View Vacancy - Cross Border Programme Advisor (05/23 NR)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
CSSF (Conflict, Stability and Security Fund)

Main purpose of job:

To support the delivery of the £23m East Africa CSSF Programme, with an emphasis on ensuring a deep understanding of the local context in the Kenya – Somalia – Ethiopia borderlands, conflict sensitivity and inclusion. Monitor and support delivery against project outcomes, ensuring robust risk management and effective working relationships with internal and external partners.  70% of this role will involve advisory support, 30% will be programme management focused.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

The overall purpose of the job is to ensure effective implementation of the CSSF East Africa programme – in particualr the Kenya -Somalia – Ethiopia borderlands project, engaging external partners and working collaboratively with a network of colleagues based across the mission, region and wider CSSF network. The role requires a combination of programme management, contextual analysis and engagement skills, to achieve:

  • Programme delivery: apply CSSF programme management principles to ensure effective implementation of the borderlands project through downstream delivery partners.
  • Stakeholder Management: develop excellent working relationships with implementing partners to ensure the successful implementation of the programme. Develop an extensive network of contacts across the Kenya- Somalia – Ethiopia borderlands, BHC Nairobi, other UK missions and central UK Government to raise the profile of the programme and ensure full coordination with key partners.
  • UK influence and understanding: by establishing and maintaining strategic relationships with government at the county level ((executive; county commissioners; county assembly; civil society; private sector, multilateral) to support CSSF East Africa and wider UK understanding of the political economy Risk Management: draft and own risk register to systematically manage risks to programme and portfolio delivery; work with implementers to identify and measure the impact of specific risks, and agree and implement mitigating actions; work with implementers to measure the impact of those mitigating actions, and, where necessary, escalate concerns to the appropriate level.
  • Corporate: contribute to the effective management of the East Africa Team; share and store programme document/information in line with team guidelines; represent the team and wider CSSF in internal and external partner meetings, where appropriate.
  • Financial management: develop and maintain systems to manage expenditure; make sure that spend v forecast is accurately captured and reported in line with team and CSSF requirements; where necessary, challenge programme expenditure, making sure implementers are maximising the value of CSSF’s investment; process payments using the FCO administration programme PRISM.
  • Compliance: ensure that programme development and delivery is compliant with rules and regulations on Overseas Development Assistance as well as the internal guidelines for the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF); support in the generation and collation of information and documentation for annual reviews and audits in line with contracts.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of projects, through liaison with our external M&E partners and regular engagement with implementers and visits to project activity; make sure all project activity has a results framework which clearly articulates outputs, against which progress can be measured and reported; support evaluation work across the programme in line with the CSSF annual review schedule.
  • North East Kenya and cross-border areas, improve coordination with government and other stakeholders,  an ensure that UK support is responsive to need, coherent, and funds are used in line with guidelines & value for money principles.

The East Africa CSSF Team is focused on delivering a programme to support a more stable, secure and prosperous East Africa region, whose countries are better able to address their demographic, security and economic development challenges, thereby improving prosperity and reducing threats to the UK.

In this role you will have the opportunity to shape the future direction of CSSF engagement in North East Kenya and the borderlands, working with colleagues across the region. You will join a friendly and supportive team and benefit from regular engagement with senior colleagues who oversee our work.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced project manager looking to develop their programme management skills and make a difference to citizens in the UK and East Africa.

The postholder would ensure the portfolio is compliant with the International Development Gender Equality Act (2014) by demonstrating consideration for gender equality throughout CSSF programmes, and supporting CSSF ambitions to achieve the UK’s Women, Peace and Security objectives.”

  • Experience of project and programme management of complex projects operating in challenging contexts, including risk management skills, with a proven ability to track spend and report against milestones.
  • Fluent oral communication skills in English and Somali. The successful candidate will have an excellent command of written and spoken English and be able to present complex ideas clearly in briefings and meetings.
  • Deep understanding of the priorities, opportunities and challenges within North East Kenya and the cross-border regions in Somalia and Ethiopia.
  • An excellent understanding of governance and political structures at national and subnational levels and county priorities (including in key sectors) and how these structures actually work.
  • Proven ability to develop relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders: county leadership; staff at technical levels; county commissioners; county assembly; civil society; private sector; donor community.
  • Able to work well independently as well as part of a team, and multi-task. Have the energy to drive forward priorities at pace.
  • Willingness to travel is a must.
Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
27 January 2023
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Fixed Term
36 months
Africa
Kenya
Nairobi
British High Commission
KES 511,784.83
1 March 2023

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

To be agreed with the successful candidate, taking into account previous experience and business need. The three-day ‘CSSF Programme Managers Workshop’ is a must for all individuals managing CSSF programme funds.

Applicants must have the right to live and work in Kenya before applying

  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Nairobi are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Kenya.
  • It is essential that the applicants already have the right to live and work in Kenya without the need to apply for a work permit.
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.   
  • Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles. Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5 
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.