KWCA, Program Officer - Climate Change
About the portfolio organization
The Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA) is the national representative body and voice for conservancies in Kenya. Our role is to help catalyze the conservancy movement by connecting, informing, convening and representing conservancies and other key stakeholders in a shared effort to make wildlife conservancies thrive in Kenya. KWCA recognizes that conservancies represent a strong mechanism to promote wildlife stewardship and custodianship by local communities and landowners that share land with wildlife.
To achieve our mission, we work to create an enabling policy and legal environment that supports conservancy growth and incentives. In addition, we focus on enhancing the efficacy of conservancies by strengthening landscape conservancy associations to support their growth and ensure they have access to management and governance tools, guidance and information they need for success.
To achieve our mission, we work to create an enabling policy and legal environment that supports conservancy growth and incentives. In addition, we focus on enhancing the efficacy of conservancies by strengthening landscape conservancy associations to support their growth and ensure they have access to management and governance tools, guidance and information they need for success.
About the Fellowship role
The Programme Officer Climate Change will be responsible for supporting projects within the Climate Change Thematic area. S/he will lead and coordinate the implementation of KWCA’s Climate Change strategy and efforts to promote Climate Change initiatives internally and across its members. The Programme Officer will work as part of the team, developing and implementing a range of programmatic activities under the relevant portfolio. S/he will also represent KWCA in technical discussions and thematic meetings of relevance to the portfolio. Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to providing policy advisory services, programme development services; project assurance and oversight while fully supporting the end to end project implementation process, advocacy as well as partnerships and resource mobilization.
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Employment: Full-time, one-year Fellowship
Starting Date: asap
Financial Management
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Employment: Full-time, one-year Fellowship
Starting Date: asap
Key responsibilities
Policy Advisory- Ensure implementation of programme strategies and provide policy advisory support within the Climate Change thematic area
- Scan for global and local knowledge and experience in the Climate Change thematic area to guide program and project strategy development
- Map on a consistent basis the Climate Change issues, covering the situation and strategic opportunities in the form of professional papers and reports
- Provide intellectual and substantive leadership in the Climate Change thematic area through identification of key policy issues and formulation of best possible and alternative policy options for KWCA
- Stimulate strategic thinking in the Climate Change thematic area and tap into opportunities that exist while also seeking opportunities that add value
- Organize strategically important policy dialogues, workshops or seminars contribute as a key Climate Change resource person and prepare policy papers for debate and adoption
- Organize networks of prominent policy based prominent national and county level experts and support a series of Climate Change policy dialogue workshops or roundtables
- Build key and relevant alliances for Climate Change policy reforms and development amongst the national and county development institutions that will impact the grassroots and community level as key beneficiaries
- Ensure effective management and development of the assigned Climate Change programme with focus on quality control from formulation to implementation of assigned programmes
- Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country and support the collaborative preparation/revision of KWCA and partner planning instruments
- Oversee and fully support the operationalization of assigned programmes within the Climate Change thematic area
- Identify strategic and innovative programme areas of cooperation, collaboration and partnerships
- Accordingly, prepare programme strategic frameworks while documenting best practices, covering concepts, strategies and implementation approaches and support the programme Manager in streamlining Climate Change programmes policies and practices
- Prepare project proposals and project documents to effect the implementation of assigned Climate Change projects.
- Leads and coordinates the implementation of KWCA’s Climate Change strategy and efforts to promote Climate Change initiatives internally and across its members
- Contribute to the development of KWCA’s annual work plan, ensuring alignment of the Climate Change equality results with program approach and achievement of annual target Climate Change related indicators.
- Coordinate the National Women Conservancies Forum as a platform for empowering women to participate in conservancy leadership and to influence outcomes across KWCA regional associations and conservancies.
- Support enhance the institutional capacity of KWCA to integrate Climate Change Equality in its programmes and activities.
- Coordinate the implementation of RISE project activities including but not limited to the following:
- Lead the preparation and implementation of the annual results based work plans and result frameworks as approved by the Programme Manager
- Prepare monthly and quarterly progress reports and organize, correspondingly, monthly and quarterly progress reviews
- Ensure regular monitoring of progress, preparation of progress reports and organization of regular evaluations and reviews
- Use Results Based Management (RBM) /M&E techniques, methods and their applications. Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results
- Ensure organizational set-up and project management systems are fully functional and create best possible enabling environment for high level performance of Project Implementation Teams
- Ensure timely recruitment and availability of high quality and specialized Project Teams;
- Provide full oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with KWCA rules and regulations
- Organize annual and quarterly work planning and progress reviews with all relevant teams. Scheduled in advance and confirmed with relevant frameworks ready and in place to support broad and effective discussions and reviews
- Conduct effective monitoring, reviews and evaluation to measure the impact of the projects
- Constantly monitor and analyze the programme environment, including timely readjustment of programmes
- Ensure that results and lessons learned feed into the analytical and project work (i.e. results used to make decisions)
- Ensure timely preparation of progress reports and submission to all relevant partners and stakeholders and other development partners including the local and national government.
