COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

INTRODUCTION

Habitat for Humanity Kenya (HFH Kenya) is a national non-profit organization that begun its operations in 1982 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. The affiliation is guided by a National Affiliation Agreement (NAA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). HFH Kenya’s vision is: “A nation where every family has a decent place to live.” Mission: “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity Kenya brings people together to build homes, communities and hope”. Our overarching goal is: “Enabling low-income families access decent and affordable shelter”

JOB PURPOSE

Reporting to the Programs Manager, the Community Development Officer will play a critical in planning, coordination, and implementation of adequate and affordable housing projects in partnership with the community members, local organizations, elected officials, and stakeholders at field level. He/she will strengthen local relationships to help identify areas where HFHK’s housing and community development solutions can intersect with identified needs and aspirations. This position will focus on homeowner-led construction, critical home improvements, basic infrastructure and services, advocacy and research, secure land tenure disaster, monitoring, and/or evaluation, recovery aspects of Habitat affiliate operations. Moreover, the position will be instrumental in ensuring the achievement of program objectives aligned with ongoing projects in the region, while actively contributing to the continuous expansion and sustainability of HFHK’s programs through proactive engagement in project design, conceptualization, and exploration of new opportunities specific to the Homa Bay program.

Within the realm of HFHK’s overarching business strategy, the Community Development Officer will actively promote community development initiatives geared towards enhancing household economic empowerment, particularly through owner-led construction financing mechanisms. This will involve fostering the establishment of Self-Help savings Groups, targeting various demographics including youth, women, and People Living with Disabilities, to facilitate access to livelihood opportunities through income-generating activities and entrepreneurship development. Additionally, the role will encompass facilitating financial literacy programs utilizing HFHK’s Save & Build manual guidelines within the Homabay community. In collaboration with Subject Matter Experts, the role will entail facilitating the execution of specialized project activities within the basic services and disaster response programs in relation to Water access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions, encompassing borehole drilling and behavior change transformative approaches, as well as introducing innovative housing technologies, low-cost solutions, and disaster response models such as feeding program and cash transfers. Regarding advocacy for land tenure issues, the incumbent will facilitate the provision of legal professional services to enhance community and county-level knowledge and capacity on land tenure and security.

Administratively, the role will encompass overseeing all operational needs of the Homa Bay office, including processes and procedures while serving as the focal point for coordinating program/project implementation activities. This will involve extensive liaison with project steering committees, departmental units, and external stakeholders to initiate and manage administrative actions, including finance and logistics requests, while also overseeing correspondence, documentation, and reporting tasks.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Building relationships and partnerships with community members, local organizations, elected officials, and community stakeholders:

• Formation of project steering committees through a community-led process for relevant project interventions and in new project areas
• Mobilization of the community, target segment, stakeholders, partners, or as shall be necessary based on project activities and needs
• Formation of Groups, training, and linkages with relevant partners as described within Homa Bay projects
• Work closely, support, and provide oversight to all HFHK service providers and contractors for Homa Bay projects to ensure they execute and deliver timely results within the contracted obligation
• Facilitate timely delivery and quality of procured goods and services to targeted beneficiaries and ensure visible confirmation through signing of delivery notes
• Mobilize forums with lobby groups, land stakeholders, and communities to discuss tenure options, increase awareness to land issues, follow-up, and link legal professional services
• Participate and represent HFHK in focal Homa Bay region key stakeholders’ forums, workshops, and cluster meetings to nurture strategic linkages and collaborations

B. Identifying home constructions and community improvement projects and implementing them from planning through completion:

• Selection and validation of vulnerable beneficiaries while ensuring compliance with the set selection guideline for inclusivity, equality, accountability, free, and fair
• Coordinate and manage all scheduled Homa Bay project events which include and limited to; project launch, handover, volunteer builds, workshops, campaigns, and awareness sessions
• Coordinate all related house construction activities which include and not limited to; signing of relevant contract, prepare homeowner profiles, prepare homeowner list, homeowner induction, site handover to fundi, receive construction materials, report on construction progress, acquire completion certification

C. Engaging volunteers from the community to support home construction and local improvement projects:

• Mobilization of community, target segment, stakeholders, partners, or as shall be necessary based on project activities and needs
• Formation of Groups, training, and linkages with relevant partners as described within Homa Bay projects

D. Coordinating and documenting the implementation of Habitat’s housing and community development solution in partnership with the community:

• Prepare and submit timely reports to the program manager which include and not limited to; expense reports on cash advance, GMT, project narrative, progress, and project activity reports

• Prepare, submit, and follow-up timely payment requisitions which include and not limited to; PSC transport, water vendors service, tools & equipment transport service, Artisans progress payments, and any other

• Maintain project-specific document files for all projects in Homa Bay and support documents readily available and accessible for audit and reference

• Ensure project burn rates are maintained and remain within the budget allocation for all project activities in Homa Bay

• Develop and maintain tracker and checklist which include, procurement plan, procurement tracker, residual materials inventory to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of projects implementation

• Collects indicator data and other information needed for project evaluations and other reporting functions

• Support proposal development and generate required input in reference to Homa Bay project background

• Compliance to zero tolerance of SEAH (Sexual Exploitation, Harassment, and Abuse)

• Disseminate the HFHK safeguarding policy and maintain copies as such to Partners, stakeholders, and service providers working with or for HFHK in Homa Bay

• Discharge other functions as may be delegated

  KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES / INDICATORS

• Number of vulnerable households served

• Number of groups mobilized

• Number of new vulnerable beneficiaries selected and validated

• Number of projects successfully completed

• Proportion of households accessing and using finance for home construction

• Number of community infrastructure completed

• Number of active livelihood projects adopted by the community.

• Number of individuals and hours of volunteers engaged

  QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s degree in Community Development.

• Post graduate training in Project Planning and Management is an added advantage

  KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Good oral and written communication skills

• Financial analytical skills

• Computer skills in data management, analysis and reporting

• Report writing and donor presentation skills

• Good management and co-ordination skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and Team player;

• Coordination and project monitoring skills

• Ability to articulate the organization core mission, values and products.

• Possess a certificate of good conduct

  EXPERIENCE

• At least 3 years’ experience in development and humanitarian projects across the country.

  OTHER INFOMATION

• Willing to uphold Christian principles of HFH Kenya

• Ability to work long and odd hours, including weekends

• Confidentiality

• Honesty

• High levels of integrity