The Nature Conservancy and the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources are part of a public-private partnership to increase investment flows for sustainable land management and integrated natural resource conservation in the upper catchment of Kenya’s Tana River. The upper Tana River supplies 95% of Nairobi’s and 60% of Kenya’s hydropower. Yet water quality and water quantity issues are increasing in the upper Tana watershed. In March 2015, The Nature Conservancy helped launch the Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund (UTNWF) to address water quality and quantity issues. This water fund combines funding from public and private donors and major users ‘at the tap’ to put the green infrastructure in place ‘at the top’ to protect the watershed. The water fund’s goal is to increase sustainable land management and integrated natural resource management through improved food production, greater household income, and more diversified development and livelihood options. To achieve this, the water fund team is implementing three components in the Upper Tana watershed.
The three components are; Institutionalization of the water fund management platform by establishing the Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund Charitable Trust and developing financial management and operational systems, Improving Upper Tana catchment ecosystems that support livelihoods, food security and economic development by implementing sustainable land management and integrated natural resource management through improved food production, greater household income, and more diversified development and livelihoods options with disaggregation of support and results by gender and age; and Implementing knowledge management and learning systems through a Monitoring and Evaluation framework that a) supports water fund decision-making and adaptive management, biophysical and socio-economic data collection and analysis and b) allows for scaling up policy integration and replication of good practices as rapidly as possible.
The Program Officer is responsible for delivery of results pledged in annual workplans and budget. This is an initial 3-year term limited position that supports the, GEF-funded Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund project, for which IFAD is the Implementing Agency. Extension of tenure will be subject to performance and availability of funds. The Program Officer will serve in the Project Management Unit and coordinate implementation work while reporting to the Water Fund Manager. The position is located in Nairobi, Kenya with significant travel to the Upper Tana watershed.
The Program Officer will support the Water Fund Manager in the management and execution of the UTNWF project. S/he will provide technical oversight, coordinate field operations, coordinate technical and planning support to sub-grantees, and ensure that activities meet donor and TNC standards. S/he will play a key role in supporting the manager to effectively achieve the results defined in the agreement and ensure timely reporting to the various donors. On behalf of UTNWF, s/he serves as the principle contact to government agencies and community beneficiaries. S/he manages the technical aspects of the Water Fund to ensure that there are lasting outcomes and results. A focus will be collaboration with key partners and the communication of best practices and frameworks that help address the conservation needs, engages and tracks local community participation in lasting conservation efforts.
Project implementation:
- Ensures high quality implementation of UTNWF project field operations to realize progress towards project objectives, value for money including through field visits.
- Works with the manager and partners to design and coordinate activities in line with approved budgets and work plans.
- Establishes and maintains optimal performance standards to meet targets and expected outcomes of annual work plans and the donor agreements while remaining within budget.
- Ensures that logistics are in place for the implementation of events; ensures that activities are reported on- technically and financially. Maintains a rolling 3-months events calendar.
- Oversights procurement, organizes and reports upon implementing partner meetings and provides follow-up.
- Supports the reporting of key deliverables, outputs and outcomes as per Work Plans and sub-grantee/contractor agreements.
Stakeholder relationships and coordination:
- Manages relationships with local and national government institutions and partner organizations as delegated by the manager.
- Coordinates planning and feedback with county governments, other stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries for the project.
Planning and reporting:
- Facilitates communications and information flow for the project.
- Coordinates preparation of annual work plans, semi-annual & annual performance reports.
- Prepares presentations, lessons learned, and other communications products as needed.
Project management:
- Serves as Acting manager when the manager is unavailable.
Travel:
- Frequently travels domestically.
- Experience managing complex or multiple donor-funded projects in East Africa, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
- Experience implementing projects with rigorous timelines and deliverables and to track program quality through donor approved monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans at the country level.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and government agencies.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience negotiatingwith government agencies, partners and communities.
- Communicating clearly, both interpersonal and written, in English and Kiswahili.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint.
PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Knowledge of Kenya’s environment sector, water and agriculture management policies, laws, and development issues.
- Knowledge on gender and development, and experience in managing programs that mainstream gender.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare professional written reports and other communications materials in English
- Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Politically savvy.
- Comfortable operating in a non-hierarchical and collegial manner.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.