Natural Resources Management & Peace Building Officer at Mercy Corps

Essential Job Functions

STRATEGY: OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF NRM and CONFLICT PROGRAM STRATEGIES

• In collaboration with the the Resilience Livelihoods Technical Team (Climate Smart Agriculture, Alternative Livelihoods and Market Systems, Household Economic Strengthening, Natural Resources Management) support the roll out of a robust implementation strategy to address household food insecurity and work towards maintaining food security despite exposure to shocks and stresses.
• Support the development of comprehensive work plans for sub offices and target geographies.
• Leads the management and implementation of the specific NRM and PB project scope under Mercy Corps, coordinating with a diverse county-based Resilience Livelihoods team drawn from all USAID Nawiri consortium and local implementing partners to manage coherent program implementation within specific geographies and intervention areas, as informed by and continued reference to evidence that informs programmatic decisions and actions.
• Directly responsible for NRM and Peace Building scope of work and its implementation, including integrated actions in the program locations

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & REPORTING

• Support planning, development, and implementation of the NRM, peacebuilding, and conflict sensitivity interventions within the project.
• Organize and facilitate dialogue meetings, workshops, and forums with government representatives, civil society and communities in efforts to prevent violent conflict and promote cooperative approaches to NRM peace, security, and conflict resolution
• Support capacity development of partners involved in project implementation through innovative capacity building approaches.
• Arrange for regular meetings with partners and community structures to review and reflect on progress and results to identify, mitigate challenges, and learn lessons for improved program delivery
• Responsible for accurate narrative reporting against agreed objectives and results frameworks
• Participate in and contribute to quarterly and other scheduled program performance review meetings
• Facilitate scenario planning as part of routine program management; work closely with M&E team to ensure context monitoring informs program teams to support adaptations and tracking of impacts of shocks and stresses on programing..

COLLABORATION & NETWORKING

• NRM and Peace Building Officer is expected to establish and maintain an open and cordial relationship with relevant government partners, local government officials, donors, and other development organizations working in the Pastoralist, NRM, and Peace arena to obtain the required support and collaboration for the smooth coordination and implementation of program activities.
• Integrates participatory community approaches, gender sensitivity, conflict sensitivity and do no harm principles; mainstreams capacity building and sustainability approaches into all activities as appropriate including certifying all interventions to adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards;
• Coordinates with the different levels of stakeholders including committees, working groups, community groups, local implementing partners, community resource persons, government stakeholders at sub-county, ward, village – to sustain peace building actions, mobilize rapid actions and ensure effective communication channels.
• Coordinate with community leadership to facilitate activity integration and targeting of participants, ensuring a conflict sensitivity is maintained.
• Support with collaborative partnership with other development partners and identify potential opportunities for linkages

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

• Represents and ensures buy-in to USAID NAWIRI participatory rangeland management (PRM) and the Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) approaches among relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the USAID SSBC team to design and deliver integrated communication for social transformational change in securing natural resources and peace.
• Collaborating with the field M&E personnel to ensure all NRM/ Peace, development activities are appropriately documented, and that data is captured as per established systems of the USAID NAWIRI program
• Play an advisory role in advising the program on conflict Sensitivity / Do No Harm issues.
• Compile and document significant lessons learned from the NRM and PB project activities and adaptations and work closely with the communications advisor to prepare content that can be incorporated into project reports and other products.
• Support Field Directors and senior management by responding to information requests, and monitoring and reporting on the impact of the program.
• Work with the NRM Advisor to facilitate information sharing among internal and appropriate external audiences.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in the field of Natural Resource Management, Environmental Studies, Climate Change and Society, Environmental Management, Peace Building, International relations or other related fields or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of community engagement strategies, the investment environment in Kenya, land laws and policies, peace frameworks, natural resource governance, and conflict sensitivity, and an active interest in the workings of civil society;
• Proficiency in verbal and written English
• Understanding of NRM and Peace frameworks/ tools and approaches including the understanding of opportunities and challenges in the pastoralist context
• Experience working within a development-oriented NGO in environment and pastoralist contexts.
• Practical experience in the facilitation of multi-stakeholder NRM and Peace activities.
• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working within a multidisciplinary team and ability to liaise with government, community leaders, and other stakeholders at all levels
• Skills in organizing and facilitating community dialogues, workshops, and training events
• Proven ability to conduct him/herself professionally under pressure.
• Knowledge on Conflict Sensitivity / Do No Harm approaches.
• Skills and creativity in integrating Peace building and NRM aspects in programming.
• Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.