Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners.
Current programming focuses on Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, Livelihoods, Nutrition and WASH.
In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya.
In Feb 2013, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merged their Health and Nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children has an operational presence in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Bungoma and Turkana.
We work through partners in many other parts of the country. We will have a staff complement of around 400 staff and an operating annual budget of approximately US$30 million.
Save the Children is rolling out a 3 year DFID funded project across four sites in Mandera County.
The project seeks to build the resilience and adaptive capacities of vulnerable households, communities and government systems in Northern Kenya in the face of shocks or stresses.
The project’s key outcome is that communities in northern Kenya will have increased incomes, assets, and skills to sustainably reduce their vulnerability to shocks and stresses by the end of the three year project.
Vacancy: Technical Vocation Education Training Specialist, Arid Lands Support Programme Mandera
Team / Programme:Programmes
Location: Mandera
Grade: TBC
Post Type: National - 6 months Contract
Child Safeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people
Role Purpose: Technical Vocation Education Training (TVET) Specialist will provide overall technical guidance for efficient and effective delivery of appropriate Technical and Vocational Training to identified male and female youth.
S/he shall work closely with Arid Lands Support Progamme (ASP) team to deliver expected outputs.
Reports to: Programme Manager, Arid Lands Support Programme
The project aims to achieve this outcome through three outputs:
i. Households have improved livestock productivity through access to production system inputs and community assets;
ii. Women and youth from targeted households have received skill and asset building inputs enabling them to sustainably diversify their sources of income;
iii. County government systems for community development are strengthened and supporting community-led initiatives.
To improve the economic inclusion of youth (young men and women) the project conducted a labour market assessment. The assessment identified various skills development (e.g. technical and vocational training) to enable youth access available livelihood opportunities.
Skills development shall be done through the existing Polytechnics (or Vocational Training Centre). This activity will also be informed by the gender mapping and analysis which was undertaken last year.
The aim is to ensure social relations relative to changing livelihood patterns are understood and that a “Do No Harm” approach is adopted, particularly for young women taking up more independent roles in income earning.
Part of the skills training shall seek to enhance uptake of the youth fund in Mandera County as this has been found extremely low.
This output has been delayed in terms of implementation by period of 11 months and was dependant on the Labour market assessment findings.
So as to ensure that this output in on course, the project urgently requires a TVET specialist to come on board in the shortest time possible for a period of 6 months to set up and fast track the project deliverables.
Staff directly reporting to this post: None
Key Areas of Accountability:
- Based on findings from labour market assessment, identify and design most appropriate (consider male and female youth) TVET and skills development relevant and matched to available market opportunities in Mandera County. S/he will take forward implementation of recommendations and plans from a recently hired TVET consultant.
- Provide overall technical guidance to identified Youth Polytechnics or Vocational Training Centres, Polytechnic Committees/boards and develop ASP TVET implementation process including consultations with training providers, employer organizations, apprenticeship providers, worker organizations, youth groups and relevant government ministries.
- Specify and ensure implementation of quality standards in delivery of identified vocational training and skills development to targeted youth.
- Identify and specify a range of competency-based vocational training curricula and training methodologies aligned to existing national framework and systems, and to current labour market conditions in the County and nationally.
- Identify and support youth attend identified vocational training and access relevant apprenticeship opportunities and possible internship or attachment in relevant government departments, civil society organisations and formal and informal private sector.
- Participate in the overall planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of ASP activities. Provide necessary support to Save the Children MEAL team undertaking participatory monitoring and evaluation (PME) of ASP.
- Provide necessary support to external consultants undertaking specific studies to inform the project, independent review, audit, evaluation of the ASP or facilitators of workshops and specific training of project beneficiaries, County government officials or implementing staff.
- Compile and submit progress reports or contribute to the periodic project records, as required.
- Undertake other duties as assigned by Programme Manager for the effective and timely achievement of project objectives.
Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
Ambition:
- Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
- Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- Future orientated, thinks strategically
Collaboration:
- Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
- Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
- Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
- Honest, encourages openness and transparency
Qualifications and Experience
- Higher Diploma or degree in education, relevant technical and vocational education training, or related field.
- 5 years proven practical experience in TVET and skills development programmes.
