Vacancies at Mercy Corps

Program / Department Summary 

With funding from USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Mercy Corps’ Nawiri Program is leading a consortium of Kenyan and international partners on a 8 year journey to sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition in Turkana & Samburu Counties of Kenya. Through a phased approach that emphasizes evidence gap analysis, as well as partnership, learning, and co-creation, the program takes a robust county-centered design with government leadership, active engagement from communities, the private sector, and civil society. Mercy Corps’ consortium brings together the global leadership, research capacity, technical expertise, and implementation experience necessary to partner with local institutions to test, adapt, and scale evidence-based solutions. Together we will sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition for vulnerable populations in Samburu & Turkana counties.

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. They 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. They are directly responsible for all USAID Nawiri Livestock and Agriculture (crop) program activities primarily; and also support financial inclusion, market systems to last mile communities targeting poor and the most vulnerable household to strengthen household economies. 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.

They drive implementation of innovative climate smart agriculture approaches for crop and fodder production including market system development approach for sustained production systems.

They support the County Resilience Livelihoods coordinator and the RL team to map and strengthen capacity of local stakeholders (groups, households, individuals) and is directly responsible for implementing nutrition-sensitive resilient livelihood interventions at sub-county (all wards, village, household) level. S/he supports community own resource persons and works alongside community influencers -includes lead farmers / champions, facilitators, mentors, and community health volunteers (CHVs) etc- in layering interventions for collective impact at household and community level. The officer supports learning and adaptations aimed at strengthening program impact.

The position is based at the USAID Nawiri sub-county (Maralal sub-office) office level supporting interventions within the sub-county and prioritized wards -that continuously experience high rates of acute malnutrition. they 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. They are 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 teamwork 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 themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

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 (Horticulture, Agronomy, Agricultural extension, Agribusiness, Agricultural economics, Livestock production / Health)
• A minimum of 3 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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Program / Department Summary

USAID's BHA awarded a Mercy Corps-led consortium of Kenyan and international partners with a eight-year Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Turkana and Samburu Counties. Through a phased approach that emphasizes evidence gap analysis, as well as partnership, learning, and co-creation with government, civil society, communities, and the private sector, this program aims to drive sustained reductions in acute malnutrition in both counties.

The Mercy Corps’ USAID Nawiri consortium brings together the global leadership, research capacity, technical expertise, and implementation experience necessary to partner with local institutions to test, adapt, and scale evidence-based solutions. The program requires a robust county-centered design with government leadership, active engagement from communities, the private sector, and civil society. Gender inequalities and social dynamics are some of the key drivers of food insecurity and persistent acute malnutrition in the two counties and this program will implement evidence-based interventions to address these. 

General Position Summary

The Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Peace Building (PB) Officer will take the lead role in the implementation of the integrated NRM and Peacebuilding interventions in the program locations assigned in Turkana (Lokitaung). Under the Technical Guidance of the Senior NRM and Peace Officer and direct operational management of the Sub-County Coordinator and in close collaboration with the USAID Nawiri technical teams, the Natural Resources Management and Peace Building Officer will support the USAID Nawiri team at the sub- County office levels, to translate program strategies into implementation bringing a conflict sensitive lens and do no harm approaches, considering the nexus of Conflict and Persistent Acute Malnutrition in these two counties, as per evidence so far.

The NRM and PB officer will further be responsible for ensuring NRM and conflict resolution approaches and interventions are fully sequenced, layered and integrated to provide enabling systems to support development of resilient livestock and agricultural livelihoods including in provision of clean consistent water resources. The NRM and Peace Building interventions should enhance the effectiveness and quality of implementation of programme initiatives undertaken by USAID Nawiri.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY: OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF NRM and CONFLICT PROGRAM STRATEGIES

