Regional Program Officer - Youth Excel at IREX

Summary Of Position

IREX seeks a qualified Program Officer for the global, cross-sectoral USAID Youth Excel Activity. This project will design and apply an approach to using implementation research to strengthen cross-sectoral positive youth development programming, help youth-led and youth-serving organizations use implementation research, and synthesize and promote findings broadly.

The Program Officer will manage day-to-day implementation of Youth Excel activities in Kenya and potentially other locations in East Africa. The Program Officer will support capacity-strengthening for youth-led and youth-serving organizations and groups in applying Youth Excel’s approaches, foster youth engagement, develop and maintain partnerships, and support subgrantees on their day-to-day subgrant management. The Program Officer will be based in Kenya.

Summary Of Responsibilities

• Create and implement activity workplans for country-level activities, in collaboration with Project Lead.
• Provide day-to-day management for Youth Excel activities with a focus on supporting local organizations who are co-leading or leading these activities at the local level.
• Coach and mentor local partners and subgrantees in Youth Excel approaches. Includes: carrying out assessments and mapping with youth and identifying public and private sector partners; overseeing and co-planning agendas and logistics for virtual and/or in-person events; co-facilitating events, trainings, workshops, and dialogues; providing on-going mentoring and feedback to youth-led initiatives and youth-created knowledge products; and managing micro- and small-grant portfolios.
• Assist in conducting due diligence and background checks for local partners and subgrantees and developing risk mitigation strategies.
• Support and monitor Youth Excel subgrantees’ work, including identifying resources and support that subgrantees need to strengthen their capacity.
• Provide day-to-day monitoring and constructive advice/support to subgrantees that is in line with subgrants including compliance with U.S. government and IREX policies and financial management.
• Oversee and track subgrantees’ funding disbursements and liquidations. Ensure timely and accurate subgrantee financial reporting and provide capacity-building support to subgrantees in these areas.
• Collect and review subgrant documentation and maintain organized and up-to-date files in preparation for close-out and audit readiness.
• Address any reports of misuse of funds, violations of protection policy, and other complaints involving partner staff, contractors, volunteers, and beneficiaries, and investigate and escalate following appropriate reporting protocols.
• Work with the Project Lead to build Youth Excel enhancing partnerships in Kenya and the region
• Contribute to Youth Excel monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
• Contribute to Youth Excel project communications such as collecting and sharing impact stories from sub-grantees.
• Responding to region specific queries on Youth Excel and/or directing them to the relevant persons
• May include travel in Kenya and/or the region.

• Other duties as assigned
   

Skills And Qualifications

• Must be a citizen of or permanent resident with work authorization in Kenya
• A demonstrated commitment to youth inclusion, particularly focusing on marginalized groups
• Soft skills including humility, adaptability, a growth mindset, and creative/entrepreneurial thinking
• Experience developing partnerships with public and private sector entities in Kenya
• At least four (4) years of experience working on youth-led and/or youth-serving initiatives in Kenya
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation (M&E), research, and adaptive methodologies
• Preferred experience working with USAID-funded programs; understanding of USG regulations a plus
• Excellent facilitation skills and experience facilitating virtual and in-person trainings and/or workshops
• Outstanding verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and cross-cultural skills required
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to interact and cooperate effectively with a large and multicultural team
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision
• Strong organizational skills, and ability toperform in a fast-paced environment
• Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) in gender studies, sociology, human rights, public policy, or a related field of social studies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Swahili; other languages a plus
   

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and therefore qualified candidates are encouraged to apply early. Intended start date for this position is by latest February 1st 2021