DRC Great Lakes Programme and Project Officers Jobs in Nairobi, Kenya

Programme Officer, Great Lakes Programme - Re-advertisement

DRC’s Great Lakes Programme currently covers five countries of the Great Lakes region: Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Uganda. 

Based on an approach combining qualitative research, evidence-based advocacy, bottom-up policy development and civil society capacity-building, the programme seeks to prevent local conflict resulting from and contributing to displacement through participatory processes defined and implemented by local actors at the local level. 

The DRC Great Lakes office in Nairobi is seeking a qualified candidate for the above position:

Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the Great Lakes Programme

Officer helps manage and lead the strategic development and implementation of DRC’s Great Lakes Civil Society Project by:

• Ensuring that the programme’s administrative and contractual obligations are met and respond to partners’ needs and DRC rules and regulations.
• Developing, in collaboration with the Programme Manager and partner NGOs, programmes of action in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic to achieve programme goals, and providing necessary support for their implementation.
• Maintaining relationships with NGO partners in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, DRCongo and CAR, providing strategic and technical (including financial) guidance to them in collaboration with the programme team and conducting field visits to discuss the project objectives and outputs.
• Developing a M&E and knowledge management system
• Maintaining positive relationships with collaborators and other stakeholders at the local, national and regional level
• Informing him/herself of regular context analyses to ensure optimal relevance and impact in the countries of operation
• Contributing to DRC’s accountability to the programme’s donor(s) by reaching the objectives set out in the programme documents and inputting into the provision of timely narrative and financial reports.

Requirements:

• Masters’ degree in International Law, International Politics, Conflict Studies, Forced Migrations or related field;
• at least 3 years’ professional experience with an international NGO working on conflict and displacement, preferably from a civil society/capacity-building perspective;
• Solid programme management experience, including strategic planning, programme design, implementation and evaluation, and financial management;
• previous experience in advocacy is desirable;
• proven track record in M&E and knowledge management;
• outstanding communication skills (both written and spoken) in English and French;
• Experience in at least one country of the Great Lakes region;
• willingness to travel regularly to countries within the region.

Project Officer – Regional Durable Solutions Secretarait (RDSS)

The purpose of the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat is to maintain a focused momentum around the discussion on the Tripartite Agreement and NGOs engagement with durable solutions for displaced and displacement affected communities. 

The Secretariat is hosted by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Regional Office for the Horn of Africa and Yemen, in Nairobi.

The key activities of the Project Officer will include:

• Information management and research comprising: the gathering and dissemination of existing data, information, legislation, news items, news archives, policies and conventions, reports, best practice experiences and working methods related to Durable Solutions.
• To perform analysis of durable solutions data, strategies, policies and legislation, and production and dissemination of quality reports under guidance from the Secretariat.
• Develop (with technical support), maintain and manage a web portal (using a user-friendly Content Management System), to make information and analysis available to interested agencies, state authorities and other stakeholders;
• Assist with the coordination and management of research initiatives in areas of interest related to durable solutions;
• Assist with advocacy, promotion of regional dialogue, networking and coordination by assisting the Secretariat to facilitate and coordinate consultation/technical working workshops and conferences/meetings, and to assist in the identification of areas for research or tools development;
• Assisting the Secretariat with support to capacity building and advice in the region in relation to durable solutions;
• Although this is essentially a non-representational position, the Project Officer will be required to represent the Secretariat in meetings;

Requirements:

• University degree (minimum), preferably a Master’s degree in International Law, Political Sciences or similar discipline;
• 3-5 years’ experience in similar positions involving information management, research and communications, planning, analysis and problem solving;
• an active knowledge of the region and the socio-economic and political dynamics affecting it;
• Some human rights/protection knowledge and international refugee law and/or proven interest and/or track record in the humanitarian agenda;
• have some understanding and interest in the regional displacement dynamic in the Horn of Africa and Yemen;
• Good IT command and close familiarity with the maintenance and management of template-style websites (but IT specialization is not required);
• Strong analytical and writing skills in English;
• ability to perform a series of tasks requiring the application of specialized and general skills;
• must be comfortable working against set objectives with some degree of autonomy when required and able to act with initiative;
• thrives in conditions of transparency and active team work.

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit updated CV and cover letter to drcjobs@drchoa.org by 12 April, 2014.