• In collaboration with the Resilience Livelihoods Technical Team (Climate Smart Agriculture, Alternative Livelihoods and Market Systems, Household Economic Strengthening, Natural Resources Management) support the roll out of a robust implementation strategy to address household food insecurity and work towards maintaining food security despite exposure to shocks and stresses.
• Support the development of comprehensive work plans for sub offices and target geographies.
• Leads the management and implementation of the specific NRM and PB project scope under Mercy Corps within their specific geographies, coordinating with a diverse county-based Resilience Livelihoods team drawn from all USAID Nawiri consortium and local implementing partners to manage coherent program implementation within specific geographies and intervention areas, as informed by and continued reference to evidence that informs programmatic decisions and actions.
• Directly responsible for NRM and Peace Building scope of work and its implementation, including integrated actions in the specified geographies
• Responsible for NRM and PB system actor engagement at sub-county and communities leveraging with other development stakeholders’ to enhance and integrate, layer sequence actions for collective impact.
• Draws technical assistance and support for self and for the diverse team members from the Consortium to lead quality implementation. Specifically works with support and draws from technical supervision of the of the technical advisors to address NRM and PB, more holistically than traditionally siloed interventions.
• Support development of adaptive learning and collective impact strategy within RL collaborative partnership strategy (ies) and support integration of adaptations into the project’s work-plan and implementation approaches.
• Ensure strengthened information systems are used for decision-making, learning and adaptation, to ensure that up-to-date and reliable information is available and that partners and stakeholders have access and skills to interpret and take action.
• Support collaborative learning and adaptation processes in the County technical working groups and contribute to an enabling environment for learning within the resilient livelihoods team and components of USAID Nawiri. This includes initiating a system of documentation and knowledge management within the team to capture ongoing experiences and learnings to further enhance programming and inform program adaptation and sequencing.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & REPORTING

• Support planning, development, and implementation of the NRM, peacebuilding, and conflict sensitivity interventions within the project.
• Organize and facilitate dialogue meetings, workshops, and forums with government representatives, civil society and communities in efforts to prevent violent conflict and promote cooperative approaches to NRM peace, security, and conflict resolution.
• Support capacity development of partners involved in project implementation through innovative capacity building approaches.
• Arrange for regular meetings with partners and community structures to review and reflect on progress and results to identify, mitigate challenges, and learn lessons for improved program delivery.
• Responsible for accurate narrative reporting against agreed objectives and results frameworks
• Participate in and contribute to quarterly and other scheduled program performance review meetings.
• Facilitate scenario planning as part of routine program management; work closely with M&E team to ensure context monitoring informs program teams to support adaptations and tracking of impacts of shocks and stresses on programing.
• Assist the Project team in the development and regular update of the conflict context analysis and advise the program on Do No Harm aspects of the program.
• Support information and capacity development of NRM and Peacebuilding structures.
• Work closely with the Peacebuilding forum to influence policy reviews/formulation at the county and regional levels.
• Develop tools/ methodologies to mainstream different aspects of Addressing Conflict Drivers into different interventions undertaken by USAID Nawiri through networking and collaboration with other development partners and local governments.
• Contribute to teamwork plans and guide successful implementation of program activities, ensuring teams and partners activities are on track and in alignment to achieve desired impact.
• 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.
• Prepares activity reports and supports County Resilience Livelihoods Coordinator in the review and development of work plans and thematic reports.
• Collaborates and part of a larger team driving system-level institutional strengthening, enabling environment and Social Accountability - in planning and implementation coherent and integrated actions that support a multi-sectoral view of nutrition resilient programming. Specific mandates working closely with the USAID Nawiri institutions and local systems strengthening team, citizen engagement and social accountability team and Resilient Livelihoods Team and GYSD team in this task.
• Liaise with other project teams and staff at the sub office level to ensure that all USAID Nawiri interventions are well-coordinated and prioritized.
• 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.
• Work with program teams and consortium partners, staff members, and all MERCY CORPS / USAID Nawiri staff to promote and ensure the complementarity of development efforts and synergy of results.

COLLABORATION & NETWORKING

• NRM and Peace Building Officer is expected to establish and maintain an open and cordial relationship with relevant government partners, local government officials, donors, and other development organizations working in the Pastoralist, NRM, and Peace arena to obtain the required support and collaboration for the smooth coordination and implementation of program activities.
• Integrates participatory community approaches, gender sensitivity, conflict sensitivity and do no harm principles; 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.
• Coordinates with the different levels of stakeholders including committees, working groups, community groups, local implementing partners, community resource persons, government stakeholders at sub-county, ward, village - to sustain peace building actions, mobilize rapid actions and ensure effective communication channels.
• Coordinate with community leadership to facilitate activity integration and targeting of participants, ensuring a conflict sensitivity is maintained.
• Engages and support systems strengthening actions including within Village Councils and Ward Development planning that aim at strengthening resilience of communities.
• Link and strengthen capacity of program participants to tap into opportunities including their influence in planning and budgeting for NRM and PB as key nutrition resilience pathways.
• 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.
• 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.
• Support with collaborative partnership with other development partners and identify potential opportunities for collective impact.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

