Program Assistant-Marsabit at Mercy Corps

• The Program Assistant will be responsible for leading the community in the implementation of the PRIME Program, a 4-year Swinmurn Family Foundation Funded Program, aimed at empowering young people in Isiolo and Marsabit counties to prosper. Program Assistant will support implementation strategies in coordination with the Senior Program Officer and Program Manager who will train staff and partners, providing them with technical assistance; and ensuring that common strategies and approaches are applied consistently in all communities. The Program Assistant will coordinate closely with the M&E team to ensure that systems are in place to track, analyze and report results. The Program assistant will lead implementation of PRIME program at the community level keeping the grass roots context of implementation into play with program strategy and ensuring that the program buy in, and implementation are aligned.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Working closely with the Program team the Program assistant will contribute to Teamwork plans and guide successful implementation of PRIME activities.
• Working with the Senior Program Officer, the program assistant will support in implementation of PRIME activities to achieve the intended program deliverables.
• Support the Senior Program Officer with conducting training for FAs, CHPs etc. to deliver technical curricula to adolescents and young people.
• In coordination with the Senior Program Officer, monitor the implementation of activities through regular field visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact and document successes and lessons
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, finance, administration and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all PRIME activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards, Child safeguarding and Child Protection policy.
• Assist in training of Participants and CHPs on PRIME curriculum and ensuring that the curricula is delivered as per age categories of participants.
• Manage adolescent girls safe space groups in collaboration with
• Provide training and mentorship to the mentors.

COMMUNITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT

• Conduct community mobilization and sensitization meetings at village level
• Identify and engage community leaders to sensitize on the PRIME model and establish buy-in
• Identify and engage local animal and human health workers to provide training and technical assistance to safe space groups.
• Link with relevant county government departments such as Gender and Social Services for group registrations, financial and material support.

 PARTICIPANTS SELECTION

• Sensitize adolescent girls /boys on the PRIME model, objective and target groups
• Participate in identification and recruitment of group mentors to deliver technical curricula to girls and boys.
• Identify and recruit girls in the community to participate in safe space

PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT.

• Link the adolescent girls and boys to other traders, markets, financial institutions, public and private institutions.
• Facilitate planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance/buy-in where needed.

PROGRAM MONITORING

• Monitor and track the progress of safe space groups.
• Collect monitoring data from groups and submit to specify whether it is to PM or MEL officer?
• Support assessments, evaluations, and monitoring surveys relevant to PRIME component including support in the development of Scopes of Work, survey tools, training and management of data collectors.
• In coordination with the MEL team, monitor the implementation of activities through regular field visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact.
• Monitor the safe space groups and upload all collected data on an online platform.
• Prepare accurate and timely monitoring and field reports on a weekly basis and other project documentation as required.

COORDINATION

• Provide administrative support in preparing procurement and expense requests, following up with relevant departments for field activities

SAFEGUARDING

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

• CHPs and FAs

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Senior Program Officer.
• Works Directly With: Program Manager, MEL Officer, MEL Coordinator.

Minimum Qualifications and Transferrable Skills

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with NGOs/CBOs in civic engagement, livelihoods and
• Diploma in Community Development, Economic Development, Business, Agriculture, Livestock or related field Degree is an added advantage.
• Commitment to working with Women, Girls, youth, and vulnerable groups in need, regardless of race, tribe, religion or gender.
• Understanding of working with local partners and commitment to working with the greater GIRL H
• Good problem solving, written and oral communication
• Strong written and spoken English and
• Local language skills
• Ability to work without constant supervision and as part of a mixed
• Good knowledge of MS Office software such as Excel, Word, and
• Be able to ride a motorbike