Project Officer – SAIC 2 (Safer and Inclusive Cities 2), Kisumu

THE ORGANISATION

Founded in 1937, Plan International, Inc. (“PII”) is a globally recognized non-profit dedicated to advancing children’s rights and gender equality in both humanitarian and development contexts. With over 80 years of experience, Plan International addresses the root causes of challenges faced by girls and vulnerable children, working in 70+ countries. The organization collaborates with children, young people, supporters, and partners to create a just world, acknowledging that the potential of every child is often hindered by poverty, violence, exclusion, disasters, and discrimination.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL KENYA
Plan International Kenya (PIK), operational since 1982, focuses on long-term development. Collaborating closely with local communities and governments, PIK implements programs to enhance the well-being of children in areas such as Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka-Nithi, Siaya, Kwale, Kilifi, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Tana River, Turkana, and Marsabit.

Under the current Country Strategy (July 2021 – June 2026), PIK aims to end teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence against girls. This goal aligns with four strategic objectives:

1. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR): Improve access to SRHR services and information to reduce teenage pregnancies and harmful practices in Kenya.
2. Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence: Ensure functional child and girls’ rights protection mechanisms to prevent and respond to all forms of violence and abuse.
3. Protecting Girls and Young Women in Crisis and Climate Change Adaptation: Minimize the impact of disasters on girls, young women, families, and communities.

Youth-led and Innovative Partnerships for Job Creation: Build a stronger ecosystem for youth employment and entrepreneurship, particularly for vulnerable young women, fostering job seekers and creators.

The safe and inclusive cities programme seeks to contribute to the development of a diverse and strong civil society in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe which influences urban governance and development processes and contributes to making cities safe and inclusive for young women and men (age 15-25). The programme is funded by DANIDA starting 2022 and will be implemented in partnership with local civil society organisations to ensure that 1: Young people have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to effectively influence governance processes, coordination and decision making 2: Adolescents and young people realise their sexual and reproductive health and rights, and are safe from SGBV 3: Young people are empowered through skills development and decent income opportunities 4: Civil society has strengthened its leadership, legitimacy, diversity, space, influence and collaboration.

ABOUT THE ROLE
The main purpose of this position is to support and manage the implementation of the project activities in line with the approved project documents (project proposal and outlines) in line with donor requirements. S/he is responsible for the conceptualization, development and execution of the project activities as per the approved activity plans. Responsibilities also include active participation in design, implementation, monitoring and reporting on the progress of project activities in line with the detailed implementation plan. The Project Officer will be responsible for collecting project information and building a database of project outcomes during the execution of the project. Guided by the Plan Kenya gender framework, the incumbent will ensure gender considerations are applied in all project cycle management aspects.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Planning, strategy and policy (30%)

• Ensure Safe and Inclusive Cities Project is effectively implemented to contribute to the project outcomes and results are realised.
• Take lead in the implementation of the Safe and Inclusive Cities project in a gender transformative approach as per the country and Global strategies.
• Facilitate consultation, participation and feedback to the community in relation to Plan programs and policies.
• Coordinate the development and harmonization of implementing annual and quarterly costed work plans in accordance with Plan’s financial years.
• Ensure smooth and synergized day-to-day implementation of all Safe and Inclusive Cities field activities.
• Coordinate regular (weekly/monthly) review meetings with Safe and Inclusive Cities field teams and implementing partners.

Programme Implementation, Project Design and influence (20%)

• Ensure effective participation of all project beneficiaries and communities in project cycle for the achievement of outcomes.
• Maintain close collaboration with local partners – Youth Led Organisations, Community based Organisations, religious leaders and all relevant stakeholders
• Train and support youth ambassadors, safety champions to participate in relevant forums at local and national level.
• Influence stakeholders to address the varied and complex root causes of the issues that impact adolescents and youth (15-25) lives. Especially governance, safety and violence prevention, SRHR and economic empowerment.
• Consolidate/write project periodic reports in line with the laid down donor requirements and Plan standards.
• Work with the communication department to document project achievements and lessons learnt through stories of most significant change.
• Contribute to documentation and sharing of best practices with all stakeholders on the project outcomes.
• Work with relevant staff to ensure all logistics and procurement are done according to Plan’s and donor policies in a timely manner. This will include the development of yearly procurement plans.
• Participate in relevant stakeholders’ forums, technical working groups and coordination forums at the County level as may be required.
• Facilitate access to relevant and accurate information on the Safe and Inclusive Cities project to all project stakeholders and partners.
Networking and Collaboration (15%)

• Engage and maintain cordial stakeholder relationships throughout the project cycle for effective project delivery and achievement of the Safe and Inclusive Cities Project deliverables.
• Management of project implementing partners to effectively deliver on Safe and Inclusive Cities project delivery.
• Maintain a high level of external communication and contact at the community and county levels.
• Build and strengthen working relations with local structures (Government, partners, local administration, schools, Youth groups, among others) and ensure their participation and support to project activities.
• Conduct capacity gaps assessment with implementing partners and develop capacity building plans for mutual development to enhance effective project delivery.

Quality improvement and standards (10%)

• Deliver timely and quality SAIC project deliverables as per monthly and quarterly schedules.
• In liaison with the M&E officer, ensure SAIC project activities and outputs are regularly tracked towards the realization of results and appropriate remedial measures are in place to ensure project implementation is always on track.
• Work with the M&E and Research and Learning and Knowledge management team in documenting project best practices and lessons learnt.
• Facilitate and coordinate joint reflection sessions with SAIC Project implementing partners, beneficiaries and stakeholders to inform programming/improve on quality of interventions.

Financial Management (10%)
• Support implementing partners to develop quarterly and monthly activity costed plans and budgets as per donor approved work plan and ensure all activities are on track with appropriate scheduling to meet timelines.
• Monitor expenditures per interventions and ensure compliance with approved budget.
• Review expenditure reports on a monthly basis.

Accountable for the management of the project budgets Risk Management (5%)
• Develop risk assessments for the project and put in place mechanisms to mitigate/manage the risks during the implementation phase.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) (5%)
• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Leads the orientation of programme staff to ensure that they are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;
• Ensures that Plan Kenya contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Other duties (5%)
• As assigned by the supervisor.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Social Sciences, Education or Development Studies.
• At least 3 years’ experience in project implementation/coordination
• Minimum of 3 years working in Urban settings.
• Strong knowledge of community development with focus on youth programming in the areas of economic empowerment through green entrepreneurship, urban safety and SRHR.
• Experience in partnership management. Managing diverse CSOs (Youth led organizations, CBOs, local and regional NGOs) and managing partners
• Conversant with children and youth safeguarding strategies.
• Knowledge in donor reporting and grants management mechanisms.
• Skills in managing project implementation and monitoring is critical
• Strong facilitation, coordination and report writing skills
• Community mobilization and organization, networking, partnership development and management skills
• Good communication and negotiation skills
• Good interpersonal, relationship and team working
• Conflict Management skills
• Demonstrated competence in computer applications.

Qualifications/ experience desirable:
• Knowledge in partnership management and donor reporting mechanisms (will be an added advantage)

Languages required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Kiswahili and English.

Please click on the following to access the full job description:

JD Project Officer – Safer and Inclusive Cities

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Disclaimer: Plan International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate applicants on any basis. We also do not charge Job seekers any fees at any point of the recruitment process.