Mercy Corps is an international humanitarian and development organization driven by a deep belief that a better world is possible. Through its innovative and sustainable programs, Mercy Corps empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives, and transform their communities for good. In pursuit of this mission, Mercy Corps is seeking to hire a passionate, proactive, and dedicated individual to join its Kenya team as a Program Assistant for its Promoting Resilience Inclusivity & Meaningful Engagements (PRIME) initiative, based in Marsabit County.
The PRIME Program is a transformative, four-year initiative funded by the Swinmurn Family Foundation. With a $2 million investment, this program builds on the gains of Mercy Corps’ earlier GIRL-H and GIRL LMS programs. Its ultimate goal is to enable 10,000 adolescents and young people across Isiolo and Marsabit counties to access opportunities, services, and support necessary to achieve their potential and live healthier, empowered lives.
To ensure the successful implementation of the PRIME Program in Marsabit County, Mercy Corps is looking to recruit a Program Assistant who will support the delivery of high-impact, community-based interventions targeting adolescents and youth. This position plays a key role in translating the broader vision of the PRIME Program into tangible outcomes at the grassroots level.
Position Title: Program Assistant – Marsabit
Job Category: Programming
Requisition Number: PROGR006104
Location: Marsabit County, Kenya
Position Type: Full-time
Posting Date: July 23, 2025
About the PRIME Program
The Promoting Resilience Inclusivity & Meaningful Engagements (PRIME) initiative is designed to consolidate achievements from Mercy Corps’ previous adolescent empowerment and community health projects. This program does not only sustain but enhances the transformation of adolescent lives through structured engagement, education, training, and access to resources.
By applying a community-driven and context-specific model, the program aims to:
- Enhance youth and adolescent access to safe spaces.
- Provide training and mentorship through community-based facilitators and health professionals.
- Partner with local government and private institutions to ensure sustainable support.
- Monitor and evaluate program progress using robust, participatory methodologies.
Position Summary
As the Program Assistant, you will be a frontline ambassador of the PRIME Program in Marsabit County. You will implement strategies that empower young people by guiding program activities, leading community engagement efforts, facilitating training, and ensuring effective coordination with stakeholders.
You will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Program Officer, while collaborating closely with the Program Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer, and MEL Coordinator.
This role requires a community-focused individual with an appreciation for working in diverse and occasionally challenging environments. You must be ready to travel within the county and engage with various stakeholders, from youth mentors and community health promoters to government officials and local institutions.
Detailed Job Description
1. Program Management
- Collaborate with the program team to develop and implement activity plans aligned with PRIME’s goals and timelines.
- Assist the Senior Program Officer in rolling out and overseeing PRIME activities, ensuring consistency and quality of implementation.
- Organize and co-facilitate training sessions for Field Agents (FAs), Community Health Promoters (CHPs), and other local partners who deliver technical content to adolescents and youth.
- Conduct regular field visits to monitor program activities, assess effectiveness, and gather learning and feedback.
- Coordinate with administrative and operational departments (procurement, logistics, security, finance, HR) to ensure field activities are supported effectively and efficiently.
- Promote and apply gender-sensitive approaches and principles of capacity building in all program components.
- Adhere to Mercy Corps’ policies, including Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, Child Safeguarding, and Beneficiary Accountability Standards.
- Ensure the PRIME curriculum is delivered appropriately according to the age and developmental stage of participants.
- Supervise adolescent girls’ safe space groups and support mentorship activities to ensure consistency and positive outcomes.
2. Community and County Government Engagement
- Lead community mobilization efforts and conduct sensitization sessions at the village level to introduce and promote the PRIME model.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with community leaders, elders, and other influencers to enhance program acceptance and participation.
- Identify and engage local professionals, including animal and human health workers, to deliver specialized training and services to youth groups.
- Liaise with county departments such as Gender and Social Services to facilitate group registrations and access to county-based resources and support.
