World Vision Kenya, a leading Christian humanitarian organisation with 75 years of experience helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty, is hiring two Project Officers in Child Protection for its Kenya BIG DREAM project and Anti-FGM programme in Samburu and West Pokot Counties.
Location: Kisima – Samburu & Alale – West Pokot, Kenya Job Type: Full-time Grade Level: 12 Local Applicants Only
About World Vision Kenya
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation operating in nearly 100 countries with over 31,000 staff worldwide. Its mission is centred on following Jesus Christ in service to the world’s most vulnerable children, helping them overcome poverty and experience fullness of life regardless of background, religion, or ethnicity.
Position 1: Project Officer – Child Protection (Big Dream to End Child Marriage) Work Location: Kisima, Samburu County Reports to: Project Manager
Position 2: Project Officer – Child Protection (Alale Anti-FGM) – Short-term Maternity Cover Work Location: Alale, West Pokot County Reports to: Cluster Manager
Purpose of Position
Provide technical leadership and guide the successful implementation of child protection interventions — specifically FGM and child marriage — in the WVUS-funded “The Kenya Big Dream” project in Marsabit County. The Project Officer will contribute to the empowerment of households to protect, nurture, and support girls and boys from all forms of abuse and to improve children’s wellbeing outcomes.
The role ensures effective and efficient community mobilisation, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of interventions directly related to awareness on the negative effects of child marriage and FGM, adoption of social norms that prohibit FGM and child marriage, integration of Alternative Rites of Passage that are communally accepted and owned, strengthening of local Anti-FGM movements among women, men, girls, boys, youth, and circumcisers, empowerment of communities to create safe and protective environments for children, and strengthening of formal child protection systems at both national and county level.
Key Responsibilities
Effective Project Design, Planning and Implementation
- Facilitate adoption of best practices, approaches, and models in child protection and gender integration
- Ensure business processes, standards, and guidelines related to child protection are effectively applied in project implementation and monitoring
- Participate in the preparation of overall work plans and budgets for the Kenya BIG DREAM project
- Develop activity plans and budgets for technical support activities related to the child protection component
- Collaborate with relevant ward and county government ministries and partners to ensure integration and high-level implementation of all child protection activities
- Support the establishment of well-coordinated child protection and Anti-FGM collaborative networks among key government and non-governmental institutions
- Ensure quality implementation of child protection interventions in close consultation with the Project Manager
- Contextualise and adopt design guidelines and ensure utilisation at project and ADP level
- Ensure compliance with Design, Monitoring & Evaluation (DME) and donor guidelines and standards
- Lead in the development of quality project Annual Work Plans, budgets, and Detailed Implementation Plans
- Ensure timely mobilisation and effective communication with communities and supervisors during implementation
- Ensure timely submission of reports and other relevant DME products
- Make technical input into the planning and design of project-specific operational research including baseline and end-line evaluations
- Work closely with the Project Manager and other programme staff to identify existing gaps in child protection and women and girls’ empowerment
- Participate in the review of DIP/budget and other key implementation tools and initiate innovative approaches
Quality Assurance – Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation
- Support M&E functions for child protection activities in coordination with the DME Officer
- Conduct routine data collection on project-specific output indicators
- Provide technical support and timely feedback to the Programme Manager on child protection interventions
- Build capacity of project resource persons and stakeholders including CBOs, community groups, children and youth clubs
- Track and prepare monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual progress reports including documentation of key lessons learnt and success stories
- Contribute to the development and dissemination of publications for learning
- Support supply chain by offering technical advice on child protection and child-friendly procurements
Enhanced Empowerment & Capacity Building
- Mobilise and sensitise community for empowerment and programme sustainability
- Build capacity of communities and partners on models that facilitate adoption of child protection systems
- Lead in building the capacity of teachers and children to strengthen prevention and response mechanisms at school level
- Conduct Anti-FGM and Child Marriage campaigns and open days during the celebration of international days
- Mobilise, equip, and empower the Church, other faith groups, and community-based organisations to integrate child protection interventions
Advocacy, Engagement, Networks & Partnerships
- Gather and provide quality feedback and data for technical papers and recommendations for external engagement with decision-makers
- Establish and sustain working relationships with government departments and agencies relevant to the Kenya BIG DREAM project at ward, sub-county, and county levels
- Ensure project beneficiaries and partners are kept informed of all government laws and policies relevant to the technical aspects being implemented
- Work with partners and coalitions to engage in advocacy activities with government structures addressing the needs of local communities
- Ensure effective mobilisation of community groups, youth, and children through advocacy approaches such as Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) and Child Protection Advocacy (CPA)
- Ensure representation of WV Kenya in key child protection stakeholder forums and meetings at ward, sub-county, and county levels
- Actively participate in county-level technical working groups on child protection
Resources Acquisition
- Participate in development of timely and accurate funding proposals in collaboration with the Project Manager and other sector specialists
- Mobilise the community for community contribution to project interventions
- Support development of technically sound funding concepts and proposals through provision of information and data
- Support successful donor visits and ensure organisational visibility within the area of operation
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences such as Social Work, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Community Development, Sociology, or equivalent
- Minimum 3 years of working experience in GBV/FGM projects at community level with proven leadership experience
- Good understanding of international, regional, and national frameworks on human rights for women and children including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, CEDAW, Africa Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children, Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, and the Children Act
- Experience working with partners including the State Department of Gender Affairs, Anti-FGM Board, Children Department, local CBOs, and FBOs
- Proven track record as a staff and community trainer and capacity builder in Child Protection, GESI, Prevention and Response to Child Abuse/SGBV, and other harmful cultural practices
- Good understanding and working experience of advocacy approaches and referral systems
- Excellent English communication skills — both oral and written
- Facilitation and training skills capable of building staff and community capacity in child protection
- Ability to take initiative and lead a team with minimum supervision
- Cross-cultural sensitivity, emotional maturity, and ability to work within diverse cultural and inter-faith contexts
- Good computer skills in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Skype, and email applications
Preferred Skills & Qualifications
- Knowledge of community change, social norms, engagement of religious leaders (COH), peacebuilding, and gender-responsive programming is an added advantage
- Experience in project design, proposal writing, needs assessments, surveys, and information management
- Experience in integration programming, mentorship, and coaching
- Ability to develop strong working relationships and partnerships with all stakeholders including GoK and INGOs
Important Notes
- World Vision Kenya is part of the Inter-Agency Scheme for the Disclosure of Safeguarding-related Misconduct in Recruitment and all candidates will be screened appropriately
- World Vision Kenya does not, and will never, solicit money for any part of its recruitment process
- Local applicants only
How to Apply
Apply Here – World Vision Kenya Project Officer Child Protection
