Household Economic Strengthening Officer at Hope for Victoria children (HOVIC)

Reports To: Project Coordinator

Position Type: Fixed Term

Duration: 1 year (Renewable based on successful completion)

Job Summary:

Reporting to the LIP Project Coordinator, the HES project officer is responsible for overall rollout of economic strengthening activities, ensuring the project meets its objectives and targets. The HES officer working closely with relevant government ministries and other technical agencies and private sector to provide training and technical support to Field agent supervisors with focus in implementing SILC activities, financial education to the caregivers, support caregivers initiate Income Generating activities, profiling of smallholder farmers to increase production and engage with markets.  The HES Officer will directly supervise field Agent supervisors and the data capture clerk, and indirectly supervises a team of SILC Field Agents. He/She will develop HES operational plans, monitors their execution, and prepares periodic project performance reports.

Specific Responsibilities:

Project Coordination and Supervision

• Works with the project team members to develop responsive monthly workplans and ensures prudent allocation and utilization of resources.
• Holds regular staff and community meetings to review progress, address emerging issues and plan for subsequent actions.
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• Coordinate all support supervision activities by SILC supervisors ensuring that field agents are adequately provided with the support they need to undertake their roles.
• Continually communicates to the project Coordinator and MWENDO technical officers on project progress, challenges and support required to deliver on the project objectives.
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• Ensures that all the activities being implemented are conducted within a process that enhances community ownership, participation and contribution for sustainability.
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• Provide psychosocial support and responsible parenthood training/counseling to households and families of OVC including SCC

Service delivery to OVC and their caregivers

• Work closely with the project Coordinator, Case Management and System strengthening Project Officers to develop case plans and support implementation of HES interventions.
• Conducts household socio economic assessment for the OVC and the reintegrated SCC using the household vulnerability prioritization tool
• Supports project team members in implementation of key activities that includes: recruit Field Agent supervisors and Field Agents, Map and define agent operating areas, support agent certification, PSP launches and PSP network formation.
• Takes lead in the implementation of the House hold Economic strengthening approaches to OVC and their households.
• Supports HES project team members to work with the community based workforce to deliver services to OVC caregivers. These services shall include but not limited to trainings on SILC PSP model, CRS SMART skills modules, Financial literacy, marketing basics and 7 Steps of Marketing and value chains analysis and roll out MWENDO emergency Fund.
• Work with project team to link reintegrated SCC and OVC not in school to CAP -YEI and other relevant empowerment programs

Coordination of Care to OVC

• Works with the DCS and Private Sector Actors to advocate for linkage of caregivers to GOK cash transfers, in kind agricultural support and other subsidies.
• Works with GoK departments and county government departments to offer extension services to strengthen the capacity of producer groups and SILC farmer groups.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge management

• Conducts routine support supervisions and spot checks to project sites and Field Supervisors, Field agents and SILC groups to ensure quality service delivery to OVC and their caregivers.
• Works with M&E team to ensure that the they adequately undertake their M and E functions within the acceptable project standards for effective data entry, analysis, reporting and accountability for results.
• Supports project team members to identify, document, and disseminate knowledge products to build on evidence based practices in Household Economic strengthening initiative
• Responsible for timely monthly and quarterly donor reporting. Ensures that the M and E team effectively utilize SILC MIS, and manage data and use data for decision making.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises Field Agent Supervisors and data capture clerks.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Academic Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years’ experience or a Diploma with 3 years’ experience in Social Sciences, Agriculture, Micro Finance, Business Administration, project Management or related field from a recognized institution of learning.

Knowledge

• Specialized knowledge of and experience with savings group programming—with a preference for community-agent and/or fee-for-service approaches.
• Relevant experience in Community development focusing on sustainable livelihood approaches, project monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning.
• Familiarity with integrating savings groups in OVC programming.
• Excellent analytic and computer skills; skilled in MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
• Excellent report writing skills.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proven Leadership ability and strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, team work and ability to prioritize tasks in a timely manner
• Sound coordination skills and a demonstrated ability to multi-task
• Demonstrates diplomacy, flexibility, and resourcefulness
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office).
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills
• Professional proficiency in one or more local languages of the operational area
• Ability to ride a motorcycle – (Added advantage)
• Valid motorcycle permit