NGO Senior Program Officer, and Field Officer Jobs in Kenya

CARE International in Kenya is looking for well organized and highly motivated individuals who are result-oriented to fill the following positions:

Senior Program Officer-Livelihood 

(REF:SPO/7/2012).

Department/Project: GCD/RAP

Supervisor:  Gender and Community Development Coordinator

Location/Duty Station: Dadaab

     
Grade:            F -2  

I: Job Summary

Reporting to the Gender & Community Development Coordinator, the Senior Programme Officer will be responsible for planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring and documentation of all Livelihood and Youth development activities in one of the refugee camps. 

S/he will supervise Livelihood Officer and Sports and Youth Development officers for the project .

The officer will have a close working relationship with Gender Project Officers, Lead Counsels with GCD and other sector project officers, sector coordinators, programme support manager, and program manager .

The person will also work closely other CARE sectors such as education, WASH and Program Support. The officer will report to the Gender & Community Development Coordinator.

II: Responsibilities And Tasks

R1: Designing, Planning & Implementing Livelihood Projects

• Design practical, effective programs and activities that uplifts livelihood of most vulnerable refugee women, youths and men
• Organize beneficiary training targeting cluster level associations on self management, group dynamics and mobilizing savings for income generating activities.
• Initiate innovative income generating activities including marketing of products to help alleviate poverty among targeted women
• Liaise with Gender and Development Unit (GAD) for referral of vulnerable women and SGBV survivors and train them in business initiation.
• Work with Department for Refugee Affairs ( DRA),Ministry of Agriculture ,Ministry of livestock UNHCR and WFP and other implementing partners in Dadaab and beyond to support livelihood projects for  refugees
• Develop an accurate database including geographical mapping, for all past present individuals and groups supported by CARE in livelihood activities.
• Design new approaches in Livelihood including Dadaab business incubation centre and a Dadaab wide livelihood strategy

R2: Develop effective microfinance models and methodologies suitable to refugees

• Using critical lessons learned from previous interventions, develop effective micro financing concepts including strengthening CARE’s GSL concept ,cluster level approaches to enable mobilization of resources for business startups within the refugee camps
• Undertake regular field assessment of target groups and their needs of adaptation of the methodology to reach the project goal.
• Collect, record, update and share data for groups savings and lending groups (i.e. amount, frequency, sharing, loans criteria and use) to establish trend across clients (groups) and camps and the development of best practices for GSL.
• Develop an effective MIS-system to track all information related to micro financing

R3 Develop, Promote and Facilitate Youths Specific development activities in Dadaab

• Supervisee development of sports activities and strategies in Dadaab targeting boys and girls.
• Supervise youth training activities including in camp vocational training ,external training
• Development of new approaches related to youth development including emerging leadership programme  
• Supervise scheduling of sports tournaments and leagues for various disciplines from camp to national level.
• Design, construct and assist in the management of indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
• Strengthen sports management committees as part of the community self-management (CSM) strategy.
• Organize coaching and sports management courses for sports committees, team managers and referees
• Organize female-only sports leagues and tournaments from school to intermediate and senior levels.
• Recruit, train and work closely with female sports motivators (FSM) in the blocks and sections.
• Design, construct and assist in the management of specialized facilities for exclusive use by sportswomen.
• Conduct and disseminate research on appropriate sports disciplines and sportswear for predominantly Muslim sportswomen.

R4. Project Monitoring & Evaluation

• Assist in the development of project proposal, concept notes & sector publications
• Provide regular feedback/updates on livelihood activities citing strengths and weakness in overall camp strategy and how this can be improved.
• Ensure that assigned projects achieve set goals, objectives and outcomes

R5:  Report writing & documentation

• Prepare and submit activity progress reports including bi- monthly UNHCR report, monthly SITREP, quarterly reports among others
• Developing annual procurement plans and timely procurement of sector camp items
• Assisting in the preparation of sector operation plans/work plans & reviews

 R6: Staff supervision and Acting Responsibility

• Directly supervising Livelihood and Sports and Youth project officers as per their job descriptions to ensure effective, efficient and timely implementation of activities
• Perform the duties of the Gender and Development Coordinator in his/her absence
• Conduct regular block and home visits to assess and verify supported refugees
• Regularly appraise Livelihood and Sports and Youth project officers and provide   support/mentorship

III: Authority

• Spending Authority:  N/A     
• Supervision:  Supervises two position, that is, Livelihood Project Officer(s), Sports and Youth Development Officer(s)
• Decision Making: Responsible for recommending prioritization livelihood and units prospective funding, change in programming and staff hiring and transfers.