3. Participant Selection
- Sensitize local communities and potential participants (adolescent girls and boys) on PRIME’s objectives and approach.
- Participate in recruiting group mentors who will work closely with youth groups in delivering technical and life-skills curricula.
- Assist in the selection and registration of adolescent participants for safe space group sessions.
4. Partnership Management
- Establish links between adolescent groups and relevant traders, market actors, financial institutions, and both public and private entities.
- Organize planning meetings and workshops with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and private sector players, to encourage coordination and program buy-in.
5. Program Monitoring
- Track the progress of adolescent safe space groups through regular visits and follow-ups.
- Collect and compile monitoring data from groups and submit to the MEL Officer to inform performance reporting.
- Support broader assessments, evaluations, and data collection processes as needed, including tool development, training enumerators, and managing field-level data collection.
- Ensure timely and accurate uploading of collected data onto Mercy Corps’ online platforms.
- Prepare weekly field activity reports and contribute to program documentation as required.
6. Coordination and Support
- Provide administrative assistance in processing procurement and expense requests linked to field operations.
- Follow up with relevant departments to ensure smooth execution of logistical arrangements and field activities.
7. Safeguarding Responsibilities
- Actively engage with safeguarding training and integrate risk mitigation into daily operations and programming.
- Foster an inclusive and respectful work environment aligned with Mercy Corps’ values.
- Encourage team members and community participants to report any safeguarding concerns using available mechanisms, including the Integrity Hotline.
Supervisory Role
- The Program Assistant will supervise Field Agents (FAs) and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) during the implementation of field activities.
Accountability and Reporting
- Reports To: Senior Program Officer
- Works With: Program Manager, MEL Officer, MEL Coordinator
Minimum Qualifications and Required Skills
- At least 2 years of experience working with NGOs or community-based organizations in areas such as civic engagement, youth empowerment, or livelihoods.
- Diploma in Community Development, Economic Development, Agriculture, Business, Livestock, or any related discipline (a degree will be an added advantage).
- Demonstrated experience working with women, girls, youth, and vulnerable populations.
- Familiarity with local partners and community-based programming.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in English (spoken and written) and local languages used in Marsabit.
- Comfortable working independently and within a diverse team environment.
- Competence in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- Must possess motorcycle riding skills (riding license preferred).
Key Success Factors
Mercy Corps seeks individuals who thrive in dynamic environments, value teamwork, and possess strong initiative. For this position, success will depend on the candidate’s ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, build community trust, and collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
The ideal Program Assistant will demonstrate:
- Commitment to adolescent and youth development.
- Flexibility and creativity in solving local implementation challenges.
- High-level integrity and personal accountability.
- Ability to adapt and lead in remote or resource-constrained settings.
Working and Living Conditions
The Program Assistant will be based in Marsabit County, with travel required (up to 40%) to other program areas, including insecure and hard-to-reach locations. Mercy Corps will provide housing arrangements of good standards, with access to quality healthcare and communication facilities.
Learning and Professional Growth
Mercy Corps encourages continuous learning. Team members are expected to allocate 5% of their working time to activities that enhance their personal and professional development. This may include training workshops, conferences, or mentorship.
Team Culture
Mercy Corps is committed to building an effective team that reflects diverse backgrounds and experiences. We foster an environment of respect, openness, and mutual growth. Every team member is valued, supported to reach their full potential, and empowered to make impactful contributions.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building inclusive teams. We welcome applicants regardless of race, color, gender, religion, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We are especially committed to recruiting individuals who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
Safeguarding and Ethics
Mercy Corps upholds the highest standards in safeguarding and ethics. We do not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment of any kind. All staff are required to adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct and complete mandatory training upon joining and annually thereafter.
If you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, you are encouraged to report this to the Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline at [email protected].
How to Apply
If you are a passionate community development professional with a desire to create lasting impact in the lives of adolescents and youth in Marsabit, we invite you to submit your application via the Mercy Corps career portal.