• Represents and ensures buy-in to USAID NAWIRI participatory rangeland management (PRM) and the Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) approaches among relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the USAID SSBC team to design and deliver integrated communication for social transformational change in securing natural resources and peace.
• Collaborating with the field M&E personnel to ensure all NRM/ Peace, development activities are appropriately documented, and that data is captured as per established systems of the USAID NAWIRI program.
• Play an advisory role in advising the program on conflict Sensitivity / Do No Harm issues.
• Compile and document significant lessons learned from the NRM and PB project activities and adaptations and work closely with the communications advisor to prepare content that can be incorporated into project reports and other products.

 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.
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Sub County Field Coordinator

Works Directly With: Resilient Livelihood Team, Systems Strengthening Team, Gender, Youth and Social Dynamics Team, thematic officers across the consortium and Local CSO implementers.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and 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.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in the field of Natural Resource Management, Environmental Studies, Climate Change and Society, Environmental Management, Peace Building, International relations or other related fields or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of community engagement strategies, the investment environment in Kenya, land laws and policies, peace frameworks, natural resource governance, and conflict sensitivity, and an active interest in the workings of civil society.
• Understanding of NRM and Peace frameworks/ tools and approaches including the understanding of opportunities and challenges in the pastoralist context
• Experience working within a development-oriented NGO in environment and pastoralist contexts.
• Practical experience in the facilitation of multi-stakeholder NRM and Peace activities.
• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working within a multidisciplinary team and ability to liaise with government, community leaders, and other stakeholders at all levels.
• Skills in organizing and facilitating community dialogues, workshops, and training events.
• Proven ability to conduct him/herself professionally under pressure.
• Knowledge on Conflict Sensitivity / Do No Harm approaches.
• Skills and creativity in integrating Peace building and NRM aspects in programming.
• Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Core Competencies: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Listening: Ability to actively listen (i.e., seeks to understand, asks good questions, paraphrases, and is in tune with speaker’s emotional state)
• Vulnerability & Courage: Ability to share lack of knowledge, mistakes, or failures; give and receive feedback; and raise difficult questions or concerns.
• Curiosity: Ability to articulate and explore novel areas of learning that would contribute to greater effectiveness
• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand, affect, connect, and leverage various parts of a system while maintaining sight of the whole system.
• Critical & Reflective Thinking: Ability to analyze and understand situations from a variety of perspectives.
• Flexibility: Ability to accept the unexpected and adjust to what the situation now requires rather than what was required
• Improvement: Ability to recognize and develop personal strengths and areas in need of improvement and adjust style and approach depending on what the situation requires
• Decision-Making: Ability to make informed, timely decisions based on a mixture of analysis, evidence, and experience.
• Honest Reflexivity: Committed to engaging in and modeling honest reflexivity.

go to method of application »

Program / Department Summary

USAID's BHA awarded a Mercy Corps-led consortium of Kenyan and international partners with a eight-year Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Turkana and Samburu Counties. Through a phased approach that emphasizes evidence gap analysis, as well as partnership, learning, and co-creation with government, civil society, communities, and the private sector, this program aims to drive sustained reductions in acute malnutrition in both counties.

The Mercy Corps’ USAID Nawiri consortium brings together the global leadership, research capacity, technical expertise, and implementation experience necessary to partner with local institutions to test, adapt, and scale evidence-based solutions. The program requires a robust county-centered design with government leadership, active engagement from communities, the private sector, and civil society. Gender inequalities and social dynamics are some of the key drivers of food insecurity and persistent acute malnutrition in the two counties and this program will implement evidence-based interventions to address these. 

General Position Summary

The Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Peace Building (PB) Officer will take the lead role in the implementation of the integrated NRM and Peacebuilding interventions in the program locations assigned in (Baragoi). Under the Technical Guidance of the Senior NRM and Peace Officer and direct operational management of the Sub-County Coordinator and in close collaboration with the USAID Nawiri technical teams, the Natural Resources Management and Peace Building Officer will support the USAID Nawiri team at the sub- County office levels, to translate program strategies into implementation bringing a conflict sensitive lens and do no harm approaches, considering the nexus of Conflict and Persistent Acute Malnutrition in these two counties, as per evidence so far.

