Role Purpose:
Under the general direction and guidance of the Director of Programme Development and Quality, the Child Poverty Technical Specialist will be responsible for strategic direction, growth and coordination of Save the Children’s work on food security and livelihoods, youth livelihoods, social protection (including social safety nets), markets based approach and financial inclusion. S/he is responsible for leading and overseeing the development and delivery of high quality, innovative, cost effective programmes in both emergency and long-term development settings resulting in immediate and lasting change for children. The Technical Specialist is responsible for monitoring programme quality, initiating and taking technical leadership in child poverty focused studies, documentation and dissemination of innovations and good practices by working together with other members of PDQ team. S/he will ensure child poverty programming is of excellent technical quality, attracts significant donor funding and contributes to Save the Children’s strategic objectives, national/global learning and advocacy. The Child Poverty Technical Specialist is expected to provide technical advice and support to project staff to ensure programming objectives are successfully achieved, with frequent visits to the field to support high quality programme implementation. S/he shall lead the development of the Kenya country office child poverty strategy and monitor its effective roll-out. The Technical Specialist must be willing to embrace a child rights programming approach and represent Save the Children in national forums and working groups. S/he will support the overall country strategic intent to focus on risk reduction, adaptation and resiliency in light of a changing context in Horn of Africa.
Key Areas of Accountability
Strategic Programming
- Be fully aware of and actively participate in the development and review of country strategy and thematic programme plans. Specifically lead the development and implementation of the multi-year child poverty strategy focusing on child sensitive social protection, child sensitive food security and livelihoods, and adolescent skills for successful transitions (youth livelihoods). Ensure collaboration with other thematic sectors and clearly reflect cross-cutting issues such as gender, climate change, resilience and disability.
- Lead and oversee development and realisation of child poverty strategies/plans as part of country annual plans by bringing together learnings from programme delivery, good practices and donor interests. And support the expansion of innovative programming such transformative youth livelihoods, cash transfer/safety net (‘cash plus’ approach) .
- Ensure that programme strategy supports and demonstrates good practices in child rights programming and child safeguarding and safe programming.
- Work with global SCI Child Poverty team to roll out global initiatives aimed at delivering concrete results for the three organisational breakthroughs for children.
Resource Mobilisation
- Work closely with Programme Development Manager in strategic fundraising to support implementation of child poverty strategic plans and related advocacy. This includes fundraising for projects, research and advocacy to support change objectives in policy and practices.
- Build on technical knowledge, personal understanding of the food security, social protection, youth livelihoods economic and livelihoods policies and services in Kenya, and current/previous programming, to develop proposals for child poverty programming. Ensure all new programmes support the achievement of country strategic objectives and Government of Kenya policies and legal frameworks. Work closely with Programme Development Manager and analyse donor priorities and positions on issues related to child poverty;
Policy Analysis, Representation and Advocacy
- Lead by working closely with the Advocacy and CRG Technical Specialist and Communications and Campaigns Manager to develop policy research and advocacy strategy, policy briefs and position papers in child poverty in line with Country and Global strategic plan for Save the Children. Regularly assess and communicate the implications for Save the Children’s programme and priorities of any changes in the operating environment relevant to this theme in close collaboration with other relevant advisor(s).
- Represent and advocate for Save the Children with UN agencies, donors, Government of Kenya, NGOs and others at the highest levels in both verbal and written communications to ensure Save the Children is seen as the lead international agency in terms of innovation and quality of implementation in food security and livelihoods, especially in collaboration with partners.
- Participate in the regional/national Food Security and Nutrition Working Group (FNSWG), KFSM/KFSG and other national level forums (for example, NSNP coordination meetings, CaLP, PREG, etc).
Programme Quality
- Monitor and provide timely, relevant, accurate input on overall technical aspects of Save the Children child poverty programmes work in Kenya. The position will be required to travel 30-40% of the time to Save the Children field locations.
