Openings at Mercy Corps

Essential Job Responsibilities 

Program Management

• Facilitate community / Household visioning process for resilient livelihoods using community participatory appraisal tools
• Coordinate with the Ward/ sub county level of County Government to mobilize actions and ensure effective communication channels.
• Coordinate with community leadership to facilitate activity integration and targeting of participants / groups within selected irrigation schemes. 
• Coordinate with County government to build capacity for poor HHs on appropriate crop production systems and relevant climate smart agriculture approaches and technologies 
• Facilitate business to business linkages for targeted small scale irrigation schemes / farmers associations / groups that include poor and ultra-poor for increased access to farm inputs, finance and markets.
• Facilitate Increased access for poor and ultra-poor HH to productivity enhancement inputs, climate smart agriculture and post-harvest technologies
• Facilitate identification of youth and women agri-preneurs and lead support them establish interventions; i.e. establish fruit tree nurseries.
• Support small-scale vegetable production gardens utilizing home garden techniques (permaculture) to promote nutrition dense vegetables for enhanced household consumption and income generation targeting poor households
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation of project activities 
• Coordinate with the livelihoods officer to develop activities work plans, directly implement and report for each activity undertaken
• Mobilize communities and support SBC initiatives for transformed practices at household level
• Coordinate with public and private service providers (crop husbandry, inputs suppliers, aggregators, local financial institutions etc) to reach USAID Nawiri participants.
• Collaborate with Nawiri health and nutrition staff to integrate messaging into crop and livestock production training curriculum.

COMMUNITY AND COUNTY ENGAGEMENT 

• Mobilize sub-county and ward level meetings with relevant stakeholders.
• Lead community engagement and mobilization activities within the Ward(s) of operation 
• Support the facilitation of planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise and customize implementation plans.
• Conduct community mobilization and sensitization meetings with ward and community-level leaders to enhance investment in crop production. 

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION 

• Assist livelihoods and food security officers in activity coordination with local government and other implementers at the Subcounty level.
• Participate in planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to develop and deliver capacity building of farmers 
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission

OTHER

• Promote and adhere to the principle and objectives of the project and Mercy Corps.
• Participate in other USAID Nawiri livelihoods program activities (Livestock and NRM)
• Other duties as assigned.

Organizational Learning  

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. 

Accountability to Participants 

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

 Knowledge and Experience 

• A Diploma in Agriculture (Crop & Livestock) related field (i.e., Agronomy, Agro-ecology, Horticulture, Dry land agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture Education & Extension).
• Advanced technical certificate holders from reputable institutions plus proven experience of over 5 years will be considered.  
• Minimum 3 years of direct implementation of agriculture development activities.  Experience working directly with small scale irrigation is an added advantage. 
• Good spoken and written English required.
• Must be able to work independently once in the field and show initiative.
• Experience in farmers needs assessment and report writing.
• Demonstrable experience in farmers training and community mobilization
• Experience in community participatory appraisal tools
• Practical experience in partnership building and collaboration with government and other partners
• Computer and basic administrative and organizational skills is a plus.
• Willingness to travel extensively throughout the project area.

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General Position Summary

The Gender Inclusion & Social Change officer will be responsible for implementing the gender and social dimensions’ interventions of malnutrition, food security and resilience. S/he will ensure effective and efficient roll out of planned gender/social change activities through day to day coordination at the county level. Under the overall guidance of the Gender, Youth and Social Lead S/he will support the implementation of gender transformative approaches as captured in the gender strategy.

Through research and learning activities, that are designed and executed in close collaboration with county government, civil society, private sector, and communities themselves, there is an inherent need to understand the opportunities and challenges that are unique to women, youth and adolescents in Samburu so that programming can be adapted. The Gender Inclusion & Social Change Officer will support and action our understanding of the complex causality of persistent acute malnutrition as it relates to the varied needs of women, men, girls, and boys in Samburu County. To ensure the gender and social dimensions of food security and resilience are effectively addressed across all activities and components, the Gender Inclusion & Social Change Officer will work with the team and coordinate closely with partners to fulfill gender and social change goals of the program.

