Programme Officer Job in Nairobi Kenya

Viwango would like to recruit a Programme Officer (PO) to support the programmatic component of Viwango Certification Mechanism. 

Viwango is a Certification Organization founded to drive and support improvement in the organisational credibility and performance of Public Benefit Organisations (PBO’s) through the transformative process of Viwango Certification. 

VIWANGO officially registered under the companies Act chapter 486 laws in March 2010, was founded from the realisation that there is a need to inspire and nurture a culture of continuous improvement to deliver superior value to the relevant Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) constituencies.  


Viwango emphasizes on Standards in performance, credibility, accountability and delivery of quality programmes and services in the public benefit organizations sector (PBO).


The Programme Officer (PO) will be based in Nairobi. S/he will report to the Programme Manager and will supervise a Programmme Assistant/Interns as assigned by the Programme Manager.

S/he will also work closely with Viwango Assessors and board committee members in supporting the programme.  

The PO’s emphasis will be on Viwango’s programmatic content. The PO is co-responsible for ensuring that activities under the Viwango Certification Programme are run in a coherent, well-planned manner, and in line with the direction and commitments of the Viwango practice.

In the day-to-day operations, the PO serves as a key interlocutor between the  Programme Manager, the PBO partners and Viwango members. 

Together with Programme Assistant, the PO will continually monitor and assess the Viwango Certification Programme to ensure its effectiveness and its adherence to agreed programme deliverables and budgets.

S/he will be responsible for the development of timely and quality reports both for the donors and for circulation to members/partners. 

Specific Responsibilities 

  • Provide methodological and programmatic guidance and operational support to Viwango’s certification mechanism. 
  • Develop and nurture a clear understanding of the programme of work in Viwango. 
  • Review written products including publications and donor reports of Viwango Certification Programme and provide quality control, including coordination of tasks relating to content and quality as appropriate. 
  • Collect, compile and disseminate both contractual and strategic reporting with the support from the Programme Assistants. 
  • In conjunction with the Programme Manager develop programme proposals including log frames and budgets according to the specific donor requirements. 
  • In conjunction the Programme Manager, ensure the development of work plans to support certification and play a strong supporting role towards the partners’ efforts in this regard. 
  • Support and follow PBOs signing up for certification and ensure that all documentations and preparations to start assessments are well organized.
  • Support Viwango assessors in the process of carrying out Organizational Capacity Assessments, and ensuring that assessment reports are produced on time.  
  • Monitor Viwango activities and budgets in coordination with other members of  Viwango  Programme team to ensure progress is being made in line with programme design and expectations. 
  • Ensure that reflection and learning takes place regularly with regard to programme process and development, methodological adaptations and generally on Viwango CSO standards 
  • Support Viwango Programme Manager in maintaining existing relations with key Viwango Partners  and strategically engage these partners in the work of Viwango
  • Support Viwango Programme Manager in ensuring timely and well-prepared meetings of Viwango Board, and other Board Committees. 
  • Develop emerging thematic competences, programme and process knowledge that can be used  to enhance the work of Viwango

Qualifications 

  • Graduate or post-graduate university degree in social or political science. 
  • At least four years of relevant experience in Organizational Development, developmental and/or humanitarian work. 
  • Understanding of how to integrate research and political analysis into actionable programmatic initiatives. 
  • Demonstrated experience in capacity building, external relations, proposal writing, and training, monitoring and evaluation and donor reporting. 
  • Knowledge of and experience with the nurturing of institutional capacity is considered a plus. 
  • Knowledge of and experience in the PBO sector is and the changing trends in Kenya is considered a strong plus. 
  • Strong writing and communications skills in English 

Personal Attributes 

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
  • A person of integrity 
  • Servant leader and a Team leader 
  • Passion/enthusiasm for the PBO sector 

How to Apply 

Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest detailing relevant experience and curriculum vitae addressed to the Programme Manager at info@viwango.org by 23rd September 2014 at 5pm. 

Please indicate, “Programme Officer” in the subject line. 


Please note that due to the high volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.