Mercy Corps works amid
disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential
of people who can win against impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has
provided $1 billion in assistance to people in 82 nations.
Over the last five years,
more than 90 percent of the agency's resources have been allocated directly to
programs that help people in need.
The Yes Youth Can (YYC) initiative is a complimentary program funded by the USAID and was designed to empower Kenya’s youth population in areas recovering from the post-election violence in 2007/8, through building capacity of youth groups and organizations to engage with markets, governments and communities, and to pursue their legitimate needs and interests more effectively in a way that builds positive inter-ethnic networks.
The Yes Youth Can (YYC) initiative is a complimentary program funded by the USAID and was designed to empower Kenya’s youth population in areas recovering from the post-election violence in 2007/8, through building capacity of youth groups and organizations to engage with markets, governments and communities, and to pursue their legitimate needs and interests more effectively in a way that builds positive inter-ethnic networks.
Mercy Corps manages two
regional awards, the Rift-Valley Program which is based in Eldoret, and the
Central Program which is based in Thika.
It also manages the YYC
National Program which works with youth through partner agencies in six
provinces of Kenya.
Mercy Corp is seeking to recruit a Program Specialist - Economic Empowerment reporting to the Chief of Party.
Mercy Corp is seeking to recruit a Program Specialist - Economic Empowerment reporting to the Chief of Party.
The position is based in
Thika.
General Position Summary
General Position Summary
Program Specialist Economic
Empowerment is a senior level position with Mercy Corps Kenya. It will be
primarily responsible for providing leadership of the Economic Empowerment
component of the Yes Youth Can (YYC).
The USAID-funded project to
genuinely empower youth in Kenya to develop themselves for greater voice in
national and local reforms and to create new opportunities for livelihoods that
meet the aspirations of young Kenyans.
The program will support
youth in achieving positive change in three major areas:
(1) increased work
skills/employment;
(2) increased
citizenship/civic engagement, and
(3) increased inter-ethnic
engagement.
It is expected that
activities will include youth-driven mobilization initiatives that benefit
communities and promote citizenship; creation of opportunities for life and
employment skills; and initiatives to bring together youth of different
ethnicities.
The Program Specialist Economic Empowerment will work closely with the Chief of Party to implement the current YYC Central regional programs’ economic empowerment component.
Essential Job Functions
The Program Specialist Economic Empowerment will work closely with the Chief of Party to implement the current YYC Central regional programs’ economic empowerment component.
Essential Job Functions
- Member of
the YYC Central Program leadership team in partnership with Chief of Party
and Country Director;
- Direct and
indirect supervision of economic empowerment technical program, other MC
officers and youth trainers
- Provide
technical insight and advice for economic empowerment programming,
including job skills and employment activities, combining experience with
practical on-the-ground identification of opportunities and constraints;
- Provide
technical leadership in value chain/market analysis to identify
opportunities for improved economic opportunities for young people and
other beneficiaries
- Provide
technical leadership and management of the Community Managed Microfinance
(Village Savings & Loans) component across the YYC Program.
- Provide
technical and management leadership of YYC regional business grants
- Management
and mentorship of local program staff and other partners namely the youth
county boards, gradually transferring skills and capacities;
- Work with
program staff on an ongoing basis to ensure smooth planning, preparation,
implementation, and joint monitoring and evaluation of program activities
and achievements towards program goals.
- Facilitate
deliberate linkage of YYC regionals’ economic empowerment mandate to YYC
National’s various economic empowerment mandate namely youth SACCOs,
business grants, entrepreneurship training among others.
- Participate
in the YYC programs’ strategic development and way forward process
- Provide
training and mentorship to MC staff on economic empowerment and
related strategies and applications
- Represent
Mercy Corps in related thematic working groups within the country
- Engage with
Government of Kenya national and County Government departments on economic
development initiatives in conjunction with the Chief of Party.
- Represent
Mercy Corps in donor-driven forums/meetings in conjunction with the Chief
of Party and Country Director.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Post
graduate degree (or compensatory long-term work experience) in the social
sciences, business administration, economics/economic development, or
international development;
- Minimum of
5years’ experience in international development;
- Technical
expertise in youth economic empowerment, general livelihoods and economic
development
- Experience
managing youth, micro-enterprise, community microfinance, job
skills/employment, civic engagement, agricultural value-chains, program
design and program M&E
- History of
working effectively and respectfully with host government, NGOs,
contractors and other partners;
- Ability to
effectively convey programmatic goals, enlist partnerships, and work with
a range of program and external stakeholders;
- Fluency in
Kiswahili
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and
outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit to a field
posting.
Staff are expected to
conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and
MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country
venues.
To Apply:
To Apply:
Interested candidates who
meet the requirements of the above position should submit an application
including a cover letter, detailed CV listing three professional references
(including your current/latest supervisor), and expected remuneration by
4.00p.m. 12th April, 2013 to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org.
Your email should bear the
title “ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT SPECIALIST”.
Applications without this
subject heading will be disqualified. Please do not attach any
certificates.
We regret that only
short-listed candidates will be contacted
You are invited to read more about Mercy Corps in our websitewww.mercycorps.org.
You are invited to read more about Mercy Corps in our websitewww.mercycorps.org.
