Economic Recovery Assistant

About DRC   
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental and non-profit organization, founded in 1956, that works in more than 35 countries around the world. DRC is one of the largest protection actors in Kenya, actively coordinating and advocating for improving the protective environment for refugees and host communities.  DRC implements Protection monitoring, Child Protection and GBV prevention and response programmes in its areas of operation to address protection issues faced by displaced and non-displaced at-risk groups and individuals. The programme also aims to identify and build synergies with DRC´s Economic Recovery sector to facilitate durable solutions and Humanitarian Disarmament & Peace Building activities to enhance to respond to the needs of communities affected by acute crisis as well as those in protracted displacement situations.

Overall purpose of the role: 
The Economic recovery Assistant, in conjunction with the Team Leader, will assist in effective project component activity implementation oversight, monitoring and evaluation in Ifo Camp and the neighboring communities. This position works closely with other Economic recovery team colleagues to ensure an integrated approach in beneficiary targeting, activity execution, assessments and feedback. The role also liaises closely with stakeholders located in international and national NGOs, county/national governments and community leadership structures to ensure effective service-delivery, participation and added value. This position provides technical support for skills development, Microenterprise development, financial inclusion and Drylands Agriculture in one camp and the neighboring host community locations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management and Development 

• Participate in project planning & implementation including activity, budgeting and procurement/logistics planning
• Assist in developing and maintaining detailed implementation plans to deliver program to agreed timeline and milestones
• Ensure all project activities are implemented on time and in line with the set out work-plans
• Promote collaboration and synergy between refugee focused interventions and the host communities
• Prepare and conduct community sensitization forums/meetings with community leaders and beneficiaries in the refugee and host community set up
• Document lessons learned from training activities, community meeting and assist in preparing training reports
• Promoting business/farm group development through support, coaching, mentoring, regular feedback and identification of investment needs and opportunities.
• Supervise core components namely drylands agriculture & vocational skills as well as the supportive sectors namely, micro-enterprise development, savings groups, financial literacy and value-chain/market-development in conjunction with colleague technical officers.
• Organize and coordinate livelihood related stakeholders meetings/workshops/forums to enable the active, free and meaningful participation of project beneficiaries in the design and implementation of project activities within refugee and host communities
• Assist in developing livelihoods concept notes and proposals
• Offer technical support in financial inclusion  and drylands agriculture to colleagues in other locations.

Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation

• Keep accurate records of events and activities including meeting/class/training attendance.
• Collect and analyze livelihoods data on a monthly basis
• Participate in periodic field level programme review and planning meetings
• Support with weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual donor/internal reporting
• Develop case studies, human interest stories, et cetera, for use in communications and monitoring reports
• Ensure project staff supervised adhere to CHS Principles in the day-to-day project implementation and participate in CHS audits
• Support in implementing M&E plans
• Participate in/facilitate baseline surveys, needs assessments and conduct consultative meetings with the project stakeholders
• Organize and conduct education scholarships monitoring sessions and collect data.

Coordination & Partnerships

• Serve as the liaison with stakeholders and relevant Government of Kenya departments from the location to divisional levels
• Promote collaboration and synergy between the DRC host community projects and the similar projects/groups in the Dadaab refugee camps
• Ensure and maintain mutual linkages with the County and Sub-county offices especially with any related line ministries to enhance their understanding of program needs in the assigned area of operation.
• In the absence of the Team Leader – Livelihoods, represent DRC in livelihood and education inter-agency coordination meetings

Staff Supervision

• Line supervision of incentive livelihoods staff
• Incentive Staff performance monitoring

Experience and technical competencies: 

• 3 or more years’ experience working with I/NGOs within humanitarian/development contexts
• Demonstrable experience in livelihoods/food security programming within refugee/host community settings
• Demonstrate experience in dryland agriculture
• Demonstrates a good understanding of Project Cycle Management
• Has excellent communication (spoken and written) skills
• Working knowledge of MS Office, Excel and other relevant computer applications
• Good planning and organizational skills coupled with problem-solving ability
• Possess good level of conflict management skills
• Possess a sense of cultural awareness, sensitivity and respect for diversity
• Knowledge and skills in Microenterprise development/MSME/BDS/entrepreneurship/financial literacy
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience in financial inclusion/VSLA

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in Education, Business Administration, Commerce, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Sociology, International Development/Relations or Economics
• Further short trainings in drylands agriculture, entrepreneurship, technical education, value-chain development, making markets work for the poor (M4P), community-managed microfinance/savings groups, MIS for savings groups or agricultural production highly desirable for this role

Key Stakeholders: 

• Key stakeholders: (internal and external)
• DRC Economic Recovery Team and Support Services departments
• Liaise with county and national government line ministries
• Coordinate with UNHCR on Food security/livelihood matters/TVET
• Closely work with other education/livelihood partners
• Host and refugee leaders and beneficiaries.

Language

• English – Advanced
• Kiswahili – Intermediate
• Somali (added advantage)

About you:  
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:  

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Conditions  

• Contract: One-year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment.
• Availability: January, 2025
• Duty station: Dadaab Refugee Camp

Application and CV:  
Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.  
DRC only accepts applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. Please remember to upload both a letter of application and your CV and do not attach any written recommendations.  
Please submit your application and CV in English no later than 11th December 2024

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels.  In light of this, Female candidates and those from minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer.  We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees.  We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, color, race, marital status or other protected characteristics.  

DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process. Visit drc.ngo to read more about what we do to secure robust safeguarding mechanisms. 
If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.