Senior Project Officer - Accountability & Learning - NAWIRI at Catholic Relief

The Senior Project Officer for Accountability and Learning (SPO A&L) will manage and work closely with Nawiri’s Marsabit and Isiolo POs for A&L, supporting the Strategic Learning Lead (SLL) to facilitate and actively support a collaborative learning and accountability culture across Nawiri on an on-going basis. S/he will strengthen collaborative learning and consortium use of learning for informed program adaptations (CLA). Championing participatory adult learning approaches across Nawiri processes and teams lies at the heart of this. S/he will also co-lead and actively support the implementation of Nawiri and joint county/ Nawiri accountability systems, overseeing and co-facilitating related processes and documentation, in line with Nawiri systems, CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines and industry good practice. The SPO – A&L will work closely with all consortium leads and teams to co-lead and actively support learning, accountability, related documentation and capacity development at all levels, to institutionalize the use of emerging data, information and knowledge for high-quality consortium/ collaborative programming. S/he will work in collaboration with and complement Nawiri M&E work, especially supporting the timely interrogation and use of emerging M&E system findings, reflecting a whole-systems approach to Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL).   

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Actively support establishing and nurturing a culture of learning across Nawiri actors and initiatives, especially in the counties, to strengthen collaborative learning, Nawiri responsiveness and informed program adaptations, with SLL and County Heads of Office guidance.
• In collaboration with A&L team, core county/ activity teams and Nawiri leads, facilitate and support Nawiri staff and key actor reflection/ learning sessions and consortium/ wider learning events.
• Strengthen team critical reflection and documentation skills including on achievements, challenges, good practice and lessons learned. Support consortium/ county teams to lead, facilitate and document the same.
• Contribute to quality A&L system design and roll out, including Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) implementation, in proactive, collaborative ways. Critically oversee and/ or review related developments in line with donor and CRS reporting requirements, as guided.
• Help ensure Nawiri actor compliance with agency and donor A&L requirements, guided by Nawiri’s Adaptive Learning Strategy, USAID’s CLA resources and consortium MEAL DIP activities, in close liaison with the M&E team and project leadership.
• Oversee quality implementation of Nawiri’s accountability system, in collaboration with A&L team, the SMT and CRS Kenya accountability and ICT managers. Support personnel (Nawiri, LIP, county actors, as guided) to understand and fulfill related roles and responsibilities in quality ways, to ensure effective program feedback systems. Lead and support related process and outcome documentation, for internal and wider learning and dissemination.
• Provide leadership and support to Nawiri/ LIP teams to review and refine consortium accountability and learning practices on a regular basis, addressing gaps and challenges that arise.
• Strengthen capacity and support field teams to document and disseminate core activity processes and outcomes (emerging findings), for project and wider learning.
• Working with the M&E team, support the collective analysis and/ or interpretation of project data and emerging findings, to foster learning and program adaptations (CLA.  
• Support the SLL and SMT to refine and oversee quality implementation of Nawiri’s Phase 2 learning agenda, as guided.
• Oversee the roll out and uptake of YouTrack for FCRM management, including the documentation of emerging learning from implementation experiences.
• In close collaboration with the directorate of Civic Education & Public Participation (CEPP) and Nawiri’s Systems and Institutional Strengthening team, support building and strengthening the capacity of Multisectoral Platform for Nutrition (MSP-N) members (County & Sub-County) and of other key actors, to strengthening a culture of accountability in Marsabit, including raising awareness on CRS accountability and learning policies and procedures and Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) standards, among others.
• Support tracking Nawiri’s progress/ uptake of A&L in diverse ways including facilitating Collaboration Learning & Adaptation (CLA) Maturity Spectrum (USAID) self-assessment processes with A&L team, satisfaction surveys to elicit community/ participants perspectives on Nawiri FCRMs, regular process monitoring, follow-up, updating and monitoring Nawiri’s learning & adaptation tracker use etc.
• In collaborative ways, foster respectful relationships and dialogue on Nawiri interventions, learning and results, with staff, community members and key stakeholders at all levels.
• Strengthen Nawiri, government and partner organization staff capacity in accountability and learning (including on CRS accountability and learning policies and procedures and Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) standards), to enhance their impact.
• Advance the use of Information and Communication Technology for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (ICT4MEAL) within Nawiri including Youtrack for management of FCRM, working closely with the CRS Kenya ICT4MEAL Officer oversee the use of new and existing information and knowledge systems, for quality service delivery.
• Remain flexible and open to taking on new responsibilities as Nawiri Phase 2 evolves, in response to unfolding developments and as requested and guided by the SLL.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong team player, with significant experience working in collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
• Observation, active listening and analysis skills, with proven ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong inter-personal 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.
• Demonstrable commitment to self and team learning and capacity development.
• Ability to take initiative; proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.
• Proven leadership skills and competencies.
• Exceptional facilitation, presentation, training, support and mentoring skills, especially in multi-stakeholder contexts.
• Proven ability to multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Strong narrative reporting skills.

• Ability to adapt, prioritize and remain responsive to unfolding circumstances and needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience designing, implementing and supporting accountability and learning systems for/ with county governments is an added advantage.
• Experience and skills in partner relationship management and development project support.
• Experience using mobile-data collection and management software (e.g., YouTrack, ODK, Commcare, Iform builder, Kobo).

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences; Community Development, Demography, Sociology or another MEAL-related field. Master’s degree is a plus. Additional education may substitute for some experience.
• At least 4 years of Participatory Development or Adult Education experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience focused on accountability and learning, ideally with an international NGO working with county governments.
• Significant professional training and experience on accountability and participatory/ adult learning.
• Significant supervisory experience.
• Significant capacity development experience and achievements.
• Experience supporting the quality implementation of dynamic accountability and learning systems.
• Sustained experience in participatory/ action planning, community engagement or similar.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion including gender equality.

MEAL Competencies:

• Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability and can apply MEAL competencies in Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning and Analysis processes, ICT4MEAL and MEAL management competencies, with minimal or no guidance, in a full range of typical situations. Would require guidance to handle novel or more complex situations.