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.
Working with communities, we
leverage local logic to help people transform their lives to grow more food,
earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs.
Mercy Corps is looking for
committed and dynamic individual to take up the following position.
Program Assistant – YES! Program
Nairobi, Kenya
(Two Positions)
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.
Mercy Corps, funded by the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (TCCAF) is implementing a three-year program; Youth Empowered for Success (YES!) in Kenya.
The YES program is a
Coca-Cola Africa Foundation initiative that seeks to promote and facilitate
youth (ages 18-35) employment and employability in Kenya, Tunisia, Uganda,
Nigeria and Liberia.
Through the YES initiative,
Mercy Crops will enable youth across Africa to access new economic
opportunities including jobs, skills training, mentorship and financial
services.
The overall goal of the YES!
Program is improved and increased employment and entrepreneurship.
General Position Summary: The Program Assistant will support with on-the-ground implementation of YES! activities.
This will involve youth
mobilization, private sector engagement, and monitoring and evaluation.
S/he will ensure that the
YES! Program implementation is responsive to the needs of vulnerable youth in
their communities, and that activities transition them to better opportunities
that promote youth employment in Kenya.
Essential Job Functions:
Youth Mobilization
- Assist with
conducting community mapping to identify potential locations for YES!
Hubs;
- Together with
TOTs mobilize, recruit and link youth to YES! hubs in their region;
- Assist with
conducting group assessments and subsequent group dynamic trainings to the
groups at the Hubs;
- Together with
the YES! Ambassadors form youth groups based on their interests upon
completion of the core training modules for ease of linkages;
- Participate in
the creation of training and project development plans with participating
youth groups;
- Provide
technical assistance to ambassadors, hub committees and local partners as
required improving the quality of training delivery and ensuring the YES!
Goal of youth empowerment is achieved;
Training Support
- Identify and
support suitable delivery methods for the YES! Curriculum and group
operations for their growth;
- Work with YES!
Ambassadors to identify suitable trainers or partners in various technical
areas within the Hubs location;
- Ensure that the
YES! Trainings are delivered by the ambassadors to an adequate standard
using approved methodologies;
Private Sector Engagement and
Partner Coordination
- Identify
SACCOs/MFIs within the Hub locations for possible linkages to financial
services;
- Identify
possible linkage opportunities to jobs, buyers, franchisors, and financial
service providers for the youth who have gone through the trainings within
the Hub;
- Assist with
coordinating partner relationships along with the YES! Ambassadors;
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Conduct routine
monitoring of trainings and Hub activities and offer guidance on a routine
basis and make recommendations to the other YES! staff for action plan;
- Generate
routine progress reports and document issues arising and recommended
solutions as required;
- Document
success stories and case studies from the YES! Beneficiaries and the
established partnerships;
Other
- Participate in
the development of project documents, curricula reviews and key program
tools;
- 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 Responsibility: None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Works Directly With: Program Manager, Operations and Finance Departments
Works Directly With: Program Manager, Operations and Finance Departments
Knowledge and Experience:
- A degree in
Social Sciences, Community Development or other relevant field;
- A minimum of 2
years of experience in community mobilization, group development and/or
skills building program;
- Experience
managing youth activities and especially targeting vulnerable youth
programs required;
- Strong written
and oral communication skills in English required, including report
development, writing and editing;
- Demonstrated
attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work
independently and cooperatively with team members.
Success Factors:
The successful candidate will
demonstrate the capacity to lead a multi-dimensional effort in a complex, fluid
and fast paced security/political environment.
S/he will employ excellent
judgment, strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, and be
committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps.
S/he will take initiative,
calculate risks and benefits of various courses of action, lead others to
achieve to the highest level possible, and demonstrate solid decision–making
while working in concert with diverse partners.
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to ke-hrkenya@mercycorps.org on or before Friday 28th October, 2016 by 4.00pm.
The email subject line must
clearly show the job title and location they are applying for.
Applications without the
right subject heading will be automatically disqualified.
Please do not attach
any certificates.
(Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will only get in touch with shortlisted candidates.)
NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.