Latest Jobs at Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT)

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Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion Advisor (1 Post)

Job Purpose

The Gender Youth & Social Inclusion Advisor will be responsible for providing leadership and technical oversight to ensure that gender, youth, and social dimensions are effectively integrated across all interventions at programmes and corporate level. S/he will work towards reducing the gender and social inclusion gap in MESPT programming by enhancing opportunities for women, youth and vulnerable people in Agri enterprise and market development, financial inclusion, agricultural productivity, food safety and green transformation. 

Summary of key functions:

• Ensures provision of consistent and high-quality strategic policy advice on Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion to all MESPT Programmes and Projects
• Provide effective programme development and management advice on Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion
• Ensures strategic partnership building, advice on gender, youth and social inclusion.
• Facilitate knowledge building, management and sharing on Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

Ensures provision of consistent and high-quality strategic policy advice on Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion to all MESPT Programmes and projects focusing on the achievement of the following results;

• Ensures effective results and related data indicators on Gender Youth and Social Inclusion issues are integrated in programme designs and implementation models / strategies through participation by all programme leads.
• Ensures issues of gender equality, youth and social inclusion are effectively mainstreamed into the MESPT strategic plan, implementation model and result framework.
• Ensure issues of gender equality, youth and social inclusion are effectively mainstreamed into local institutional diagnostic assessments on planning, governance, revenue, and service delivery.
• Identifies policy and capacity gaps in the mainstreaming of gender, youth and social inclusion across MESPT thematic areas and develops and implements training programmes to build capacity in these areas.
• Reviews loan applications and ensures that they effectively promote gender, youth, and social inclusion.
• Works with project committees to ensure voices of women, youth and social inclusion are reflected in programme decisions.
• Keeps abreast with national, regional, and global gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.
• Follows up on trends in areas of responsibility and contributes to submissions on possible planning and policy recommendations on gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.
• Provides sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.
• Coordinate and conduct gender, youth and social inclusion analysis of data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons from projects and programmes to inform policy formulation and guidance in programming.

Provides effective programme development and management advice, focusing on quality assurance and the achievement of the following results;

• Provides guidance to MESPT programmes to ensure that a sound gender, youth, and social inclusion analysis informs programme design and implementation, identifies strategic actions to be undertaken to improve the quality of programme implementation and ensures achievement of related results.
• Ensures gender, youth and social inclusion focus within MESPT is well articulated, communicated, and supported by all spheres of operations and programming
• Ensures the effective application of Results Based Management tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results.
• Ensures constant monitoring and analysis of gender, youth and social inclusion issues in programme implementation and advises on timely readjustments needed.
• Ensures regular reporting on activities, outputs and outcomes related to gender, youth and social inclusion concerning all MESPT programmes and project activities.
• Contribute technical expertise that feeds into a dynamic community of practice of MESPT staff and partners; sharing best practices across all MESPTI areas and work streams, while seeking opportunities to build MESPT staff’s capabilities in gender, youth and social inclusion.
• Identifies opportunities and lead the conceptualization of strategic programme interventions that responds to the issues of gender, youth and social inclusion.
• Organizes and participates in periodic technical reviews as well as programme evaluation exercises.
• Monitors the follow up of relevant evaluation recommendations, document and provide feedback on, and disseminate lessons learned.
• Build capacity of MESPT Staff and its partners on gender mainstreaming and result measurement.
• Ensure Human rights-based approach and PANT principles are embedded across all programmes and MESPT strategic plan.

Ensures strategic partnership building, advice on gender, youth, and social inclusion, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Develops and strengthens partnerships with UN Agencies, International Financing Institutions, central and local government institutions, bilateral and multi-lateral actors, private sector, civil society in gender, youth and social inclusion based on strategic goals of MESPT, country needs and donor priorities.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall MESPT effort in resource mobilization.
• Review of concept notes and proposals to ensure gender, youth, social inclusion mainstreaming for each programme/project.
• Facilitate the development of MESPT youth and women engagement strategy.
• Facilitate development of gender and inclusion guidelines aligned with PANTs principles.
• Work on youth mainstreaming as well as identifying entry points for youth engagement and youth-led innovation.
• Undertake any other task as directed by MESPT management.

