Program Officer – Wajir & Garissa 

Job category: Programming

Requisition number: PROGR004519 Apply now

Posting details

• Posted: 14 December 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 Program Officers for our Incentivizing Collective Action for Rangeland Regeneration (ICARR) program.  ICARR seeks to address climate change challenges in pastoralist communities by identifying and testing incentives for collective action to promote and improve natural resource management, livestock productivity, and livelihoods.

General Position Summary

The Program Officer is a key member of the program team and will report to the ICARR Program Manager in their respective counties of operation (Wajir/Garissa). She/he will support the program team in the day-to-day implementation of activities in pursuit of program goals.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAM SUPPORT

• Work with the ICARR Program Manager and other team members to support all relevant aspects of ICARR 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 and implement activities.
• Under the direction of the ICARR Program Manager, 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

• N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly to: ICARR Program Manager

Works Directly with: Other ICARR team members, PAQ Department, Partner Staff, Technical Advisors

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, livestock market systems, community development or appropriate social science discipline or related field, preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years professional experience in implementing natural resource management, livestock market systems and/or related projects.
• Highly developed analytical skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with the diverse project stakeholders, including government officials, private sector actors, and community members.
• Experience in project monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong analytical and report writing skills.
• Previous experience living/working in Kenya’s ASAL counties required.
• Good knowledge and skills with the of MS Office applications such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access.
• Fluency in Swahili and other relevant languages necessary.

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 positions are based in Wajir (1) and Garissa (1) 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. 

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.