Current Opportunities at Millennium Water Alliance

Job Summary

• The MEL/Communications Officer will report to the USAID STAWI Mashinani MEL Lead and will provide technical support in design, setting up a robust M&E framework, and tracking and documenting project performance. The position holder will lead project communications including developing communication strategies, materials, and knowledge products for learning and publishing. The position holder will also maintain close working relations with the USAID STAWI Contractor to achieve the broader Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA) agenda. Applicants must have the right to work in Kenya and will be based in Nairobi with travels to Activity sites.

Roles and Responsibilities

The MEL and Communication Officer will provide technical support in monitoring, evaluation, documentation, and communications as detailed below:

• Support in the development of project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) frameworks and plans.
• Contribute to the development of the project's annual performance management plan (PMP) with clear project indicators and targets.
• Support monitoring and tracking the progress of activities and identifying opportunities for staff and Implementing Partners (IP) capacity-building opportunities.
• Record, report, and analyze data against set indicators targets and annual work plans.
• Facilitate and support learning agendas, collaboration, learning and adapting, and knowledge management activities; all aimed at facilitating effective collaboration and promoting learning and sharing among stakeholders.
• Support the compilation of the quarterly and annual donor reports ensuring data and information reported is of high quality.
• Closely collaborate with the implementing partners and perform field visits as per need to ensure the quality of the data gathered by the project and to verify the accuracy of the reported data.
• Support to formulation and implementation of internal and external communications and advocacy strategies.
• Preparation and conduct of communications need assessments for the project initiatives.
• Develop internal communication tools and materials for visibility and awareness-raising campaigns, including bulletins, program briefs, press releases, human/impact stories and webinars in coordination with the MEL Lead and senior management.
• Identify and disseminate good practices, lessons, and knowledge, as identified through project implementation, monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Visit project sites and take high-quality photographs and video clips demonstrating project activities, lessons and impact across the four key focus areas.
• Support in organizing special events such as launching, donor engagement/joint monitoring, among other defined types of events.
• Participate in relevant internal and external events and meetings and provide meeting summaries as relevant.
• Any other duty assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in communications, ICT, Economics, Monitoring and Evaluation or related areas or related fields.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in implementing M&E systems and communication.
• Experience in quantitative and/or qualitative analysis.
• Knowledge/experience in at least two databases and/or analysis tools (advanced Excel, SQL, SPSS, STATA etc.).
• Experience in writing reports and storytelling reporting, conducting research (field and desk based) and summarizing information.
• Demonstrable expertise in drafting impactful communication products is required.
• Experience with a USAID-funded program will be an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to listen, communicate and work as a team with country office focal persons.
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, particularly regarding data collection and input, and in written communication
• Ability to organize and accurately complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook Email.
• Multimedia skills (video, audio clips, still photographs, article write-ups) are a plus.
• Ability to adjust to changing work environments, priorities, and goals.
• Fast learner: We’re looking for someone who thrives on learning new technologies.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

