Field Officer-West Pokot

Position: Field Officer

Department: Project Implementation Unit

Direct Hierarchy: Project Manager

Contract duration: Fixed Term

Location: West Pokot

Start Date: November 2024

Background on ACTED

ACTED is a French humanitarian NGO, founded in 1993, which supports vulnerable populations, affected by humanitarian crises worldwide. ACTED provides continued support to vulnerable communities by ensuring the sustainability of post-crisis interventions and engaging long-term challenges facing our target populations, in order to break the poverty cycle, foster development and reduce vulnerability to disasters. Their interventions seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context.

ACTED is looking for professionally confident, self-motivated, experienced and committed team player to fill the Field Officer position in West Pokot County.

Position Profile:

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, you will be responsible for implementing rangelands management, climate change response and agriculture activities in a timely and professional manner, according to objectives, goals and indicators and in line with donor requirements and based on beneficiary needs in West Pokot County.

The Field Officer will be responsible for preparing written materials and progress reports on field activities. S/he will contribute to effective and timely completion of project activities, delivery of quality outputs and achievement of outcomes with maximum impact for beneficiaries. S/he will work closely with the Rangelands Restoration Specialist, Community Mobilizer and MEAL Monitor. S/he will liaise between Acted and implementing partners as well as the key government departments.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Programming

   Project Planning

   1. Support the identification and planning of technical skills and requirements to implement the project as per relevant standards;
   2. Provide support in planning and design of land degradation neutrality sustainable land management (SLM)
   3. Prepare work plan and time schedules for implementing the project activities
   4. Prepare relevant Bills of Quantities for project interventions;
   5. Support the identification and planning of technical skills and requirements to implement the project as per relevant standards;

2. Project Implementation and Follow-up

   1. Training of farmers on climate smart agriculture and post-harvest handling
   2. Support in preparation of technical layouts, technical designs and Bills of Quantities
   3. Support in the establishment and training of SHG groups on basic financial management skills, literacy and numeracy classes
   4. Ensure project activities are executed on time, meeting the target and within the budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts;
   5. Support in organising dialogue on resource sharing agreements and arrange exchange visits.
   6. Assist the Rangelands Restoration Specialist and Project Manager to trouble-shoot any unforeseen challenges during the project implementation;
   7. Provide regular and timely updates on progress and challenges to the Project Manager and other team members;
   8. Community sensitization and engagement on land restoration/regeneration, water harvesting principles, climate-smart farming.
   9. Prepare field success stories for Acted’s program activities;
   10. Perform any other duties delegated from time to time by the Regional Director.

3. Documenting and Compliance

   1. Keep record of all project activity documents, in particular beneficiary list, designs, Bills of Quantities, activity reports, progress reports, photo updates, attendance sheets, etc.;
   2. Help maintaining a beneficiary master database/tracker containing all beneficiary registration and baseline information as well as the project activities from which the beneficiaries benefitted ensure the data is protected from misuse in line with Acted’s data protection policy;
   3. Ensure staff awareness of, and respect of, Acted’s Code of Conduct, FLATS procedures and donor requirements.

4. Beneficiary Engagement and Accountability

   1. Adhere to Acted’s Code of Conduct and treat all beneficiaries with respect and without any distinction or discrimination based on nationality, race, ethnicity, tribe, gender, religious beliefs, political opinion, health status or disability;
   2. Select the beneficiaries benefitting from project activities;
   3. Communicate Acted’s Complaints and Response Mechanism target communities and participate in solving complaints related to the project in coordination with the MEAL.

5. Internal Coordination

   1. Participate in project planning meetings with the project team.

6. External Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

   1. Undertake communication and liaison activities to actively consult and involve beneficiaries, key informants, actors, partners and stakeholders in all stages of project design and implementation;

7. Partner Management

   1. Participate in review meetings with partners, with particular attention given to the relationship aspects of partnership collaboration, and ensure that any issues or disputes are resolved in a timely manner.

8. Security

   1. Familiarize with Security policies, SOPs and they follow them accordingly.

9. Human Resource

   1. Follow-up the work plans and day-to-day activities of the community mobilizer;
   2. Manage the community mobilizer in cooperation with the Project Manager;
   3. Ensure a positive working environment and good team dynamics among staff.

10. Logistics

    1. Support in the development of procurement plans;
    2. Send accurate and precise order forms and bills of quantities in a timely manner;
    3. Support in the preparation of technical layouts, technical designs and Bills of Quantities
    4. Support in ensuring a proper management and use of the project assets and stocks;
    5. Plan project team movements based on available fleet and applicable policies

11. Finance

    1. Forecast monthly cash requirements for project activities and submit to the Project Manager.

12. Quality Control

    1. Assess the project activities undertaken and ensure efficient use of resources;
    2. Undertake regular field visits to provide technical guidance and supervision as well as regularly monitor the progress of project activities;
    3. Assists with monitoring the project activities implemented by partners (if any) in the field;
    4. Document lessons learned and best practices and share them with the Project Manager so they can be reflected in project planning and decision making.

13. Grant Management

    1. Ensure adherence to donor procedures by project staff;
    2. Support the Project Manager in the preparation of progress and final reports, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information for project activities
    3. Participate in communication activities through the regular collection of pictures and stories related to project activities;
    4. Contribute to new proposal development processes through the provision of expert programmatic advice related to contextual knowledge.

14. Protection mainstreaming

    1. Promoting of and adhering to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy and guidelines (for site residents, Acted staff, partner agencies, casual labours etc).

15. Other

    1. Offer technical support and inputs to other projects in similar sectors;
    2. Any other tasks as assigned by the Line Manager.

Qualifications/Skills Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Range management, Livestock, Food Security and/or Livelihoods Programming or related development field
• At least 3 years work experience in a relevant programming preferably with an INGO.
• Experience in implementing projects in areas that are prone to resource-based conflicts is a plus
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.
• Ability to take initiatives, team player who is able to work with minimum supervision
• Must have outstanding oral and written communications
• Knowledge in communicating in local(Pokot) language will be an advantage
• Computer literacy, particularly in MS Office 365; Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Ability to work closely with communities, partners,local/government authorities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Knowledge in communicating in Pokot language will be an advantage