Project Manager - Financial Inclusion at Danish Refugee Council

Overall purpose of the role: 

The post-holder will provide leadership and day to day management, technical support and oversight of the Supporting Displacement-Affected Communities in Kenya with Entrepreneurship Development (SDACKED) Project in Nairobi. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is the lead agency to implement a 4-year SIDA funded project in collaboration with Pangea Trust, a sharia finance partner, a digital partner, FSD (Financial Sector Deepening Kenya) and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). The Project Manager will be responsible for coordinating the project across the consortium members and overseeing the day-to-day implementation of the DRC team to meet project goals. The PM will act as the main point of contact for SIDA in consultation with the Head of Programmes (HoP) and directly supervise project staff in coordination with the DRC Urban Area Manager including being responsible for managing the expectations of and relationships between all project partners, target population and stakeholders. The PM will also provide technical expertise and deep insight into financial inclusion programming to support implementation of the project

Responsibilities:

R1: Project Management, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Ensure the project is implemented in ways responsive to the beneficiary communities, donor compliance procedures and vision/mission of each of the partner organizations. This includes working closely with consortium members, national/local government, relevant stakeholders and community structures to successfully implement and strengthen local capacity.
• Ensure that the project has appropriate monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems established (including impact evaluation), and that the project reporting is delivered 
• Ensure project activities are delivered according to the agreed project proposal and implementation plan, and that all activities and deliverables are completed within the agreed timeframe and budget, reports are submitted as per the agreed schedule and formats are fulfilled as specified in signed agreements.
• Ensure work plans are regularly updated in collaboration with the project team, ensure project plans and project tracking tools are used by the project team, and monitor project activity implementation.
• Ensure community participatory planning and targeting in line with project design and needs, and following donor compliance procedures.
• Provide on-site support through frequent visits to all project sites.
• Engage with the various technical staff from DRC and partners to facilitate support to the team.
• Serves as the primary contact with respect to project implementation for the donor and strategic stakeholders.

R2: Financial Inclusion Expertise:

• Provide technical assistance to implementing teams in areas of financial inclusion, working alongside project partners, Regional Office technical coordinators and DRC Kenya colleagues
• Support the strengthening of VSLAs through experience in formal financial inclusion, including training on financial literacy
• Provide assistance in the roll out of sharia compliant finance structures at the community level as well as understanding of the wider entrepreneurship ecosystem
• Support in the development of a revolving fund, a challenge fund and wider entrepreneurship support structures

R3: Training & Capacity development:

• Identify training needs of team and explore options for meeting them.
• Build internal team capacity especially in the field of sustainable financial inclusion for target population to be supported. 
• Provide continuous technical support and mentorship for Project Officers, Project Assistants, Community Engagement Facilitators in the project in order to develop their professional and technical competencies.
• Participate in all relevant trainings offered by all project partners and/or externally to become technically equipped for project implementation and monitoring.  
• Ensure that minimum standards for project management and accountability are met.

R4: Coordination & Partnership:

• Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the project and ensure effective integration among the consortium members, with special attention for the specific needs and expectations of the project objectives/aims.
• Ensure proper communication mechanisms are in place to guarantee effective and timely communication between project staff and the consortium members and management.   
• Participate in regular external stakeholder meetings, and maintain external relations with the relevant government agencies, and stakeholders across the project areas.
• Ensure there is a system for networking and communication with relevant local government line departments, DRS (Department of Refugee Services), UNHCR, relevant actors, and community representation in the project areas. 
• Promote collaboration and synergy between the consortium member project activities and similar projects, businesses and activities in the project areas. 
• Promote a positive profile of the project and good understanding among other actors and communities about the project.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with all stakeholders. 
• Represent the project at interagency coordination meetings as well as other key stakeholder forums related to the sector.

R5: Budget Management:

• The post holder will oversee the SDACKED project budget responsible for budget monitoring, cash forecasting and BFU reviews while working closely with DRC and partners. Will oversee the project budget in order to maintain project expenditure within budget parameters, ensuring adherence to DRC financial procedures and SIDA requirements.
• Track budget spending and ensure timely reviews of financial transactions and budget utilization every month.
• Support team members to utilize financial planning tools, such as spending plans, procurement plans, and work-plans based on activities and budgets.
• Work closely with the respective Area Programme and the Country Office team in budget drafting and revision processes as per identified/prioritized needs of the project.

R6: Staff Management:

• Directly lead, manage and motivate the Project Officers, Project Assistant and Community Engagement Facilitators. Ensure that they have clear objectives and receive regular supervision and reviews. Develop a plan, and oversee management, of all project staff.
• Ensure appropriate participation of staff in project management, day to day implementation and decision making, and escalating issues as per the consortium governance structure. 
• Ensure project staff members attend and participate in weekly and monthly office management meetings as per schedule.
• Ensure timely recruitment and replacement if the need arises of highly competent project staffs.
• Monitor and provide objective feedback related to staff performance, including objective-setting, probation & performance evaluations to promote growth and development. 

Experience and technical competencies: 

• At least 5+ years of experience working in multi-donor-funded and/or multi-stakeholder projects or programmes managing financial inclusion and community empowerment projects.
• Experience in leading and managing projects aimed at creating employment, social security and market development, aligning to the thematic focus of financial inclusion and developing the small business climate under private sector development agenda.
• Experience working in and deep understanding of Village Savings Loans Associations (VSLAs) and private sector engagement and/or implementing livelihoods/self-reliance, gender mainstreaming, peacebuilding/social cohesion, protection or advocacy interventions within financial inclusion programming context. 
• Experienced and excellent demonstratable understanding of project cycle management.
• Able to navigate between consortium members, their workstyles, and their agenda’s.
• Experienced working with and implementing projects aimed at addressing challenges faced by displacement affected entrepreneurs to maintain and grow their businesses.
• Experience in capacity-building staff, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops 
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills
• Has excellent communication (spoken and written) and presentation skills 
• Excellent planning and organizational skills coupled with conflict management skills 
• Experience with remote management of staff
• Possess a sense of cultural awareness, sensitivity and respect for diversity
• Strong organizational, team spirit and team work skills
• Knowledge of the key issues and current trends in refugee affairs and MSE/financial inclusion.
• Experience in managing projects with digital elements including working with technology companies

Education: 

• Master’s in Development Economics; International Development, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, or other relevant fields, or Bachelors with relevant work experience.

Languages: 

• English (fluent, spoken and written)
• Swahili (fluent, spoken and written)

Closing: 6 June 2022