VSF - Belgium is a recognized developmental International NGO founded in 1995 working with disadvantaged communities to increase their standards of living, improve food security and livelihood sustainability through improved animal health and animal production.
In East Africa, our programmes focus on community based animal health services, capacity building of local institutions and governments, conflict mitigation and sustainable natural resource management
Position Title: Community Development Officer (CDO)
Duty Station: Turkana, Lodwar
Duration: 1 year, renewable
Role
The CDO will provide technical support, direct supervision and facilitate implementation of the VSF Belgium development and emergency projects in Turkana; including development and operationalization of community disaster risk reduction (CDRR) plans, ensuring development of alternative livelihoods for target vulnerable “pastoral drop outs” — poultry and bee keeping, capacity development for community based self help groups — Pastoral field schools (PFS), Village Community Banking (VECOBA), Land Use Planning (LUP), and Technical support to both local and consortium partners in management of Turkana projects.
The holder of this position will be required to travel extensively to project sites located in Turkana South, East, Central and Loima districts of Turkana County; and parts of Samburu County.
Responsibilities:
Projects Initiation, Implementations, monitoring and reporting
- Carry out participatory needs assessments, identify appropriate livelihood interventions/community projects to improve livelihoods for the local community and reduce poverty in the target areas
- Propose objectives, elaborate work plans, facilitate implementation and formulate monitoring plans for the VSF Belgium Turkana projects in consultation with the projects manager and field teams.
- Conduct a comprehensive baseline survey in order to map out key challenges of livestock production / access to natural resources and livelihood gaps in target districts of Turkana, to guide operationalization of CDRR plans and enhance livelihoods of existing community groups to strengthen community resilience.
- Implement relevant Group Savings and Loaning — VICOBA, PFS activities in local communities with emphasis on promoting group development through support, coaching, mentoring, regular feedback and identification of investment needs and opportunities.
- Facilitate the development of community dialogue meetings to identify livestock grazing and water resources, migration routes and access to water to establish sustainable community based natural resources management system (CBNRM).
- To provide training and technical advice to target project beneficiaries and other project partners following needs assessment/ expression of need.
- Investigate the sustainability ofthe community Disaster Risk Reduction projects; livelihood alternatives and community self help group initiatives — Village community banking, Pastoral Field Schools, in strengthening community resilience.
- Liaise with other players in the County with similar interventions to ensure synergy and collaboration.
- Support the Kenya team in development of project concepts and proposals using result based management (RBM) approach with reference to specific donor regulations.
- Advise the Programme manager on the status of the projects through anthology of comprehensive mission specific/ monitoring and monthly reports.
- Capitalize knowledge and share it within VSF-B
Staff management and development
- Support the project manager to provide technical direction, leadership and training to VSF B, local partner staffs and other project partners in the implementation of community disaster risk reduction plans, strengthening of entrepreneurships for beneficiary groups — PFS, VICOBA, poultry and honey producer groups; to enhance community livelihood security; and resilience to shocks.
Representation of VSF-B in the target counties:
- Support the project manger to develop relationships, and Insure a smooth collaboration with stakeholders - with Local authorities, Communities and, both existing and potential partners;
- Represent VSF B within the District Steering Group (DSG) meetings, and Technical Support Unit (TSU) at local and national levels if required as directed by the Project Manager.
Financial Management
- Ensure adequate use of funds allocated for project activities and all field missions as per VSF Belgium and specific donor policies.
Communication and Information
- Inform and collaborate with the Projects Manager on a continuous basis;
- Inform and collaborate with the local and project partners.
- Promotion of team spirit at all levels.
Networks to maintain and functional relationships
- VSF-B Country director.
- VSF-B Projects Managers — field offices — Lodwar, Garissa + Samburu
- Technical and support staff of VSF B, local partners and other project partners.
- Government departments (County ,district, local)
- INGOS, Local Authorities and development agencies in Turkana and Samburu operating in similar thematic sectors
Essential or Minimum Requirements
Education
- University degree in either Rural development, Natural resources management / Range management, Development studies, or related fields from a recognized university
Knowledge and experience
- Water resources development in the rangelands of Kenya; Pasture management and conflict mitigation/ peace building in the pastoralists systems; Land use planning among pastoral communities for at least 2 years
- Working Knowledge on participatory methodologies of empowerment of communities in natural resources utilization
- Community based approaches in development - Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR), Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), Pastoral field Schools (PFS), Village Community Banking (VICOBA)
- Be fully conversant with the land laws, land use and ASAL policy in Kenya.
Skills
- Ability to articulate Livelihood options and diversification for rangeland environments
- Computer literacy with very good MS Word and Power point
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Good writing and reporting skills
- Ability to work under pressure in remote areas with pastoral communities
- Ability to deal with conflict and crises and mobilize communities for appropriate response
- Fluency in written and spoken English and the local language
- Excellent planning and organizational skills
- Proven ability to work with a range of local stakeholders including civil authorities, local Government and project partners
Attitudes
- Team player
- Attentive to detail
- Flexible
- Identify him/herself with the mission, vision and values of VSF-B
- Display of intercultural sensitivity
- Respect in dealing with others
- Affinity for NGO work in general
- Willingness to travel (frequent visits to the field - Turkana and Samburu)
Please send your application (reference “Community Development Officer”), CV and 3 references (one must be your current employer), by e-mail to recruitment@vsfb.or.ke on or before 11th April 2013
This vacancy is open to male and female candidates.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
For more information: www.vsf-belgium.org
VSF Belgium Community Development Officer
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