Provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership for the implementation, coordination, government capacity strengthening, and learning agenda of the Economic Empowerment Pathways (EEP) pilot.
Oversee quality delivery of EEP pilot activities, supervise field-level implementation teams, coordinate with social workers and local partners, ensure gender-responsive and youth-inclusive delivery, coordinate with SPA for Project Oversight Team and Technical Working Group meetings, lead engagement with government counterparts and sectoral stakeholders, strengthen institutional capacity for economic empowerment programming, facilitate alignment and integration of pilot activities within government platforms, oversee cooperating partner support to government staff, ensure gradual handover of systems and responsibilities to government institutions, identify opportunities to strengthen government capacity, ensure pilot implementation aligns with research and learning agenda, lead the design and implementation of the pilot’s learning and evidence agenda, ensure WFP-led monitoring activities are completed, document and communicate lessons learned, lead the development of an EEP manual and EEP scale up roadmap, lead the development of knowledge management documents, organize knowledge dissemination and closure engagement events, contribute to policy dialogue with GOI, maintain oversight over budget planning, utilization, and reporting, ensure compliance with WFP and partner procedures and standards, and manage risks.
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in social protection, livelihoods, economic empowerment programming, labor market interventions, or private sector engagement. Demonstrated previous experience working on either the design, implementation or evaluation of livelihoods or employment programmes in complex settings. Strong experience working with Iraqi government institutions, particularly MoLSA/SPA. Proven experience implementing institutional capacity strengthening programmes with government institutions, focusing on strengthening government systems and human resource capacities. Experience developing training materials/manuals and delivering Trainings of Trainers (TOTs) on economic empowerment, livelihoods or employment-related topics. Familiarity with social research methodologies and experience managing programmes with robust evaluation components. Proven track record in multi-stakeholder coordination including with UN agencies, IFIs, donors, and government counterparts. Familiarity with Iraqi context.
Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Development Economics, Public Policy, Social Protection, Labor Economics, or a related field.