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Job Summary

• MWA seeks an experienced Finance and Grants Compliance Coordinator who will coordinate all the financial management tasks under STAWI Mashinani Activity and ensure accuracy, timeliness, and documentation in line with donor guidelines. The coordinator will also support the staff and institutional capacity strengthening of eight local partners under the Activity. He/she will report to and deputize the Finance and Operations Manager, MWA Kenya, and will supervise two Finance Officers.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Oversee accounting processes, policies, and service delivery and maintain accounting controls to ensure accurate, complete, and timely recording and management of financial transactions and internal controls in compliance with MWA financial management policies and procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements.
• Develop a targeted, risk-based, compliance review and monitoring plan for sub-grantees, disseminate the plan to the project leadership and ensure adherence/implementation of the plan within the stipulated timelines.
• Determine capacity building needs for sub-recipient and work with various stakeholders including project leadership to design customized training packages, including post-training follow up and associated documentation.
• Provide proactive advice, support, and capacity building to subrecipients to ensure compliance with standards and proper records of financial transactions, as well as to support strengthening of internal control.
• Key custodian of all essential subaward documentation (e.g., pre-award assessments, selection and negotiation memos, reports, site visits reports, monitoring plans, financial report review checklists, management letters, important email communications, pre-closeout letters, modifications, etc.) and update subaward trackers.
• Support in the preparation of and analysis of donor reports and other financial reports for various internal and external stakeholders ensuring their timely submission and attend regular meetings when required.
• Support in the preparation of the monthly Budget Comparison Reports (BCR) and Inception to date reports (ITD) and respond to any queries relating to the reports.
• Prepare finance indicator reports on monthly basis, alert management on any exceptions and make recommendations as appropriate.
• Participate in subrecipient monitoring visits, and update risk-based subrecipient monitoring and capacity building plans, on a regular basis.
• Provide support in fundraising activities and be actively involved in the budget preparation, writing of budget notes, review of project proposals for internal and external submission.
• Serve as the key point person on all issues related to financial transaction records for STAWI Mashinani Activity.
• Ensure financial reports are generated accurately and disseminated timely as per established reporting schedules and assist staff and subrecipients with financial reports analysis.
• Oversee maintenance of a good filing system of required supporting documentation to ensure easy access and retrieval, and a reliable and easy to follow audit trail.
• Ensure efficient management of cash flows and availability of sufficient and optimal cash to the sub recipient through monitoring cash balances.
• Support both MWA and sub-recipient audit process and take action to resolve findings contained in audit reports, such as cost items questioned or unresolved.
• Timely preparation, accurate review and consolidation of finance and donor reports from all partners and submission to donors/ Head Office.
• Deputize the Finance and Operations Manager and perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration. A master’s degree in any of this discipline is an added advantage.
• Qualifications in accounting, CPA/ACCA - Part 3 or equivalent is mandatory.
• Minimum of at least Seven years’ experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an International NGO with at least three years in management.
• Staff supervision experience is required.
• Experience in USAID funded programs is mandatory.
• Substantial budgeting, budget/expense analysis, and accounting experience is desired.
• Knowledge of local law in the area of taxation and local regulatory reporting procedures is preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of wide financial accounting software package preferred and an additional advantage.

Personal Skills & Abilities

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong communications and presentation skills.
• Capable of working in a dynamic, results oriented environment; ability to multi-task across various work streams/priorities.
• Ability to build relationships and influence.
• Accuracy and completeness with a strong eye for detail.
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results oriented.
• Ability to work collaboratively and transfer knowledge to others.

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Purpose

• MWA seeks an experienced Finance Officer for the USAID funded STAWI Mashinani Activity. The overall purpose of STAWIMashinani(meaning, “STAWI at the Grassroots Level” in Swahili), is to strengthen long-term resilience and capacity of county-level institutions and communities in Kenya to better manage their water resources for domestic and productive use in an efficient, equitable and sustainable manner. The program will contribute to the goal of improving water security in areas of recurrent crisis by strengthening water service, delivery, and management systems across nine arid and semi-arid counties in Northern and Eastern Kenya (namely Garissa, Isiolo, Kitui, Makueni, Marsabit, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Turkana, and Wajir).

