Mercy Corps is a leading global relief and development agency saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. In more than 40 countries, we partner with local people to put bold ideas into action, help them overcome adversity and build stronger communities. We help communities survive and move beyond emergencies. When natural disasters strike, economies collapse or conflict flares, Mercy Corps is there. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives to grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. Mercy Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individual to take up the following position.
PROGRAM SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps is implementing a three year USAID funded peacebuilding program to strengthening cross-border conflict management in the Horn of Africa. The aim of the program is to strengthen horizontal and vertical linkages within and between local, national, and regional conflict management actors. In North Western Kenya, PEACE III is being implemented in the Lokichogio/Kapoeata, South Omo/Lake Turkana and West Pokot/Amurdat border areas with operational offices in Lodwar Kenya, and Moroto Uganda.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Program Officer will be responsible for the implementation of PEACE III Program at the community level out of the Lodwar office. S/he will be in constant contact with stakeholders and the wider Karamoja and Pokot communities to ensure full participation and implementation.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Assist communities using participatory methodologies to identify and implement PEACE III related projects;
- Meet regularly with the program team to evaluate project progress; identify successes, challenges and lessons-learned; and adjust practices as necessary to improve performance.
- Implement activities and monitor project progress;
- Maintain and strengthen the partnerships with relevant government and private sector stakeholders and target communities;
- Prepare and submit to the Program Manager reports of specific events, field trips and meetings attended;
- Provide on-going feedback on the Performance Management Plan and database management of the PEACE III Program, to enhance measuring the impact of the program against objectives and indicators;
- In coordination with the Program Manager conduct regular field visits to ensure that all implementing partners fully understand and utilize PEACE III approaches and methodologies;
- Provide the MEARL team monthly and quarterly data analysis reports, to feed into quarterly review and reflection meetings;
- Support the team in effectively utilizing established monitoring and evaluation formats, and provide feedback for their improvement;
- Develop case studies and success stories to better articulate qualitative changes as a result of PEACE III Program;
- Maintain updated (paper and electronic) filing system for all M&E forms/ surveys, protocols, planning tools, and manuals;
- Prepare reports and project documents and submit to Program Manager as required;
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to positively acknowledge Mercy Corps and to support its humanitarian mission;
- Any other duties as assigned by your supervisor.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: PEACE III Program Manager
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: PEARL Program Manager, GIRL Program Manager, other Program staff in the Lodwar office, field finance officer, procurement and logistics officer
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in conflict/peace studies preferred, or appropriate social science discipline, community development, or related field.
- Minimum of three years professional experience in implementing peace and conflict related projects
- Ability and commitment to team work
- Ability to interact effectively with the diverse project stakeholders
- Knowledge of the Turkana language is an added advantage
- Experience working in conflict or post conflict settings and conflict sensitive programming
- Experience working with stakeholders including the private sector, government, youth and women groups
- Experience in Project monitoring and evaluation
- Excellent analytical and report writing skills
- Good knowledge and skills with the of MS Office applications such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access
SUCCESS FACTORS:
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and appropriate flexibility
- Ability to effectively communicate with Mercy Corps target populations and partners
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members
- Willingness to travel frequently to remote and difficult locations
- Ability to quickly learn and implement new information/concepts
- Flexibility and adaptability
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to ke-hrkenya@mercycorps.org
The email subject line must clearly show the job title and location they are applying for. Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified. Please do not attach any certificates.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will only get in touch with shortlisted candidates.
