Closing date: December 25, 2020
About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out
the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and
vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and
operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all
faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to
serving those in need. CRS is an international non-governmental organization
(NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the
world.
Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) opened operations in Kenya in 1965. For over 50 years, we
have worked throughout the country to implement programs in agriculture,
health, microfinance, water, sanitation, emergency relief and peacebuil ding.
We have built deep relationships with the Government of Kenya and the Catholic
Church through ongoing collaboration and support. CRS’ projects in Kenya
currently include agriculture, health, microfinance, emergency response, HIV
care and treatment, and services for orphans and vulnerable children. CRS Kenya
implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations,
including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations and community
entities for maximum impact and sustainability.
Background:
CRS, representing a consortium of
international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and
research institutions is leading the USAID Nutrition in ASALs Within Integrated
Resilient Institutions (Nawiri) Project, a USAID Bureau for Humanitarian
Assistance (BHA) funded 5-year Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in
Kenya. The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sust ainably
reduce persistent levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid
lands (ASALs), focusing on Isiolo and Marsabit counties.
The activity will be implemented in two
phases:
* Phase I (1.5-2 years) Research, test
approaches and collaboratively design a context-sensitive, multi-sectoral
activity that sustainably reduces acute malnutrition.
* Phase II (3- 3.5 years): Multi-sectoral
Activity implementation and adaptation and Local System and Institutional
Strengthening
Job Summary:
As a member of the USAID Nawiri project
Systems strengthening and Institutionalization team, the Project Officer –
Multi-sectoral Nutrition Governance will support USAID Nawiri efforts to
strengthen the capacity of Isiolo and Marsabit county government multisectoral
nutrition collaboration and coordination at county and all levels. Working with
and through the county Multisectoral Platform for Nutrition (MSP), the project
officer will also develop the capacity of the Isiolo and Marsabit county government
workforce to deliver comprehensive and integrated multi-sectoral interventions
and services through strategic planning, capacity-building of priority
multisectoral interventions and strengthening of governance, appropriate
regulation and education capacities. S/he will build effective working
relationships with the MSP and the county government sector departments
counterparts, and local institutions. Through accompaniment, coordination and
on-the-job support s/he will support efforts to build preparedness of county
government and other local institutions to assume financial and technical
responsibility for maintaining reductions in acute malnutrition after the USAID
Nawiri project implementation period is over.
Specific Responsibilities:
* Support the Nawiri county Participatory
Institutional Capacity Assessment (PICA) and facilitate the counties to develop
action plans to ensure a multisectoral approach to nutrition.
* Provide ongoing support and facilitation
of the MSP, including continuous capacity strengthening, to ensure
implementation of the capacity strengthening plans developed during PICA, as
well as support the achievement of the MSP mandate to strengthen the
multisectoral and inter-sectorial collaboration and coordination for synergy,
and to guide the development and implementation of multisectoral approaches
that aim to reduce malnutrition in Marsabit and Isiolo Counties.
* Facilitate county governments to ensure
multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement and coordination with relevant
stakeholders, including the county and community-based government of Kenya
(GOK) staff, community structures and institutions, private sector actors,
academia and research organizations, and other local institutions.
* Engage in technical working groups and
other multi-sector platforms to enhance communication of goals and objectives,
obtain buy-in, enhance awareness, and ensure collective engagement for Nawiri
project goals.
* Provide ongoing support of linkages
between USAID Nawiri activities and GOK’s strategic plans at county levels
(e.g. Kenya Ending Drought Emergencies Framework, County Integrated Development
Plans (CIDPs), County Annual Development Plans, County Nutrition Action Plan
(CNAP)). Incorporate strategies to address governance and systems-related drivers
of acute malnutrition in the county into USAID Nawiri activity design.
* Along with the Nawiri field M&E,
Accountability and Learning and System strengthening specialist, support county
government counterparts to use available nutrition and other relevant sector
information for decision making, program planning, performance tracking and
results monitoring.
* Contribute inputs to transition plan
from USAID Nawiri Phase 1 (Research and Collaboration) to Phase 2 (Activity
Implementation).
* Utilize tools and materials designed to
effectively measure capacity improvements
* Along with the Nawiri field M&E
specialist, identify and monitor key metrics to measure institutional capacity
strengthening
* Along with System Strengthening
Specialist, identify of capacity strengthening needs through ongoing capacity
assessments using agreed upon tools and procedures of county government,
partner organizations, and other local stakeholders
* Conduct a community structures mapping
that may contribute to advancing Nawiri’s goal of systems-led multisectoral
approach to reducing acute malnutrition.
Personal Skills
* Observation, active listening, and
analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment.
* Good relationship management skills and
the ability to work closely with local partners, local government, and
community members.
* Ability to exercise dialogue, diplomacy
and tact as demonstrated in previous roles that have required communication
with a broad and diverse set of partners.
* Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness
in executing assigned responsibilities.
* Ability to work in challenging and
changing environments, and to see through challenges to find solutions.
* Proactive, results-oriented and
service-oriented.
Required/Desired Foreign Language:
* Excellent written and verbal
communication skills in English; ability to draft and edit reports.
* Excellent verbal communication skills in
Kiswahili.
* Dialects local to Isiolo and Marsabit
County a plus.
Travel
Required 50% of the time to the sub counties
Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory:
None
Internal:
All Nawiri field team staff, and especially the county Systems Strengthening
Specialist, County Head of Office, County Learning and Accountability
Specialists, County Research Coordinator, County M&E Specialist
External:
USAID Nawiri consortium members, County government staff especially from line
departments that contribute to nutrition outcomes (Health, Agriculture,
Livestock & Fisheries; Water, Environment and Natural Resources; Finance
and Economic Planning; Trade, Industry and Enterprise development; Culture,
Gender & Social Services; Education, Skills Development, Youth and Sports;
Public Administration, ICT and Disaster Management; County Adminis tration,
Public Service Management, Cohesion, Civic Engagement and Public Participation,
Governance and Leadership (Office of Governor and Deputy Governor; County
Secretary; County Public Service Board; ;, , and other related government
bodies and authorities, Local Implementing partners and private sector service
providers
Typical Background, Experience &
Requirements:
Education and Experience
* Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in
Nutrition, Public Administration, International Development or other relevant
fields.
* At least 5 years’ work experience in NGO
sector and experience related to nutrition governance and/or systems
strengthening.
* Demonstrated technical expertise in one
or more of the following areas: policy reform, service coverage, stakeholder
coordination, nutrition governance, and/or related areas of system and / or
partnerships strengthening.
* Experience in participatory action
planning and local government engagement.
* Experience using MS Windows and MS
Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values,
and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or
her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
*
Integrity
* Continuous Improvement & Innovation
* Builds Relationships
* Develops Talents
* Strategic Mindset
* Accountability and Stewardship
What we offer
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits
package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture
that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
***Our
Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic
Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States
to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff
people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our
commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our
commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and
exploitation.
Disclaimer:
This
job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and
responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’
talent acquisition procedures reflect our comm itment to protecting children
and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. CRS Kenya strives to be a
place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and
do their best.
EOE/M/F/D/V
– CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Closing
Date: December 24, 2020
Catholic
Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States
to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the
heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as
partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and
our commitment to serving those in need.
Application URL: