The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) invites applications from qualified, motivated, and experienced professionals for the position of Economic Recovery Officer to be based in Mandera, Kenya. As one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations, DRC has a strong presence in Kenya, offering critical assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities. The organization is renowned for its efforts in protection, economic recovery, and humanitarian peacebuilding, actively addressing protection issues, improving market access, and supporting durable solutions in displacement-affected areas.
This opportunity is ideal for professionals passionate about market systems development, livelihoods, and cross-border resilience programming. The selected candidate will support ongoing DRC initiatives under the BORESHA Consortium, particularly targeting women and youth within cross-border market ecosystems.
Duty Station: Mandera, Kenya
Contract Type: National Contract
Application Deadline: 7th April 2025
Start Date: May 2025
Position Reference: 173412
Mode of Application: Apply via DRC’s online application system – Apply Now
About DRC
Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian organization operating in over 35 countries globally. In Kenya, DRC implements integrated programs across multiple sectors, including Protection, Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention, Economic Recovery, and Peacebuilding. In Mandera, DRC supports vulnerable populations through innovative cross-border interventions, especially through the BORESHA program, which links communities across Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia to promote resilience and economic empowerment.
Position: Economic Recovery Officer
Role Purpose
Reporting to the Project Manager, the Economic Recovery Officer will be responsible for the implementation of key project activities under the Economic Recovery sector. The officer will support market systems development (MSD) activities, facilitate community-based income-generating initiatives, and coordinate cross-border economic engagements. A key focus will be on building the resilience and livelihoods of women and youth while fostering collaboration with various partners and local authorities.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Programme Management, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation
- Conduct participatory needs assessments and design suitable economic recovery interventions to enhance income and resilience.
- Implement facilitation-based approaches supporting market systems for smallholder farmers, youth, and women.
- Develop quarterly work plans, budgets, and procurement requests in line with project deliverables.
- Lead and participate in planning, review, and coordination meetings at field and consortium levels.
- Document and share lessons learned to inform adaptive programming.
- Support development of internal and external technical reports aligned with EU guidelines.
- Coordinate closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to implement project M&E plans.
- Support project implementation in the target areas, including post-implementation follow-up and data collection.
- Identify community beneficiaries and monitor progress in income-generating activities and financial support initiatives.
- Design training manuals, conduct capacity-building sessions, and mentor beneficiaries throughout the project lifecycle.
- Maintain comprehensive project documentation and ensure effective feedback mechanisms are in place.
- Contribute to the development of concept notes and funding proposals for future programming.
2. Coordination & Partnerships
- Facilitate collaboration between DRC, BORESHA partners, local authorities, and community stakeholders.
- Engage with market actors and develop partnerships to promote sustainable livelihoods.
- Represent the project in government and stakeholder meetings at local and regional levels.
- Coordinate stakeholder communication and maintain strong external relationships.
- Support the Project Manager with donor engagement and weekly progress updates.
- Contribute to Technical Implementing Group (TIG) and Project Management Meetings (PMM).
3. Budget Management
- Support in drafting project budgets in alignment with implementation priorities.
- Monitor project expenditures and assist in addressing budget variances.
- Provide quarterly budget forecasts and participate in Budget Follow-Up (BFU) meetings.
Experience and Technical Competence
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in implementing livelihoods or income generation projects, preferably in Mandera or similar cross-border regions.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Market Systems Development (MSD), value chain analysis, microenterprise support, VSLA methodologies, and DRR.
- Experience in financial literacy programming and integrated approaches to livelihoods.
- Proven skills in working with government and community structures for project implementation.
- Strong planning, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and data tools.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Flexible and responsive to dynamic project priorities.
Education Requirements
- A Bachelor’s degree in:
- Agribusiness Management
- Agricultural Economics
- Business Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Other related fields in livelihoods and economic development
Language Requirements
- Fluency in Somali is essential, given the local context and the target beneficiary communities.
Key Stakeholders
- Mandera field teams and Nairobi-based MEAL staff
- National and county government representatives
- NGOs and INGOs operating in the region
- Local and international implementing partners
- Project donors and consortium members
Competency Expectations
DRC expects its staff to embody the organization’s core competencies:
- Striving for Excellence – Committed to delivering results efficiently and effectively.
- Collaboration – Promotes team engagement and values constructive feedback.
- Leadership – Takes initiative and ownership of responsibilities.
- Communication – Speaks and listens honestly and with clarity.
- Integrity – Upholds DRC’s values and ethical standards at all times.
Contract Details
- Duration: 1-year contract with potential for renewal based on performance and funding availability.
- Location: Mandera Base Office, Kenya.
- Salary and Benefits: Competitive, in line with DRC’s terms of employment.
Commitment to Gender Equality and Inclusion
DRC actively seeks to achieve gender balance and encourage participation from underrepresented groups. Women and candidates from minority communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Equal Opportunity Employer
DRC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, disability, or any other protected characteristics. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diversity and equality.
Safeguarding Statement
As part of DRC’s commitment to safeguarding and ethics, all recruitment processes include comprehensive background checks. Employees are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional behavior in line with DRC’s Code of Conduct, especially concerning the protection of vulnerable persons.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications exclusively online through the DRC recruitment portal. Ensure your application includes:
- A motivation letter addressing your suitability for the role
- A current CV (in English)
- Do not attach recommendation letters or certificates at this stage
Deadline for Application: 7th April 2025
Apply through DRC Vacancies page:Apply Now
