Cord is an international non-governmental organisation (iNGO) with administrative headquarters in the United Kingdom and operations across several countries in Africa and Asia. With over 50 years of experience in humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding work, Cord supports communities affected by conflict and exclusion.
Cord’s work is grounded in the belief that people can only flourish where constructive relationships exist between governments, civil society, and the private sector. By creating spaces for dialogue, dispute resolution, and confidence-building, Cord contributes to more inclusive development, stronger governance, and the realisation of people’s rights.
Cord works through a small, committed, and multidisciplinary team of national and international staff, delivering initiatives that strengthen the capacities of communities, civil society organisations, and duty-bearers. Cord operates within multi-donor, multi-partner programmes and works in close partnership with local and international stakeholders.
The Multi-Country Project Officer, Africa will support the implementation of project activities in Eastern and Western, Africa supporting Child Rights organisations to integrate peacebuilding tools and approaches within child protection programming. This role will work closely with the Peacebuilding Specialist to support training delivery and co-facilitation of peacebuilding training, and provide coordination, planning, monitoring, learning, and reporting support to enable effective implementation, contributing to the quality and timely delivery of project activities across Cord’s country responsibilities.
- Job title: Multi-Country Project Officer, Africa
- Responsible to: Regional Representative, Africa
- Key internal relationships:
Peacebuilding Specialist, Africa; Asia implementation staff and consultants; Finance and Administrative Officer, Kenya - Key external relationships:
Regional staff and project officers of the consortium lead; Consultants and service providers - Location: Nairobi, Kenya, with occasional travel to Eastern and Western Africa and/or Asia
- Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (flexible)
- Contract type: Fixed-term until 31 December 2028; start date as soon as possible
- Role grade: Grade 8
- Salary range: Basic salary: KES 276,395–307,105
- Benefits: Affordable housing levy, pension, NSSF contribution
- Other benefits: 33 days of leave (including public holidays and annual leave); Medical coverage; Training opportunities; Counselling provision; Communication allowance
JOB PURPOSE
Programme Management and Coordination
The Project Officer will support the effective and timely implementation of project activities in Eastern and Western, Africa working in close coordination with local partner organisations and the lead INGO partner. The role will contribute to day-to-day programme coordination, co-delivery of training workshops, follow-up of workplans, and support to partners to ensure activities are delivered in line with agreed objectives, timelines, and quality standards.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
The Project Officer will support the timely collection, review, and consolidation of narrative and monitoring reports from, in coordination with the lead INGO partner. The role will contribute to tracking progress against the project logframe utilising outcome harvesting/outcome mapping approaches to evidence impact, and ensuring the quality, consistency, and accuracy of reporting in close collaboration with the Regional Representative and technical colleagues.
Learning, Documentation, and Knowledge Sharing
The Project Officer will support learning and knowledge management by documenting good practices, challenges, and lessons learned from project implementation. This includes collecting and synthesising outcome stories, case studies, and qualitative evidence from partners to support learning, reporting, and communications.
In coordination with the Regional Representative and the Peacebuilding Specialist, Africa the the MCPO will also contribute to the development of programme-level learning and training resources. This may include supporting the design of learning briefs, training materials, reflection tools, and other knowledge products that strengthen partners’ capacity and embed peacebuilding and conflict-sensitive approaches across the programme.
Programme Development and Support
The MCPO will support programme development and learning related to Cord’s work in Africa, including contributing to concept development, partner mapping, and documentation of lessons learned. The role may also support coordination with the lead INGO partner on donor engagement and proposal development processes, as required.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Coordination (30%)
- Support the timely and high-quality implementation of project activities, in line with approved workplans, timelines, and agreed deliverables for activities led by Cord.
- Support day-to-day project coordination, follow-up, and communication with partners and internal teams to ensure effective delivery of project activities.
- In close coordination with the Peacebuilding Specialist, Africa support the planning and organisation of regional and country-level activities, including co-facilitating trainings, workshops, and learning events such as Training of Trainers.
- Provide coordination and logistical support to ensure learning and capacity-building activities are well planned and successfully delivered.
- Support effective communication and coordination between Cord, partners, and the lead INGO partner, including participation in consortium coordination meetings, as required.
- Support the identification, monitoring, and documentation of programme risks and contribute to adaptive management in coordination with the Regional Representative and partners.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (25%)
- Support the use of agreed monitoring and evaluation tools to track progress against Cord-led activities and indicators, in alignment with the overall project logframe and consortium reporting framework.
- Coordinate the periodic collection of qualitative and quantitative data related to Cord’s project components in Africa, and contribute relevant data to the overall project-level reporting.
- Support the consolidation and quality review of partner reports related to Cord-supported activities, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timeliness prior to submission to the lead INGO partner.