IV: Contacts/Key Relationships

• External  -  Right to Play , UNHCR, SAVE the children (UK), GTZ, NCCK, LWF, GoK

• Internal - Gender Project officer(s) and Lead Counselors in GCD Sector , CARE coordinators, program manager

V: Working Conditions

The position is based at Dadaab with assignment to any of the camps Ifo and Dagahaley. 

This is a non-family working station. Hot weather is prevalent throughout the year with limited basic amenities. 

Road movement to and from work station to Garissa as well as inter-camp movement must be under police escort (Scheduled convoys). Strict adherence to security instructions all the time. 

It is a six days work station with a compensatory time off according to CTO policy. 

The incumbent will be required to travel to Nairobi office and perform official responsibilities as will be required

The incumbent shall reside in the CARE compound while executing official duties and shall obey and adhere to residential compound regulations.

VI; Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s   Degree in Social Sciences
• Experience: 3 years relevant proven experience   in community development, microfinance and entrepreneurship.
• Certificate : Certificate in Project Cycle Management

Competencies:

• Ability to apply gender mainstreaming skills to development is an added advantage.
• Good Project report writing skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite

Field Officer –GS&L Project 

(Ref:FO/7/2012).

Job Title:  Field Officer                                          
Department/Project:  GS&L Sector                                 
Location/Duty Station: Marsabit                                                     
Grade:   E          
                 
Job Summary & Purpose:

The Field Officer will work with the Project Officer and other GS&L staff to promote GS&L and Index Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) methodologies in the district. 

He/She will directly supervise Franchisees and the Community Based Trainers (CBTs) to promote the GS&L methodology ensure prompt training delivery and closely monitor quality of GS&L groups. 

The Field Officer will work closely with partners, ILRI and the CARE Livelihoods sector in promoting livestock insurance amongst participating pastoralist communities.

Tasks and responsibilities

R 1:     Project Management

• Plan, lead, organize, direct and evaluate the linkage of GS&L groups to formal financial sector in accordance with CARE’s guidelines on financial linkages.
• Ensure compliance with CARE performance management system for self and supervisees  
• Provide technical support to community based trainers to enable them meet project goals, objectives and targets.

R 2:     Project Growth

• Continuously monitor and review the financial linkages.
• Support the Project officer in developing capacities of community, and any other identified stakeholders mainly through trainings to produce competent community trainer’s imperative for project growth and effective financial linkage of GS&L groups

R3:      Monitoring of application of skills and knowledge

• Ensure community based trainers visit GS&L sessions for observation and reporting on the application and relevance of the systems and procedures.
• Follow–up community based trainers’ training of groups to determine achievement of target and proper quality of content as guided by the linkages training manual.
• Ensure that the CBTs apply effective participatory and adult training techniques for all financial linkage modules, and that the CBTs are able to roll out the trainings to the identified GS&L groups.
• Provide input to the review and development of training materials.
• Monitor groups’ self-management maturity and transition as guided by the group objectives and targets, and work closely with the community based trainers to ensure that bank linkage is piloted in the districts.
• Check community based trainers’ documentation and statistics to ensure availability of accurate data in project.

R4:     Maintenance of Resources

• Undertake the proper maintenance of the project assets and ensure proper use of other project resources assigned to him.

R5:     Representation and Coordination

• Perform other responsibilities as may be directed by the supervisor / Project coordinator.

• Authority:     Moderate authority - works under the supervision of the Project Manager. General defined tasks and objectives.
• Spending Authority:     Nil            
• Supervision:     Will supervise the community based trainers and Franchisees work.    
• Decision Making: low decision making authority – in consultation with the project coordinator he/she will be responsible for decisions relating to the linkages component.

Contacts/Key Relationships (internal & external):

Internally the position shall relate with the direct project staff and other staff in GS&L projects.
Externally the position shall relate with government officials, other partner civil society organizations financial institutions

Working Conditions:

The position shall be based in the Marsabit field office and shall entail over 80% travel time in the field

Qualifications:

• Education: Degree or Diploma in Business administration, social sciences, commerce or a related financial discipline
• Experience: Over three years work experience in providing financial services to community savings and loans groups. Experience in community mobilization. In depth understanding of community managed microfinance. Experience in banking for the informal community groups will be an added advantage    
• Certificate:
• Competencies; Community mobilization skills, good project reporting writing skills, good facilitation skills, strong analytical skills

Applications

If you feel you meet the requirements for any of these positions, send your application letter indicating the reference number, title of the position along with an updated CV  and telephone contacts of three professional referees to: The Human Resources & Development Manager, CARE International in Kenya, Email: Vacancies@care.or.ke so as to be received not later than 15th July, 2012. 

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

CARE is an equal opportunity employer and promotes gender equity. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.

CARE International in Kenya does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. (Application, interview, meeting, processing, training or any other fees).