Programme Officer Job in Nairobi Kenya

The Organization: The College of Ophthalmologists Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA) is a regional organization focusing on quality health education and training in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) region.

Our mandate is to contribute to the development of human resources for health through quality training in ophthalmology; set standards for professional ophthalmic practice; facilitate continuous professional development; contribute to health policy development; and, promote research which advances ophthalmology in the region.

We're looking for an energetic, enthusiastic, and self-driven person with a keen interest in the health sector to join a team of professionals to build an institution that will support the above functions in the region.

You must be dynamic, be able to work in a team environment and be a catalyst for peer learning on key issues within the organization.

You must be able to keep yourself and the organization abreast with changing sector knowledge and best practices.

Vacancy: Programme Officer
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, this position will primarily provide support in planning and coordination activities with relevant stakeholders leading to successful deployment of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital (FEH) and other complementary programmes aimed at Human Resources for Eye Health strengthening in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) region.

The Program Officer will work closely with the program team to ensure that the organization’s resources are effectively and efficiently utilized in delivering on programmes in line with the objectives of the programmes and in pursuit of the mission of the organization.

The post will involve 50% travel within the ECSA region and internationally.

Duties and responsibilities:
  • Lead and guide in country work plan development in liaison with Country Leads, Country chapter teams and relevant stakeholders;
  • Assist and provide support to Country Leads in aligning country HReH priorities to COECSA Strategic plan 2013-2016, International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Africa Human Resources for Eye Health (HReH) strategy and Orbis HReH strengthening tools;
  • Compile comprehensive and accurate regional work-plan from country work-plans for Orbis-COECSA partnership activities;
  • Lead in activity implementation under the Orbis-COECSA partnership with Country Leads and provision of accurate activity reports;
  • Participate in the administration of the programme’s budgets and expenditures and ensure timely and accurate accountability of resources in his/her charge;
  • Participating and providing programme support design, planning and implementation at the secretariat;
  • Providing support in programme monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning including development and use of various information management tools.
  • Provide logistical support to country HReH staff as part of the ORBIS/COECSA partnership

b) Organizational Accountabilities:
  • Maintain a high level of integrity in the management, supervision and appropriation of financial and resource matters.
  • Maintain the integrity and good reputation of the organization at all times.

Required Knowledge and Skills
  • A minimum of 5 years’ experience with demonstrable project management, monitoring and evaluation, reporting knowledge.
  • Bachelors’ degree in Social sciences, Health systems development or any other relevant qualification.
  • A postgraduate degree in social studies, development studies or any other relevant field is an added advantage, management or related field;
  • Knowledge in Strategic Planning, Capacity Building, Development trends.
  • Other duties as may be assigned

Personal Profile
  • Excellent communication and report writing skills
  • Open minded (think out of the box)
  • Experience working in Human Resources for Eye Health Development
  • Intercultural sensitivity
  • Persistent
  • Result oriented
  • Structural thinking
  • Willing to travel (max. 50 % of the time)

Duration Duration: 1 Year renewable Location: Secretariat in Nairobi.


Candidates with the required profile and proven experiences are invited to submit, via e-mail (max 2MB), a cover letter, CV, three professional references, salary expectations and availability to information@coecsa.org / www.coecsa.org  by June 27th, 2015, 1600hrs (CAT).