Field Officer - Lorengkippi, Turkana County

The Field Officer (FO) is responsible for the direct execution of field activities associated with the 99GJQ project, funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF). This role involves preparing written materials and progress reports on field activities, ensuring effective and timely completion of tasks, delivery of quality outputs, and achievement of outcomes with maximum impact for beneficiaries. The Field Officer reports directly to the Project Manager and works closely with the Community Mobilizer, acting as a liaison between ACTED and the project beneficiaries.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programming

Project Planning

• Prepare work plan and time schedules for implementing the project activities.
• Support in identification and selection of required project inputs, tools and materials.
• Support in the development of data collection tools for women and youth empowerment activities and livelihood interventions.
• Identification and mapping of stakeholders, value chains, and service providers within the project area.

Project Implementation and Follow-up

• Formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs).
• Planning for and training of SHGs on leadership, gender empowerment, financial inclusion, Enterprise Capacity Assessment and Coaching, and value chains.
• Explore the feasibility of potential value chains based on local conditions: natural resources, culture and traditions, trade routes, transport and infrastructure, and existing markets, skills and human capital.
• Support in market linkages and access to inclusive financial services for women’s groups through exposure visits for Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and other inclusive financial service providers to local demonstration sites across the target communities.
• Provide technical support to women to establish a ‘Self-Help Group’ revolving fund model to improve financial independence and resilience and develop capacity to self-invest.
• Support in development of simplified manuals in local languages as the basis for the training; the manuals will be used to train the women groups.
• Carry out stakeholder’s mapping within the intervention area.
• Support in the roll out of a resource use assessment tool that will seek to optimize resource use (including energy & water) and reduce waste within the enterprises.
• Plan and carry out value chain assessment and market analysis.
• Preparation of Bills of Quantities and submission for review by the Project Manager.
• Identification of training needs for inclusion during implementation of the SHE-GROW project and other related projects.
• Support project beneficiaries in identification of Income Generating Activities (IGAs), assess their viability, and justification for support/funding.
• Planning and support in complementary livelihood skills training for young men in the intervention area through youth workshops to ensure equity and inclusion, and the continued buy-in of the wider community to the project.
• Ensure project activities are executed on time, meeting the target and within the budget.
• Support in organizing exchange visits.
• Assist in trouble-shooting any unforeseen challenges during the project implementation.
• Provide regular and timely updates on progress and challenges to the Project Manager.
• Perform any other duties related to ACTED’s projects as delegated.

Documenting and Compliance

• Collect and document success stories, lessons learned, and challenges in implementation of ACTED’s program activities.
• Develop and submit to the Project Manager field activity reports, monthly reports, progress reports, and ad hoc reports.
• Keep record of all project activity documents, including beneficiary list, Bills of Quantities, activity reports, progress reports, photo updates, success stories, attendance sheets, etc.
• Maintain a beneficiary master database/tracker containing all beneficiary registration and baseline information, ensuring data is protected in line with ACTED’s data protection policy.
• Adhere to, and respect ACTED’s Code of Conduct, FLATS procedures, and donor requirements.
• Regular collection of photos, videos, and stories related to project activities.

Beneficiary Engagement and Accountability

• Adhere to ACTED’s Code of Conduct and treat all beneficiaries with respect and without any discrimination.
• Identify and select beneficiaries according to the agreed criteria.
• Communicate ACTED’s Accountability & Feedback Mechanism to target communities and participate in solving complaints related to the project in coordination with MEAL.

Internal Coordination

• Maintain regular updates and response to internal communication via email, SharePoint, and other channels.
• Participate in area project planning meetings with the project team.
• Participate in ACTED Country Weekly Coordination Meetings.

External Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Undertake communication and liaison activities to actively consult and involve beneficiaries, key informants, actors, partners, and stakeholders in all stages of project design and implementation.

Partner Management

• Participate in review meetings with partners.

Security

• Familiarize with Security policies, SOPs, and follow them accordingly.
• Provide security info/updates to the Project Manager.

Human Resource

• Follow-up the work plans and day-to-day activities of enumerators and other daily workers as may be engaged in project activities.
• Manage the enumerators and other daily workers in cooperation with the Project Manager.

Monitoring

• Follow up and monitoring of women and youth empowerment activities and livelihood activities in area of jurisdiction.
• Attend other project(s) activities as directed by the Project Manager.

Logistics

• Development of activity BoQs, OFs for submission to Logistics upon review by the Project Manager.
• Send accurate and precise OFs and BoQs in a timely manner.
• Ensure proper management and use of the project assets and stocks.
• Plan project team movements based on available fleet, budget and applicable policies.

Finance

• Forecast monthly cash requirements for project activities and submit to the Project Manager for review.

Quality Control

• Ensure efficient use of resources in execution of project activities.
• Undertake regular field visits to provide technical guidance and supervision as well as regularly monitor the progress of project activities.
• Monitoring of the project activities implemented by partners (if any) in the field.
• Document lessons learned and best practices and share them with the Project Manager to reflect in project planning and decision making.

Grant Management

• Ensure adherence to ACTED and donor procedures.
• Preparation of progress reports, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information for project activities.
• Contribute to new proposal development process through development of BoQs and provision of programmatic advice related to contextual knowledge.

Protection mainstreaming

• Promoting of and adhering to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy and guidelines.

Other

• Offer technical support and inputs to other projects in similar sectors.
• Any other project related tasks as assigned by the Project Manager.

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Disaster Risk Reduction, Sociology/Social Science, Community Development, Rural Livelihoods or related field.
• Expertise in Food Security, women & Youth empowerment and/or Livelihoods Programming or related development field.
• At least 3 years work experience in a relevant programming field preferably with an INGO.
• Experience in implementing projects in areas that are prone to resource-based conflicts is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.
• Ability to take initiatives, strong team player who is able to work with minimum supervision.
• Must have outstanding oral and written communications skills.
• Knowledge in communicating in local (Turkana) language.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Project area (Lorengkippi) will be a plus.
• Computer literacy, particularly in MS Office 365; Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgement.
• Ability to work closely with communities, partners, local/government authorities.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented attitude.
• Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Familiarity with the humanitarian coordination system is an advantage.
• Willingness and ability to coordinate and supervise field work in a hardship environment, for extended periods of the time required.