Dimensions of Role:
Reporting to the Program Manager – Child Protection, this position is primarily responsible for the implementation of the project ensuring successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring in a gender responsive way, controlling and closure of the project. The incumbent will be accountable for establishment of relationships with key stakeholders in Kajiado, given that this is a new project site for Plan Kenya, management of project staff and budget, monitoring and evaluation and ensuring quality is delivered throughout the project life.
Key Result Areas:
Provide leadership and management of the project in order:
1. To ensure that community members across different age groups and gatekeepers become aware of the benefits of changing norms and of alternatives to Child Marriage, FGM/C & Teenage Pregnancies through access to education and economic empowerment.
- Ensure that the Community has Improved knowledge on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) rights and needs as well as enhanced skills for influencing quality service provision on SRHR by adolescent boys and girls
- Influence the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and local partners and enhance their capacity to collaborate with young people to enable them work with girls and boys in programming that will make them aware and give them a voice to claim their SRH rights.
- To ensure Improved access and transition to post primary education for girls and increased income generating and employment opportunities for girls out of school and families of adolescent girls as a way of mitigating FGM, CM and Teenage pregnancies.
- Ensure Private sector is actively engaged in providing opportunities for economic empowerment to adolescent girls and their families.
Typical Responsibilities:
Oversee and Coordinate Project Implementation
o Implement in a gender responsive manner the objectives of the YID project
o Ensure that interventions are planned and implemented for maximum impact, synergy and cost-effectiveness.
o Together with key project stakeholders, organise regular performance review meetings to assess progress and agree on and communicate any changes in strategy.
o Ensure Plan’s Policy on Gender Equality, Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct are adhered to in project implementation.
o Ensure compliance with established targets and quality of project outputs.
o Ensure proper management of project database, records and files.
o Coordinate with other staff on resource allocation/mobilization and information and ensure that appropriate synergies with others are achieved as it relates to implementation of multiple projects in the same areas.
Manage Project Resources
o Develop and regularly manage YID annual and quarterly implementation plans and budgets.
o Prepare breakdown/s of project budget by interventions
o Monitor expenditures by interventions and ensure compliance with approved budget
o Ensure timely budget adjustments and revisions in compliance with donor regulations.
Build and maintain stakeholder relations
o Represent Plan and the project externally with partners, government and other agencies at county on issues related to the YID projects’ deliverables.
o Coordinate with relevant Plan and consortium staff in sensitizing county and sub-county level government authorities about project activities, beneficiary selection criteria and policy and procedure of project implementation.
o Attend periodical project-related meetings in the area of operations and ot the Kenya Country office in Nairobi r
o Coordinate with other NGOs, UN/donor agencies, and private sector players working within the operational areas to expand opportunities for partnerships for Plan and the consortium.
o Oversee any contractual partner deliverables and ensure they are met in timely manner and with high quality.
o Serve as the main point of communication for implementing partners on her/his project in close collaboration with Finance.
Human Resources Management
o Smooth / efficient project performance and effective management of and communication with project team and with the managers at the Country Office
o Capacity development of YID staff reporting to the position in all areas related to YID
o Lead and manage performance of Project Implementation Officer(s)
o Ensure that staff welfare issues are communicated through appropriate HR and management structures as well as back to/with staff.
Design, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning
o In liaison with the project M&E Manager from Plan and the lead partner, lead the technical design of project interventions and development of technical guidance and tools for field staff.
o Monitoring progress and quality in conjunction with the M&E team at KCO
o Establish proper sex, age disaggregated data collection, consolidation and reporting mechanisms at county and sub county level.
o Write project reports and analyse from a gender perspective outputs.
o Ensure project learnings and achievements are documented and disseminated widely.
Reporting and Knowledge management
o Submit timely and accurate project reports according to Consortium, Country Office and donor regulations.
o Liaise with program team to ensure learning is available to the wider organization and outside as relevant.
o Ensure all project documentation is filed and organised for accountability purposes.
o Contribution to proposal development inclusive of evidence-base/learning within project, technical expertise, and field-based sex age disaggregated data collection for design, communication/liaison with relevant stakeholders/partners.
Key Requirements to Achieve Role’s Objectives:
Education, Knowledge & Experience:
· Bachelor’s degree Social Sciences - Community Development, Social Work or any other relevant field. (Certification in Business administration is an added advantage)
· At least 5 years’ relevant field experience in microfinance sector involving supporting marginalized groups to access diverse financial services and develop sustainable livelihoods in both rural and urban settings.
· Knowledge and experience of working with marginalized communities to promote Village savings and loaning associations Village Savings and Loan Activities) (VSLAs) and other income Generation Activities (IGAs)
· Evidence of having worked and collaborated with Government line ministries, private sector players and other stakeholders in supporting groups of low-income individuals access appropriate financial services and engage in sustainable micro-enterprise initiatives. Experience of working with youths from marginalized backgrounds and/or OVC households will be an added advantage.
· Strong writing and communication skills for delivery of program reports, case studies, success stories.
· Knowledge and experience in effective development and execution of participatory trainings and participatory rural appraisal methods.
· High level of integrity, values, ethics and a strong passion to empower the poor.
· Creative, innovative and capable of trying something new.
Behaviours
o Striving for high performance: plans and commits to deliver quality outputs in each aspect of their work.
o Decision making and risk management: Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations; alerts others to risks inside and outside the program.
o Self-awareness and resilience: Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations; plans own learning and development; aware of impact on others and adjusts own behaviour accordingly; has a positive impact on those around them.
Skills:**
o Understanding and experience of working with vulnerable children especially girls.
Design child friendly empowerment curriculums for financial literacy and provide leadership on legally acceptable empowerment programmes for adolescent girls.
o Ability to transfer knowledge; supports implementing partners to deliver program services and support according to the approved work plan, standards, and timelines.
o Strong report writing skills; ability to identify the key elements and criteria of writing quality reports. Capacity to produce accurate, consistent, high standard reports for the project in compliance with donor standards.
o Communicates with influence: Demonstrated effective interpersonal communication skills, including conflict resolution and negotiation skills community consultation skills and an ability to prepare accurate and detailed documentation.
o Building effective teams and partnerships: Acting as a team leader as well as player, even if this results in adjustment of own priorities; develops mutually trusting relationships with complex partnerships to deliver excellent project outcomes.
o Proficiency in computer skills: including Microsoft Office and working knowledge with different computer programs, both computer and web-based.
o Motorcycle riding skills or willingness to learn: one of the ways to get around will be by motorcycle therefore motorcycle riding skills are a crucial (including a valid riding licence).
Values
o Commitment to Plan International Kenya’s values.
Physical Environment and Demands:
o Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
Level of Contact with Children:
o High level: High interaction with children and adolescent girls
HOW TO APPLY:
If you meet the requirements of the above position, please visit http://plan-international-kenya.org/jobs/to access the full job description and make an online application. The closing date of applications is 27th May 2016.**
Male candidates who are residents of Kajiado county or have worked in Kajiado county are highly encouraged to apply.