- Coordinate Cord’s internal project reporting process and contribute inputs to high-quality quarterly and narrative reports submitted to the Regional Representative and Cord’s SF Project Manager.
Learning, Knowledge Management, and Documentation (15%)
- Support the implementation of the project’s knowledge management approach, including documentation of learning, research outputs, and evidence generated through project activities.
- Support partners to document outcome harvesting statements, case studies, and examples of change, and to share learning across countries.
- Support the preparation of learning and evidence materials for internal learning, donor reporting, and external communications, in coordination with relevant colleagues.
- Support periodic reflection, learning, and review sessions at country and consortium levels to assess progress, contribute learning, and support adaptive implementation.
Capacity Building Support (15%)
- In close coordination with the Peacebuilding Specialist, support the development and implementation of capacity-building action plans for partners and target groups in Africa, based on the findings of agreed needs assessments. This may include support in complementary areas such as advocacy, documentation, learning, and organisational practice, as identified by partners’ needs.
- Support the organisation and follow-up of coaching, mentoring, and learning activities that enable partners to apply and mainstream peacebuilding approaches within their work, while technical peacebuilding leadership and content are provided by the Peacebuilding Specialist.
- Support the monitoring and documentation of capacity-building outcomes and learning over the course of the project, including evidence of changes in practice informed by the needs assessment.
Financial Monitoring and Support (10%)
- Support the monitoring of the activity budgets for Africa, in close coordination with Cord’s Finance Officer, ensuring expenditures are tracked against approved budgets for activities implemented by Cord.
- Support the Regional Representative in the overall financial oversight of the project by providing inputs related to the Africa components, including budget tracking, forecasts, and follow-up on variances.
- Support partners’ understanding of financial procedures, reporting requirements, and timelines related to activities implemented under Cord’s responsibility in Africa.
Programme Development and Partnerships (5%)
- Support programme development efforts by contributing to concept notes, proposal inputs, and partner mapping related to Cord’s work in Africa.
- Support coordination with the Regional Representative and the Programme Development Team (UK) on identifying funding opportunities and donor engagement, as required.
- Contribute to maintaining and strengthening relationships with local partners, international NGOs, and consortium members relevant to the project.
Safeguarding:
- Ensure the safety of Programme Participants, people who come into contact with the organisation and team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) to achieve the programme’s goals of safeguarding implementation.
- Act as a key source of support, guidance and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.
- Practice, promote and endorse the culture of safeguarding among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.
- Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place and encourage others to do so.
Required Specifications
Education and Experience
- A relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience in development studies, international relations, social sciences, or a related field.
- At least three years of relevant experience in project coordination, supervision, or management with an INGO or a similar organisation, experience in regional or multi-country programmes in Western and Eastern, Africa is strongly preferred.
- Good working knowledge of peacebuilding principles and approaches, gained through prior work experience, training, or academic study.
Technical and Professional Skills
- Demonstrated experience in project management and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), including workplan tracking and results-based reporting.
- Experience in learning, documentation, and knowledge management, including collecting outcome harvesting stories or case studies.
- Experience coordinating with partners and multiple stakeholders, including local organisations and international teams.
- Good understanding of the operational context of international humanitarian and development organisations.
- Experience supporting capacity-building initiatives with local partners.
Language
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required, as the role involves coordination, reporting, and communication across multiple countries and with international partners; working proficiency in French is strongly preferred.
Skills and Abilities
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work efficiently under pressure.
- Ability to work collaboratively in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
Values and Conduct
- Commitment to Cord’s values, safeguarding standards, and ethical conduct.
- Sensitivity to gender, inclusion, and rights-based approaches.
- Willingness to support and strengthen civil society and community-based organisations.
Desirable Specifications
Experience and Context
- Experience supporting or coordinating multi-country or consortium-based projects.
- Experience working in Western and Eastern Africa or a strong understanding of the context.
- Experience working on child protection, advocacy, gender equality, women’s rights, natural resource management, or related rights-based themes.
- Practical experience applying Outcome Harvesting as part of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) processes in complex or adaptive programmes.
Additional Skills
- Experience supporting donor engagement or proposal development processes.
- Confidence in representing the organisation and communicating programme approaches with partners and stakeholders.
How to apply
We encourage interested applicants to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position may be filled before the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.
All applications must be sent to kenya@cord.org.uk. Please submit a motivation letter (maximum of 2 pages) and a detailed CV, addressed to Carlos Gallardo, Regional Representative for Africa. Kindly include “Multi-Country Project Officer – Africa” in the subject line.
The closing date for applications is 30 May 2026, 5:00 PM (Kenya time). Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Cord is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.