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Project Assistant - Nairobi 

About the job

Are you passionate about topics such as migration and refugees? Do you have experience or a strong interest in economic empowerment and capacity building of marginalized groups? Have you got great attention to detail and a bias to action? You may be a great fit for ORAM!

ORAM- Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration is an international non-profit that advocates for and assists people fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.​ ORAM protects and empowers vulnerable and marginalized asylum seekers and refugees globally, creating sustainability and systemic change. In Kenya, our work is focused on supporting this vulnerable community to achieve self-reliance through livelihood support. Our current interventions include vocational and technical skills training, seed funding, business training and mentorship, food security & resilience building, and CBO capacity strengthening. 

This position will allow you to work directly with some of the most vulnerable and marginalized asylum seekers and refugees in Kenya and make a difference in their lives by supporting them with knowledge, tools, and resources to become self-sufficient and live safer lives.

Job Overview

The Project Assistant is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Livelihoods and Food Security activities in Nairobi and surrounding counties; Kajiado and Kiambu. This includes supporting the planning, implementation, and development of ORAM’s programs in the urban, conducting assessments, monitoring, reporting and stakeholder engagement and coordination. 

The Assistant will be instrumental in client/CBO targeting, business, kitchen gardening, & poultry training, working with an external technical trainer accordingly. This a field-based position with frequent movement to field sites in Rongai, Kasarani, Eastleigh, Kawangware, Kikuyu among other surrounding areas.

Additional Information 

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Hours: 40 hours/week

Duration: January 9, 2023 – December 31, 2023

Duties include, but may not be limited to, the following:

Programme

  • Provide technical support in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the ORAM program activities in the urban.

  • Implement ORAM’s livelihoods and food security interventions in the urban with an emphasis on resilience building through promoting CBO development, enterprise development and climate-smart agri-practices.

  • Organize and conduct vulnerability and capacity assessments to identify clients for skills training, cash transfers, kitchen gardens and income generation opportunities and CBO capacity strengthening.

  • Work closely with community-based organizations (CBOs) run by marginalized refugees in Nairobi in co-creating projects, assessing their needs and the needs of their livelihood initiatives as well as developing ideas for new business enterprises and programs.

  • Organize ToT training on Business skills training and financial education and provide mentorship to the CBOs to support the delivery of this training to the larger community. 

  • Working closely with the consultant to conduct training on household-level vegetable production, and poultry management among other agri-related activities, supporting this marginalized group to utilize home garden techniques to promote nutrition-dense vegetables for enhanced household consumption and income generation from surplus.

  • Conduct regular site visits to places where livelihood projects are being implemented, providing technical direction to CBOs, and mentorship to livelihood beneficiaries on business planning, income generation and savings.

  • Facilitate market linkages for small and medium-sized enterprises in partnership with other organizations and private sector actors.

  • Monitor and offer technical guidance to CBOs in the management and implementation of sub-granted activities.

  • Organize all necessary logistics for activities of projects including workshops and training.

 

Monitoring and Reporting

  • Support in the development of assessment, monitoring and evaluation tools, and lead in data collection with support from the Community Workers. 

  • Produce quality and accurate reports (statistical and narrative) and supporting documentation on ORAM activities and ensure their timely submission and ensure hard and soft copies of all activity reports are safely archived.

  • Support research and study activities as assigned by E.A Program Manager.

  • Document success stories and project milestones as well as best practices.

  • Participate in regular feedback sessions with the community and project team.

  • Provide regular updates to the E.A Program Manager.

 

Financial Responsibility

  • Prepare cash forecast in line with the work plans.

  • In liaison with the E.A Program Manager, monitor budget spending in line with the spending plan; ensure diligence in grants utilization including budget compliance, timely spending and value for money.

 

Representation and coordination

  • Represent ORAM and the program towards a wide range of stakeholders including individual Refuge-led CBOs, national & county government, humanitarian agencies and private sector actors. To this end, ensure professional standards in the external representation of the organization to build trust and ensure effective collaboration with all concerned stakeholders.

 

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within the reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

 

Supervisory Responsibilities

  • The Project Assistant position will supervise the Community Workers in Nairobi and will report to the East Africa Program Manager.

 

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

  • The position requires constant interaction with the target community and the incumbent will be required to make frequent visits to the field sites for implementation and meetings.

Desired Skills include, but may not be limited to, the following:

Professional competencies

  • Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural sciences, Business- Related Studies, Social Sciences, or a related subject.

  • At least three years of professional experience in agri-economy, community development and/or livelihoods programming.

  • Experience working on Livelihoods or Food Security projects in a humanitarian/recovery context.

  • Experience in implementing livelihoods and food security activities, especially crop production and poultry husbandry, vocational & technical skills to employment or income generation opportunities, developing business plans, supporting SMEs to grow and assisting refugees or other vulnerable host communities with economic and financial inclusion.  

  • Previous experience from working in complex and/or protracted displacement situations is desirable and/or micro-enterprise development is required.

Required Skills & Competencies

These are the “must-haves” when you join ORAM:

  • Open heart and open mind.

  • Trust.

  • Proactive and bias towards action.

 

We are also looking for the following competencies:

  • Knowledge and understanding of issues facing the most vulnerable and socially marginalized refugees and asylum seekers including sexual and gender minorities.

  • Creativity and strong problem-solving skills.

  • Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, with the ability to work remotely.

  • Excellent verbal and written communication Skills in English and Kiswahili. Knowledge of French is a plus.

  • Strong networking and outreach skills; ability to connect with a wide range of stakeholders.

  • Discipline, strong organizational skills, and attention to detail are required.

  • Strong computer skills (Word processors, Spreadsheets, databases, statistical packages, etc.)

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ORAM is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering employment and internships without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. ORAM complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

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