Programme Officers

Programme Officers - Grants monitoring (2 positions)

Location :                Nairobi, Kenya

Organizational Unit/Agency:    UNDP Kenya

Application Deadline :        24th September 2012

Type of Contract :            Service Contract

Post Level :                NOA-ICS8

Languages Required :        English; Swahili;

Starting Date :     (date when the selected canditate is expected to start) 10th September 2012

Duration of Initial Contract :    One year

Background

The establishment of the CSDG-Facility was the culmination of a number of processes within the democratic governance sector. It was also an acknowledgement of the crucial role that civil society is able to play in those processes. The Amkeni Wakenya Civil Society Democratic Governance Facility ("Amkeni Wakenya" or "The Facility") is an initiative established by development partners including The Royal Netherlands Embassy, The Embassy of Sweden, the Embassy of Japan, The European Union, Royal Norwegian Embassy (Norway) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Facility was set up to provide co-ordinated and harmonized support to civil society organizations (CSOs) in the democratic governance sector in Kenya to participate more effectively in democratization processes in Kenya. The move to establish Amkeni Wakenya was a culmination of various efforts and discussions involving CSOs, the private sector, government departments and development partners over a span of years that aspired to strengthen civil society to be able to perform its roles of informing, educating and mobilising citizens to participate actively in reforms and checking government policies and practices more effectively and contribute to deepening democracy in Kenya.

During implementation of the GJLOS Reform Programme, a number of development partners including UNDP and the EC Delegation initiated discussions on modalities of establishing a Non-State Actors (NSA) Facility to specifically support CSOs to better engage in reforms. Following this, a number of donors pursued the idea and established the Civil Society Democratic Governance Facility with the objective of supporting CSOs to more effectively participate in governance reforms. The Facility was in July 2008.

To achieve the above objectives and strategic outcomes, Amkeni Wakenya utilize three (3) programme delivery methodologies: Grant Making, Capacity Building, and Learning and Knowledge Management. Under Amkeni Wakenya's Strategic Plan for 2011-2015, the facility focuses on four (4) strategic outcomes:

Outcome 1: Access to justice for all, especially the poor and marginalized in Kenya, enhanced.

Outcome 2: Effective and people- centered devolved Governments promoted.

Outcome 3: Effective realization of all human rights particularly economic, social and cultural (ESCRs) rights enhanced.

Outcome 4: Efficiency and effectiveness of Amkeni Wakenya to provide support to civil society organizations in the Democratic Governance sector in Kenya enhanced.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Manager, the Programme Officers will:

1. Support the development of programmes to strengthen CSOs impact in democratic governance.
   
2. Day-to-day liaison with CSO's and other stakeholders to develop close working relationships towards the efficient and effective implementation of the program activities.
   
3. Facilitate consultations with major stakeholders to identify focus areas and priorities for calls for proposals.
   
4. Liaise with key Agenda 4 institutions and Commissions to ensure information sharing and two-way flows of information and inclusion in dialogue opportunities and joint ventures.
   
5. Provide support to CSOs particularly those in remote areas to enable them to benefit from services provided by Amkeni Wakenya.
   
6. Prepare project documents, progress reports and other background documents as maybe required.
   
7. To provide timely and clear feedback to grantees on the clarity, adequacy or lack of it of their financial reports and follow up to ensure that all requests f9or information are responded to in a timely manner.
   
8. To document incidents of contacts with grantees whether in the form of meetings, emails, telephone calls, etc and share them with the Programme Manager to facilitate subsequent follow up.
   
9. Organise dialogues, reflection meetings to promote knowledge sharing among major stakeholders in democratic governance.
   
10. Support the Stakeholder Reference Group to organize and report on Learning Forums.
    
11. To actively participate in assessing grants proposals during Calls for Proposals.
    
12. Undertake outreach and other field visits to raise awareness of Amkeni Wakenya's programmes and to monitor and evaluate partner projects.
    
13. Assesses financial and narrative reports from participating CSOs and recommend disbursement.
    
14. Provide advice to CSOs on reporting Guidelines and Procedures.
    
15. Liaise with key Agenda 4 institutions and Commissions to ensure information sharing and two-way flows of information and inclusion in dialogue opportunities and joint ventures.
    
16. Provide support to CSOs particularly those in remote areas to enable them to benefit from services provided by Amkeni Wakenya.
    
17. Prepare project documents, progress reports and other background documents as maybe required.
    
18. Organise dialogues, reflection meetings to promote knowledge sharing among major stakeholders in democratic governance.
    
19. Support the Stakeholder Reference Group to organize and report on Learning Forums.
    
20. To actively participate in assessing grants proposals during Calls for Proposals.
    
21. Undertake outreach and other field visits to raise awareness of Amkeni Wakenya's programmes and to monitor and evaluate partner projects.
    
22. Assesses financial and narrative reports from participating CSOs and recommend disbursement.
    
23. Provide advice to CSOs on reporting Guidelines and Procedure
    
24. Support the development of programmes to strengthen CSOs impact in democratic governance.
    

Competencies

• Demonstrable expertise in the areas of Democratic Governance and key reform areas covered by GJLOS thematic areas.
  
• Demonstrable expertise in grants assessments and reviews.
  
• Proven understanding and knowledge of the civil society sector in Kenya.
  
• Strong interpersonal relations and communication skills.
  
• Strong Report Writing skills.
  
• Program Management and basic financial skills especially in the area of financial review of grantee reports
  

Terms of Service

The Service Contract is a modality of hiring of UNDP development project personnel, where UNDP at the request of an executing entity, or implementing partner under the harmonized operational modalities or where UNDP itself serves as executing entity/implementing partner of a development project provides personnel contracting services to support execution or implementation of the project.

This is a non-staff contract under the Service Contract modality of hiring of the UNDP. Individuals engaged under a SC serve in their individual capacity and not as representatives of a government institution, corporative body or other authority external to UNDP. Therefore the incumbents shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN system or the Government and therefore are not entitled to any diplomatic privileges, or to any other special status or conditions.

Required Skills and Expertise

Education:

1. A Masters degree in law, development studies, social studies, management and business administration or related disciplines and two years of relevant work experience.
   
2. A Bachelors degree in the required fields with 4 years of relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of the Masters degree.
   

Experience:

1. Experience in grant management and experience of monitoring grants to CSOs in Kenya.
   
2. Demonstrable expertise in the areas of democratic governance and key Agenda 4 reform areas.
   
3. Proven experience of reviewing financial and narrative reports
   
4. Demonstrable experience of the current political environment in kenya
   
5. Proven experience in management and implementation of development projects in one or all of the following: governance, socio economic rights, access to justice, law, Devolved government and human rights.
   
6. Proven experience of grants assessment
   
7. Knowledge of working with Kenyan civil society or the sector in general.
   
8. Strong understanding of gender and diversity in the Kenyan context.
   
9. Strong interpersonal relations and communication skills.
   
10. Knowledge of Swahili is a must.
    

Language and IT Skills:

• Fluency in English and Swahili
  

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.