Program Officer Job in Kenya

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. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. 

Mercy Corps is looking for a committed and dynamic individual to take up the following position.
 
Position: Program Officer for the Kenya Election Violence Prevention and Response Program

(Re-Advertisement)
 
Location: Kisumu
 
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 is implanting the Kenya Election Violence Prevention and Response Program (KEVP) that works 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, to ensure that youth and communities are able to remain resilient to political manipulation and ensure a peaceful election. 

KEVP will work with electoral bodies and the security sector—along with civil society—to 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. 

KEVP will leverage different players and networks to preempt political manipulation by providing administrative and logistical support to enable stakeholders to monitor risks, and develop actionable plans for prevention and response.
 
General Position Summary: The Program Officer will be responsible for the implementation of KEVP at the community in Kisumu County. 

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, police, 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: None
 
Accountability
  • Reports Directly To: Area Manager
  • Works Directly With: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, KEVP Program staff, 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;
  • Experience working with the security sector, police and electoral bodies in the past is a strong added advantage and should be highlighted in the application;
  • Ability and commitment to team work;
  • Ability to interact effectively with the diverse project stakeholders especially with the security sector and electoral bodies;
  • 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;
  • Previous working experience in Kisumu and the Western region is strongly preferred including ability to speak local dialects.
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;
  • Ability to be non-partisan in a politically charged environment;
  • Flexibility and adaptability.
Candidates who had previously applied for this position need not reapply
 
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 Monday 21st November, 2016 by 4.00pm. 

The email subject line must clearly show the job title and location they are applying for.

Applications without an appropriate subject heading will be automatically disqualified. 

Please do not attach any certificates.
 
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
  
NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process