- Analyze and research information on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, and identify opportunities for cost-sharing
- Mobilize and network with the experts of international development and human rights community, government partners, UN Agencies and prominent think-tanks
- Build and maintain excellent relations with partners
- Prepare proposals for mobilization of human, technical or financial resources from international development organizations, non-government organizations and the private sector
- Mobilize resources to support the achievement of CLIMATE CHANGE programme outcomes.
- Support the management in creating positive and appreciative atmosphere for team-based work in KWCA and be an advocate for the work of KWCA
- Disseminate the information on best practices and be an active member of KWCA’s regional networks
- Through the communications and PR team, ensure preparation of brochures, publications, press releases for dissemination of KWCA’s Climate Change assistance and experience
- Prepare professional articles and papers on the thematic area as applicable
- Expand Climate Change advocacy and outreach to the national government, local authorities, private sector, non-government and international development organizations.
Financial Management
- Report on the Climate Change Programmes activity, work plan to ensure that it attains its objectives as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible
- Manage the expenditure and disbursement of resources allocated to allocated CLIMATE CHANGE programmes
- Ensure assigned Climate Change programme expenditures conform to Financial Policies and Procedures Manual (FPPM)
- Adhere to assigned Climate Change programme and project spending and variance report as per organizational process and procedures.
- Participate in the review and update of Climate Change programme policies and procedures
- Implement all necessary Climate Change programme policies and procedures to ensure that correct procedures are followed by Climate Change programme and other staff
- Adhere/ Comply with approved organizational policies and procedures.
- Quickly establish solid relationships with relevant departmental teams and ensure internal alignment and cohesion by supporting collaborative adherence to established service level agreements, while monitoring costs, quality and timeliness
- Update job knowledge by participating in conferences and educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations
- Prepare, review and submit all reports required pertaining to the Thematic area and programme work, including donor required reports periodically as prescribed either weekly, monthly, quarterly, half yearly and yearly
- Adhere to set quality standards and guidelines for reporting at all times
Requirements
Academic and Professional Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Management, Administration, Project Management, Development, Climate Change, Environment, Management or related field
- Bachelor’s Degree in Climate Change, Environmental Studies or a related field from a recognized institution of higher learning
- Certificate or Diploma in Climate Change Management an added advantage.
- At least five (5) years of work experience focused on implementing Climate Change Programming within the NGO environment with demonstrable experience in managing a diverse range of stakeholders while providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects
- Experience in managing funding from a diversity of sources including governments and aid agencies, and private sector donors
- Proven experience of working with government agencies and research institutions
- In-depth understanding of Human Rights Based Approach to Development and programming issues and policy work at state, national and international levels
- Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies and techniques including demonstrated understanding of Climate Change issues in development and demonstrable commitment to promoting Climate Change equality in programme work
- Sound knowledge in the political, social, economic and historic environment in which KWCA’s Conservancy programmes are operating at both national and community levels
- Understanding of the project cycle management
- Excellent understanding of development partnerships, fund-raising, donor strategies, governmental and international relations in the country
- Basic knowledge of finance and accounting systems in the country. Strong knowledge of M&E methodology and quality assurance knowledge Management and Learning
- Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting; Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
- Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit; Strong IT skills;
- Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback; Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills; Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors; Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
- High level of integrity, confidentiality, trust and dependability with a strong sense of urgency
- Results-oriented, entrepreneurial, self-motivated, self-starter, who is flexible and adaptable to rapid change and has the ability to work in a fast-paced, high demand environment
- Strong consultative and influencing skills with the ability to build strong working relationships across all levels
- Experience translating KPIs to teams to get buy in and results. Supervisory/team management experience – led a team of 5+ people
- Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills with a good focus on organization, and enhanced multitasking abilities
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and statistical analysis
- Ability to communicate information, whether technical or non-technical to staff members and other stakeholders in a clear and concise manner
- Influential within the Climate Change Programmes sphere with the ability to bring together stakeholders.
About the LGT Impact Fellowship
As part of LGT Venture Philanthropy's and Lightrock's strategic efforts to scale positive impact, the LGT Impact Fellowship was established to provide additional know-how and capacity to portfolio organizations and companies. Each year a limited number of professionals are nominated to work full-time for one year with the organizations and companies supported by LGT Venture Philanthropy and Lightrock in Latin America, Africa and India as per the above job description.
How to apply
Submit your application via the "Apply" button. Please note that we only accept online applications and that multiple applications are not allowed. However, you are invited to mention additional preferences in your application.
Moreover, please make sure to read all information in the application form carefully and answer the questions accordingly (additional information about the questions are marked with "i").
Moreover, please make sure to read all information in the application form carefully and answer the questions accordingly (additional information about the questions are marked with "i").
