Prime Program Assistant (Marsabit) at Mercy Corps

The Position Summary

• The Program assistant will be responsible for leading community in implementation of the PRIME Program a 4-year Swinnurm Family Foundation Funded Program, aimed at empowering young people in Isiolo and Marsabit counties to prosper. S/he will support implementation strategies in coordination with the Program Officer Marsabit and Program Manager who will train staff and partners, providing them with technical assistance; and ensuring that common strategies and approaches are applied consistently in all communities. S/he will coordinate closely with the M&E team to ensure that systems are in place to track, analyze and report results. The Program assistant will lead implementation of PRIME program at the community level keeping the grass roots context of implementation into play with program strategy and ensuring that the program buy in and implementation are aligned.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Working closely with the GIRL Officer the Program assistant will contribute to Teamwork plans and guide successful implementation of PRIME activities.
• working with the Girl officer, the program assistant will support in implementation of PRIME activities to achiever the intended program deliverables.
• Support the GIRL Officer with conducting trainings for mentors, CHVs etc. to deliver technical curricula to adolescents and young people.
• In coordination with the GIRL Officer, monitor the implementation of activities through regular field visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact and document successes and lessons learned.
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, finance, administration and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all PRIME activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards, Child safeguarding and Child Protection policy.
• Assist in training of Participants and mentors on PRIME curriculum and ensuring that the curricula is delivered as per age categories of participants.
• Manage adolescent girls safe space groups in collaboration with mentors.
• Provide training and mentorship to the  mentors .

COMMUNITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT

• Conduct community mobilization and sensitization meetings at village level
• Identify and engage community leaders to sensitize on the PRIME model and establish buy-in
• Identify and engage local animal and human health workers to provide training and technical assistance to safe space groups.
• Link with relevant county government departments such as Gender and Social Services for group registrations, financial and material support

PARTICIPANTS SELECTION

• Sensitize adolescent girls /boys on the PRIME model, objective and target groups
• Participate in identification and recruitment of a group mentors to deliver technical curricula to girls and boys.
• Identify and recruit girls in the community to participate in safe space groups.

PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT.

• Link the adolescent girls and boys to other traders, markets, financial institutions, public and private institutions.
• Facilitate planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance/buy-in where needed.

PROGRAM MONITORING

• Monitor and track the progress of safe space groups.
• Collect monitoring data from  groups and submit to  specify is it to PM or MEL officer?
• Support assessments, evaluations, and monitoring surveys relevant to GIRL component including support in the development of Scopes of Work, survey tools, trainings and management of data collectors.
• In coordination with the MEL team, monitor the implementation of activities through regular field visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact.
• Monitor the  safe space groups and upload all collected data in online platform.
• Prepare accurate and timely monitoring and field reports on a weekly basis and other project documentation as required.

COORDINATION

• Provide administrative support in preparing procurement and expense requests, following up with relevant departments for field activities.

Supervisory Responsibility

Mentors.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Officer.

Works Directly With: Program Manager, MEL Officer, MEL Coordinator.

Minimum Qualifications and Transferrable Skills

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with NGOs/CBO’s in civic engagement, livelihoods and education;
• Diploma in Community Development, Economic Development, Business, Agriculture, Livestock or related field Degree is an added advantage.
• Commitment to working with Women, Girls, youth, and vulnerable groups in need, regardless of race, tribe, religion or gender.
• Understanding of working with local partners and commitment to working with the greater GIRL H team.
• Good problem solving, written and oral communication skills.
• Strong written and spoken English and Swahili.
• Local language skills required.
• Ability to work without constant supervision and as part of a mixed team.
• Good knowledge of MS Office software such as Excel, Word, and Access.
• Be able to drive a motorbike.

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will have the ability to work without constant supervision and capacity to manage relationships with different stakeholders including the greater GIRL H team as part of a diverse team S/he will have. The position requires an ability to think creatively about improving opportunities for women and adolescent girls. The Program assistant will have the capacity to spark innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to programming and to inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.