Mercy
Corps is a leading global relief and development agency saving and improving
lives in the world’s toughest places.
In more
than 40 countries, we partner with local people to put bold ideas into action,
help them overcome adversity and build stronger communities.
We
help communities survive and move beyond emergencies. When natural disasters
strike, economies collapse or conflict flares, Mercy Corps is there.
We see
global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable
solutions.
Mercy
Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individuals to take up the following
position.
Position: Program Officers for the Kenya Election Violence
Prevention and Response Program (KEVP)
Location: Kisumu, Nakuru and Nandi Counties
Program
/ Department Summary: Mercy
Corps implements high-quality, analytical development work in very difficult
places.
We
have been operating in Kenya since 2008 and are presently implementing
development programs across the Central, Rift Valley, North Western and
Northern Eastern regions of Kenya.
Contingent upon funding Mercy Corps plans to implement a Kenya Election Violence Prevention and Response Program (KEVP) which will work to mitigate the risk of escalation of election-related violence in the lead up to, during, and immediately following the Kenyan elections scheduled for August 2017.
The
program will pursue three inter-related objectives;
1)
Identify and map the relationships between key influential actors, in
identified at-risk areas, capable of mobilizing people toward and away from
violence;
2)
Develop or expand upon existing structures that facilitate coordination and
information sharing related to electoral security planning and response between
identified local influencers, including community leaders, local
administrators, and the security sector, and;
3)
Electoral security structures develop plans and processes that enhance
prevention and responses to early indicators of violence.
KEVP will shore up ongoing efforts of Kenyan civil society organizations, including student organizations, youth Bunges (parliaments) and the local private sector, religious groups, as well as current USG partners in Kisumu, Nakuru, Nandi, and when need arises, Nairobi, to ensure that youth and communities are able to remain resilient to political manipulation and ensure a peaceful election.
KEVP
will work with these key stakeholders to create communications materials such
as film to be used in workshop trainings and for public screenings.
The
program will establish and strengthen existing local networks, including the
2013 Champions for Peace networks in Kisumu and Nakuru, establish county level
Early Warning Early Response (EWER) Hubs, and link them to Uwiano platform,
leverage different players and networks to preempt political manipulation by
providing administrative and logistical support to enable them to monitor
risks, and develop actionable plans for prevention and response.
General Position Summary: The Program Officer(s) will be responsible for the implementation of KEVP at the community in Kisumu, Nakuru and Nandi counties.
S/he
will be in constant contact with stakeholders and partners to ensure full
participation and implementation of activities.
Essential Job Functions:
- Organize,
facilitate and conduct trainings and workshops related to KEVP
- Mobilize
communities and facilitate the formation of Integrated Electoral Security
Committees (IESCs);
- Assist
IESCs and communities using participatory methodologies to identify and
implement KEVP related projects;
- Meet
regularly with the program team to evaluate project progress, identify
successes, challenges and lessons-learned; and adjust practices as
necessary to improve performance;
- Implement
activities and monitor project progress;
- Maintain
and strengthen the partnerships with relevant government and private
sector stakeholders and target communities;
- Prepare
and submit to the Chief of Party reports of specific events, field trips
and meetings attended;
- Provide
on-going feedback on the Performance Management Plan and database
management of the KEVP, to enhance measuring the impact of the program
against objectives and indicators.
- In
coordination with the Chief of Party conduct regular field visits to
ensure that all implementing partners fully understand and utilize KEVP
approaches and methodologies.
- Provide
the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning team with monthly and
quarterly data analysis reports, to feed into quarterly review and
reflection meetings;
- Support
the team in effectively utilizing established monitoring and evaluation
formats, and provide feedback for their improvement;
- Develop
case studies and success stories to better articulate qualitative changes
as a result of KEVP Program;
- Maintain
updated (paper and electronic) filing system for all M&E forms/
surveys, protocols, planning tools, and manuals;
- Prepare
reports and project documents and submit to Chief of Party as required;
- Conduct
himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to
positively acknowledge Mercy Corps and to support its humanitarian
mission;
- Any
other duties as assigned by your supervisor.
Supervisory
Responsibility: Program
Assistant
Accountability
Reports
Directly To: KEVP
Chief of Party
Works
Directly With: Deputy
Country Director, PEARL Program Manager, Finance and Operations departments
Knowledge
and Experience:
- Bachelor’s
degree in conflict/peace studies preferred, or appropriate social science
discipline, community development, or related field;
- Minimum
of three years professional experience in implementing peace, election and
conflict related projects;
- Ability
and commitment to team work;
- Ability
to interact effectively with the diverse project stakeholders;
- Knowledge
of the local languages in the counties is an added advantage;
- Experience
working in election programming, conflict or post conflict settings and
conflict sensitive programming;
- Experience
working with stakeholders including the private sector, government, youth
and women groups;
- Experience
in Project monitoring and evaluation;
- Strong
analytical and report writing skills;
- Good
knowledge and skills with the of MS Office applications such as Excel,
Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access.
Success
Factors:
- Excellent
written and oral communication skills;
- Demonstrated
cultural sensitivity and appropriate flexibility;
- Ability
to effectively communicate with Mercy Corps target populations and
partners;
- Demonstrated
attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, and work independently and
cooperatively with team members;
- Willingness
to travel frequently to remote and difficult locations;
- Ability
to quickly learn and implement new information/concepts;
- Flexibility
and adaptability.
NB: All applications must include the POSITION & LOCATION in the
subject line of the email
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to ke-hrkenya@mercycorps.org on or before Friday 19th August, 2016 by 4.00pm.
Applications without an appropriate subject heading will be automatically disqualified.
Please do not attach any certificates.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.