Program Officer – Natural Resources Management (Rangelands and Livelihoods) (Applicable to Kenyan Nationals only)

FH Heartbeat

At Food for the Hungry, we operate under a set of guiding principles we call “The Heartbeat.” This includes our Values, Vision and Purpose, which serve as the explanation of who we are and how we work as an organization. Together we follow God’s call responding to human suffering and graduating communities from extreme poverty.**

Kenya Resilient Arid Lands Partnership for Integrated Development – Kenya RAPID+

Kenya RAPID + is five years SDC funded project to be implemented in Isiolo, Turkana, Wajir, Marsabit and Garissa under the leadership of Millennium Water Alliance. The program objective is to improve access to safe water and sustainable rangeland management in the five counties and contribute to resilient livelihoods for communities in a peaceful environment. The program aims to combine the capabilities of national and devolved water sector institutions, rangelands resource management capacities, and the skills and experience of the private sector to address the complex problems posed by inadequate water access and poor management of rangeland resources in the target counties. Food for the Hungry is the implementing partner in Marsabit County.

Job Summary

The Program Officer Natural Resources Management (Rangelands and Livelihoods) will support rangelands and livestock management interventions under Kenya RAPID+ project in Marsabit. On a day to day operational level, the KENYA RAPID + program will be coordinated by a County Coordination Unit (CCU), led by a County program lead and located within the County Government of Marsabit department of Water, Environment and Natural Resources. He/She will be part of the CCU team and will report to County program lead and work closely with the Rangeland and IWRM Intervention Manager based in MWA office – Nairobi, and with county employees assigned to work with the project team from relevant ministries (e.g., Water, Environment, Agriculture, livestock, etc) to implement the approved work plan for the County. He/She will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all rangelands activities and providing technical guidance to the project staff in Marsabit.

Principal Responsibilities

Key Result # 1. Implementation of project activities

1. Lead the contextual analysis of rangeland management structures, policy environment and livelihoods issues affecting the target groups;

2. Lead the development and implementation of an innovative rangelands interventions, through community based systems, addressing the needs of the most vulnerable members of society;

3. Participate in the development and implementation of operational work plans in accordance with the budget, results framework, and administrative guidelines approved by the Program Steering Committee (PSC);

4. Champion adoption of appropriate technologies in rangelands and livestock management

5. Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.

6. Facilitate training needs identification and capacity building for the county staff and other public and private partners;

7. Technical support to the project in launching tenders and calls for proposal; contract service providers and implementing entities;

Key result # 2: – Support, Coordination and Collaboration with other stakeholders

1. Strengthen program linkages and foster good working relations with civil society organizations, government representatives, private sector and community based organizations;

2. Coordinate the adoption of new products and/or approaches in Rangelands and Livelihood activities

3. Implement decisions made by the Program Steering Committee (PSC) and the County Program Steering Committee (CPSC);

4. Select intervention sites, expansion areas and (new) program partners based on set criteria by the county and after consultation with all stakeholders;

5. Technical support to the CCU in Launching tenders and calls for proposal; contract service providers and implementing entities;

6. Stay abreast of new developments in Rangelands and Livelihoods and participate actively in related technical working groups and forums;

7. Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.

Key result 3: – Reporting, Monitoring, Assessment and training.

1. Develop a MEL plan for the Rangeland and Livelihood activities in the program in close consultation with the MEL officer.

2. Monitor progress of work plan implementation, identifying issues (technical and coordination) and formulate solutions to address the identified issues

3. Support the information/data management officer to develop annual learning agenda, data analysis from the field and producing customized reports for various applications/interventions;

4. Support the CCU team in compiling reports every six months to be provided to the CPSC that summarizes program achievements, key challenges, lessons learned to date and detailing budget expenditures and investment plans from all stakeholders.

5. Monitor compliance of all contract service providers, consultants and implementing entities contracted by the CCU;

6. Facilitate training needs identification and capacity building for the county staff and other public and private partners

7. Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements.

8. Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices

Qualifications

· Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture/ livestock/Range management or related development field, a master’s degree will be an added advantage

· At least 5 years work experience in Food security and/or Livelihoods programming. Experience with international NGOs or UN Agencies is an added advantage

· Experience in market systems development is a plus

· Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Competencies

· Vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ

· Technical knowledge and experience in Water, Hygiene and Sanitation

· A broad grasp of Livelihoods and Range management in rural and urban settings

· Experience with working with county governments, civil society, donors and local communities;

· Strong conceptual and analytical skills

· The ability to work independently, think innovatively and strategically and work effectively within a team

· Detailed understanding and experience of pastoralists, gender and diversity issues and commitment to addressing inequalities in all the key areas of responsibility

· Flexibility in tasks undertaken & ability to work under pressure with strict deadlines

· Extensive knowledge of participatory approaches & Understanding of development/relief issues

· Strong financial/budget management skills required

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills

· Fluency in written and spoken English

Safeguarding Policy

FH strives to provide an environment free from sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment in all places where relief and development programs are implemented. FH holds a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment. FH expects its employees to maintain high ethical standards, protect organizational integrity and reputation, and ensure that FH work is carried out in honest and fair methods, in alignment with the FH Heartbeat and safeguarding and associated policies. Violations to stated policies will be subject to corrective action up to and including termination of employment.