Project Assistant-Coastal livelihoods and Environmental Management at Plan International

THE ROLE

The Project assistant will be responsible for supporting administrative and field project deliverables as guided in the project plan. He/ she will be expected to possess a general knowledge in community development processes. The role will undertake mobilization of target stakeholders including administrative task such as organizing project workshops and meetings. The Project Assistant will coordinate procurement support for the project and ensure that documentations of work activities such as participants attendance lists, distribution, records of project inputs to beneficiaries are available for reference. Additionally, the role will require liaison with other project teams to ensure synergy and integration of project interventions.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Project Implementation: 55%

• Ensure community participation in the project planning, implementation and monitoring
• Ensure that the monthly activities and budget plans are implemented as per approved work plan and that all activities are on track with appropriate scheduling, quality and timelines
• Work with relevant staff to ensure all logistics and procurement processes are in conformity with Plan policies, procedures and standards
• Facilitate access to relevant and accurate information on the project to stakeholders including the government officers, parents, and children.
• Ensure that gender considerations are appropriately defined and incorporated across all phases of design, implementation and reporting.

Administrative Responsibilities 15%

• Ensure project implementation is within the approved monitoring plan and tracked
• Ensure that all documentation related to activity reports, participants lists and project acknowledgement forms are updated monthly and all project files are up to date.
• Ensure all project related partner, government and other stakeholder relations are well maintained and also ensure that feedback and input from stakeholders are incorporated into the implementation of the project.
• Work with relevant staff to ensure all logistics and procurement at a local level are done according to Plan policies. This will include the development and monitoring of procurement  plans Periodically review the project outline with the Project Coordinator to ensure that implementation is on course.

Documentation and Reporting: 10%

• Consolidate/write project reports in line with the laid down requirements and Plan standards.
• Work with the Program team and the M&E team in documenting project achievements and lessons learnt.
• Contribute to documentation and sharing of best practices with all stakeholders
• Facilitate and coordinate joint reflection sessions at Sub County and/or County level

Communications and Stakeholder Relationships: 5%

• To engage and maintain cordial stakeholder relationships for effective project delivery throughout the project cycle
• Maintain a high level of external communication/contact at the community, County levels. This is to facilitate the implementation of the project activities effectively.

Manage Project Resources 5%

• Implementation of the project within the approved periodic costed work plans.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI): 5%

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Leads the orientation of programme staff to ensure that they are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team
• Ensures that Plan Kenya contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Other duties (5%)

• Any other assignment within the scope of work.

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Community Development or Environmental Sciences is preferred.
• At least 1 years’ experience in project management/coordination.
• Strong Knowledge of community development.
• Conversant with child rights issues and child participatory methodologies.
• Knowledge and experience of working in Environment Conservation.
•  Knowledge and experience in Livelihood Initiatives.
• Ability to ride and use Motor Bike for field Operations 

Qualifications/ experience desirable

• Skills in managing project implementation and monitoring 
• Strong report writing skills
• Community facilitation, networking, partnership development and management skills

Languages required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Kiswahili.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of gender and inclusion and global/local development issues, with particular knowledge in girls’ rights and child rights, feminist movements, the key actors and institutions, and the power dynamics involved.
• Understanding of the policies, processes, institutions and organizations that shape the development and humanitarian context and standards within Kenya.
• Understanding of the implications of working with a rights-based approach to development and is able to analyse the situation of children and particularly girls’ rights in his/her working context
• Knowledge on different types of partnerships and civil society strengthening and capacity building. 
• Understanding issues, principles and strategies and their root causes and working with Plan’s principles and a range of strategies and approaches to improve outcomes

Skills:

• Ability to design, implement and monitor evidence-based solutions for gender transformative programmes.
• Ability to influence power holders about the need for and benefits of addressing gender equality and inclusion, including being able to offer a range of evidence-based solutions.
• Excellent relationship building skills – networking, influencing and stakeholder management skills 
• Ability to identify, analyze and monitor diverse, relevant external actors to work with and understand the purpose and implications of working with them.

Behaviors:

• Role model of Plan International values and behaviors both internally and externally. 
• Engages sensitively with community members on issues of gender equality and inclusion, demonstrating an understanding of the local culture and context.
• Promotes equality, including gender equality, inclusion and girls’ empowerment in Plan’s work and in its work with partners
• Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of Plan International. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.
• Challenging self, others and authority when behavior and decisions are not supporting Plan International's policies and positions.
• Ability to stand against stigma and discrimination of vulnerable and excluded groups, uphold dignity
• Uses creativity to challenge the norm and promote innovation and thinks and acts for the wider organization – linking partnership opportunities with the context of the wider organizational strategy