Program Officer (PO) - Value Chain Development and Youth Empowerment - DCA Kenya Office. at DanChurchAid (DCA)

The PO is to serve for a period of one year (renewable) starting as soon as possible. The position is mainly field based (Turkana County – Kakuma) with occasional consultations meetings in the DCA Nairobi Office. The PO will report to the DCA Head of Program – Kenya with the DCA Country Director having the overall responsibility.

The main responsibilities of the PO are:

• Manage the assigned DCA direct/self-implemented aspects of projects at the field level.
• Ensure high quality management of projects. This includes designing, planning, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, as well as capacity building of partners including documentation of project results and learning.
• Lead the development of value chain and youth empowerment component of the DCA country program through new initiatives and field based technical support to partner staff.
• Manage and facilitate DCA initiated and managed innovation initiatives at the field level in close consultations with the HoP and DCA implementing partner staff. These will include private sector, universities partnerships and related innovation incubation and prototyping.
• Network & coordinate with relevant field operational I/NGOs, UN Agencies and LGAs and explore/advise on possible areas of collaboration/partnerships to enhance program synergy.
• Facilitate concept paper development with partners at the field level as part of DCA fundraising efforts.
• Facilitate/support collaboration and cross learning among partners through information sharing, exposure visits and active partner participation in DCA platforms/forums.
• Facilitate logistical arrangements for DCA staff, consultant field visits and donor visits together with implementing partners.
• Produce regular progress reports in accordance with internal DCA procedures.

The PO has a technical backstopping responsibility over the DCA partners implementing youth development , livelihoods and resilience building project/s in Turkana County. The PO will works close consultation the DCA HoP – Kenya. The DCA PO is also expected to have a proactive accompanying role with DCA partners that enable a sector integrated approach in relief, rehabilitation and development as well as facilitate institutionalized communication between stakeholders and promote a rights based approach in all DCA programming.

Professional Qualifications:

• University level education in any of the following fields: Economics/Business, Social Science or Rural /Community development or equivalent.
• At least 5 years experiences in market based livelihoods & value chain development and youth empowerment.
• Working knowledge of Turkana County is an added advantage.
• Proven project cycle management and monitoring & evaluation skills.
• Knowledge of the rights based approach & the international standards for working with humanitarian response such as SPHERE, Code of Conduct, & Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) is an added advantage.
• Good interpersonal skills and a proven team player. Self-driven and results orientated in challenging rural working environments.
• Experience in training at field/community level and excellent reporting skills. Excellence in English, oral and written.