Job Title: Senior Project Officer – Positive Parenting
Nairobi (Ref.2019/018) Coast (Ref.2019/019)
Department: Mwendo Project – Programming
Band: 8
Reports To: Economic and Livelihood Specialist
Country/Location: Kenya/ Nairobi and Coast
Length of Contract:** Two years
About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners, people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
CRS has worked in Kenya since 1965. Over the years, CRS’ focus shifted from direct relief and food distributions to a comprehensive development program that works with partners and enhances local capacity. CRS Kenya programs now support children affected by HIV, and community-based efforts to increase household incomes, improve family health and sanitation, and enhance agriculture livelihoods.
Background:
CRS is implementing a 5-year orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) program, Mwendo, which seeks to empower local and county-level OVC stakeholders to strengthen the formal and informal HIV and child protection systems and services and the linkages between them, including cross-sectoral service referrals and coordination to ensure quality service delivery for OVC and their households.
Job Summary:
As a key member of the Mwendo Project Cluster team, reporting to the Economic strengthening specialist, the Positive Parenting SPO will provide technical leadership for the project on positive parenting and ECD. She/ He will lead in capacity strengthening of project and LIP staff on positive parenting and ECD, ensuring multi-sectorial roll-out at community level, monitor and report on all project activities related to positive parenting and ECD services for OVC and their families in support of CRS’ work serving the poor and vulnerable. S/he will work with LIPs to increase OVC enrolment and retention and ensure MWENDO improves ECD services for OVCs and their families, updating of referral guidelines and LIPs provide appropriate referrals linking to ECD services. Her/his thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve. S/he will coordinate closely with other Mwendo Project Officers to contribute to a holistic, integrated, and comprehensive project implementation.
The SPO will serve as the primary point person to engage the Ministry of Education in policy, buy-in, support to reach OVC in schools and identify out of school children. S/he will also link with related CRS’ projects, UNICEF, and other key national stakeholders on parenting for ECD, assuring that the Mwendo approach and activities build on and strengthen ongoing efforts.
Job Responsibilities:
- Support the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of all positive parenting project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
· Lead in the identification, adaptation and roll out of the various positive parenting curricula for different ages, stages and special populations (e.g., CLHIV and ALHIV).
· Collaborate with Mwendo program technical staff to include parenting-related benchmarks into LIP and County sustainability plans and household case plans
· Ensure appropriate benchmarks are identified to monitor household progress.
- Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist local implementing partners (LIPs) in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
- Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting LIPs in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with LIPs to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
- Collect information on technical assistance needs of LIPs in relation to positive parenting. Provide technical support and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
- Ensure quality and minimum protection standards are implemented and respected in all ECD sites, ensuring that all who work with children have signed and understood the CRS Child Protection Policy
- Promote engagement in positive parent/child relationships.
- Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices. Actively engage in dissemination and use of relevant knowledge in the field.
- Represent CRS in meetings at county and cluster levels, working groups, and other events as requested, to support forging relations with the GOK, LIPs, other stakeholders, and the community.
- Ensure accurate and timely reporting of all assigned project activities per donor and CRS standards and established schedules.
Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, Gender, Public Health or a related field.
- At least 4 years of work experience for Bachelor’s degree holders in project support in the field of integrated ECD, HIV/AIDS, and other health-related projects in Kenya and for an NGO.
- In-depth understanding of donor expectations for program results, outcomes, impact, and reporting.
- Experience in participatory action planning and engagement of stakeholders at various levels.
- Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
- Excellent understating of GOK.
- Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Personal Skills
· Strong communication, relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
· Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
· Good technical writing skills
· Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
· Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented
Required/Desired Foreign Language
Able to clearly communicate in written and spoken English
Travel Required
Up to 30% of the time to Mwendo project sites
Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory: None
Internal: Mwendo Leadership, The Positive Parenting & ECD SPO is a key member of the Mwendo project. S/he will report to the ESL Specialist and collaborate with other technical staff to ensure a holistic, integrated, and comprehensive project.
External: GOK, LIPs, other stakeholders, and the community.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
· Integrity
• Accountability & Stewardship
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Strategic Mindset
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
Written applications indicating the reference number of position applied for and CV including day-time contact phone numbers, as well as names and contact information of three references should reach the below-mentioned by Close of Business Friday, June 30, 2019.
Human Resources Manager
Catholic Relief Services – Kenya/Somalia Program
E-mail :[email protected]
Note: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) does not charge any fees from applicants for any recruitment. Further, CRS has not retained any agent in connection with this recruitment
More Information
- Job City Kenya