Overall purpose of the role: 

The Project Officer will support the effective delivery of the Danida SPA Karamoja project ‘Strengthening cross border cooperation between Kenya and Uganda” and will be responsible for the regular day-to-day implementation, documentation, and operations of project. The Project Officer provides support to the planning, implementation, and delivery of the project, and provide technical expertise, coordination, and monitoring of the overall program. The Project Officer will work closely with the Area Manager, HDP team Leader, and HDP Manager and partners to ensure delivery of key project deliverables.

Duties & Responsibilities: Responsibilities:
Project Management and Development:

• Contribute to the implementation of the DRC-HDP strategy for Kenya, with a focus on initiatives in border areas of the Karamoja cluster;
• Work with the HDP team Leader in coordinating work with partners to deliver timely and high-quality activities, including training, consultation, research, and analysis.
• Ensure the delivery of training, including designing, facilitating, or co-facilitating where necessary.
• Build and maintain strong relations with staff in partner organizations Implementing Karamoja cross-border project
• Ensure timely completion of internal reporting requirements and contribute to the completion of donor reports
• Contribute to the development and regular revision of project work plans for DRC HDP staff and partners.
• Monitor project budgets on a monthly basis in coordination with colleagues to ensure optimum expenditure of funds and timely and accountable financial reporting by local partner.
• Support cross-border community groups, local CSOs, and cross-border local authorities to come up with strategies of enhancing cross-border cooperation between Kenya and Uganda.
• Represent the project in relevant networks and forums, contributing to increased visibility and collaboration opportunities.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation:

• Ensure Tracking of learning and documenting success stories of border interventions
• Ensure that internal activity reports are consistently done in a timely manner and meet the expected standard, based on agreed formats and schedules;
• Timely submit weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports to the HDP team leader and Meal coordinator
• In collaboration with the HDP Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator, monitor the impact of DRC HDP work in the Karamoja cluster and participate in regular debriefings and lesson-learning sessions with DRC and Partners.
• Ensure critical project reflection and reviews take place regularly to inform decision-making, and that learning informs the wider DRC community of practice.
• Maintain a database of project outcomes.
• Coordinate staff and donor monitoring visits and evaluations as appropriate
• Contribute to cross-organizational learning and sharing, including drafting pieces for the weekly internal news.
• Ensure effective communication of project activities, results, and lessons learned within the DRC-HDP sector including contributing to organizational outcome harvesting
• Identify and address capacity gaps within the partner organizations, developing and implementing capacity-building initiatives.

Coordination & Partnerships:

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with project partners.
• Contribute to the strengthening of DRC HDP coordination with other civil society organizations, and national and international peacebuilding actors in Kenya.
• Represent DRC external meetings, and promote lessons learned from the organization.
• Represent DRC in County Steering Committee and County peace forums Meetings

Requirements

Experience and technical competencies: 

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in the field of conflict/security issues and peacebuilding
• Experience in project management and delivery including planning, budget administration, and donor reporting
• Experience in working with a team and ensuring strong teamwork and morale
• Strong knowledge of and experience working in the northern Kenya region.
• Experience in implementing programs in conflict-prone and insecure areas
• Knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standards is desirable
• High degree of computer literacy
• Willingness to live and work in Turkana, including travel to locations on the Kenya-Uganda border
• Strong coordination, representation, and interpersonal skills.
• Most preferably a resident of the region.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Peace Studies, Conflict Management, Social Studies, or closely field-related work experience Language:
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in local spoken languages

Key stakeholders: 

Internal

• Programme staff
• Support Services staff

External

• Relevant stakeholders – Community leaders, Local/Sub-county administration, NGOs/INGOs and police services.
• Local partner implementing the project