Program Assistant
Description
About Mercy Corps Energy 4 Impact
Energy 4 Impact is Mercy
Corps’ energy access platform, working to improve the lives of millions across
the poorest and most fragile regions of the world through access to clean
energy. Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To
do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every
team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds,
perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
The Programme
Energy 4 impact is an
implementing partner in the project Promotion of
Climate-Friendly Cooking: Kenya, led by GIZ with other partners
which aims to accelerate the growth of the ICS sector with an irreversible
market transformation that will significantly increase the level of ICS
production and sales, in particular to more remote and rural locations, thereby
enabling Kenya, to significantly advance the achievement of its stated
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) goals.
Objective: The overarching objective of the Energy 4 Impact sub-project
– Promotion
of Climate Friendly Cooking in the Coastal Region of Kenya is
to accelerate ICS sector growth in the coastal region of Kenya by unlocking the
potential of last mile distribution channels for ICS through market development
support and consumer education.
The objectives of the sub
project are:
- To
identify new ICS producers within the Coast cluster and with other
Implementing partners, support them with technical assistance and business
development services for initial improvement of their production processes
and quality which will enable them to benefit from professionalization
kits provided by the project through GIZ.
- To
support ICS retailers to expand their businesses into new markets/regions
and facilitate linkages to ICS producers, wholesalers, market traders,
last mile entrepreneurs (LMEs), women groups, NGOs and other institutional
buyers.
- To
facilitate access to market-based finance for non-business class ICS
producers and distributors/retailers,
- To
support awareness campaigns in the coastal region with the overall aim of
sensitizing communities towards changes in perception towards ICS
- Monitoring
ICS market trends in the coastal region and other initiatives in the
country.
The Project is
contributing to the expansion of the ICS markets to new areas, which are not
currently being served by existing ICS producers and retailers to overcome the
new market development risks by covering some of the upfront costs related to
marketing, awareness raising among consumers, ensuring post-sale service and
access to finance for investment in their businesses.
The Position Summary
The Program Assistant will
be involved in the implementation of the project at the County level, provide
the linkage between Energy 4 Impact Mercy Corps, the local stakeholders and ICS
producers, Distributors, Installers, and fabricators, monitor progress of the
project activities and produce field implementation reports. She/He will
co-ordinate with other project implementing agencies to ensure synergies with
each partner activities to achieve the project objective.
Essential Position Responsibilities
- Assess
market information gaps among ICS producers, ICS retailers and
distributors, and key stakeholders in the target county.
- Establish
coordination with other project implementing partners such as GIZ.
- Identify,
engage and recruit project beneficiaries in the target county.
- Identify
and engage relevant stakeholders, seek buy in for the project and enhance
close collaboration for project success.
- Support
project coordinator in conduction county level project launch meetings and
induction trainings.
- Support
signing of partnership agreement letters between E4I/MCK and ICS
producers, ICS Installers, Fabricators and distributors.
- Conduct
technology, business, gender and financial needs assessment of the
selected ICS enterprises.
- Develop
action plans for technology, business, gender and financial linkages
support to the selected ICS enterprises.
- Ensure
entrepreneurs receive adequate and effective technical support for the
growth and development of their ICS enterprises.
- Support
M&E in collection of relevant data for monitoring and evaluating
project performance.
- Conduct
market development activities for the ICS enterprises selected through
creation of business linkages, commercial relationships, and development
of business networks.
- Support
awareness raising and behavior change communication activities in the
target county. Identify and engage awareness raising networks such as CBO,
youth and women groups, local institutions etc.
- Support
gender mainstreaming initiatives among the selected ICS enterprises.
- Identify
financial institutions in the target counties for potential financial
linkages.
- Conduct
meetings with the financial institutions to introduce the project and the
financing needs of entrepreneurs.
- Support
entrepreneurs to access capital for their ICS businesses.
- Facilitate
the financing institutions to conduct loan management training to
entrepreneurs in groups or individuals.
- Provide
liaison between E4I and County Government, communities, and other local
stakeholders.
- Participate
in project review and planning meetings.
- Compile
and submit project implementation workplans and reports.
Accountability
- Mercy
Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability,
specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding
international relief and development work, while actively engaging
beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and
evaluation of our field projects.
- Team
members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and
respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at
all times and in all in-country venues.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Reports Directly To: Program Coordinator
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members
are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our
program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to
international standards guiding international relief and development work. We
are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design,
monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
Academic and Professional
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s
Degree in either Renewable Energy, Community Development, Environmental
Science, Business, Economics, Finance, Project management OR;
- A
Diploma in a relevant field with over Six (6) years project implementation
experience.
Relevant working experience
- At
least 3 years’ experience implementing donor funded projects.
- Experience
working with Micro, Medium and Small Entrepreneurs, businesses and/or
energy SMEs and/or an understanding of community business models is highly
advantageous.
- Promotion
of uptake of renewable energy and ICS for productive uses and activities.
- Experience
in community-based approaches for mobilization.
- Experience
in conducting surveys, managing data and statistics is desirable.
- Experience
in working in the coastal region of Kenya is highly desirable.
Success Factors
A successful Program
Assistant will possess the following attributes:
- Excellent
communication skills in Swahili and English.
- Strong
negotiation and mediation skills.
- Ability
to work independently.
- Excellent
sales management skills.
- Excellent
report writing skills and computer skills in word processing and
spreadsheets.
- Ability
to travel and work in rural areas for most of the times.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Taita
Taveta county in Kenya with 100% field travel in project areas. A rural
location with access to basic living conditions. The position is based in the
coastal region in Kenya.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief
that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the
communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time
to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth
and development
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission
begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to
enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs,
backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the
collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We
strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their
perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and
teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that
diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning,
listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we
are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal
opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We
actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can
be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to
providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal
employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate
discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression,
religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability
(including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any
other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed
to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work,
whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are
treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles
regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN
Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual
exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our
commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected
to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs,
and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and
values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of
Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
How to Apply
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted
candidates will be contacted. Mercy Corps does not charge any fees at any
stage of the recruitment process.
Travel Required
Yes.
