Vacancy
Announcement
Program Officer – WU Research – Eldoret
Program
/ Department Summary:
Mercy
Corps is implementing the Rift Valley Local Empowerment for Peace (LEAP)
program and is expanding the program to have a youth financial education
research program funded by Western Union.
This
program is implemented in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kericho and
Molo/Nakuru counties of Rift Valley Province.
The
primary objective of LEAP is to strengthen the ability of local actors to
address root causes of post-election violence and to promote peace and
reconciliation at the community level while that of financial literacy program
is to assess the effect of financial education on income, saving and spending patterns
of youth self help groups and its members that benefited from LEAP Cash for
Work (C4W) and income generating activities (IGAs) grants.
Mercy
Corps is also implementing another USAID youth led and youth managed program
called Yes Youth Can, covering six regions in Kenya; Western, Nyanza, Rift
Valley, Central, Nairobi and Coast.
The
program aims at empowering Kenyan youth (18-35yrs) to be agents of positive
change alongside strengthening their social and economic opportunities.
General Position Summary:
The
Program Officer, WU Research will be based in Eldoret with frequent travel to
Kericho, Nakuru, Molo, Nandi, Keiyo, Uasin Gishu and surrounding areas.
This
position will ensure efficient and effective implementation of financial
literacy training sessions to selected youth groups as well as monitoring of
control groups.
The
position will also assist with building a reliable database from data collected
through questionnaires and financial diaries.
With
the help of the Manager WU Research Program, a workable plan will be developed
to collect field data, carry out data cleaning, aggregation, analysis and
report writing (internal and external).
Similarly,
this position will be required to collect and compile information about the
program and successes for dissemination to program beneficiaries, stakeholders,
the government, CSOs and donors as per the instructions of the country
Director.
Essential
Job Functions
- Carry
out assessments of youth and youth groups’ economic situations before and
after financial literacy trainings within the affected communities and
make recommendations for actions that are consistent with program
objectives.
- Train
program TOTs and local partners on financial literacy, logical framework,
data management, data analysis and results-oriented programming, basic
surveying and sampling techniques, monitoring and evaluation methods and
principles and report writing techniques and requirements for Mercy Corps
and Western Union.
- Implement
and improve existing monitoring and assessment tools for the involved
youth groups to ensure the appropriateness of the program and to gauge its
impact, including a system of recording and presenting relevant data.
- Together
with the M&E Specialist and WU research Manager assess, and conduct
final survey/assessment to measure the financial education outcomes
- Provide
reporting including contributions to regular conflicts reports, as well as
more general situation reports.
- Prepare
other documentation and write success stories for internal Mercy Corps use
and external requirements as may be required.
- Travel
to the field to monitor and evaluate project sites, work with beneficiary
groups, and organize and conduct assessments as necessary.
- Conduct
himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to
bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian
mission.
- Other
duties as assigned
Supervisory
Roles:
Intern
Reports Directly To: M&E Specialist and Manager WU Research Program
Works Directly With: Program Coordinators, Program Officers, logistics,
finance and procurement
Knowledge
and Experience:
- Bachelor’s
degree in Economics, Agricultural economics, Research methods, Statistical
computing or related social research field.
- 2
– 3 years experience or more in youth empowerment or research programs
- Experience
should include conducting assessments and survey/research designs, program
design, selecting indicators, implementing monitoring plans, data
collection, data analysis, reporting and documentation of success stories.
- At
least one year experience in rural enterprise development targeting the
youth
- Strong
knowledge of Excel and basic statistics is required; demonstrated skill in
statistical analysis, SPSS, MS Access and other databases formats strongly
desired.
- Experience
with randomized control trials (RCTs) methodology an added advantage.
- Strong
English writing skills required
- Work
experience in post-conflict zone
- Ability
to work effectively as part of team in a cross-cultural and politically
sensitive setting.
Success
Factors
- Must
demonstrate interest in quantitative and qualitative research data
handling
- Strong
inter-personal, cultural and problem solving skills.
- Excellent
communication and team-building techniques
- Ability
to thrive in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment
- Demonstrated
strong understanding of cultural and social environment in the Rift Valley
- Willingness
and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people
- Ability
to work as part of a team and coordinate with other project personnel
- Strong
computer and organizational skills
- Attention
to detail with strong analytical skills
- Willing
to work under pressure
- Proactive,
creative, problem-solver
Interested
candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience Should
submit on or before 8th July,2012 a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae
(CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to
hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org
Applicants
must clearly indicate on the email subject; “Application for the position of
“Program Officer – WU Research”.
Applications
without this subject heading will be disqualified.
Please
do not attach any certificates.
(ONLY
Qualified short-listed candidates will be contacted)
9:48 PM
maboko
