Project Officer

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR PROJECT OFICER

Project: Building gender and rights responsive monitoring and evaluation capacity
Position: Project Officer
Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya

Duration: 18 months
Salary range: $18000-$24000/annum

Summary Job Description: The Project officer will play a central role in carrying out the day to day activities of the project. He/She will be based at the AGDEN Secretariat in Nairobi (Kenya) but can pay visits to the project implementation locations if necessary. Additionally, he/she will assist with fundraising activities, supervision of staff and networking with AGDEN members and partners. Other duties will include working and developing monitoring and evaluation tools, writing reports and providing translation services, and moderating the Community of Practice (CoP0 including provision of substantial input to the CoP

Background: The Africa Gender and Development Evaluators Network (AGDEN) was established by Africa Evaluation Association (AfrEA) and UN WOMEN to advance the cause of gender and human rights based monitoring and evaluation in Africa. AGDEN’s main objective is to share information, knowledge and evaluation resources including tools, methodologies with other practitioners. Since 2004, significant groundwork was undertaken by the Network on further promoting gender equality and right based M&E in Africa.

These include, but not limited to develop capacity for gender and rights responsive monitoring and evaluation, in 2008 AGDEN was commissioned by International Organisation Development Ltd (IOD-PARC) to conduct a rapid research for Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda, for Research Into Use (RIU) programme in Africa, to provide a broad overview of the regional response for capacity strengthening in development evaluation.

Currently, AGDEN is undertaking a re-profiling exercise based on the need to better serve the emerging needs in the areas of gender equality and women’s human rights responsive M&E as well as on the need to promote GE/HR monitoring and evaluation at different levels. Thus, AGDEN is seeking to recruit prospective men and women to occupy these positions within the project. The selected candidates will be required to start immediately from August 2011.

Tasks/Responsibilities
Provide daily assistance to the Project committee and assist with the implementation of the project, including close follow-up of project partner’s demands and services supply. The incumbent is expected to work closely with other professionals, members. The incumbent reports to the Project committee.

The project officer will have responsibility for planning, developing and implementing the project in support of the following areas:
o Coordinate and manage project activities among the countries participating in the project, ensuring effective partnership with all partners.
o Organise Project committee meetings, including preparing the agenda, dissemination of meeting minutes to all participants, and implementation of decisions.
o Prepare regular reporting to the Project committee on the status of the project, impact assessment, project formulation, communication, and advocacy.
o Prepare proposals and TOR’s for consultants recruited for any assignment relating to the project.
o Prepare consultants contracts and keep track of expected deliverables.
o Monitor and follow-up project activities with due consideration to budgetary issues, including preparation of detailed reporting in line with UN WOMEN requirements.
o Close coordination with key implementation partners including Project committee and UN WOMEN.
o Supervise assigned project staff and consultants.
o Organization of, and attendance at, meetings with AGDEN partners and all other relevant evaluation bodies.
o Participate in the collection of gender and right-based data, as needed for the implementation of the project
o Moderate the Community of Practice
o Contribute to the development of project proposals and support fundraising and development of sustainability plan.
o Supervise the development of materials for projects, ensuring coherence with the aims of AGDEN
o Undertake monitoring and evaluation activities, including in relation to the efficient use of allocated resources.
o Provide regular reports of activities undertaken and activities planned and provide English/ French interpretation and translation services when needed.
o Perform any other tasks as required by the project committee.

In addition, the project officer will ensure efficient financial administration, focusing on achievement of the following results:
 Assisting the project committee in managing the project’s financial matters
 Maintaining accurate financial records of the project as required by UN WOMEN;
 Preparing and submitting financial requests to the Regional Office of UN WOMEN with complete package of supporting documents;
 Assisting in administering operation of the office in accordance with UN WOMEN rules and regulations;
 Assisting in managing human resources of the program as per UN WOMEN rules and regulations;


Qualifications and Competencies
o An advanced university degree (Master/PhD) in a field relevant to development program/projects monitoring and evaluation and gender and rights based M&E or capacity building is required.
o Minimum 5-years of experience working with development issues. Solid experience in project programme and portfolio management in relation to Monitoring and evaluation focusing on gender and rights issues
o At least 3 years of experience working in an international context and specifically having field experience networks coordination.
o Experience working with various civil society groups, is particularly a strong asset.
o Experience in evaluations and training is essential.
o Excellent spoken and written English and French language skills are highly desirable.
o Excellent communication (written and verbal) and analytical skills
o Proven ability to coordinate activities of a complex nature in a multi-stakeholder environment.
o Proven ability to manage complex budgetary arrangements.
o Ensure appropriate consultations are undertaken with regards to all pertinent elements of the project and monitor activities and budget as required;
o Manage the allocated budget.


Interested applicants may send their cvs and 2 copies of past written work to troparg@yahoo.com and feanywhere@yahoo.co.uk

Deadline for submission: 17 July 2011