Economic Participation of Internally Displaced Population (IDP) and vulnerable population of selected host communities in the South Caucasus

 

Job Title: Junior Expert on business development and income generation – (employment contract)

 

Workplace: – Barda, Epic office, Azerbaijan

Duration: 15th August, 2021 – 31th October, 2021; an extension till 31th of December 2022 is envisioned and pending on commission.

 

 

• Background 

 

 

The Economic and social participation of vulnerable displaced and local population in the South Caucasus - EPIC - is a regional South Caucasus programme, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ), that has been launched in 2017. 

 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a service enterprise for development cooperation with international operations and global experience. Owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, the organisation operates as a private-sector enterprise with a development-policy mandate: to make sustainable improvements to the living conditions of people in partner countries world-wide. 

 

EPIC’s social component has started in October 2018 with a focus on the improvement of social participation of displaced in selected host communities, with focus on Azerbaijan and Georgia. In Azerbaijan, the project activities will be implemented in Mingachevir city, Barda and Aghdam districts with the support of the field offices and from the central project staff in Baku and Tbilisi.

 

To reach its aim of improving the economic and social participation of vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDP), refugees and members of the local population in the South Caucasus EPIC project intervenes in the following 5 fields of action:

1. Capacity development of state and non-state actors, in particular of host communities, to promote the economic and social participation of vulnerable internally displaced persons, refugees, refugee-like population, and the local population;
2. Fostering income opportunities of vulnerable internally displaced persons, refugees, refugee-like population, and members of the local population, especially women and young people;
3. Improvement of economic perspectives of vulnerable internally displaced women, refugee women, refugee-like women, and women of the local population, with and without disabilities;

 

• Increasing the opportunities for participation of vulnerable internally displaced persons, refugees, refugee-like population and members of the local population, especially young people and women, and their organizations in their communities;

• Improvement of capacities for dialogue among state and non-state actors and vulnerable internally displaced persons, refugees, refugee-like population and the local community.

 

 

All five objectives target especially women, young people and people with disabilities.

 

Throughout all project activities, participation and empowerment of women and youth is a priority which is also reflected in the programme’s indicators. This is both applicable to the economic and social empowerment, giving it a cross-cutting character of great relevance across all project’s components. Therefore, activities under the social participation component of the project will be implemented in close cooperation with the implementation of economic activities.

 

The project is looking for a junior expert to support the development, implementation and monitoring of the activities related to the project’s approach to the improvement of income opportunities. The position will be located in Barda City, Azerbaijan and the successful candidate is expected to conduct frequent duty travels to Aghdam and Mingachevir city and to conduct and support activities in these municipalities upon request.

 

Responsibilities:

 

The junior expert position will be based in Barda EPIC office. The junior expert for income generation will support the project team in:

• Identifying and addressing the needs of the regional and local government institutions in Barda, including the executive community and its representatives in the target settlements; representatives of the IDP Committee in Barda, Aghdam, Mingachevir; the target group, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Developing, conducting and coordinating project activities designed in cooperation with the project advisor, including formulation of activity implementation plans. Activities include, but not limited to:
• Identification and selection of project beneficiaries for the activities under the income generation component.
• Trainings and other capacity development measures for the project beneficiaries, including in business development, company establishment, business communication, networking, and in related themes.
• Management of workshops events, fairs, and similar initiatives for networking and integration to value chains of/among the beneficiaries.
• Advising and mentoring to the beneficiaries on the development of businesses.
• Monitoring and reporting on the progress achieved.
• Involvement and management of interns and volunteers from the communities.
• Managing short-term consultants in implementation.
• Running Barda EPIC office, including:
• Administration.
• Inventory management.
• Assurance of adherence to GIZ guidelines and regulations during implementation.
•  Development of a usage concept for the space.
• Holding regular activities with involvement of local beneficiaries.
• Designing and implementing capacity development activities with and for selected beneficiaries.
• Supporting Barda community centre at IDP Settlement upon request.
• Participation at workshops and trainings with the GIZ Baku team, including at regional events (requires travel abroad).
• Support project activities across all components in all districts upon request.

 

Required qualifications, competences, and experience:

 

Qualifications:

• A university degree in business management, business development, marketing, organizational development or similar field of study.
• advanced (graduate) degree in the relevant fields is an asset. 
• Knowledge/qualification in development studies, development (project) management, 
• Familiarity with vulnerability, internal displacement, non-formal education approaches, rural culture and economic conditions, youth and gender studies, or conflict management.

 

Professional experience:

• At least 2 years of experience in a similar position (income generation, business development, rural development, marketing, value chain development etc.).
• Experience related to business development, sustainable development, development management, qualification and skills development, experience with vulnerable population groups, especially IDP and refugees is considered an asset.
• Experience in designing and implementing trainings and advisory services.
• Experience of working with local population and with state institutions.

 

Other knowledge, additional competences: 

• Excellent command of Azerbaijani and English; knowledge of German is an asset.
• Willingness to travel regularly within the country, including to rural districts, and occasionally abroad. 
• Work experience in rural districts. 
• High working level knowledge of MS Office programs.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Strong ability for self-motivation, self-organization, priority-setting. 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

 

Qualified candidates are kindly asked to send their CV/Resume and motivation letters by e-mail to: [email protected]

 

Please indicate the name of the position (IDP – Junior Expert Business development Barda) you are applying for in the subject line of the email.

 

Application deadline: 14.07.2021

 

Please be advised that only shortlisted candidates will be invited to the further stages of the recruitment process.