- Experience in a similar position in government, private sector or NGOs.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Experience working in the marginalised communities in Northern Kenya and understanding of challenges facing youth in Kenya.
- Computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
- Commitment to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding and other global policies, and values.
- Excellent understanding of child rights programming.
WASH Technician
Team / Programme:Programmes
Location: Wajir
Grade: TBC
Post Type: National
Child Safeguarding:Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people
Role Purpose: In liaison with the WASH specialist, the WASH technician will be directly involved in the planning, implementation (monitoring and evaluation of the WASH interventions aimed at enhancing the Water supply, Sanitation facilities and promoting safe hygiene practices in the affected communities and institutions.
The WASH Technician will also ensure that all the proposed WASH interventions are executed in a timely manner and quality supervision, construction standards and reporting is achieved.
Reports to: Area Program Manager – Wajir
Staff directly reporting to this post: Hygiene promotion assistant.
Key Areas of Accountability:
- Providing timely technical guidance on water and sanitation activities and ensuring quality technical implementation.
- Lead construction of the most appropriate new WASH systems or rehabilitation of existing systems as highlighted in the proposals and WASH assessment reports.
- Ensuring and fostering adequate collaboration with the county and national government line departments and Non-governmental partners throughout the project phases.
- Coordinating the design and providing technical supervision on WASH and construction activities at the field office and ensuring quality technical implementation in accordance with the proposals.
- To guide the construction contract administration, review of Bills of Quantities and design drawings.
- Planning, conducting and coordinating technical WASH assessments and utilizing the findings in activity planning and overall programming.
- Providing technical advisory to the tendering/procurement committees on WASH supplies and inspecting and ensuring quality of WASH supplies.
- Providing support supervision to the hygiene promotion team at the field office to implement high quality WASH interventions and adequately integrating with other programme interventions.
- Work closely with the monitoring and evaluation department to develop and revise, whenever necessary, reporting, assessment and monitoring and evaluation tools.
- Facilitating and coordinating WASH trainings to beneficiary and partners in the various field locations
- Promoting and representing Save the Children at, county, and national level WASH forums including active participation and representation in WESCOORD.
- Participating as part of the rapid response team in the event of emergency in the Save the children programme areas.
- Compiling timely and accurate WASH related reports feeding into the area/national monthly and quarterly reports as well as donor reports.
- In conjunction with finance department, ensuring proper forecasting and follow up of all WASH related budgets at the field office
- In conjunction with the logistics department, ensure timely delivery of equipment and materials necessary for implementation of WASH interventions.
- To consistently seek technical guidance, provide feedback and report regularly to the area programme manager and WASH specialist
- Participating in formulation and development of funding proposals for WASH interventions for Save the Children in Wajir
- Participate in any other administrative or program related activities as directed by the line manager.
Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
Ambition:
- Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
- Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- Future orientated, thinks strategically
Collaboration:
- Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
- Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
- Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
- Honest, encourages openness and transparency
Qualifications and Experience
- A minimum of a Degree in Water and sanitation Engineering or Public health engineering with strong understanding of project management is mandatory
- At least two years’ practical experience and demonstrable expertise in construction of water and sanitation systems especially in arid situations in the NGO set up. It is desirable that some of this should have been in emergency relief programmes and/or in ASAL districts
- Demonstrable experience in development and interpretation of Bills of Quantities, working drawings and civil works supervision.
- The ability to present concise reports, sometimes at short notice, reflecting the problems and possible solutions for particular situations.
- Excellent computer skills are a must and understanding of Engineering and GIS software is desirable.
- Diplomacy, tact and administrative skills in order to work with people at managerial level and government staffs. The post holder should also be at ease in working with local people and able to manage cultural sensitive issues.
- Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff and communities on WASH systems.
- Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions
- Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment
- Ability and willingness to travel and stay in the field
- Well-developed interpersonal and team skills and proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations.
- Good written and spoken English is essential.
- Commitment to Save the Children values
How to Apply
Interested candidates are required to submit a CV and mandatory cover letter to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org by 15th August 2014 indicating the Position Title on the subject line.
Due to the urgency of these positions, applications will be reviewed as and when they are received.
