ActionAid International Kenya Project Officer – Governance of Basic Rights

ActionAid International Kenya (AAIK) is a member of ActionAid Federation; ActionAid works in more than 40 countries all over the world, in the places where we can make the biggest impact. We tackle poverty and denial of human rights at the local level, and we challenge the causes behind them locally, nationally and globally.

In Kenya AAIK works in solidarity with women and people living in poverty and exclusion; connecting their voices, sharing ideas, spreading inspiration, campaigning, advocating and formulating public policy to eradicate poverty and ensure social justice.

We are present in at least 16 counties across Kenya and link key international, national and local institutions in favour of the right holders.

We therefore seek to recruit dynamic and innovative Programme Officer-Governance of Basic Rights based in Nairobi.

Position: Project Officer – Governance of Basic Rights

Functional Unit: Programme & Policy

Reporting to: Technical Advisor- GBR

Supervising: None

Category: 5

Duty Station: Centre

Key relationships:

Internally: P4C Coordinator, Programme Officer-SO, LRP Managers, Programme Accountants

Externally: Partner Organizations, key government departments, networks and coalitions and other relevant spaces

Main Purpose and Scope

To support effective delivery of programmes delivery of AAIK CSP Strategic Objectives aimed at building the capacity of communities living in poverty and exclusion to hold the State to account for delivery of basic rights to food, health, education and social protection through conceptualizing, designing, mobilizing resources, implementing and reporting on initiatives under the Strategic Objective.

Specific duties:

Provide programmatic support in Programmes, Policy & Campaigns interventions

• Lead project implementation with partners within the objective
• Link programmatic and policy initiatives across all levels (local, national, international)
• Contribute to the organization of nationals regional and local event that contribute to movement and constituency building
• Support the programmes and strategies to raise awareness on key issues amongst movements and networks
• Work with the M&E Officers and LRP managers to monitor implementation of projects at LRP levels and with partners
• Documenting best practises, key result areas and stories of change as required
• Maintain a breadth of knowledge, including research, about current trends, emerging issues, policy intervention and innovations in the program areas of focus to enhance the effectiveness of programme strategy
• Generate reports on programme implementation

Resource mobilisation

• Participate in regular donor round table meetings aimed at influencing donor thinking on good governance in Kenya as well as showcasing the governance work of AAIK;
• Work with fundraising team to develop proposals in the assigned programme area that fit into the strategic objective and are coherent with overall programming

Contract management

• Coordinate communication between partners and allies within the strategic objectives
• Support partners in ensuring compliance with donor requirement
• Collate periodic reports (monthly, quarter, semi-annually and annually) of projects and programmes as required by various donors, ensuring quality and timeliness.

Capacity building

• Identify capacity gaps and organize capacity building and organize initiatives for partners and staff on various programme and policy areas related to Governance of Basic Rights;
• Participate in designing, inspiring and building capacity of staff for fundraising proposals;

General

• As part of the Programmes & Policy team participate in the implementation of the CSP and delivery of set objectives;
• Ensure compliance with ALPS, GS, HRBA and work towards increased levels of transparency and Accountability.
• Contribute to the programme and policy agenda of AAI by sharing knowledge and practice from the Affiliate
• Build synergy (joining with others) to bring in changes to the lives of poor and excluded people
• Ensure Women’s Rights and initiatives from other Strategic Objectives are integrated in all our work at all levels

Critical Competencies

Leadership skills; Analytical skills; team building skills; Project Management knowledge; Grants management; partnership management; coalition building; Monitoring Performance management; Documentation; information management and reporting; Networking; Negotiating; influencing; persuasiveness; planning and organizing; problem analysis; excellent oral and written communication; results orientation; self-development; team-player; pro-activeness; creativity; gender-sensitive; listening; judgement; coaching. Organisational learning and capacity development

Job Requirement (Knowledge/Skills Competencies)

Skills and experience:

• First degree in development or other social sciences
• A minimum of three(3) years post-academic experience two (2) of which is in governance programme implementation;
• Demonstrable experience working within partnerships, coalitions and networks;
• Demonstrable experience in advocacy and campaigns on good governance;
• Demonstrable experience in building capacity of partners and staff on public governance;
• Strong understanding of public governance and its relation to pro-poor development
• Understanding of different donor requirements and ways of working;
• Ability to build and work with teams and provide leadership necessary for them to deliver on set objectives;
• Good conceptual and analytical skills;
• Good understanding of basic finance systems; and,
• Good written and spoken English;

You must be willing to reside in the designated station.

The successful candidates will enjoy flexibility and organizational space while joining an experienced and dynamic staff working alongside women and people living in poverty and exclusion.

Only electronically completed application forms (Click here to download) will be accepted and should be mailed to hresources.kenya@actionaid.org. Kindly write “Programme Officer-GBR” on the subject line of your email.

The closing date for receipt of application forms is August 22, 2011.

Kindly do not send a detailed CV at this stage as only the information in the application form will be used for initial selection.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ActionAid is an equal opportunities employer.

Qualified women candidates are encouraged to apply.