Key Responsibilities

Program management

• Oversee Gender, inclusion, and social inclusion/dynamic activities in central Wamba west and North subcounty in Samburu County for direct mercy corps direct implementation and subgrantee local implementing partners activities.
• Supports the Gender, Youth and Social inclusion coordinator in contextually translating the vision for Nawiri’s approach when it comes to the integration of gender, youth, and social dynamics.
• Support the development, integration and mainstreaming of Nawiri’s Gender Strategy with a view to strengthen gender responsiveness and gender transformational approaches in all programmatic interventions, with a nutrition lens.
• Ensure high quality and timeliness on deliverables against intended objectives and targets.
• Ensure broad-based county co-creation mechanism towards the development of a contextually relevant Structural and Social Behavior change strategy to guide effective integration in key sectors such as nutrition, health, water systems, and governance - throughout the program’s cycle.
• Contribute to and support the development of detailed implementation plans of gender and social change interventions.
• Support field research, learning and implementation of adolescent and youth interventions ensuring the adoption of mechanisms and approaches that enhance agency and leadership of adolescents and youth with a view to challenge intergenerational cycles of poverty and persistent acute malnutrition.
• Provide oversight to the gender/social change program components at the central sub - county level, including undertaking field visits to oversee implementation and generate field visit reports.
• Support in the monitoring of project activities to ensure they are inclusive and support reflection and adaptation to improve inclusion as required.
• Work with the M&L team to ensure effective gender differentiated data is both captured and documented.
• Identify and support documentation of best practices and use them to profile the impact of local level gender /social change approaches and promote lesson sharing.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives in gender integration for the program staff and partner organizations.
• Represent the project to internal and external partners including the county government and other project partners and key stakeholders on relevant gender/ social change information.
• Other duties, as required.

Team management

• Create and maintain a work environment where mutual respect among team members prevails and where the pursuit of individual and collective excellence is valued.
• Supervise assistants and short term consultants and enumerators in various field activities in gender, youth, social dynamics scope to deliver on time and quality, from time to time.
• Promote individual accountability and commitment by clearly and regularly communicating and providing constructive feedback.
• Support field level collaborative efforts and learning to drive overall effectiveness and coherence of program operational strategies.
• Work collaboratively with all consortium partner staff in delivering a cohesive, integrated, gender and youth responsive program.
• Effectively communicate the program's best practices and learning to the County and development stakeholders

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Personal learning and development

• Develop and implement a learning and development plan for yourself to ensure continuous improvement and growth in line with your performance goals and Mercy Corps commitment to organizational learning that allow as you to dedicate 5% of your working time to learning.

Adherence to Policies and Procedures

• Personal conduct should always be professional and respecting local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
• Accountability To Participants - Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to program participants and to international standards guiding international development work, while actively engaging ecosystem as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Diversity and Inclusion - responsibility to create a positive culture and to safeguard equity, inclusion, dignity, and respect for all. Each employee is expected to be a role model for others and ensure alignment with MC diversity and Inclusion values.

Knowledge and Experience

• Degree in Social Sciences, Gender and development studies or other relevant discipline.
• Hands on experience with NAWIRI Programming under Gender program in Samburu.
• Experience in training in gender and youth responsive interventions.
• Demonstrated in-depth understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in gender integration that ensure proper cross-sectoral/integrated approach.
• Familiarity with principles and approaches in gender transformative approaches and understanding of programs addressing persistent acute malnutrition.
• Demonstrated coordination, teamwork and planning skills with proven ability to function effectively programs/projects in both the public and NGO sectors.

Success factors/ essential skills:

• Initiative-taker, multi-tasker, and able to work effectively and respectfully with local government, private sector, civil society and donors.
• Demonstrated experience in setting up and managing systems and procedures as well as experience in building team commitment toward the achievement of program objectives.
• Team-player with positive attitude to problem solving and conflict resolution. Focused on team building and capacity-building of program staff and will be able to apply creative solutions to program quality.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected events impacting program operations.

