Project officer (Livelihood) at Islamic Relief Kenya

Title: Project Officer Livelihood (1)

Reporting To: Project Coordinator **

Staff Reporting: Project Assistant

Base Location”100% Field Garissa

Established in 1984 in the UK, Islamic Relief is an international NGO seeking to promote sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities through relief and development activities regardless of race, color and religion, and without expecting anything in return.IR started operations in Kenya in 1993 on orphan’s sponsorship programme through a local CBO in Mandera District, Northern Kenya. It opened its fully fledged office in March in 2006 at the height of drought in the Horn of Africa. Since then, IR has been providing humanitarian and development assistance to vulnerable communities. Over these years it has implemented various development and relief activities in Mandera. This has remarkably changed the lives of the vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. In January 2010, IRK extended its operation to Wajir County, neighbouring Mandera, in January 2012 expanded to Garissa and Dadaab, and in October 2017 opened a programme office in Kilifi County.

Islamic Relief Kenya is currently focusing on three major themes: Sustainable Community Empowerment, Food security and livelihoods, Disaster Risk reduction (DRR); Inclusive and protection.

Scope of the Role:

Community Empowerment through integrated sustainable development is one of the broad global goals adopted by Islamic Relief in its institutional strategic plan. Through the program, IRK will work with local communities across three impact areas:

1.) Capacity building, specifically in the area of advanced, innovative livelihoods practices and vocational skills that are in high demand;

2.) Generating access to innovative and climate-smart technologies as well as financial services and markets that combined with improved capacity will result in higher productivity and incomes; and

3.) Creating an enabling environment and fostering supportive attitudes towards smallholder farmers, traders, youth and women.

In addition, to ensure long-lasting economic empowerment, the project will focus on creating market linkages and network communities with private sector players. For youth and women, the project will offer a specific set of business/ vocational trainings in addition to explicitly promoting women’s participation in all project activities.

The Livelihoods Project Officer will take overall responsibility for the implementation of the Programme in the assigned operation area working in close collaboration with the Programme team in Nairobi and Garissa to enhance the quality of implementation of programme initiatives undertaken by IRK and local partners.

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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme

· Implementation of the Building Resilience Initiatives for (Pastoral) communities in Kenya (BRICK) project in accordance with IRK’s country strategic plan and the County Integrated Development Plan.

· Promote and ensure adoption of the alternative livelihood approaches in the target project location for sustainable development.

· Promote Group Saving and Loans Associations (GSLAs) by ensuring the target number of groups is met and GSLA operation procedures are adhered to while the groups functions to sustainability in their businesses.

· Link beneficiaries to relevant stakeholders and duty bearers in the market place including government, input suppliers, financial institution, and extension service providers, irrigation experts among others.

· Facilitate capacity building of smallholder farmers on Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) including small plot horticulture, post-harvest handling, and business management and marketing skills.

· Liaise with the county government veterinary department to ensure appropriate and timely delivery of animal health services and information in the target communities.

· Engage the right holders and duty bearers in advocacy and linkage forums to ensure better service delivery by duty bearers and access to relevant services and opportunities by the right holders.

· Document community and stakeholders’ feedback and share with relevant stakeholders for appropriate and timely action.

· Participate in the research survey by IRK or partners by collecting, analyzing and submitting relevant data and reports.

· Ensure timely submission of project reports to line managers and MEAL department for feedback

· Conduct timely documentation of project progress through case studies, stories, photos, videos, among others.

· Ensure that at all time the project target achievement is in line with the planned log frame milestones and the budget burn rate are up to date with the planned cash flow.

· Identify challenges and offer solutions towards addressing the same in a cost-effective manner.

· Ensure programme quality and strengthening through continuous reviews of the programme with the staff and partners.

· Develop project tools including Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs), M&E Plans, Procurement Plans, Communication plan, weekly/monthly work plans as may be necessary.

· Prepare monthly activity cash request for facilitation by the finance department.

· Participate and contribute in partners coordination forums and further prepare a catalogue of partners in Garissa.

· Management of project budget and expenditure to avoid over or under expenditure.

· Keep abreast of political, economic and social developments in the area and report the same to the line managers.

· Contribute to cross-organizational learning on Food Security and Livelihood, Environmental Justice and Disaster Risk Reduction.

· Identify existing gaps in the community, suitable sustainable innovative projects for co-financing and assist with preparation of proposal and reports to donors

· Maintain service-oriented culture to achieve service excellence objective.

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· Supervise and technically support the department staff to ensure quality and timely delivery of the project deliverables.

· Work closely in team spirit with other sector officers and contribute to the maximum of his/her knowledge in his/her areas of profession as deemed necessary.

Communications and reporting

· Collaborate with the communication unit team to design appropriate mobilization and sensitization messages for the target population

· Prepare quality and timely donor project reports.

· Develop appropriate publicity materials like impact stories, photos and case studies to the media team.

Monitoring

· Regular monitoring and evaluation of project implementation at local level.

· Prepare and submit timely monthly, quarterly, annual project narrative and financial reports. · Timely preparation of technical reports for donors.

· Implementation of an effective programme and project monitoring and evaluation system. · Compliance with the requirements of the IRK’s M&E System.

Networking

· Coordinate with other partners working in the area in support of programme,

· Take lead in advocacy and networking efforts on issues of particular importance to development in the area.

· Coordinate with other county offices on thematic issues of strategic interest in the area.

· Support and facilitate linkages between the Sustainable Livelihoods Programme and other IRK programmes, and with programme teams in other field offices.

· Represent IRK at relevant stakeholder forums as may be requested by the line Managers.

Other

· Other duties, as may be specified by the line Managers, from time to time.

Person Specification

· Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Economics, Natural resource management, Development studies or any other DRR, Food Security and Livelihoods related fields.

· Minimum of at least for three years’ experience in Sustainable Development programmes. · Sound experience in project planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning. · Knowledge of the key issues and trends in Food Security and Livelihood sector.

· Past work experience with a similar geographical context with high incidences of vulnerability and poverty.

· Ability to work on your own initiative as well as a part of a team. · Proven analytical skills and ability to think strategically.

· Conceptual understanding of the participatory approach and sustainable development · Fluency in English – written and verbal

· Experience in Field data analysis packages · Effective IT Skills (Microsoft Office).

· Planning, narrative and financial reporting skills. · Communication, tact and negotiation skills.

· Flexible and patient.