Mercy Corps Hiring Program Officer (Mombasa) 

Job category: Programming

Requisition number: 5KEOF004405

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Posting details

• Posted: 20 November 2023

Job details

Description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department

Mercy Corps began working in Kenya in 2008 and has built a robust and diverse portfolio working to enable Kenyans affected by poverty, climate change, resource scarcity and conflict to be healthy, productive and to drive peace and development of their communities. To do this, we deliver integrated programming to strengthen market and governance systems, innovate urban youth employment opportunities, respond to climate-related shocks, address the root causes of conflict, and build the resilience of vulnerable populations – in particular youth, women, adolescents and marginalized communities.

Mercy Corps is seeking a Program Officer for the three-year Sauti Yako, Amani Yako (Sauti) program, which seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity, skills and networks of relevant stakeholders to detect and address the drivers of recruitment by violent extremist organizations. The program also seeks to integrate appropriate approaches into government services and promote improved access to information in order to build the resilience of individuals, communities and systems to the risks of radicalization and recruitment.

General Position Summary

The Program Officer is a key member of the program team and will report to the Chief of Party. She/he will support the day-to-day program team in the identification of the needs and opportunities and provide relevant information to facilitate the program team’s ability to develop activity ideas.

 Essential Responsibilities

 PROGRAM SUPPORT

• Work with the Sauti Chief of Party and consortium partners to support all relevant aspects of Sauti implementation in pursuit of the program goals and outcomes.
• Provide updates and analysis of key developments in targeted thematic areas or geographies.
• Identify needs and opportunities and provide relevant information to facilitate the program team’s ability to develop activity ideas.
• Work with the grants team and downstream partners to develop organized, complete and thorough budgets that are harmonized with grant applications.
• Under the direction of the Chief of Party, develop and maintain relationships with organizations/ actors in key target sectors (e.g. faith organizations, youth groups, women’s organizations, CBOs/local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), local government officials, etc.).

 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

• Work with the monitoring and evaluation team and partners in program monitoring, evaluation and learning with:
• Support with tracking partners’ activities – attending all events in the targeted counties, as relevant.
• Support partners on activity-level M&E efforts, ensuring quality, reliability, and consistency in data collection efforts using program M&E templates.
• Help identify lessons learned from project implementation and facilitate the incorporation of those lessons into the activity development cycle.
• Meet regularly with the program team to evaluate project progress, identify successes, challenges and lessons-learned; and adjust practices as necessary to improve performance.
• Prepare and submit to the program team reports of specific events, field trips and meetings attended.
• Support the team in effectively utilizing established monitoring and evaluation formats and provide feedback for their improvement.
• Any other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibility

• None

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Sauti Chief of Party

Works Directly with: Sauti Senior Program Manager, Director of Programs, PAQ Department, Partner Staff, Technical Advisors

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in conflict/peace studies preferred, or appropriate social science discipline, community development, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years professional experience, including (preferably) in implementing peace, Prevention of Violent Extremism and Conflict related projects.
• Highly developed analytical skills, including the ability to support design targeted activities to positively affect desired PVE outcomes with at-risk individuals and communities.
• Ability to interact effectively with the diverse project stakeholders especially with the security sector and electoral bodies.
• Experience working in PVE 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.
• Previous working experience in Mombasa and the Coast region is strongly preferred.
• Good knowledge and skills with the of MS Office applications such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access.

Success Factors

The Program Officer will have the ability to work effectively communicate with Mercy Corps target populations and partners. S/he will have demonstrated cultural sensitivity and appropriate flexibility to work cooperatively with team members and partner organizations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Mombasa and requires up to 30% travel to field locations to support program implementation, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is restricted and areas where basic amenities are limited.

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.