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General Position Summary

The Livelihoods and Food Security officer will be a member of the USAID Nawiri Resilient Livelihoods Team supporting program implementation at sub-office level. He/she will lead work plan implementation of livelihood interventions as appropriate to context, for sustained vulnerable households’ access to nutrient-dense foods and overall food security despite exposure to shocks and stresses. S/he is directly responsible for supporting all USAID Nawiri Livestock and Agriculture (crop) program activities primarily; and directly implements financial inclusion and enabling market systems to last mile communities to support ultra-poor and the most vulnerable households and strengthening diversified efforts for improved Household Economies. S/he works alongside other officers in layering interventions for collective impact at household and community level. The officer is able to translate how the interconnected actions at household and community level contribute to sustainable household food security and therefore motivate community-driven leadership of actions at local level.

S/he is a member of the team that supports implementation of households' economic strengthening initiatives working with local resource persons and local implementing organizations. S/he drives implementation of innovative climate smart agriculture approaches including crop through irrigation in selected irrigation schemes and communities with permanent water sources. He/she supports communities/households uptake fodder production, improved livestock and ecological practices  to secure milk availability, especially through the dry season. 

The position is based at the USAID Nawiri sub-county (sub-office) office level supporting interventions within the sub-county and prioritized wards -that continuously experience high rates of acute malnutrition. S/He will work closely with relevant sub-county, ward officials, village level officials, CSOs and private sector players involved in livelihoods and food security & nutrition within their areas of operation. S/he is an excellent community mobilizer with strong facilitation skills in local language/dialects.

Success factors for this role include: A technical person who understands the tightly interconnected relationship between natural resources management, agriculture-based (crops & livestock) livelihoods, seasonality, risk and resilience in the arid and semi-arid lands. A community mobilizer with local context with openness to learning and demonstrable willingness to challenge self and navigate social norms change that affect nutrition outcomes.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Leading implementation of work plan in line with agreed approaches and milestones and specifically responsible for Livestock and crop interventions, including irrigation in resilient livelihood scope. Lead implementation of livestock, crops interventions including coordination with target communities and partners at the sub-office level.
• Directly oversee crop and fodder production through irrigation in selected irrigation schemes
• Supports household engagements for improved economies, transforming household and social dynamics and responsible for layering interventions for collective impact at household and community level. 
• Coordinate with the different levels of stakeholders including household members, community groups, local implementing partners, community resource persons, government stakeholders at sub-county, ward, village - to mobilize actions and ensure effective communication channels.
• Coordinate with community leadership to facilitate activity integration and targeting of participants.
• Collaborate with Nawiri health and nutrition staff to integrate messaging into crop and livestock production training curriculum.
• supports behavior change communication and adoption of supportive practices. This includes sharing evidence informing livelihood choices, in simplified manner with communities
• Plans and leads TOT training sessions to Community Mobilizers / Champions in collaboration with Government counterparts.
• Liaise with other project teams and staff at the sub office level to ensure that all USAID Nawiri interventions are well-coordinated and prioritized
• Coordinate with Markets and Alternative Livelihoods team members to identify private sector partners or opportunities for new enterprises that improve farmer access to input and output markets. Supports financial inclusion interventions, activation and lasting connections of markets to last mile communities for affordable access to diverse nutrient-dense foods and services.
• Coordinate with public and private service providers (animal health, crop husbandry, etc.) to reach program participants at the ward level.
• Prepares activity reports and supports County Resilience Livelihoods Coordinator in the review and development of work plans and thematic reports.
• Collaborate with the M&E team to support monitoring and evaluation on effectiveness and impact of livelihoods activities at the Sub-office level and make recommendations for improvements.
• Collaborate with Nawiri health and nutrition staff to integrate messaging into crop and livestock production training curriculum.
• Contribute to team work plans and guide successful implementation of program activities, ensuring teams and partners activities are on track and in alignment to achieve desired impact;
• Work closely with all other program teams at local level to identify clients for financial services and to support service extension and financial inclusion as well as development of suitable products and services.
• Actively participate in the periodic program planning, review and reflection meetings and sessions.
• Prepare accurate and timely reports and other project documentation and communication that contribute to a learning organization.
• Coordinate with other Mercy Corps programs and local government bodies to ensure coherent program implementation and to capitalize on business opportunities in Mercy Corps’ target communities.
• Support collaboration, learning and adaptations, monitoring surveys in area of operation.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its mission.
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.