- Liaise with the Programme Operations department (including Programme Managers and Humanitarian Manager) to ensure that all food security and livelihoods and other programme staff receive the necessary and appropriate technical support. In consultation with staff and project managers agree on the range of advice, support, training and/or other assistance required to facilitate high quality programming and ensure that this is delivered in a timely manner. This will involve regular visits to Save the Children and partners operational areas.
- Assist in the development of tools for project staff and partners to improve the quality of child poverty work. Where necessary provide technical training for project staff and partners as required (assessment tools, programme quality tools, market surveys, HEA, etc.).
- Review relevant monitoring reports to donors to ensure that technical debates are well articulated and reports are of acceptable quality before submission. Provide support where necessary to improve report writing skills.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
- Work with MEAL team to develop and up-date monitoring and evaluation framework and key indicators for child poverty that helps each project improve quality of reporting, clearly articulate progress and impact of projects, identify issues for advocacy and input for new programmes/projects in the future.
- Participate in the design of baseline, mid-term and end of project evaluations for child poverty programmes, including working with Head of MEAL on Terms of Reference and consultant selection. Monitor the evaluation process and provide input and clarification as needed. Review evaluation findings and ensure that lessons and recommendations are captured in the lessons learned database.
People Management, Mentoring and Development
- Ensure that all technical staff in child poverty understand and are able to adapt their roles in both emergency and development contexts.
- Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate; ensure availability of and support appropriate professional development opportunities for staff. Oversee that all child poverty staff proactively build and maintain technical skills and competences required for leading and/or inputting for quality development or humanitarian programmes.
Others
- Participate actively in PDQ programme meetings, planning and review activities, providing enhanced insight into child poverty programming.
- Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as programme review meetings, Extended Senior Management Team (ESMT) or Area-based meetings as required. Participate in any donor or other prominent (internal SCI/external) visit to project(s) within the country office portfolio, as required
Contract Duration: 12 Months (But renewable subject to performance and funding availability)
Work Location: Nairobi
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- An advanced degree in food security, livelihoods, social protection, nutrition, economics, development studies or other relevant discipline or commensurate work experience in lieu of postgraduate qualification.
- Significant international experience, at least 5 years, in child sensitive programming in developing countries with specific experience and/or advanced understanding of at least three of the following:
- social protection systems for vulnerable populations especially pastoral and agro-pastoral populations
- Innovative youth livelihoods programming based on markets principles/approaches.
- experience of running and monitoring cash transfer programmes
- designing and implementing market assessments and analysis of data collected
- job creation and or small and medium enterprise development
- financial service services for low-income populations (e.g. credit, savings or insurance products)
- relevant training and expertise in using Save the Children UK Household Economy Analysis (HEA)
- Excellent understanding of the food security, youth livelihoods and social protection sector within the Kenyan context, particularly issues related to markets, value chains, youth livelihoods, social protection and small enterprise.
- Clear understanding of the intersection of child poverty with other thematic areas, including nutrition, health, child protection and education in Kenya.
- Ability to develop market based programmes to promote a better nutritional status for children and livelihoods development in an integrated approach.
- Proven representation and advocacy skills.
- Strong commitment to capacity building of national staff and partners with willingness to adopt participatory and consultative approaches.
- Experience writing donor funding proposals for large institutional grants in excess of US$1 million.
- Strong report writing skills and ability to compile narrative sections for proposals and donor reports.
- Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, taking into account cultural and language difficulties.
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
- Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
- Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
- Experience solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
- Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
- Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies.
- Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required. Swahili preferred.
- Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy.
The Organization
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
- No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
- All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
- Violence against children is no longer tolerated
How to apply
Please apply in English saving your CV and covering letter as a single document, including your salary expectations for this role. To see a full a job description, please visit our website at https://kenya.savethechildren.net/careers.
We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy.
Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best-qualified talent.
Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.
Disclaimer: Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process, nor request for medical examination or records and does not act through recruitment agents whatsoever
More Information
- Job City Nairobi
