Save the Children DFID Cash Transfer Project Coordinator Job in Garissa Kenya

Project Coordinator - DFID Cash Transfers

Kenya Country Office
 

Team / Programme: Programme Development and Quality

Location: Garissa
 

Grade: TBC

Post Type: National 
 

Child Safeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

DFID:

Despite the introduction of Free Primary Education in Kenya in 2003, the direct and indirect costs related to education continue to pose a barrier to children accessing a quality education, especially in poor, hard-to-reach areas of the North Eastern Province (NEP). 

To tackle this fundamental demand side barrier, Save the Children with funding from DFID, proposes to distribute 12 months of regular cash transfers to 3000 poor households with children of school-going age in Garissa County, NEP. 

The immediate programmatic objective of the cash transfers is to reduce financial barriers to accessing primary education, thereby contributing to increased enrolment and retention among targeted children in Garissa. 

A second but equally important objective is to generate evidence on the relative impact of different types of cash transfers on enrolment and retention, and to specifically analyse the impacts on girls’ educational access. 
 

Role Purpose:
 

The DFID Cash Transfer Project Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring high-quality execution of the DFID funded project activities in Garissa. 

The DFID Project Coordinator’s main responsibilities will be 

1. field officers, and administration personnel; 
2. ensure accountability to key stakeholders; and with support from the overall Education Programme Manager: 
3. coordinate all project components to achieve results on time according to approved annual detailed implementation plans ensuring delivery of project activities in a smooth, coordinated manner; 
4. manage all project costs following approved budgets and in compliance with all relevant agreements and policies; 
5. work closely with all stakeholders GoK, DFID, and UNICEF; 
6. monitor and evaluate project activities to ensure cash transfer mechanism are in place and operating efficiently, community accountability committees are established and meeting regularly, grievance mechanisms are in place and utilized properly, research activities are being implement effectively and according to the work plan; and 
7. collecting and disseminating learning’s from this initiative by appropriate methods. 

This position will be line managed by the Education Programme Manager but receive technical support from both the in country Education Advisor and guidance from regional and SCUK Advisors.
 

Scope of Role: 

Reports to:  Education Programme Manager

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since 1984, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. 

Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. 

Save the Children has an operational presence in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Eldoret, Habaswein, Mandera, Meru and Wajir and has a logistics hub in Garissa. 

Currently, we have a staff complement of approximately 370 staff and expenditure of approximately US$30 million this year.

Staff directly reporting to this post:  Project Officers

Key Areas of Accountability:

• Travel frequently to all implementation sites to liaise with staff, community leaders, local governments and beneficiaries to ensure continued participation and support for the project.
• Provide guidance and technical support, to implementation staff and partners;
• Work as part of a team to ensure quality programming
• Support and guide interventions to ensure quality, timely programme delivery
• Manage financial aspects of the program including budgets, expenditures and ensuring effective use of financial and human resources.  
• Coordinate with the Country Office Finance Director and field grants officer to review financial performance analysis, ensure timely resolution of financial discrepancies and support preparation of financial projections as needed. 
• Ensure compliance with donor agreements and relevant country legislature requirements
• Support in developing preparation of annual detailed implementation plans; monitor performance against work plan deadlines, ensure accurate data collection on performance indicators and support in the preparation of reports on achievements and results according to agreed timelines
• Collaborate and coordinate with other education stakeholders to ensure effectiveness of programming, consult with relevant stakeholders including DFID, UNICEF, MOE and HSNP and partners including Safaricom and the University of Nairobi

Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
 

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in education or research methods. Advanced degree preferred
• At least five years work experience in development projects in post-emergency settings
• Team management experience and experience working with diverse stakeholders, and ability to understand and bridge diverging communication styles and agendas in order to reach common goals
• Experience with budget management
• Self-starter; able to act on initiative and work well as part of a team, builds strong collaboration with partners and other project staff
• Comfort interfacing with diverse stakeholders including Ministry of Education District level officials and project beneficiaries
• Political and cultural sensitivity, awareness of gender issues, with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy. 
• Motivates others while identifying with mission of Save the Children

Desirable:

• Experience managing cash transfer programs
• Knowledge and experience with research and monitoring and evaluation activities
• Ability to understand and communicate in the Somali language
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind sets
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required.  Swahili preferred.
• Commitment to Save the Children values and willingness to abide by Child Safeguarding Policy.

The application process is now open and will close on 9th August 2013 at 5.00 p.m. 

To apply for this position, please send a short cover letter and CV to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org indicating the position title on the subject line.