Project Officer, Community Engagement at I Choose Life - Africa (ICL)

Reports to: County Officer

Program: Girls Education Challenge - GEC

Job Purpose: To increase the life chances of marginalized girls in Mombasa County by increasing enrolment, improving school attendance, retention and learning through an integrated approach focusing on community intervention. In addition, support counties in the actualization of their county strategic plans aligned to Vision 2030.

Key responsibilities

Project Planning and design

• Participate in the development of new project concepts.
• Coordinate interface meetings with community level stakeholders and partners aimed at promoting the projects objectives
• Identify and work with local influencers such as religious, tribal leaders and associations, to ensure meaningful participation to all activities, including by most hard-to-reach communities and groups
• Coordinate capacity building plans and training activities for local organizations, implementing partners and stakeholders, including co-facilitating the trainings Girl Education projects
• Conduct and facilitate project activities: local dialogues (inter and intra communities), mobile cinema discussions, solidarity events
• Organize all logistics related to the implementation of project activities in his/her region (hall rental, catering, invitations, etc.)
• Participate in reviewing the targets as set out in the funded proposal

Learning and knowledge management:

• Share relevant information within the team establishing and supporting the proper documentation of activities
• Participates in national/regional projects/networks as requested.

Reporting

• Produce activity report after each activity implemented, including documenting lessons learnt, feedback from participants, pictures;
• Track attendance to each activity and document it with attendance lists

Coordination and representation

• Develop and maintain proactive, positive, and professional relationships with key government officials, local authorities, local leaders and civil society organizations, partner organization and other NGOS
• Maintains regular written and oral reporting to the County Manager on key project issues
• Participate in project baselines and periodic assessments
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation activities through data collection

Financial planning, management and compliance

• Prepare activity budgets and ensures that budgets are spent as per approved budget;
• Organise the payment to all local vendors, as well as transport reimbursements and per diems;
• Ensure effective implementation and compliance with the overall finance and guidance manual and compliance with procedures

Project implementation and training.

• Assist the coordination all project activities including preparation for trainings to various implementation sites
• Training and sensitization of community on importance of girl education, nutrition and entrepreneurship
• Plan and Organize career fairs motivational mentoring events
• Participate in project, organizational and institutional meetings and work harmoniously with other stakeholders.
• Support in project research in collaboration with the project M&E team

Resource Mobilization

• Take part in resource mobilization through participation in proposal development with other program staff
• Design, implement and evaluate projects with an aspect of resource mobilization.
• Helping in tracking of implementation of Child Protection Policy

Any other duty in line with organization Mission and Vision

Minimum education and qualifications

• Minimum Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Social science or relevant field
• 5 years progressive experience in community engagement.
• High level community engagement skills including planning, communication, presentation, facilitation, event management, evaluation, report writing and correspondence.
• Good project management skills, including project planning and scoping, assessment, logistics and implementation
• High level interpersonal skills, including effective verbal and written communication and active listening skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain highly successful, positive working relationships, including the ability to consult, collaborate, negotiate and compromise to ensure effective outcomes.
• Good problem solving skills, along with the ability to set priorities, manage time effectively and process deadlines of projects and programs
• Good keyboard skills and understanding of computer concepts with the ability to use the Microsoft Office suite of programs, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work independently and get things done and delivered in a timely manner