Job Summary:

The Project Officer – Accountability and Learning (A&L) will provide concrete day to day accountability and learning support to a range of Nawiri stakeholders across and beyond consortium teams, in line with agreed A&L/ MEAL priorities, CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines and industry good practice. This is to advance the delivery of responsive, high-quality consortium programming with and for highly vulnerable project target communities. S/he will ensure that the project consistently applies strong accountability systems and guidelines that enable effective listening to and understanding of the diverse needs of the women and men, girls, boys and vulnerable groups we serve, to help ensure that those perspectives and needs are reflected in Nawiri’s adaptive programming, decision-making and ongoing interventions. S/he will facilitate the effective interpretation and use of emerging Nawiri learning and M&E data and trends, to support the development and institutionalization of information and knowledge products, to continually improve the quality of consortium work and maximize responsiveness to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Play a leadership role embedding and supporting a culture of learning and adaptation across Nawiri/ county government initiatives in Marsabit, with SPO A&L support, on an ongoing basis.
• Actively strengthen the consolidation and timely use of emerging learning from various sources including field activities, M&E data/ trends and Nawiri’s Learning and Adaptation Tracker (LAT), including by co-facilitating and supporting Pause & Reflect (P&R) sessions across Nawiri teams and locations.
• Extensive facilitation/ co-facilitation of diverse in-county consortium planning meetings (monthly county and sub-counties as fitting), workshops and wider multi-team/ multi-stakeholder platforms. Co-produce rigorous reports on the same.
• Support Marsabit Nawiri teams to regularly update the LAT. Consolidate and share this monthly with the SPO A&L and SLL. Share monthly FCRM report with SPO A&L and SLL.
• Share significant A&L findings with in-county Nawiri and MEAL teams on a timely basis, to enhance project responsiveness and accountability.
• Support consortium staff and teams to draft various learning products based on Nawiri activities, achievements and learning, including Learning Briefs, Success Stories and Case Studies, with support from the A&L SPO and SLL. Actively use feedback provided to strengthen own and wider team drafts.
• Contribute to A&L initiative documentation for consortium, CRS & quarterly donor reports, as requested/ required.
• Collaborate closely with the SPO for A&L and the Isiolo PO for A&L for mutual sharing, learning, support and cross-county learning.
• Actively engage in diverse consortium initiatives in Marsabit County, across sectors and locations, to promote and expand the consortium culture of accountability, learning and adaptation.
• Help identify significant learning & adaptations that can be leveraged for routine reflection, planning, adaptations and learning products.
• Continue promoting a vibrant accountability culture in the consortium through strengthening team capacity on Nawiri’s Feedback, Complaints and Response Mechanisms (FCRMs) and related e-platforms (CommCare and YouTrack) on an ongoing basis, through mentoring, follow-up, OJT and refresher sessions as necessary.
• In close liaison with Nawiri in-county M&E managers and teams, support compliance with consortium, agency and donor A&L policies, procedures, processes and requirements, including operationalization of Nawiri’s Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and MEAL plan (SMILER+).
• Facilitate the engagement of MSP-N members (county & sub-county), consortium partners and other key actors in processes to identify, learn from, document and share Nawiri achievements, lessons learned, success stories and good/ best practices, with A&L SPO and Nawiri county team support.
• In collaboration with Nawiri Systems and Institutional Strengthening (SIS) team, strengthen the A&L capacity of county and sub-county Multisectoral Platform for Nutrition (MSP-N) members among others, to enhance county government accountability. Includes raising awareness on CRS accountability and learning policies and procedures and Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) standards.
• Support timely, audience-friendly communication and engagement with Nawiri participants and other relevant stakeholders on Nawiri progress.
• Participate and/ or support SIS team on A&L-related county forums including MSP-N meetings, M&E TWG meetings and wider/ county accountability forums.
• Liaise closely with the M&E county manager and team to foster and support timely county team analysis and interpretation of emerging data, for effective programming, learning and adaptations, as requested and guided.
• Remain flexible and open to taking on new responsibilities as Nawiri unfolds and progresses, especially as requested/ guided by the Technical Learning Advisor and Strategic Learning Lead.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong team player, with significant experience working in collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgments.
• Strong interpersonal-communication and relationship management skills, seen in the ability to work closely with local partners, county governments and community members.
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
• Proven leadership competencies and experience, including the ability to take initiative.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.
• Strong facilitation, presentation, training and mentoring skills and experience.

Required Languages: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Knowledge of any ASAL languages an advantage.

Travel Required: Must be willing to travel in the field in Marsabit County up to 50% of time.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Key Working Relationships: 

• Internal: Senior Project Officer (Accountability and Learning), Isiolo PO Accountability & Learning, Nawiri Strategic Learning Lead, Nawiri MEAL team, Marsabit County Head of Office and other technical staff.
• External: Community members, county/ sub-county government staff, other local stakeholders and peer agency MEAL staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences; International Development, Community Development, Sociology or another MEAL- related field. Relevant Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Minimum of five years of relevant work experience in fields of Accountability and Learning, Participatory Development or Adult Learning, ideally with an international NGO working with county governments.
• Proven experience and track record of effectively facilitating effective multi-stakeholder forums. Related experience with government/ county officials a distinct advantage.
• Experience setting up, overseeing/ implementing and actively supporting multi-stakeholder accountability and learning systems is required.
• Reporting; experience analyzing data/ emerging learning, drafting and contributing to narrative progress reports is essential.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems and knowledge-sharing networks is required.
• Relevant experience in Kenya’s ASALs and/ or close knowledge of ASAL cultures and programming contexts a distinct advantage.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.