Facilitate knowledge building, management and sharing advice on gender, youth and social inclusion, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Helps develop and review communication materials for gender, youth and social inclusive sensitivity and use of appropriate language reflecting MESPT branding and visibility guidelines.
• Lead on gathering inputs and information required for the production of relevant learning products, including online and digital products, as well as coordinate dissemination of these products.
• Identify storylines and drafting of substantive articles on Gender, Youth and Social inclusion.
• Ensures a smooth flow of gender, youth and social inclusion related success/human interest stories and communication materials to feed into situation reports, updates, newsletters, website, and other communication channels, through coordination with partners.
• Works closely with other staff to ensure effective communication of appropriate gender, youth, and social inclusion results to partners and public.

Any other duties as assigned by the Supervisor from time to time

Key Relationships

Internal

• Head of Finance and Administration
• Programme Managers
• MEAL Team
• ICT Manager
• HR Officer
• Corporate Communication Officer

External

• The Board pf Trustees
• Partner organisations,
• Stakeholders including government, research institutions, financial institutions, external auditors, donors, and private companies

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• A minimum six (6) years (with Masters degree), or minimum ten (10) years (with Bachelor’s degree) of extensive working experience in gender, women, youth, social inclusion and human rights related issues, is required;
• Proven experience on developing systems, procedures, guidelines, manuals, models and templates for reporting and verification practices on gender programming;
• Proven experience and knowledge in Development Effectiveness and cooperation, gender equality and its related issues.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
• Experience in Kenya and an in-depth understanding of gender, youth and social inclusion in the context of Agricultural value chain development and Market Systems
• Ability to self-manage and succeed in an integrated management model, with demonstrated proactive and flexible nature in resolving problems and finding innovative solutions.
• Skills in participatory learning and action and facilitating collaborative problem solving.

Qualifications/Other Requirements:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Gender studies, Youth, Social Inclusion, Humanities, Social Development, International Development or a related field.
• Certification in Gender Based Analysis+ will be an added advantage

Role Competencies:

• Good managerial and leading skills.
• Demonstrates strong coordination and organizational skills.
• Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team.
• Consistently approaches to work with energy and a positive and constructive attitude.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Good communication skill both in writing and oral including networking and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to persuade and influence others to cooperate.
• Proven ability to build strong relations with partners, clients for positive feedback.
• Ability to undertake and apply gender analysis to ensure gender equitable solutions.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;

Behaviour

• Accountable: Taking responsibility for appropriate decisions that you make, and the actions and behaviour you demonstrate
• Embracing Change: Openness to embracing change within the organisation and being able to adjust plans/activities accordingly.
• Team Player: with excellent interpersonal skills, motivated by cooperating with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures. Ability to build and maintain networks.
• Innovative: Thinking creatively and outside of the box so that ideas generated create a positive outcome

Head of Fundraising and Partnerships 

Job Purpose

• Head of Fundraising and Partnerships will contribute to developing and implementing the Resource Mobilization strategy and will work closely with the Fund Raising and Partnership Coordinator to advance MESPT’s strategic goals and grow our revenue, profile, and influence. He/she will oversee all Resource Mobilization efforts at MESPT and monitor the progress of fundraising plans and priorities and will help ensure donor perspectives and learnings are informing MESPT’s work.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Facilitate the development and implementing of the Resource Mobilization strategy.
• Work closely with the Fund raising and Partnership Coordinator to advance MESPT’s strategic goals and grow our revenue, profile, and influence.
• Lead all MESPT fundraising efforts and monitor the progress of fundraising plans and priorities.
• Ensure donor perspectives and learnings are informing MESPT’s work.
• Lead discussions on strategy, creating buy-in around responsibilities and timelines,