COLLABORATION & NETWORKING

• Integrates community approaches, gender sensitivity, conflict sensitivity and do no harm principles and mainstreams capacity building and sustainability approaches into all activities as appropriate including certifying all interventions to adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards;
• Conduct community mobilization and sensitization meetings that are inclusive and to help prioritize the economic needs of target communities.
• Support with collaborative partnership with other development partners and identify potential opportunities for linkages
• Engage and support systems strengthening actions including Ward Development planning
• Link and strengthen capacity of program participants’ to tap into opportunities including their influence in influencing planning and budgeting of nutrition resilience interventions i.e. their voice in Ward Planning Committees and multi-sectoral platforms.
• Continuously update stakeholder mapping and coordinate activities with various stakeholders, to ensure strong linkages between resilient livelihood and other priority pathways for strengthening nutrition resilience in the context.
• Collaborate with consortium staff within the geographical and thematic scopes to develop projects, implement and closely monitor selected economic development projects including detailed work plans and business plans.
• Mobilize sub-county, ward level and village meetings with relevant stakeholders.
• Support the facilitation of planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise and customize implementation plans.
• Conduct community mobilization and engagement meetings with ward and community-level leaders to implement USAID Nawiri livelihoods activities
• Support community visioning process for resilient livelihoods
• Support with collaborative partnership with other development partners and identify potential opportunities for linkage

INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION

• Assist sub-office coordinator and County Field Director to coordinate activities with consortium partners, sub grantees, local government and other implementers
• Support the facilitation of planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance/buy-in;
• Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGO’s and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager.
• Collaborate with Consortium partners, sub grantees, local government, and other implementers working at the sub-office level.
• Facilitate planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance/buy-in at the sub-office level
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervision of Assistant Livelihoods officers and Community Resource Persons 

 Accountability

• Reports Directly To: County Resilient Livelihoods Coordinator
• Works Directly With: Climate Smart Advisor, Alternative Livelihoods and Inclusive Markets Advisor, R4N coordinator and field officers, Health and Nutrition officers, Structural and Social Behavior Change officers, Citizen Engagement and Social Accountability Officers, Household Economic Strengthening Technical Advisors, Gender and Social Inclusion Coordinator among others.

Knowledge, experience and competencies required

• Degree in agricultural related field or Diploma with over 5 years’ relevant working experience
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience directly implementing agriculture (crop and livestock) interventions at the field level in Kenya ASALs. Learning and experience in agronomy will be an advantage.
• Demonstrable familiarity with Kenya’s ASAL, agriculture crop and livestock and natural resources sectors.
• Proficient analytical skills that demonstrate an understanding of the current concepts, priorities, and issues in program monitoring, data collection, and evaluation.
• Team player who takes initiative and is a problem-solver.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multitasking and organizational s
• Ability to manage priorities independently
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Excellent teamwork abilities and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with M&E, information, communications and knowledge sharing technologies and use of innovative approaches on digital financial services.
• Demonstrated computer competency of Microsoft Excel/Word and knowledge of data management software;
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment.
• Ability to focus on day-to-day tasks at hand while also working towards longer-term objectives with an understanding that these will change continuously;
• Ability to work without constant supervision and as part of a diverse team;
• Good reporting, communication and representation skills;
• Good problem solving, written and oral communication skills;
• Confident, sound training facilitation and representation/relationship skills;
• Strong written and spoken English and Kiswahili
• Local language skills required especially Samburu and Turkana Languages.

