Current Opportunities at Mzalendo Trust

Position Summary:

• Communications staff at Mzalendo work to maintain a positive institutional brand, communicate program impact and ensure that our public engagement remains highly participatory, effective and meaningful. Communication Interns enhance our communications by contributing towards the realization of these overall objectives. The position holder shall work under the direct supervision of the Communication Officer.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supporting the Communication Team with social media management including live tweeting of Parliamentary sessions, weekly summaries of the Parliamentary proceedings, dissemination of Mzalendo’s newsletter and dissemination of Parliamentary calls for Public Participation, among others.
• Assist in conducting interviews with partners and stakeholders on legislative proposals and issues that are of public interest.
• Support the generation of communication plans and content in line with the organization’s programpriorities.
• Generate reports from meetings attended.
• Support research efforts on the development of the weekly newsletter.
• Support the uploading of bills on Mzalendo’s annotation platform ‘Dokeza.’
• Supporting the Communication Officer in managing and updating the website information.
• Assist in the generation of monthly and quarterly communication reports.
• Promote Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.
• Perform any other functions as may be directed from time to time.

Desired Qualifications and Competencies: 

• A relevant undergraduate degree preferably in communications, public relations, journalism etc. from a recognised institution of higher learning.
• A minimum bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or any other related field from a recognized institution of higher learning.
• At least six-months of demonstrable post-college work experience.
• Basic knowledge of and/or interest in AI, photography, videography, and graphics design.
• Good knowledge of and/or interest in public, political and current affairs.
• Familiarity with key promises of the constitution of Kenya on public participation, access to information, freedom of expression, human rights etc. 
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Kiswahili is required.
• Good communications and ICT skills, including presence and proficiency in navigating the various social media platforms
• An embodiment of Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.

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Position Summary:

• Program staff at Mzalendo provide essential day-to-day support for the successful delivery of Mzalendo’s program goals on time and on budget, in line with funder agreements and Mzalendo’s strategic priorities. Program Assistants support the Programs Team with effective implementation of activities, documentation and reporting. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Track parliamentary calendar and stay informed on legislative progress and committee work.
• Co-ordinate the uploading and moderation of bills on Mzalendo’s Dokeza platform.
• Conduct light research and review of technical documents, prepare background documents for key events, proposals etc. 
• Provide logistical and administrative support for project activities including meetings, workshops and public for a. 
• Ensure documentation and/or production of quality activity reports.
• Review publications and track relevant news items, including print and digital media articles, electronic news as well as newsletters.
• Assist in review and analysis of information gathered to inform proposed interventions by the programme team.
• Contribute to Mzalendo’s knowledge generation efforts, including research products. 
• Support in the preparation of annual plans, budgets and reports.
• Build and maintain an up-to-date database of contacts and profiles of important stakeholders and partners.
• Promote Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.
• Perform any other functions as may be directed from time to time.

Desired Qualifications and Competencies: 

• A relevant undergraduate degree preferably in the social sciences including international relations, political science, development, law etc. from a recognised institution of higher learning.
• At least two (2) years of relevant work experience in project or program implementation within a non-profit/civil society context especially in Kenya.
• Good understanding of Kenya’s socio-economic and political context. Familiarity with the workings and purpose of parliament in Kenya’s democratic development.
• Good grasp of project cycle management, including familiarity with the basic tenets of monitoring, evaluation and impact tracking and reporting.
• Familiarity with key promises of the constitution of Kenya on public participation, access to information, freedom of expression, human rights etc. 
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Kiswahili is required.
• Sound judgment and temperament to enable interaction with persons from diverse sectors of society.
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office platforms (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• An embodiment of Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.

