribute to donor reports and case studies linking livelihoods to protection outcomes
• Participate in cross-border coordination with Ethiopia team
• Ensure consistency in targeting approaches, implementation, and reporting
• Support learning and exchange of experiences across project sites

• Strong communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and training skills
• Proficiency in monitoring tools such as KoboCollect and Power BI is desirable
• Fluency in English, with knowledge of local language (Borana) considered an asset
• Ability to prioritize workload and work with minimal supervision
• Strong teamwork skills
• Self-driven with ability to meet tight deadlines
• Detail-oriented, dependable, flexible, and capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Livelihoods, Community Development, Business Development, or a related field
• At least 3–5 years’ experience in livelihood development, climate-smart agriculture, or related sectors in ASAL and cross-border contexts
• Strong background in community mobilization and capacity building
• Experience with financial inclusion initiatives such as Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), SACCOs, and market linkage facilitation
• Proven ability to integrate gender equality, child protection, youth empowerment, and conflict-sensitive approaches
• Good understanding of pastoralist and cross-border community dynamics in Kenya–Ethiopia is an added advantage