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General Position Summary

The Alternative Livelihoods and Inclusive markets Officer will be a member of the USAID Nawiri Resilient Livelihoods Team and directly responsible for implementing nutrition-sensitive resilient livelihood interventions at sub-county (prioritized wards) level. These include on and off-farm livelihoods, market systems development along crop, livestock value chains, financial inclusion and vocational skills. S/he will work alongside other USAID Nawiri team members in layering interventions for collective impact at household and community level. The position is based at the USAID Nawiri sub-county (sub-office) office level supporting interventions within the sub-county and prioritized wards - that continuously experience high rates of acute malnutrition. S/He will work closely with relevant county officials, CSOs and private sector players involved in livelihoods and food security & nutrition within their areas of operation.

Livelihoods across Samburu are diverse and further diversifying as stability and investment spreads across Kenya’s northern arid lands. Although some communities and households are able to benefit from growth and change, others are struggling to find a place in the increasingly diversified economy. The Alternative Livelihoods and Inclusive markets Officer plays a pivotal role in supporting community and household livelihood activities that support positive nutritional outcomes. Activities will likely include support to poverty graduation models aimed at supporting human capital development, conflict management and peaceful co-existence around natural resource management, and Ward development planning.

S/he will support implementation strategies in coordination with the Field Director and Livelihoods Coordinator. While support will be available from a variety of internal sources, the Alternative Livelihoods and Inclusive markets Officer will largely draw on technical support from Livelihoods coordinator and Livelihoods team of advisors in Nairobi to assist with moving the program forward and supporting partners with technical assistance. It will be critical to ensure that common strategies and approaches are applied that lead to sustainable nutrition outcomes. S/he will keep abreast of changing contexts in the County and advise on the integration of new ideas and approaches as appropriate.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program Management

• Facilitate community / Household visioning process for resilient livelihoods using community participatory appraisal tools.
• Contribute to livelihoods team, work plans and guide successful implementation of program activities, ensuring teams and partners follow work plans so activities are in alignment and achieve desired impact.
• Provide technical guidance on all alternative livelihoods and markets system development interventions where required and ensure that interventions are responsive to stakeholders and consistent with Mercy Corps’ learning agenda and plan.
• Oversee the design and implementation of nutrition sensitive Ward Development Plans and alternative livelihoods and Markets based interventions.
• Facilitate business to business linkages for targeted crop/livestock and off farm livelihoods anchor groups for increased access to input and output markets.
• Facilitate Increased access for poor and ultra-poor HH to productivity enhancement inputs, skills for starting and growing alternative livelihoods.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation of project activities. 
• Coordinate with the livelihoods assistant to develop activities work plans, directly implement and report for each activity undertaken.
• Mobilize communities and support livelihoods based SSBC and case management initiatives for transformed practices at household level.
• Identify and build win-win partnerships with public and private sector actors to support the start-up and growth of on and off-farm livelihoods in Samburu County.
• Identify links for program participants to other traders, markets, financial institutions, public and private institutions.
• Collaborate with Nawiri health and nutrition staff to integrate messaging into on and off-farm livelihood training curriculum/manuals.
• Ensure that interventions are evidence-based and adhere to adaptive management principles.
• Support research, assessments, evaluations and monitoring surveys in the area of operation. This will entail development of Scopes of Work, development of survey tools, training and management of data collectors, report writing and facilitating results discussion.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate including certifying all interventions to adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.

COMMUNITY AND COUNTY ENGAGEMENT

• Mobilize sub-county and ward level alternative livelihoods forums with relevant stakeholders.
• Conduct community mobilization and sensitization meetings with ward and community-level leaders, government, NGO, private sector to enhance investments in alternative livelihoods. 
• Participate in Ward Development Planning processes and ensure their participation and integration of plans into county priorities.
• Link livelihoods to Ward Planning Committees to relevant county government departments and other development partners (like LMS)
• Support with collaborative partnership with other development partners and identify potential opportunities for linkages.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Work with Livelihoods Coordinator to facilitate smooth coordination of activities with consortium partners, sub grantees, local government, private sector and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
• Participate in planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to develop and deliver capacity building of participants. 
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

SECURITY

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

OTHER:

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• Other duties as assigned.