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Position Summary:

• Program Officers at Mzalendo provide essential day-to-day support for the successful delivery of Mzalendo’s program goals on time and on budget, in line with funder agreements and Mzalendo’s strategic priorities.  Specifically, in addition to delivering program activities, the position holder will be responsible for program design, development, planning, implementation, monitoring as well as reporting. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure program excellence by successfully meeting program and funder targets, including timely implementation, monitoring, results harvesting and reporting.
• Prepare work plans and manage budgets to ensure prudent use of resources.
• Ensure adherence to donor contractual requirements including reporting timelines, including review of reports to ensure information accuracy. 
• Monitor program risks and propose appropriate mitigation measures.
• Supervise, support and manage relationships with consultants and other external service providers and contractors to ensure value for money and timely delivery of assignments. 
• Identify, develop, support and strengthen diverse partnerships across government, civil society, citizens, parliament, media, development partners and any relevant stakeholders.
• Develop and implement a dissemination strategy to ensure a robust partner and public engagement with Mzalendo programs, initiatives and knowledge products at national nd international arena.
• Represent Mzalendo externally as may be required and delegated from time to time. 
• Contribute to fundraising and resource mobilization to ensure program and institutional sustainability.
• Promote Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.
• Perform any other functions as may be directed from time to time.

Desired Qualifications and Competencies: 

• A relevant undergraduate degree preferably in the social sciences including international relations, political science, development, law etc. from a recognised institution of higher learning. Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• At least four (4) years of relevant work experience in project or program implementation within a non-profit/civil society context especially in Kenya.
•  Good understanding of Kenya’s socio-economic and political context.
• Good grasp of project cycle management, including familiarity with the basic tenets of monitoring, evaluation and impact tracking and reporting.
• Comfort working and interacting with high level strategic partners including senior government officials and key political actors.
• Good understanding of the workings and purpose of parliament in Kenya’s democratic development
• A proven multi-tasker with superior organisational skills and ability deliver on multiple projects and accountabilities. 
• Familiarity with key promises of the constitution of Kenya on public participation, access to information, freedom of expression, human rights etc. 
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Kiswahili is required.
• Sound judgment and temperament to enable interaction with persons from diverse sectors of society.
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office platforms (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• An embodiment of Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.

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• Thus, with anticipated growth and cognizant of the ever-changing technology landscape, Mzalendo wishes to recruit a Program Officer - Civic Tech.  The Program Officer will play a key role in developing, modifying, and providing maintenance support of Mzalendo’s digital platforms and evaluation of civic tech initiatives aimed at promoting civic engagement as well as identifying emerging technological advancements relevant to Mzalendo’s work. 
• The ideal candidate for this position is required to possess a strong background in Computer Science or Information Technology along with passion for civic engagement, enabling them to intersect technology and politics.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Designing and developing digital tools such as websites, mobile applications, or software solutions tailored to meet the identified needs of Mzalendo users. 
• Collaborating with staff and stakeholders to adapt and improve Mzalendo’s existing tools and software in reaction to changes in the ecosystem.
• Develop and execute a strategy around technical community engagement to grow the reach of Mzalendo’s open source platforms and tools.
• Ensuring that the digital tools are user-friendly, and accessible to a diverse range of users including persons living with disabilities. This includes incorporating user feedback to enhance the overall user experience.
• Implementing systems for collecting, storing, and managing data. This may involve integrating with existing databases, ensuring data security and privacy, and developing analytics tools for extracting insights from the data.
• Conducting thorough testing of the digital tools to identify and fix bugs, ensure compatibility across different platforms and devices, and verify that the tools meet quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Keeping abreast of advancements in technology, best practices in software development, and emerging trends in civic engagement. Actively seeking feedback and opportunities for improvement to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the digital tools.
• Coordinate with the programs and communications teams to ensure seamless execution of functionality of the tools and timely delivery of milestones.
• Establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact and effectiveness of Mzalendo’s digital tools, collect and analyze data to measure key performance indicators, identify areas for improvement, and inform strategic decision-making on the tools.
• Stay current on emerging digital and cyber trends and inform institutional programming and technology developments.
• Promote Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.
• Perform any other functions as may be directed from time to time.

Desired Qualifications and Competencies: 

• Relevant academic qualifications from a recognised institution of higher learning.
• Have a broad knowledge of current software development technologies and design tools in the field, and in particular the development and maintenance of web applications. 
• At least five (5) years of experience with hands-on front- and backend development;
• Demonstrable experience in designing and/or managing digital tools;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders;
• Demonstrate commitment to civic engagement, social justice, and community empowerment;
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple projects simultaneously;
• Knowledge of emerging technologies, trends, and best practices in civic tech and digital democracy is desirable.
• An embodiment of Mzalendo Trust’s Core Values of transparency, patriotism, integrity, partnership, innovation and inclusion.