Project Officer – Accountability & Learning at Catholic Relief

Length of Contract:   Appx. 2.5 years (until 30th September 2024)

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Play a leadership role in embedding and supporting a culture of learning and adaptation across Nawiri (includes county) initiatives and teams at county level, on an ongoing basis.
• Active engagement in multiple consortium initiatives in Marsabit County, across sectors, through trusting relationships established with key actor networks. Use of these platforms to expand and promote a culture of accountability, learning and adaptation at county level across teams, to support the institutionalization of Nawiri’s Adaptive Learning Strategy.
• Promote a culture of accountability within the consortium through strengthening Nawiri team capacity on the harmonized Feedback, Complaints, Response Mechanism (FCRM) and supporting its integration in all Nawiri initiatives.
• In close liaison with Nawiri MEAL teams at county level, support compliance with consortium, agency and donor A&L policies, procedures, processes and requirements, including operationalization of the MEAL Plan and associated action plans (e.g., the Detailed Implementation Plan).
• In close collaboration with Marsabit Directorate of Civic Education & Public Participation (CEPP), support strengthening the capacity of Multisectoral Platform for Nutrition (MSP-N) members (County & Sub-County) and others, to strengthen a culture of accountability. Includes raising awareness on CRS accountability and learning policies and procedures and Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) standards.
• Play a leadership role at county level to strengthen the timely and consistent use of emerging learning from various sources, including field and M&E activities, through co-facilitation and support for routine and periodic Pause & Reflect (P&R) sessions.
• Support tracking Nawiri’s progress/ uptake of A&L through multiple approaches, e.g., by facilitating Collaboration Learning & Adaptation (CLA) self-assessments, satisfaction surveys to elicit community/ participant perspectives on Nawiri FCRMs, process monitoring, updating/ monitoring Nawiri’s learning & adaptation trackers and others as guided.
• Share significant A&L findings with Nawiri and MEAL teams on a timely basis, as guided, to support project responsiveness and continuous quality improvement and adaptation based on learning.
• Contribute to the documentation of A&L initiatives including consortium & donor reports, case studies, learning briefs and activity reports etc., as requested.  
• Facilitate the engagement of MSP-N members (County & Sub-County), consortium partners and other key actors in processes to identify, document and share Nawiri achievements, lessons learned, success stories and good/ best practices.
• Help identify significant learning & adaptations that can be leveraged for routine planning, publications and shared internally and externally for learning purposes.
• Support in ensuring continuous, transparent communication and engagement with Nawiri participants and other relevant stakeholders on Nawiri progress.
• Participate in A&L-related county forums including MSP-N meetings, M&E TWG meetings and accountability forums.
• Help guide and support quality data gathering, management and analysis, as requested/ guided. 

• Remain flexible and open to taking on new responsibilities as Nawiri unfolds and progresses, especially as requested/ guided by the Technical Learning Advisor and Strategic Learning Lead.
• Support and enhance Nawiri Knowledge Management processes and products as guided, to continually improve the quality of Nawiri A&L related work and outputs.

Required Languages: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Knowledge of any ASAL languages an advantage.

Travel Required: Must be willing to travel in the field up to 50% of time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong team player, with significant experience working in collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgments.
• Strong interpersonal-communication and relationship management skills, seen in the ability to work closely with local partners, county governments and community members.
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
• Proven leadership competencies and experience, including the ability to take initiative.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.
• Strong facilitation, presentation, training and mentoring skills and experience.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Professional training on accountability, protection and/ or learning.
• Experience designing and implementing accountability and learning systems for county governments.
• Experience in participatory development and community engagement a strong advantage.
• Experience and skills in multi-stakeholder processes and partner relationship management.
• Experience using data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, EpiInfo or Nutrisurvey).
• Experience using mobile-data collection and management software (e.g., ODK, Commcare, Iform builder, Kobo) an advantage.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Technical Advisor (Accountability and Learning), Isiolo PO Accountability & Learning, Nawiri Strategic Learning Lead, Nawiri MEAL team, Marsabit County Head of Office and other technical staff.

External: Community members, county/ sub-county government staff, other local stakeholders and peer agency MEAL staff.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences; International Development, Demography, Sociology or another MEAL-related field. Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Minimum of five years of relevant work experience in fields of Accountability and Learning, Participatory Development or Adult Learning, ideally with an international NGO working with county governments.
• Proven experience and track record of effectively facilitating multi-stakeholder forums. Related experience with government/ county officials a distinct advantage.
• Experience setting up, overseeing/ implementing and actively supporting multi-stakeholder accountability and learning systems is required.
• Experience analyzing data/ emerging learning and contributing to progress reports, including narrative reports, essential.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems, knowledge-sharing networks is required.
• Relevant experience in Kenya’s ASALs and/ or knowledge of ASAL cultures and programming contexts a distinct advantage.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

MEAL Competencies:

• Demonstrable experience supporting the use of learning to improve programming.
• Demonstrates M&E, Accountability and Learning expertise, knowledge and skills. With guidance can apply critical thinking to ensure effective MEAL in design, learning, analysis and evaluation processes..
• Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability and can apply Monitoring, Accountability and ICT4MEAL competencies with minimal or no guidance, in a range of typical situations. Would require guidance and support to handle more complex situations.
• Experience facilitating and actively supporting MEAL related processes and products in complex programming contexts