Organizational Learning 

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Participants

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience 

• Degree in Community Development, Economic Development, Business, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Livestock, Monitoring and Evaluation or related field or diploma with over 3 years’ hands on work experience.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working with NGOs/CBO’s in civic engagement, livelihoods and market system development;
• Should have knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection, reporting techniques. S/he should understand and be able to apply basic measures of central tendency and spread.
• Demonstrated computer competency of Microsoft Excel and knowledge of at least one data management software including MS Access, SPSS, STATA.
• Commitment to working in the ASALs – experience in Turkana and Samburu plus.
• Understanding of working with local partners and commitment to working in a consortium.
• Good problem solving, written and oral communication skills.
• Confident, sound training facilitation and representation/relationship management skills.
• Strong written and spoken English and Kiswahili
• Local (Samburu) language skills required.
• Ability to work without constant supervision and as part of a diverse team.
• Good knowledge of MS Office software such as Excel, Word, and Access.

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Position Summary

The Adaptive Learning and Communications Officer,  is a critical member of the USAID Nawiri CLA and Communications for Learning Team and the consortium Program Implementation Team in Samburu County & Turkana County. The position is responsible for ensuring the integration of collaborative, adaptive learning principles and practices into field operations at the sub-county level; this includes ensuring insights and lessons learned are captured, organized, packaged, and promoted to enhance program influence and impact.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Collaborative Learning for Action

• Work with the sub-county teams to ensure an adaptive learning approach is infused in the design, implementation, and reporting on all activities. This includes supporting program teams to integrate sense-making and critical reflection moments in routine program activities.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators and collaborate with the SSBC team to support program teams to organize knowledge exchange fairs that bring together program participants, USAID Nawiri teams, and other key stakeholders to share knowledge and promising practices and animate uptake. Facilitate after-action review; document and promote lessons learned for subsequent knowledge markets. Work with the M&E team and SSBC team to assess the success of knowledge markets for catalyzing behavior change.
• Work closely with the County Learning and Accountability Coordinators to conceptualize opportunities and plan, organize, and coordinate learning exchange visits for multi-disciplinary teams designed to broaden perspectives, build relationships, and trigger innovative ideas and commitments through shared action and experience.
• Identify opportunities for and coordinate local communities of practice.
• Work with the M&E team to develop a framework and plan for monitoring and evaluating communications and adaptive learning efforts
• Support the optimization of Mercy Corps’ community accountability and response mechanism (CARM) to the local context, and identify innovative ways of elevating the community voice in programmatic decision-making.
• Contribute to program learning through the design of procedures, processes, and systems to encourage and facilitate more effective sharing of program results, approaches, feedback from partners, and lessons learned throughout the organization, using this insight to contribute to the field and shape future programs.
• In collaboration with County Learning Coordinator, create the data infrastructure required for ongoing monitoring, evaluation, feedback, and learning to strengthen strategy and implementation at sub county level
• Support in identification of Sub-county learning champions in collaboration with program and county teams, including county government partners .

Communications for Adaptive Learning

• On a quarterly basis, produce case studies that highlight how program staff and participants are applying the principles and practices of collaborative, adaptive learning to enhance collective action and amplify impact.
• Support technical working groups to package and promote insights and lessons learned through the execution of their learning agendas and adaptive learning plans, and work with the M & E team to monitor uptake.
• Strengthen monitoring, evaluation, feedback, and learning practices across the program through training, workshops, webinars, etc.
• Support in increasing the organization’s standing in the community and our credibility with public and private donors by improving our ability to collect and document results and program impact.

Content Creation, Management, and Dissemination

• Work with the technical / program team to develop and manage content for input into USAID Nawiri’s regular newsletter and weekly reporting of progress (to the consortium and the donor), as well as the county monthly newsletter.
• Support the county reporting officer to track USAID Nawiri’s visibility in external platforms, and work closely with the County Directorate to disseminate content through county platforms and other media channels to create visibility for the program.
• Work with the county reporting officer to identify and develop content for USAID Nawiri’s traditional media and social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook etc.)
• Collaborate with journalists and media outlets (print, TV, radio, web etc.) to capture and share learning and promote uptake in order to amplify USAID Nawiri’s influence and impact within and beyond Samburu and Turkana counties.

