Project Coordinator 299 views3 applications

Organization: VWB/VSF Canada

Country: Kenya (home and Office based with travel between cities)

Level of Effort: Contract (2 Years renewable)

Reports to: VETS Africa Program Officer

Veterinarians without Borders/ Vétérinaires sans frontières – Canada (VWB/VSF) is a charitable, humanitarian organization whose mission is to work for, and with, those in need to foster the health of animals, people, and the environments that sustain us. More information about the organization can be found at www.vetswithoutborders.ca.

VWB/VSF sends many Canadian volunteers overseas to work with partners help create integrated animal health systems. The Canadian volunteers include professors of veterinary medicine, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, rural development specialists, food safety specialists, horticulturalists, community health workers, and gender specialists. While universities, community organizations—even government agricultural extension workers benefit from this initiative, the primary focus is on improving the lives of small-scale livestock producers.

The Volunteers Engaged In Gender Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) Project will directly improve the economic and social well-being of the poorest, most marginalized people, particularly women and girls, in six countries in Africa and Asia, through support to animal, human and environmental health (One Health) initiatives. The Project will use the skills of Canadian volunteers to support smallholder farmers, primarily women, to reduce poverty by improving family income and nutrition principally through improved production of livestock and crops. By working with local women’s organizations and associations, as well as local partners that work with and support the identified women’s groups, the Project will also help women assume greater leadership and control over their livelihoods. The Project is built around the One Health (OH) concept which recognizes that the health of people, animals and the natural environment are interconnected. It promotes the production of more and better food and increased incomes from livestock, all the while promoting land rehabilitation and conservation for sustainable development. Between 2020 and 2027, Canadian volunteers will work with national volunteers and selected country partners in Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Laos, Senegal and Vietnam to help create integrated animal health systems that benefit small scale farmers.

VWB/VSF is presently seeking a Project Coordinator to join our team. The successful candidate will lead volunteer management, project planning, management, administration and logistics of VWB/VSF/Kenya portfolio. In this fast-paced work environment, the individual will require exceptional time management and organizational skills, be self-sufficient, and able to think quickly on his/her feet. S/he must be able to consistently project an enthusiastic, positive approach that contributes to a collegial and closely-knit organizational culture. The ideal individual will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations, with strong program management, written and verbal communication, administrative, financial, monitoring and evaluation and organizational skills.

Responsibilities:

1. Program Management

• Work with the Kenya partners and VWB-HQ staff in the project planning, design and implementation of the VETS program
• Responsible for liaising with program colleagues in Ottawa on issues of project development and management
• Work with VWB-HQ staff and volunteers to build relationships with other potential partners and stakeholders as relevant to the project; particularly, women and women-led local organizations

2. Volunteer Management

• Liaise with Meru and Wakulima partners to develop and submit volunteer placement descriptions to VWB/VSF for review
• Support volunteer(s), including: in-country orientation upon arrival, workplan development, and regular volunteer meetings to ensure adequate workplan progress and continual volunteer support
• Coordination of volunteer placement logistics, including: arrival support, visa facilitation (including invitation letter), accommodation arrangements, workplan, and transportation support (when required)
• Be available for on-call (24/7) phone support to Canadian volunteers while in-country and ensure cover arrangements are in place for a suitable alternative if away from the project location or out of range.
• Contribute to the health and security of the volunteers by providing information on local clinics/hospitals, safety advice and responding to emergency situations as/if needed
• Follow VWB/VSF Incident Reporting Guidelines and ensure all project beneficiaries are aware of reporting mechanisms in place**
• Follow VWB-HQ led safety and security protocols and reinforce safety standard operation procedures (SOPS) with volunteers while they are in-country**

3. Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Monitor all project activities, expenditures and progress towards achieving the project output.
• Contribute to the development of the Project Implementation Plans, and the Annual Work Plans (AWPs) in Years 1-7
• Coordinate and ensure the completion of Quarterly Placement Reports (QPRs) by volunteers
• Participate in quarterly status update and planning session with HQ Program Officer
• Facilitate a participatory Annual Partnership Review (APR) meeting with Partners, community(ies) beneficiaries and volunteer(s)
• Work alongside Meru and Wakulima teams to prepare an Annual Country Report
• Conduct regular data collection/monitoring evaluation activities to evaluate community impact
• Analyse local context and advise VWB, volunteers and partners on gender equality, environmental sustainability and governance aspects of all project activities
• Keep a daily record of all project activities to contribute to program monitoring

4. Financial Management

• Assist in the development and Annual Project Budgets
• Ensure compliance to VWB/VSF’s anti-fraud policy, including the establishing of appropriate in-country anti-fraud mechanisms
• Prepare monthly expense claims to VWB-HQ
• Ensure the proper storage of all original receipts relating to project expenses
• Coordinate payments for local travel, accommodation, meeting rooms and other resources as required for program activities
• Support the volunteer(s) and Partners in complying with any financial management duties they are responsible for (will vary by project)

5. Communications

• Collect impact statements from beneficiaries, local partners, and volunteers regarding notable changes and benefits from program participation on a quarterly basis**
• Collect photos and videos to submit to VWB HQ staff of local beneficiaries, livestock, volunteers, and local partner staff monthly**
• Submit one GAC Case Study per quarter to VWB-HQ staff

6. General / Administrative

• Conduct general administrative duties to ensure that the project and its activities and processes align with local laws and regulations (e.g. operations permit, visas for volunteers, insurance, etc.)
• Coordinate, as/if required by the project, the identification of local resource people to participate in the project (i.e. trainers, gender advisors, etc.)
• Manage inventory: keep record of all project equipment, ensuring it is used appropriately and labelled as required
• Carry out other tasks as arising and as agreed as per discussions with the Africa Program Officer, in collaboration with partners.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, social science or a related field
• Excellent Program Management skills
• Fluent in English (written and oral)
• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills
• Experience working with international development organizations, volunteer sending organizations an asset
• Experience managing/working with international volunteers
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• 2 to 5 years experience in monitoring and evaluation

Desired:

• Working knowledge of Kiswahili
• Knowledge of/experience working in the field on One Health
• Knowledge of dairy farming management is an asset
• Experience with participatory approaches
• Strong financial management knowledge