Project Officer (PO) – African Women Voices for Peace project in Kenya

Key tasks & responsibilities

Responsible for the appropriate planning, implementation of the project at the county within the project work plan;

• Participate in developing project annual work plan and operational plans.
• Make monthly and quarterly work plans for the African Women Voices for Peace platform interventions as required.
• Carry out data collection, needs assessment and baseline (start and end line) for the African Women Voices for Peace project.
• Facilitate Training of Trainers (TOT) for community counsellors to offer psychosocial support to peers.
• Train frontline women on alternative livelihoods and provide them with startup kits.
• Train women in the frontline and local leaders on leadership and advocacy.
• Sensitize women at the frontlines, partners, state, and non-state actors on regional and national architecture on WPS both at country and regional level
• Capacity building for women’s organizations on advocacy, analysis, and constructive engagement in peace talks, in national planning bodies on implementation of National Action Plans on SCR 1325 and SCR 1820.
• Facilitate National dialogues between women at the frontline and actors on WPS Agenda accountability.
• Conduct technical assistance and regular monitoring visits to support capacity of community groups to engage women effectively with peacebuilding forums.
• Conduct project participatory review and reflection meetings with partners, community members and other stakeholders.
• Keep documentation of all the project activities, compile all the minutes of the discussions and resolution reached.
• With support from M&E , conduct mentoring and peer learning sessions with partners to implement the timely use of monitoring tools.
• With the support of the LRP team, conduct quarterly lessons observations in the project area.
• Mobilize rural women into a critical mass for women, peace and security campaigners/Transitional justice activists.
• Working with communication unit , document and share stories of change on transitional justice in Baringo county to demonstrate alternatives to dispute resolution.
• Submit activity reports (including all corresponding attachments) and monthly reports on activity progress, relating to project outputs and outcomes, as is defined in the annual plan.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation (M+E) of the project.

Create and maintain good working relationship with stakeholders.

• Liaise with government institutions, Development Partners, and community members.
• Participate in coordination meetings where necessary with other Agencies and Government stakeholders on land rights etc.
• Works closely together with other project staff in other fields and liaises with project staff at other locations for exchange and mutual learning.
• Participating in the local, national and regional networks for women, peace and security agenda when required.
• Support local partner organisations in developing and implementing training plans for benefitting communities as well as their own staff.

Trainings.

Other

• Assist in the identification of and networking with relevant key persons & institutions at the county and national level.
• Represent ActionAid Kenya at delegated meetings.
• Perform any other activity assigned, in line with the terms of reference and fulfillment of the tasks.

External contact

• Project partners in Baringo County.
• Participation in national platforms

Internal contacts

• Collaboration with the Programme Manager: Women’s Rights and Governance and the Programme Manager Partnership and Local Rights Program Coordination
• Exchange with other ActionAid Kenya programs.

Qualifications

Education Qualifications.

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in law, Development Studies, Conflict Resolution, Peace Studies, Gender Studies, Human Rights, or any related Social Science discipline.
• Postgraduate qualifications in Project Planning and Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Peacebuilding, or any related field are an added advantage.

Skills/Attitude

• Proficient facilitation skills, especially for community-based training and workshops.
• Excellent social, interpersonal, and communication skills (both verbal and written).
• Strong decision-making abilities, particularly in tactical project management and resolving challenges.
• Advanced planning, implementation, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in analyzing community needs and providing sustainable, community-driven solutions.
• Skilled in report writing and documentation, with attention to detail.
• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is essential.
• Proficiency in local languages, especially those spoken in Baringo County, will be a strong asset.
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize communities and engage diverse stakeholders effectively.

Competencies:

• In-depth understanding of development themes such as Gender Equality, Protection, Livelihoods, Human Rights, and Conflict Transformation.
• Proven ability to network, lobby, and advocate effectively with various stakeholders at local and national levels.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience, preferably within the NGO sector.
• Familiarity with the social, cultural, and political context of Baringo County.
• Expertise in working with women’s rights and governance issues, including the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.
• Ability to lead and facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues and consensus-building efforts.
• Experience in capacity building, monitoring, and evaluation of community-level initiatives.