Job Summary

• MWA seeks an experienced Finance Officer who will support, and capacity build the nine county-based consortium members on finance reporting and donor compliance. Reporting to the Finance and Grants Compliance Coordinator, the Finance Officer will make frequent visits to the nine counties to ensure compliance with USAID’s finance and grants guidelines. The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel to the field.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Carry out sub-recipient monitoring and prepare monitoring reports highlighting capacity building needs or other areas that require management’s attention.
• Review and validate supporting documentation before processing of financial transactions to ensure all required documents are accurate and complete and authorizations are in place.
• Review the monthly financial reports from the sub-recipients, confirming proper alignment with the provided ledgers and budget, ensuring accuracy, and identifying and rectifying any errors in liaison with the sub recipients.
• Timely preparation of standard and uniform finance and accrual reporting templates for the sub recipients.
• Provide technical assistance and capacity building to the sub-recipient, including interpretation of policies, setting up of systems, trouble shooting and resolution of outstanding issues.
• Evaluate and monitor subrecipient financial management processes in accordance with policy and strengthen capacity of the subrecipients in financial accounting and transactions.
• Prepare various, periodic, and ad hoc financial reports, as needed, and perform variance analysis to assist with decision-making and proper management of financial resources.
• Provide information to subrecipients on financial accounting policies and procedural compliance issues and contribute to capacity strengthening.
• Analyse and prepare sub recipient payments/reimbursement, maintain tracking schedules of sub recipients’ payments and reconciliations to facilitate timeliness of financial resource management.
• Support other finance team members and offer cover whenever called upon, on project and operation-based finance tasks.
• Undertake any other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or Business Administration.
• Qualification in accounting - CPA/ACCA part 2 or equivalent is mandatory.
• Minimum of Four years’ experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an international or local NGO.
• Experience in USAID funded programs is an added advantage.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Preferred.

Personal Skills and Abilities

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to detect and report inconsistencies.
• Conscientious, accurate and thorough with great attention to detail.
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results oriented.
• Teamwork and ability to work collaboratively.

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Job Summary

• MWA seeks an experienced Driver Officer who will be responsible for driving MWA Vehicles in compliance with MWA’s Fleet policy and procedures and the Kenyan Law while ensuring safety of passengers on board He/she will also be responsible for taking care of the assigned vehicle(s) in all aspects including ascertaining that the vehicle(s) is in excellent condition before each trip, checking the validity of vehicle insurance, checking the security situation in the areas of operation before each trip and filing defect or repair requests as appropriate. Under the supervision of the Fleet and Logistics Officer, the Driver will be based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel to the field locations that are mainly located in the Arid and Semi-Arid counties of Kenya.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Accountable for all parts and accessories fitted in assigned vehicles.
• Prepare vehicle performance, maintenance, and repair reports, and submit as required.
• Ensure the implementation of vehicle maintenance plans.
• Plan to meet anticipated travel requirements and make all arrangements for ensuring efficient services (fuelling, pre-travel checks, required travel documents, required equipment, spare parts, and tools, vehicle cleaning, persons traveling for packing instructions and timings).
• Ensure copies of daily mileage logs, pen and clipboard are readily available in all assigned vehicles. Promptly collect filled in daily mileage logs to avoid loss or defacing.
• On a monthly basis, compile a summary of the mileage log and submit it to the Fleet and Logistics Officer for review.
• Routinely check all assigned vehicles licenses, insurances, and other required documents and promptly advice when renewals are due.
• Transport MWA staff and visitors as instructed, observing local traffic and road safety laws and all MWA vehicle policies to ensure safety of passengers and luggage, and quality and courteous services. Report immediately any accidents and/or route changes due to security, bad weather, road conditions. Maintain and submit accurate records for all trips.
• Ensure assigned vehicles are secured when not in use.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• At least “O” level certificate, with a minimum pass of DIV III, or Grade C in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
• Certification in Defensive Driving is mandatory.
• Knowledge and experience in vehicle maintenance and repairs. A certificate in mechanical repairs is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 6 years work experience in a similar position.
• Experience in driving across the arid and semi-arid counties of Kenya is desired.
• Valid accident-free driving license Class B, C, E with a minimum of 4 years of long-distance and off-road driving experience.
• Knowledge of Nairobi City roads, location of government offices, major hotels, airports and major donor and NGO offices is mandatory.
• Valid certificate of Good Conduct is mandatory.
• Certificate in first aid is mandatory.

Personal Skills and Abilities

• Flexibility to travel under difficult circumstances.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team and interact with people in different cadres of society including the target communities.
• Service-oriented and excellent in timekeeping.
• Well-organized, neat and able to manage multiple tasks.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion including gender equality.