The NRM and PB officer will further be responsible for ensuring NRM and conflict resolution approaches and interventions are fully sequenced, layered and integrated to provide enabling systems to support development of resilient livestock and agricultural livelihoods including in provision of clean consistent water resources. The NRM and Peace Building interventions should enhance the effectiveness and quality of implementation of programme initiatives undertaken by USAID Nawiri.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY: OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF NRM and CONFLICT PROGRAM STRATEGIES

• In collaboration with the Resilience Livelihoods Technical Team (Climate Smart Agriculture, Alternative Livelihoods and Market Systems, Household Economic Strengthening, Natural Resources Management) support the roll out of a robust implementation strategy to address household food insecurity and work towards maintaining food security despite exposure to shocks and stresses.
• Support the development of comprehensive work plans for sub offices and target geographies.
• Leads the management and implementation of the specific NRM and PB project scope under Mercy Corps within their specific geographies, coordinating with a diverse county-based Resilience Livelihoods team drawn from all USAID Nawiri consortium and local implementing partners to manage coherent program implementation within specific geographies and intervention areas, as informed by and continued reference to evidence that informs programmatic decisions and actions.
• Directly responsible for NRM and Peace Building scope of work and its implementation, including integrated actions in the specified geographies
• Responsible for NRM and PB system actor engagement at sub-county and communities leveraging with other development stakeholders’ to enhance and integrate, layer sequence actions for collective impact.
• Draws technical assistance and support for self and for the diverse team members from the Consortium to lead quality implementation. Specifically works with support and draws from technical supervision of the of the technical advisors to address NRM and PB, more holistically than traditionally siloed interventions.
• Support development of adaptive learning and collective impact strategy within RL collaborative partnership strategy (ies) and support integration of adaptations into the project’s work-plan and implementation approaches.
• Ensure strengthened information systems are used for decision-making, learning and adaptation, to ensure that up-to-date and reliable information is available and that partners and stakeholders have access and skills to interpret and take action.
• Support collaborative learning and adaptation processes in the County technical working groups and contribute to an enabling environment for learning within the resilient livelihoods team and components of USAID Nawiri. This includes initiating a system of documentation and knowledge management within the team to capture ongoing experiences and learnings to further enhance programming and inform program adaptation and sequencing.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & REPORTING

• Support planning, development, and implementation of the NRM, peacebuilding, and conflict sensitivity interventions within the project.
• Organize and facilitate dialogue meetings, workshops, and forums with government representatives, civil society and communities in efforts to prevent violent conflict and promote cooperative approaches to NRM peace, security, and conflict resolution.
• Support capacity development of partners involved in project implementation through innovative capacity building approaches.
• Arrange for regular meetings with partners and community structures to review and reflect on progress and results to identify, mitigate challenges, and learn lessons for improved program delivery.
• Responsible for accurate narrative reporting against agreed objectives and results frameworks
• Participate in and contribute to quarterly and other scheduled program performance review meetings.
• Facilitate scenario planning as part of routine program management; work closely with M&E team to ensure context monitoring informs program teams to support adaptations and tracking of impacts of shocks and stresses on programing.
• Assist the Project team in the development and regular update of the conflict context analysis and advise the program on Do No Harm aspects of the program.
• Support information and capacity development of NRM and Peacebuilding structures.
• Work closely with the Peacebuilding forum to influence policy reviews/formulation at the county and regional levels.
• Develop tools/ methodologies to mainstream different aspects of Addressing Conflict Drivers into different interventions undertaken by USAID Nawiri through networking and collaboration with other development partners and local governments.
• Contribute to teamwork plans and guide successful implementation of program activities, ensuring teams and partners activities are on track and in alignment to achieve desired impact.
• 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.
• Prepares activity reports and supports County Resilience Livelihoods Coordinator in the review and development of work plans and thematic reports.
• Collaborates and part of a larger team driving system-level institutional strengthening, enabling environment and Social Accountability - in planning and implementation coherent and integrated actions that support a multi-sectoral view of nutrition resilient programming. Specific mandates working closely with the USAID Nawiri institutions and local systems strengthening team, citizen engagement and social accountability team and Resilient Livelihoods Team and GYSD team in this task.
• Liaise with other project teams and staff at the sub office level to ensure that all USAID Nawiri interventions are well-coordinated and prioritized.
• 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.
• Work with program teams and consortium partners, staff members, and all MERCY CORPS / USAID Nawiri staff to promote and ensure the complementarity of development efforts and synergy of results.