Collaboration, Advocacy, Visibility

• Support the implementation and monitoring of program teams’ collaboration plans and facilitate learning sessions on the same
• Support program teams to work with identified CSOs, CBOs and champions to operationalize advocacy strategies, including through development of advocacy materials.
• Support the sub-county coordinator to conceptualize, organize, facilitate, and document joint donor and government monitoring and learning visits. This includes support to develop information packets, facilitation guides, and other materials
• Ensure sub-county teams' compliance with USAID Nawiri branding and marking requirements.

Other Duties as Assigned

Remain flexible and open to taking on new/different responsibilities USAID Nawiri evolves and progresses, especially as requested/ guided by the County Learning and Accountability Coordinator, Communications Advisor and Strategic Learning Lead.

Accountability
Reports Directly to : County Learning & Accountability CoordinatorWorks Directly with: Strategic Learning Lead, sub-county/county field teams, M&E team, program teams, County Government Communications Directorate, other relevant government departments, communities, local media, and other implementing partners

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all locations.

Minimum Qualifications and Transferable Skills

• Recognized qualification in Communications, Journalism, or a related field. Masters will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3-4 years of progressive experience working in communications or public relations, preferably with a focus on learning and rural development
• Excellent track record in content development, copy writing and editing, demonstrated through submission of a portfolio of quality products in a variety of formats (e.g. blogs, articles, op-eds, press releases, videos, etc).
• Proven experience in developing and executing communications plans.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including facilitation, fluent oral communication, with an ability to deeply connect and empathize with a range of individuals with broad backgrounds and expertise.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.

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Position Summary

USAID Nawiri’s SSBC work is central to the sustainable reduction of acute malnutrition. Phase 1 evidence gathering and continuous adaptive learning provides for a unique opportunity to be agile in implementing high quality and effective SBC interventions. USAID Nawiri envisions the position holder to program and implement a multi-sectoral SBC activities that creates nutrition resilience at household level. S/he will work with a multi-disciplinary team, covering resilient livelihood, health and nutrition, GESI, water sanitation and hygiene with the sole objective of reducing acute malnutrition in a sustainable way. The SSBC officer will be responsible for integrating SBC activities in all USAID Nawiri activities at the field implementation level. Specifically, the Officer will conceptualize with clarity and implement contextualized SBC activities at the household and community level while working with system level actors to address the structural barriers to uptake of optimal behaviors. S/he will be responsible for building the necessary skills and competencies of the frontline workers and change agents (include Peer Educators, Youth Counselors, Teachers, Gatekeepers, Opinion Leaders, Positive Deviants (Role Models), CORPs to implement quality SSBC activities. 

Essential Job Responsibilities

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• Take full ownership of SSBC activities at Sub-County/Zone level as detailed in USAID Nawiri’s Theory of Change, Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and budgets, i.e., Analyze and understand the general SSBC dimensions of PAM and steward the design, development, and implementation of customized (County) Nawiri SSBC strategies as guided by research findings, HCD insights and other available relevant programmatic intelligence.
• Technically lead the implementation of USAID Nawiri’s iterative learning and adaptations in regards to SBC activities across all thematic areas.
• Provide technical (SSBC) and general administrative support to all Nawiri technical areas; specifically, support the conceptualization, design, implementation, and reporting needs of the different thematic areas, including the development and implementation of relevant SSBC frameworks, tools, messaging, and distribution of IEC materials in appropriate formats, appropriately customized for program’s target audiences and needs.
• Support in capacity building/strengthening (e.g., Trainings, Supportive/Facilitative Visits, On-Job Trainings, Mentorship and Shadowing) of relevant change agents at Sub-County/Zone level. Develop implementation plans, relevant content, facilitate SSBC training & support follow-on implementation activities.
• In coordination with the sub county coordinators, and technical coordinators, oversee the coordination across implementation teams of the sequencing, layering and integration of household and community dialogues including mapping of content and delivery tools

