Project Officer – Community Engagement, (Danida Green Business Partnerships-(DGBP) Project). at Practical Action Kenya

ABOUT THE ROLE

• Practical Action is looking for a Project Officer - Community Engagement who will support in implementation of community engagement activities, leading the team in developing and facilitating relationships between Practical Action and the community in the targeted areas and ensuring community have the opportunity to input, participate and provide feedback on implemented activities.Practical Action is looking for a Project Officer - Community Engagement who will support in implementation of community engagement activities, leading the team in developing and facilitating relationships between Practical Action and the community in the targeted areas and ensuring community have the opportunity to input, participate and provide feedback on implemented activities.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the project field activities:
• Directly implement the project interventions and ensure the active and meaningful participation of men, women and youth in Solid Waste Management interventions
• Support community-led initiatives and ensure timely, quality delivery of program activities as designed.
• Establish trusting relationships with local community members and county-level stakeholders.
• Assess the capacity gaps of community volunteers, waste pickers and local stakeholders.
• Support in the development of Social and behavioral change communication material development.
• Identify key behaviors for promotion and intervention.
• Support in design community engagement methods and communication materials targeting different audiences Directly capacity build, mentor, train and empower communities in the project location areas ensuring that support to the communities is timely and as per project expectation.
• Directly carry out community planning and monitoring of plans including reviews and appraisals.
• Support the Identification and analysis of trends, threats and risks in the area posed by Solid Waste Management malpractices concerning community development and livelihoods, while building this into research and learning from the project.
• Support the production of clear and quality reports that demonstrate good accountability.
• Support the project’s effective and systematic monitoring and evaluation and findings are recorded and escalated to guide the continued successful implementation of other projects and inform the development of other new initiatives.
• Ensure sharing between team members, colleagues and peers – both internally and externally – to ensure that the project is contributing access to relevant knowledge and lessons learning. Building partnerships with Project stakeholders and partners
• Lead the work to expand cooperation between communities and the local authorities for the implementation of the project and to ensure local needs, priorities and initiatives are integrated into the planning of the County governments.
• Ensure close coordination with the activities of other development actors within the project area.
• Ensure awareness about project priorities, strategies and approaches.
• Analyse ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and share with project management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
• Proactively contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Develop informal networks to assist in the planning and review of work as appropriate.

PERSON PROFILE

To be successful in the role, the ideal candidate should meet the following requirements:

Experience & Knowledge

• First degree in Community Development/Business studies/Public Health/ Education/ Disaster Risk Reduction/ Climate Change/Development studies or any other relevant qualification from a reputable university or institution.
• A minimum of 3- 5 years working experience in NGOs on community mobilization and livelihoods sector.
• Ability and passion to work with local communities towards a shared vision.
• Skilled in community transformation towards self-sustenance.
• Good knowledge of principles of rural development including alternative livelihoods.
• Knowledge of climate change and its impacts on local communities.
• Experience working with multi-faceted teams both directly and remotely providing timely support when required.
• Good understanding of the local language (spoken & written)
• Coordination with government, donors, partners and multilateral agencies coupled with excellent networking and communications skills.

Desirable

• Ability to work with, support and influence others.
• Ability to innovate, initiate and accept challenge.
• Good writing, speaking and typing skill in English is essential.
• Good facilitation and presentation skills.