Technical Advisor/ Project Focal Officer- TWENDE Project at National Drought Management Authority

Position Summary/ Purpose

Under direct supervision of the CEO, NDMA; the advisor is responsible for overall coordination of component 1 of the TWENDE project, where NDMA is the executing entity. The role holder will provide technical advice and support to the implementation of the different project activities under component 1 and component 2 where NDMA is a service provider to the Ministry of Agriculture’s State Department for Livestock, and in doing so will work to ensure coherence with the TWENDE project framework developed at the national Project Management Unit (PMU) and county levels (coordination/implementation) hubs with relevant project parties such as CDC’s, PMU’s landscape offices and project’s executing entities and service providers for component 2 and 3 as well. Under the guidance of the CEO, NDMA the Advisor will oversee the overall monitoring of the use of funds and the procurement plan. S/he will be focal point for all matters on TWENDE project for NDMA and will be supported by the general NDMA administration including CDC’s. In addition, she/he will provide guidance on the strategic direction of the project to other project staff, ensure proper monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all project activities. The position requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, experience in the region and skills to ensure coherence and consistency in spite of urgent deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

Manage the overall implementation of the TWENDE Project activities under component 1 and result 2.4 under component 2, where NDMA is a service provider.

• Develop annual activity work plans, and procurement plans, as well as budgets based on expected year-end outputs, and ensure close monitoring of activities and delivery.
• Coordinate and guide County Drought Coordinators (CDCs) in cascading the approved NDMA workplan into county specific workplans
• Work closely with the finance team on matters including financial planning, expenditure tracking, sub-contracting to Executing Entities to ensure NDMA/IUCN policies are applied and GCF requirements are followed as per signed implementation agreement between NDMA and IUCN and other project documents
• Follow up on the following;
  • The compliance of project implementation with GCF, NDMA/GoK, IUCN policies and safeguards
  • The performance of the projects with the target indicators, logical framework, workplan and budget through regular reporting and on-site supervision missions
• Work with NDMA other project staff to receive, review and synthesize monitoring information to support adaptive management and ensure timely compliance with internal and GCF monitoring and reporting requirements, especially to produce the GCF annual performance reports (APRs)
• Prepare any required updates / summaries on the projects and participate in project-related meetings with the GCF, government, executing entity partners etc.
• Supervise personnel engaged in delivering aspects of the project including consultants
• Regular reviews on the subsidiary agreements with the accredited entity and service providers
• Support the management of the project related expenditures both from GCF/IUCN and Government of Kenya and reporting of the same
• Provide follow up support and tracking of administrative, programmatic and financial issues with project implementing partners.

Focal point and coordination of partnerships with key stakeholders

• Serve as the single point of contact and project representative with partners and external and internal stakeholders including PMU, IUCN and other executing entities and service providers.
• Develop and coordinate project implementation with NDMA CDC’s
• Build, maintain and manage effective working relationships with consortium members and ensure that ICRAF, NDMA’s service provider is performing to the highest standards, support project objectives and targets, and comply with GCF rules and regulations;
• Ensure continuous liaison with the relevant Government agencies, NGOs, Civil Society, IUCN and county engagement.
• Participate in project meetings organised by Accredited Entity (AE), Executing Entities (EEs) and service providers

Provide technical advice and support to the implementation of the Project activities

• Provide technical inputs to the implementation of the different project activities and outputs – by providing technical inputs to workshop presentations, to studies, to advisory services and to other activities and outputs of the project
• Provide technical support and back-up services to the CDC’s
• Prepare, in consultation with the partners, TORs for consultants and comment on their reports
• Oversee all cross-cutting activities and ensure their strong support of and synergy with technical implementation objectives and vision, including, but not limited to: communications and outreach; monitoring, evaluation & learning (MEL), knowledge management; and, gender and social inclusion
• Monitor and report the implementation of environmental and social risk management measures through the programme cycle through NDMA/CDC’s who are focal points on gender, landscape coordinators and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) work.
• Provide technical advisory services as required on activities that NDMA is expected to deliver including community-based Rangeland restoration interventions that incorporate Disaster Risk Reduction and reduce emergency response to other climate related emergencies; early warning systems and technical backstopping in analysing climate variability and risk assessment for the different landscapes among others.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Lead and coordinate County Drought Coordinators in completing the NDMA Annual Project Reports, based on the six-monthly project progress reports and share with PMU as per project’s reporting Ensure timely preparation of high quality and submission of required reports, including bi-annual progress and expenditure reports, per the requirements of GCF;
• Carry out regular follow-up and monitoring of implementation activities
• Carry out regular monitoring and reporting on risks and mitigation measures
• Provide regular updates on the project’s progress where possible for all parties and reporting requirements; including to the CEO, NDMA for presentations to the Project Steering Committee.
• Oversee project full compliance and reporting on Environmental and Social Management Framework and Gender and Youth Action Plan (GYAP)
• Compile NDMA component two Semi-Annual Project Progress Reports and submit to SDL
• The technical advisor will provide technical backstopping in analysing of climate variability and risk assessment for the different landscapes.
• Document, package and disseminate the information, lessons learnt and success stories from the project to a wider audience for awareness, advocacy and policy influencing;
• Work and coordinate with county governments and other stakeholders in the implementation of the activities for various projects.

Other responsibilities:

• Fundraising and programme development support for NDMA
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the CEO, NDMA.

Qualifications

For appointment to this grade, a candidate must have:

• Bachelors’ degree in environmental science/natural resources management, policy/project management, economics or other equivalent and relevant field
• Master’s degree in environmental science/natural resources management, policy/project management, economics or other equivalent and relevant field
• At least 10 years of experience working with project/program design, monitoring, implementation and management in environment, climate change, drought, conservation or relevant areas with demonstrated strong management and coordinating skills
• At least five (5) years of management experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on multi-faceted programs
• Professional experience in climate change mitigation or adaptation.
• Demonstrated experience with the implementation of donor funded projects
• Knowledge and experience of successful engagement of devolved governance structures and systems.
• Expertise and experience in climate change and relevant sectors such as energy, agriculture, water and cross-cutting issues such as gender, environmental and social impact assessments
• Experience leading teams in the country/region and/or proven ability to establish productive working relationships with multi-sectoral partners/counterparts/stakeholders
• Experience in gender and youth mainstreaming in programmes
• Experience in programme design, environmental and social management frameworks, monitoring and evaluation is an asset
• Experience of working in ASAL areas

Language Proficiency:

• Excellent command of English and strong verbal and written communication skills including public-speaking
• Good understanding of Swahili is a must

Core Competencies:

• Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of NDMA in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
• Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provide a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Professionalism: Promotes the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
• Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the NDMA One Programme approach.

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills including ability to summarize complex donor programs
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with all levels of staff and partners from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Capability to develop and implement effective strategies and tactics for accomplishing assigned duties.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically and synthetically across fields and topics
• Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity.
• Demonstrated ability to work in team environments and cultivate productive partnerships across a diversity of stakeholders
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects
• Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills.
• Clear commitment to fostering a culture of high performance and accountability, demonstrated in the ability to manage by results.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills: Committed to continuous learning and proactive and positive attitude towards self-development
• Willingness to travel.