PROGRAM SUPPORT & IMPLEMENTATION

• Liaise with the Sub-County program team in ensuring that USAID Nawiri’s SSBC Strategy takes cognizance of and is aligned to County priorities and strategic plans. Additionally, assess and map out relevant interventions by partners, government agencies and private sector players and purposefully guide layering/integration of USAID Nawiri’s SSBC interventions in a bid to avoid duplication and improve cost-efficiency and effectiveness at the Sub-County/Zone level.
• Support USAID Nawiri’s Continuous Learning & Adapting (CLA) approach, especially activities with an SSBC dimension; specifically, the identification of critical issues, documentation & analysis of emerging evidence, learnings, and best practices. Thereafter, guide and/or participate in the co-creation and iterative processes that are designed to incorporate the lessons learnt into the agile Nawiri SSBC framework.
• Provide support for the monitoring, collection, storage, analysis (Knowledge Management) and reporting of SSBC data, including achievements against targets, data on program quality and effectiveness and contextual factors influencing program implementation. Submit regular SSBC programmatic reports as required. Additionally, participate in the development and publication of informatics products such as HCD decks, technical briefs, professional articles, success, and Human-Interest Stories (HIS).

TEAM COLLABORATION & COMMUNICATIONS

• Work with USAID Nawiri Officers, consortium partners and Sub-County officials to competently supervise Research Assistants, Healthcare Workers, Community Health Workers (CHWs – CHVs/CHEWs/CHAs), collaborating Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and any other program operatives and/or partners implementing SSBC activities on behalf of the program.
• Liaise with and maintain cordial relationships with partners and Sub-County officials/departments implementing SSBC interventions. Plan for and support the coordination of relevant SSBC mechanisms at Sub-County level including participation and technical support to the Nawiri-fronted Multi-Sectoral Platform (MSP).
• Foster organizational values of efficiency, integrity, professionalism, responsiveness, collaboration, and respectful programming. Develop & manage implementation of SSBC plans in a manner that increases team operating performance & efficiencies according to prescribed protocols & Standard Operating Procedures.

SECURITY

• Ensure that SSBC interventions/activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security at the Sub-County/Zone level.
• Keep the SSBC Senior Officer for Nutrition Resilient updated with regard to the security situation in the program implementation areas and provide advice as to how to manage our presence in this environment.

Supervisory Responsibility

• None

Accountability

• Reports directly to: Social, Structural and Behavior Change (SSBC) Coordinator for Nutrition Resilience (technically); and, with day-to-day supervisory, operational and administrative management reporting to the Program Coordinator & Head of Field Office.
• Works directly with: USAID Nawiri County & Sub-County Field Teams, Nawiri Technical Staff, County Government and County stakeholders and relevant partners (specifically, sub-awardees, CSOs, FBOs, schools/institutions etc.).

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all locations.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable skills

• A degree in Communications, Journalism, Community Development, Marketing, Public Health, Population Studies, Social Sciences, Anthropology or related disciplines.
• At least 5 years of SSBC experience in designing, developing, implementing, monitoring strategies, activities, and materials.
• Experience in conceptualization, design, and implementation of user-centric approaches e.g., HCD and demonstrated experience at testing/pre-testing tools, materials, and strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships across sectors and cultures (cross-cultural skills).
• Demonstrated experience at working with & coordinating county mechanisms & multi-sectoral players.
• Experience and excellent skills at training and facilitating community forums including competence in approaches such as Education Through Listening, Communication for Development and Problem-Posing Techniques.
• Demonstrated experience meeting USAID and other donor reporting requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills; excellent English language writing skills are a must.
• Ability to think critically and strategically.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Office 365 including Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint.
• Willingness and ability to travel at least 60 – 80 percent of the time.
• Proficiency of the local languages/dialects is a plus.
• Experience working in ASAL counties of Samburu & Turkana is an added advantage.