Open Positions at Catholic Relief

Job Summary

• As a lead for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation ECD Advocacy Project, the role holder will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to implementing partner’s staff, advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles And Key Responsibilities

• Conduct sessions/trainings for Interfaith Leaders and other interfaith structures to inform understanding and influence on Early Childhood Development.
• Identify and participate in networks with relevant stakeholders and partners to build strategic relationships on key policy issues and advocacy opportunities including influencing existing National ECD Framework.
• In collaboration with faith leaders, develop and continually update ECD advocacy briefs to provide updates to stakeholders on relevant activities and accomplishments.
• Represent CRS in relevant governance, planning and lobby meetings at County levels.
• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices .
• Work closely with County faith leaders in promoting ECD for children 0-3 years in the 7 counties of the Lake Region Economic Block through advocacy.
• Ensure, track, and report any learnings accompanying project activities throughout the project cycle.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
• Work closely with the faith leaders, MEAL and Finance Officers on various processes and resources to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures.
• Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Support and coordinate capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards.
• Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to the partner(s).
• Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements.
• Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Required Languages - Excellent spoken and written English
Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 70 %.
Key Working Relationships
Supervisory: None
Internal: Program Manager-ECD, MEAL, Finance Officers,
External: Implementing partner, faith leaders, relevant county government ministries, other likeminded ECD actors
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in in Early Childhood Development, Education, Social Work, Health, or related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of work experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Strong policy, advocacy and research skills and ability to negotiate and network with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Experience of developing advocacy strategies, knowledge and understanding of a range of advocacy techniques
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

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Job Summary

• The Project Officer – Environmental Compliance will lead and be accountable for full compliance to USAID environmental regulations and associated deliverables under the Nawiri program, as well as GoK environmental regulations at the county level. This includes understanding these regulations and deliverables and their operationalization within the ASAL context. The position will also be expected to generate and regularly update on Nawiri’s environmental deliverables as required. As environmental compliance is not the sole responsibility of one person, staff capacity building is essential across a large and diverse team to ensure integration of environmental safeguarding issues across interventions. On site monitoring of activities and tracking of associated indicators must be implemented in close partnership with the key county and national government departments and the project’s monitoring, evaluation and learning team. The Project Officer – Environmental Compliance will work directly and report to the Environmental Safeguards Manager, and in close collaboration with all program leads.

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct regular monitoring of Nawiri consortium activities to ensure full compliance with USAID environmental compliance regulations. Share the results of this monitoring in a timely manner and follow-up on recommendations given.
• Ensure Climate Risk Management mitigation measures are implemented as per the IEE recommendations.
• Work closely with team members, partners, and local government to build their capacity on environmental management, specifically focusing on strengthening institutional capacity, improving environmental quality and the sustainable management of natural resources, and promoting equitable solutions in managing commons such as climate change, sustainability, biodiversity conservation and others.
• Undertake quarterly environmental monitoring and evaluation of program activities against environmental regulations and standards. Take lead on developing and delivering a series of spot checks to ensure that proposed mitigation measures are properly implemented in line with the guidelines and unforeseen environmental and human health impacts are minimized. Prepare report (quarterly, field monitoring) on the safeguard risks with appropriate actions to be taken and ensure that timely actions are taken.
• Facilitate the preparation and updating of environmental safeguard lessons/results as per USAID’s requirements.
• Work in close collaboration with the M&E team to ensure that all the required environmental indicators are properly aligned and tracked with the overall M&E plan.
• Conduct assessments and advise teams on the environmental implications of planned activities.
• Coordinate with external stakeholders and contractors.
• Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations and other institutions, participate in forums in the area of environment to collect and share best practices.

Personal Skills

• Good self-management and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in the English language.
• Able to live in an environment where everyday comforts may not be readily available.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Required/Desired Foreign Language

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; ability to draft and edit reports.
• Excellent verbal communication skills in Kiswahili.

Travel Required
The position will be based in Marsabit, with occasional support for Isiolo County, with 60 % frequent travels to project sites in the respective sub counties.
Key Working Relationships
Supervisory: None
Internal: Environmental Safeguards Manager, County Systems Strengthening Specialist, County Health & Nutrition Manager, County Graduation Manager, County Food systems Specialist, County Research Coordinator, Gender & Social Dynamics Specialist, County M&E Specialist, County Learning & Accountability Specialists, Nawiri subcounty program team and Nawiri consortium partner staff.
External: County government of Marsabit staffs especially Ministry of Environment & Water, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock, NEMA, Public Administration and Civic engagement and other related government bodies and authorities, Local Implementing partners and private sector service providers.
Qualifications
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Degree in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Planning and Management, Natural Resources management, Environmental Health and Environmental Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with relevant field-based experience in environment safeguarding issues.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of GoK environmental regulations and USAID environmental compliance experience.
• Demonstrated experience working in some or all of the following: environmental safeguarding, climate risk management, conservation, biodiversity management, capacity building, environmental impact assessment and auditing.
• Knowledge of and experience working with complex MEAL systems and indicator tracking
• Experience working on technical sectors covered under the Nawiri project (nutrition, health, livelihoods, WASH, DRR, livestock, food systems, business sustainability etc.)
• Experience working with USAID as a donor preferred.
• Experience working in Marsabit County and/or the Kenyan ASALs is a plus.
• Registration with NEMA as a Lead/Associate Expert in Environmental Impact Assessment.