NGO Jobs. Programme Officer/ Consultant

NGO Jobs in Kenya 2014. 
Job title: Interpeace / NCIC Peacebuilding Programme Officer / Consultant
Period: 1 March – 1 June 2014 with possibility of extension
Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya

Interpeace, an international non-profit organisation, works in close partnership with national partner organizations and the United Nations, with the aim of building lasting peace.

Interpeace has a two-fold mandate:
(i) to strengthen the capacities of societies to manage conflict in non-violent, non-coercive ways by assisting national actors in their efforts to develop social and political cohesion; and
(ii) to assist the international community (and in particular the United Nations) to play a more effective role in supporting peacebuilding efforts around the world through better understanding and response to the challenges of creating local capacities that enhance social and political cohesion.

The Interpeace Regional Office for East and Central Africa is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Scope of the position: The Interpeace/NCIC Peacebuilding Consultant will be contracted by the Interpeace East and Central Africa office (ECA) in Nairobi, in close collaboration with the Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and with support from Interpeace’s International Peacebuilding Advisory Team (IPAT) based in Geneva.

The Consultant will support Interpeace’s institutional capacity building of NCIC as well as carry out Interpeace key functions to support NCIC in a joint, pre-funded pilot peacebuilding initiative in Mandera County.

S/he will report directly to the Interpeace ECA Regional Director

The Consultant shall be the key link between the Interpeace ECA Regional Office (Nairobi) and the Interpeace IPAT in Geneva (henceforth collectively referred to as “Interpeace”) and the NCIC.

S/he is responsible for ensuring that capacity building activities under the partnership, which combined with the pre-funded NCIC-Interpeace joint peacebuilding process in Mandera County form the basis of this consultancy, are run in a coherent, well-planned manner, and in line with the pilot design as agreed by both Interpeace and NCIC.

The post of the Consultant is based in Nairobi and involves moderate travel to the field (up to 30%).

Specific Responsibilities

• Support Interpeace and the NCIC in the development, refinement and delivery of a capacity building approach which will involve both workshops and pilot implementation, including:
• Contributing substantively to IPAT design of the capacity building approach;
• Coordinating and consolidating NCIC and Interpeace inputs (written and through consultations) to the capacity building approach and specific workshop agendas;
• Assisting with workshop materials research and development;
• Supporting workshop documentation and dissemination through video, flipcharts and notes;
• Play lead role in the drafting and supportive role in the promotion of proposals seeking funding to support the pilot phase of the joint peacebuilding programme.;
• Lead logistical support to capacity building activities according to Interpeace policies and procedures, including travel, workshop venue, accommodation and related arrangements;
• Monitor activities and substantive contextual developments in Kenya and the Somali region relevant for the Pilot and coordinate regular briefings to Interpeace and the NCIC; actively participate in the reflection and linking of these to NCIC capacity building and technical support in pilot implementation;
• Provide accompaniment and technical support to any pre-funded pilot implementation activities as requested by Interpeace and the NCIC;
• Support existing relations with key national and international actors in the region and strategically engage these actors in the work of Interpeace and NCIC.

Communication and reporting

• Ensure effective contribution to and timely submission of Interpeace weekly reporting.
• With direction provided by the IPAT Coordinator, collect, compile and disseminate both contractual and strategic reporting to donors and other key actors.
• Support development of written products including publications, workshop and reports during the prefunded component of the Mandera County peacebuilding pilot, providing quality control, including coordination of tasks relating to content and quality as appropriate.
• Maintain close liaison with Interpeace and NCIC team members to ensure that all are regularly briefed on all activities.

Learning

• Identify and capture experiences, thematic competencies and process knowledge from the NCIC collaboration, including capacity building and pre-funded pilot implementation that can be shared with and incorporated into NCIC and Interpeace work in other programmes.
• Ensure that reflection and learning takes place regularly with regard to the capacity building process including workshops, pilot implementation, methodological adaptations and any other relevant aspects of the work.

Qualifications

• Graduate or post-graduate university degree in social, or political science or a related field.
• At least three years of relevant field experience in peacebuilding, political, developmental and/or humanitarian work.
• Knowledge of and experience in Kenya, particularly in the Northern region considered a strong plus.
• Proven understanding of how to integrate research and political analysis into actionable peace building initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution, capacity building, external relations and proposal writing.
• Knowledge of and experience with the nurturing of institutional capacity is considered a plus.
• Strong writing and communications skills in both English and Kiswahili required while knowledge of Somali as the predominant language in Mandera County is an added advantage;
• Strong commitment to supporting local peace building initiatives and to the approach of Interpeace.
• Strong sense of responsibility, professionalism and thoroughness.
• A willingness and ability to travel as needed.

Success Factors

• Team player with a spirit that is both creative and flexible.
• Commitment to inclusiveness and consensus building.
• Confident, tactful, participatory skills and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to work effectively and to keep deadlines with remote supervision including to solve problems, prioritize and follow up.
• Solid understanding of current political, economic, social conditions and historical context of the East African region.
• Ability to obtain, analyse and act on large amounts of programme information from diverse range of sources.
• Excellent research skills.

How to Apply:
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their application, including a letter of interest and curriculum vitae at: recruitment@interpeace.org. “Kenya Peacebuilding program Consultant” MUST BE included in the subject line of the application email.

Interpeace is an equal opportunity employer.

Please note that due to high volume of applications, ONLY short-listed for interviews candidates will be notified.

This recruitment will remain open until March 14th , 2014.

For more information about Interpeace, its values and working principles, please visit the Interpeace website (www.interpeace.org).