Economic Recovery and Development Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC leads the way from harm to home. Began work in Ethiopia, 1999 in response to severe drought that happened in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Currently, providing assistance in ten different regions implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview/Summary:

IRC is planning to implement Irish Aid funded BRIDGE Project-to Building Resilience, Inclusion, and Durable Growth for Empowerment of Women, Youth, and Other Shock-Affected Communities in East Hararghe (Chinaksen and Gursum) and Gambella (Itang especial woreda and Lare) woreda, Ethiopia. The primary Goal of the project is to Improve food security and resilience of vulnerable population against shocks and stress (Resilient Livelihoods and Food Security) in the intervention areas.

The Economic Recovery and Development Officer will be responsible for the planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring and reporting of economic recovery, income generation, enterprise development, employment, market systems and financial-inclusion interventions under the BRIDGE project.

The position will support vulnerable women, youth, displaced persons, refugees, returnees, host communities, smallholder farmers, pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, SMEs, cooperatives and other targeted groups to strengthen their economic resilience, diversify livelihoods, access decent employment, establish and expand businesses, access financial services and participate in functioning and inclusive markets. The ERD Officer will lead or support climate-aware and gender-transformative economic opportunity assessments; skills development; green and circular enterprises; productive asset and LGF capital support; business development services; Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs); linkages to formal financial institutions; cooperative and producer organization strengthening; market linkages; and private-sector engagement.

The position will ensure that economic recovery interventions are market-oriented, inclusive, climate-resilient, gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive and sustainable, and that they contribute to improved household income and economic security.

Major responsibilities include:

Project planning and implementation:

• Support the Project Manager in planning and implementing economic recovery and development interventions in accordance with approved project plans, budgets and donor requirements.
• Develop detailed activity plans and implementation schedules for economic recovery activities.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor implementation, identify challenges and provide technical support.
• Ensure targeted beneficiaries are selected transparently and according to approved criteria.
• Ensure interventions are based on market demand, economic opportunity, beneficiary capacity and local context.
• Promote sustainable economic recovery approaches that reduce household dependency on humanitarian assistance.
• Ensure economic recovery interventions are linked with broader livelihoods, food security, resilience and social protection pathways.
• Integrate gender equality, youth empowerment, climate resilience, conflict sensitivity and social inclusion throughout implementation.

Economic Opportunity and Market Assessments

• Lead or support climate-aware and gender-transformative assessments of economic and microenterprise opportunities in target areas.
• Conduct or coordinate market and value-chain assessments to identify viable business and employment opportunities.
• Analyze local market demand, supply constraints, competition, price trends, business risks and opportunities.
• Identify sectors with potential for women and youth employment and entrepreneurship.
• Assess barriers faced by women, youth, displaced persons, refugees and other vulnerable groups in accessing markets, finance, productive assets and employment.
• Translate assessment findings into practical livelihood and enterprise interventions.
• Regularly update market information to ensure project support remains relevant and market driven.

Women and Youth Economic Empowerment

• Support the identification and selection of women and youth for economic empowerment interventions.
• Facilitate gender-responsive life skills, entrepreneurship, business and employability training.
• Support women and youth to develop viable business and employment plans.
• Promote women's economic participation, ownership of productive assets and decision-making in household and business activities.
• Support youth to access employment, self-employment, vocational opportunities and entrepreneurship.
• Address structural and social barriers that limit women's and youth participation in economic activities.
• Facilitate networking and mentoring opportunities for women and youth entrepreneurs.
• Promote safe, inclusive and decent work opportunities.

Enterprise Development and Business Development Services

• Support establishment and strengthening of micro, small and medium enterprises.
• Facilitate development of business plans and business models for targeted entrepreneurs.
• Provide or coordinate business development services, including financial management, marketing, costing, pricing, record keeping and customer management.
• Support entrepreneurs to identify viable markets, suppliers and buyers.
• Facilitate access to productive assets, start-up capital and business development services in line with project guidelines.
• Monitor supported enterprises and provide follow-up coaching and mentoring.
• Identify business challenges and facilitate appropriate technical or market-based solutions.
• Promote sustainable and commercially viable enterprises rather than grant-dependent business models.
• Support enterprise owners to develop strategies for growth, diversification and risk management.

Green and Circular Economy Development

• Support development and promotion of green, circular and environmentally sustainable enterprise models.
• Identify business opportunities linked to recycling, waste reduction, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and other green economic activities.
• Promote environmentally responsible production and consumption practices.
• Support women and youth to access emerging green employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Ensure enterprise support considers climate risks, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
• Facilitate partnerships with private-sector actors and service providers involved in green economic development.

Employment and Vocational Skills Development

• Support identification of labour-market opportunities for women and youth.
• Coordinate training and skills development based on identified market demand.
• Support selection and training of beneficiaries in vocational and employability skills.
• Strengthen linkages between trained youth/women and employment service providers.
• Facilitate relationships with employers, businesses, training institutions and other labour-market actors.
• Promote apprenticeships, internships, job placement and self-employment opportunities where appropriate.
• Track employment outcomes and income changes among supported participants.
• Ensure vocational training is linked to realistic employment and market opportunities.

Financial Inclusion and Access to Finance

• Support interventions that expand access to appropriate, affordable and inclusive financial products and services.
• Facilitate establishment and strengthening of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).
• Train and mentor VSLA members on savings, internal lending, financial literacy and group governance.
• Support linkages between VSLAs and formal financial institutions.
• Facilitate access to appropriate credit, savings, insurance and other financial products where feasible.
• Work with financial service providers to identify products appropriate for women, youth, SMEs and vulnerable groups.
• Promote responsible borrowing and financial management.
• Monitor the performance and sustainability of supported savings groups.
• Identify barriers preventing vulnerable groups from accessing formal financial services and support appropriate solutions.

Market Systems and Value Chain Development