Finn Church Aid (FCA) is seeking a Lead Advisor for Livelihoods and Skills for Earning for a permanent position. The Lead Advisor will be responsible for the strategic development of FCA’s Right to Livelihood (R2L) thematic work and related programmes with a particular emphasis on private sector collaboration, employment, and sustainable business development. Additionally, the Lead Advisor will provide strategic advisory support to FCA Country Offices (CO) on livelihoods programming and theme-specific content, including stakeholder engagement, partnerships, innovation, advocacy, and facilitating capacity sharing between COs.
The position is administratively under FCA head office in Helsinki, Finland. However, remote work is possible from all FCA program countries (you may find our countries of operations here), and from France, all subject to an existing valid work permit in that country. Please note that this is not an expat position and terms of employment for locally hired employees in Finland will be applied.
General Areas of Responsibility:
- Strategic Planning and Implementation: Lead and develop the strategic execution of FCA’s Thematic Approach to Right to Livelihood and related plans to address programmatic humanitarian and development goals, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and donor requirements.
- Thematic Portfolio Management and Coordination: Lead the design and monitoring of thematic portfolio(s), coordinating with relevant stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of services and achievement of programme milestones.
- Capacity Sharing and Training: Provide & facilitate needs-based training and support to staff and partners, enhancing capacities and knowledge sharing to improve program outcomes and promote sustainable adoption of good practices.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy: Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders as per organisational priorities promoting partnership-building and humanitarian and development advocacy goals.
Thematic Leadership and Coordination:
- Lead and coordinate the development and implementation of quality and content for the R2L Thematic Approach, ensuring that rights-based approach, cross-cutting issues, and thematic synergies are integrated.
- Develop and promote private sector collaboration in relevant aspects of R2L programming and support the development of tools, policies, guidance, and networks on the same. Networks especially in the Gulf cooperation countries are among the priorities.
- Develop and promote market-based multi-stakeholder approaches for employment and entrepreneurship in priority sectors/value chains with a specific view on digitalization, green transition, and sustainable business development.
- Support the development of tools, standards, and policies for livelihoods resilience-building including community-based approaches, income generation skills, and food security with a sustainability lens.
- Contribute to development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of FCA’s Global Programme and provide guidance in holistic R2L programming in collaboration with relevant staff.
- Participate in evidence-creation and knowledge dissemination through various modalities including baseline/endline analyses, evaluations, and research to ensure and inform organizational learning.
- Support linkages between R2L and rights-based advocacy across humanitarian and development programming.
- Coordinate thematic work and alignment of the rights-based approach with other advisors to ensure quality planning and integration within FCA’s holistic programme approach.
- Lead the R2L Community of Practice.
- Represent FCA in relevant networks and forums, engage in strategic partnership building, and follow global and national trends in the key areas of R2L.
Competence and Personal Requirements:
- A Master’s degree in a relevant field.
- Extensive knowledge and expertise in sustainable livelihoods, entrepreneurship, skills and/or business development in a developing country context.
- Strong references from collaboration with private sector is a notable asset.
- Expertise in, the green economy is a notable asset.
- Understanding of FCA’s other two thematic work areas: Education and Peace is considered an asset.
- Solid knowledge of approaches and methodologies in development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and advocacy.
- In-depth experience and knowledge of programme and project level PME.
- Proven track record of working in or within the frame of FCA’s partner countries. Project experience and active networks in Gulf Cooperation Countries are an asset; candidates with such networks will be given a priority.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Finnish and French is an asset.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to meet deadlines under pressure.
The position is permanent employment, subject to a six-month probationary period. The compensation is based on FCA salary scale and the candidate’s level of experience. The salary range for this position is 3725,88 € – 4 132,34 € depending on experience
For more information, please contact Eva-Marita Rinne-Koistinen, Lead Adviser/Inclusive Rights & Climate Experts Team, eva-marita.rinne-koistinen@kua.fi
Please submit your application via the provided link by May 30, 2025. We will contact candidates selected for interviews in early June, and the interviews will be held in mid-August.
Finn Church Aid (FCA) is Finland’s largest development co-operation organisation and the second biggest organisation in Finland working in humanitarian aid. FCA is a founding member of the international aid alliance of churches, ACT Alliance. We seek positive change by supporting the most vulnerable people in fragile contexts. We specialize in supporting local communities’ right to peace, livelihoods and quality education. Qualified and interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, religion or ethnic affiliation are encouraged to apply for the vacancy.
FCA has zero tolerance concerning aid diversion and illegal actions and may screen applicants against international lists to ensure due diligence and compliance with Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism requirements.
FCA has a Safeguarding policy and zero tolerance against child abuse and sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), and participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.
FCA is certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS).
How to Apply:
