Project Officer Job in Nairobi Kenya

Vacant Position: Project Officer – Increasing Youth Access to Devolved Funds and Monitoring Civic Education activities

Location:  Based in Nairobi with regular travel and work in Naivasha and Nakuru  and Kipkelion Districts.

Duration: 5 months Contract

Job Description
 
Reports to: Program Manager

Organization Background   

YESS, Kenya was registered in 2005 as a local NGO under the NGOs Coordination Act. 

YESS, Kenya was born out of the recognition of the need to address youth marginalization and has tailored its approach to comprehensively reach out to young people with a view to jointly with them and other stakeholders addressing their plight resulting from years of exclusion through advocacy, capacity building and direct services.

Using an all rounded and integrated approach to addressing the needs of the youth, YESS-Kenya has developed a multi pronged approach to bring on board youth in voicing their concerns. 

Among the key organization activities include; Youth Advocacy and Social Action-YESS-Kenya jointly with other stakeholders supports youth to undertake effective policy analysis, engage in policy advocacy actions, develop advocacy networks and coalitions and increase youth interactions with key decision makers in society. 

Currently YESS, Kenya is implementing a one year project aimed at increasing youth access to devolved funds including the youth enterprise fund, Kazi kwa Vijana and the CDF among others in Nakuru and Naivasha funded by USAID through Act, Kenya. 

The project is being implemented in Nakuru and Naivasha districts with coordination from YESS Kenya Nairobi Office. 

In addition the Project Officer will be expected to implement advocacy activities in Nairobi as well as to monitor an ongoing civic education project in Kipkelion District in Kericho County. 

The Initial Contract for assignment runs for 5 months.

Key Responsibilities

Overall guidance, implementation and monitoring of activities in advocacy on youth access to devolved funds and civic education.

Design project implementation strategies and deliver all outputs project outputs in the four project implementation sites.

Lead in development and distribution of youth information packs on devolved funds with specific focus to target districts.

Lead project partnerships in advocacy and resource mobilization at national and county levels.

Be in charge of implementation of civic education strategies in Kericho County.

Ensure quality, efficient and timely reporting for all project activities on a monthly and quarterly basis.

Develop an exit strategy for the two main projects being implemented in Nairobi, Nakuru and Kericho Counties.

Link YESS Kenya project efforts to policy makers and implementers as the strategies require.

Provide technical support youth groups and youth CBOs in the targeted counties.

Policy tracking and analysis to support advocacy work and monitor and report policy changes on devolution.

Be in charge of regular monitoring and reporting to YESS Kenya Management.

Qualifications

First Degree in social science, social work or community development.

A Masters Degree in a related discipline is an added advantage.  

Computer Literacy in MS Office a must.

Required Competences.

Ability to write clear and concise reports and good  command of spoken and written English and Kiswahili

Proven skills and experience in project cycle management including design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Past experience in advocacy, working in partnership with government officers and civil society representatives.

An orientation to youth work and youth concerns as well as the current governance regime especially in relation to devolution, social protection and G.O.K government poverty alleviation strategies.

Conversant with the human rights approaches and able to apply them within the framework of the constitution of Kenya 2010.

Some orientation to policy analysis and evidence based programming.

Proven ability to produce results within tight deadlines and under pressure

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Ability to interact effectively with different cadres of technical people and leaders

Analytical skills and decision making ability even in complex and sensitive situations

Demonstrable project management skills

Ability to multi-task

A team player and demonstration of reasonable degree of independence

Demonstrated proposal writing and fundraising skills and experience.

Project financial management skills and experience and able to work with finance officers to ensure effective and efficient resource utilization and accountability to management and donors.

Proven organizational and interpersonal skills

Two to three years in project management

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three Professional references (including a recent supervisor) on or before  June 29th , 2012 to:

Chief Executive Officer
Youth Empowerment Support Services - Kenya (YESS Kenya)
On email yesskenya@gmail.com   cc lymutunga@gmail.com