COLLABORATION & NETWORKING

• NRM and Peace Building Officer is expected to establish and maintain an open and cordial relationship with relevant government partners, local government officials, donors, and other development organizations working in the Pastoralist, NRM, and Peace arena to obtain the required support and collaboration for the smooth coordination and implementation of program activities.
• Integrates participatory community approaches, gender sensitivity, conflict sensitivity and do no harm principles; 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.
• Coordinates with the different levels of stakeholders including committees, working groups, community groups, local implementing partners, community resource persons, government stakeholders at sub-county, ward, village - to sustain peace building actions, mobilize rapid actions and ensure effective communication channels.
• Coordinate with community leadership to facilitate activity integration and targeting of participants, ensuring a conflict sensitivity is maintained.
• Engages and support systems strengthening actions including within Village Councils and Ward Development planning that aim at strengthening resilience of communities.
• Link and strengthen capacity of program participants to tap into opportunities including their influence in planning and budgeting for NRM and PB as key nutrition resilience pathways.
• 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.
• 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.
• Support with collaborative partnership with other development partners and identify potential opportunities for collective impact.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

• Represents and ensures buy-in to USAID NAWIRI participatory rangeland management (PRM) and the Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) approaches among relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the USAID SSBC team to design and deliver integrated communication for social transformational change in securing natural resources and peace.
• Collaborating with the field M&E personnel to ensure all NRM/ Peace, development activities are appropriately documented, and that data is captured as per established systems of the USAID NAWIRI program.
• Play an advisory role in advising the program on conflict Sensitivity / Do No Harm issues.
• Compile and document significant lessons learned from the NRM and PB project activities and adaptations and work closely with the communications advisor to prepare content that can be incorporated into project reports and other products.

 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.
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Sub County Field Coordinator

Works Directly With: Resilient Livelihood Team, Systems Strengthening Team, Gender, Youth and Social Dynamics Team, thematic officers across the consortium and Local CSO implementers.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and 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.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in the field of Natural Resource Management, Environmental Studies, Climate Change and Society, Environmental Management, Peace Building, International relations or other related fields or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of community engagement strategies, the investment environment in Kenya, land laws and policies, peace frameworks, natural resource governance, and conflict sensitivity, and an active interest in the workings of civil society.
• Understanding of NRM and Peace frameworks/ tools and approaches including the understanding of opportunities and challenges in the pastoralist context
• Experience working within a development-oriented NGO in environment and pastoralist contexts.
• Practical experience in the facilitation of multi-stakeholder NRM and Peace activities.
• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working within a multidisciplinary team and ability to liaise with government, community leaders, and other stakeholders at all levels.
• Skills in organizing and facilitating community dialogues, workshops, and training events.
• Proven ability to conduct him/herself professionally under pressure.
• Knowledge on Conflict Sensitivity / Do No Harm approaches.
• Skills and creativity in integrating Peace building and NRM aspects in programming.
• Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Core Competencies: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Listening: Ability to actively listen (i.e., seeks to understand, asks good questions, paraphrases, and is in tune with speaker’s emotional state)
• Vulnerability & Courage: Ability to share lack of knowledge, mistakes, or failures; give and receive feedback; and raise difficult questions or concerns.
• Curiosity: Ability to articulate and explore novel areas of learning that would contribute to greater effectiveness
• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand, affect, connect, and leverage various parts of a system while maintaining sight of the whole system.
• Critical & Reflective Thinking: Ability to analyze and understand situations from a variety of perspectives.
• Flexibility: Ability to accept the unexpected and adjust to what the situation now requires rather than what was required
• Improvement: Ability to recognize and develop personal strengths and areas in need of improvement and adjust style and approach depending on what the situation requires
• Decision-Making: Ability to make informed, timely decisions based on a mixture of analysis, evidence, and experience.
• Honest Reflexivity: Committed to engaging in and modeling honest reflexivity.