Kenya: Vacancy-Program Officer (Women Leadership & Governance Program)

Organization: GROOTS Kenya

Country: Kenya

Closing date: 20 Dec 2015

GROOTS Kenya in partnership with We Effect & Men for Gender Equality Now (MEGEN) has received financing from the European Union (EU) towards enhancing women political representation in the 2017 general elections in Kenya. The project shall target 4 counties, namely Taita Taveta, Homabay, Laikipia & Kiambu County.

GROOTS Kenya is a nonprofit organization registered in Kenya under Section 10 of the Society’s Act. It is a national movement of organized community based and self help groups that are women led. GROOTS Kenya theory of change is to shift the role of grassroots women in disadvantaged communities from vulnerable, victimized recipients of charity to empowered, effective leaders in community development work.

This specific project falls under the Women Leadership and Governance Program whose objective is to empower women, improve their capacities in leadership and create an environment in which they drive demand for accountability in public resource allocation, delivery of services and protection of human rights. GROOTS Kenya is therefore seeking to hire a Program Officer under this program and more specifically for the EU funded project.

Terms of reference:

The Program Officer will work under the guidance of the Program’s Coordinator to undertake the following tasks:

• Build capacities of incumbent women leaders and identified women political aspirants to run an effective campaign for 2017 general elections;


• Organize grassroots communities (women, men & youth) to support women candidates vying for political leadership in the identified counties;


• Organize and build the capacities of men champions in support of women political participation in the identified counties through the “men for women champions” model;

· Develop & implement grassroots led initiatives for promoting and advocating more inclusive and equitable governance at county and national levels in Kenya before, during and after the elections;

· Engage cultural & other community opinion leaders’ in the identified counties to deal with practices & obstacles that hinder women’s participation in elective politics;

· Support incumbent women leaders & aspirants to build positive public profiles & to popularise their candidature;

· Support women leaders’ effective engagement in political parties;

· Work with relevant authorities, women aspirants, political parties, organised community groups and other actors to reduce incidences of gender based violence (GBV) in the identified counties before, during & after the election;.

· Create and maintain partnerships and networks with other like-minded CSOs, development partners, state commissions & others in support of women leadership & gender equality before, during and after the elections;

· Prepare reports to the GROOTS Kenya management & to the partners in a timely manner;

· Manage the resources’ of the project effectively and ensure there is optimum value for money;

· Carry out regular participatory monitoring of the project interventions;

· Manage the projects operations and reporting for donor compliance and in collaboration with the other partners in the project;

· Support in resource mobilization for other related projects in the Women Leadership & Governance program.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university within the Humanities, Social and/or Political Sciences disciplines.

Experience:

• A minimum of 4 years professional experience in development work with a focus on women empowerment & gender equality;


• Previous experience in the NGO sector in the above capacity; Confirmed previous engagement in similar assignment, supporting women participation in the electoral processes;


• Previous experience working and/or managing an EU funded grant is an added value.

Other qualifications include:

· Strong organizing & communication skills;

· Demonstrated passion and experience to work with grassroots communities (women, men & youth) as well as with administration, political leaders and media;

· Good time management skills;

· Strong project management and report writing skills

· A clear understanding of the current status of women’s political participation, including the legal, economic, political and cultural environment;

· Ability to travel to the field as required.

How to apply:

Terms of Offer

· This is a contract position for 2 years (renewable). The successful candidate shall be subjected to a 3 months probation period.

· Applications (CV only) should be addressed to the National Coordinator and sent via email to admin@grootskenya.org and not later than 20^th December, 2015.