Secure new business:

• Secure new business by bringing in new & diverse donors to MESPT.
• Actively identify and monitor funding and partnership opportunities in a systematic manner.
• Conduct pipeline forecasting and donor surveillance to track the release of procurements.
• Lead concept notes/proposal development processes.
• Help to assemble proposal development teams, provide effective coordination to ensure submission of high-quality concept notes and proposals that are aligned to the organization’s strategic priorities.
• Work with donors and relevant government ministries to influence and co-create opportunities to mobilize resources to support Financial Inclusion in Agriculture, Agri MSME development, Green transformation, Agricultural Productivity and Food Safety for Kenya.
• Get our managers excited about being part of the fundraising process, providing them with regular updates on our donor and partner priorities, and supporting them to always be eyes and ears for business development.

Strategic stakeholder engagement:

• Identify and pursue strategic opportunities to engage, coordinate and partner with key stakeholders at country level in order to facilitate technical programme exchanges, influence policy and thinking, and identify key areas of potential cooperation, including program funding.
• Working collaboratively with Communications team, Programme Managers, Fundraising and Partnerships coordinator to cultivate, maintain and grow existing relationships.
• Facilitate the monitoring and tracking of stakeholder priorities and new trends in the field.

Raise our profile:

• In liaison with Corporate Communication, raise awareness about MESPT by cultivating relationships with local NGOs, /implementing partners and bilateral/multilateral donors.
• Identify strategic speaking opportunities and represent MESPT at donor events and global Agricultural and Green based meetings and conferences to raise MESPT’s brand and influence.
• Build and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders in our business, establishing MESPT as a Thought Leader in Agriculture and Green transformation.
• Document and implement models, procedures, and templates that improve the workflow of the business development/fundraising team.

Any other duties as assigned by the Supervisor from time to time

Key Relationships

Internal

• The Board of Trustees
• Programme Managers
• Finance team.
• Programme officers.
• Human Resource officer
• ICT Team

External

• Internal & External Auditors
• Implementing partners
• Donors
• County and Government Officials
• Stakeholders

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• 7+ years demonstrated experience in identifying and securing funding from major Bi/Multilateral donors including developing successful grant proposals.
• You know the world of DANIDA, EU, USAID and all major donor agencies and large foundations.
• You are well versed with DANIDA, EU and US government funding mechanisms and procedures.
• You have experience in writing successful proposals for funding. You can write thoroughly, yet simply, about complex topics and have a sharp eye and can write about both broad themes and minute details.

Qualifications/Other Requirements:

• Postgraduate Degree Professional:
• 7 years in International Non-Profit industry and 5 years in management

Role Technical and Financial Competencies:

• Strong organizational skills: You can track potential opportunities, organize proposal calendars, develop collaborative timelines, and execute action plans. You’re able to juggle multiple tasks at once while ‘staying calm and carrying on.’ You have an attention to detail and to process and work well in a multicultural environment.
• Communication and networking skills. Highly developed networking skills and ability to form productive working relationships with external donor agencies. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including communicating with impact, influencing, negotiation.
• Collaborative spirit. We want someone who actively listens and communicates. You connect easily with her/his team and gain their trust and respect. Someone who can work well across departments — with executive team members and peers.
• Resourcefulness. Demonstrated ability to solve complex issues through critical thinking, analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in. You’re able to identify and recruit partners for projects during proposal development as necessary.
• Strong analytical skills: ability to analyse and interpret financial data to make appropriate business suggestions and decisions.

Behaviour

• Accountable: Taking responsibility for appropriate decisions that you make, and the actions and behaviour you demonstrate
• Embracing Change: Openness to embracing change within the organization and being able to adjust plans/activities accordingly.
• Team Player: with excellent interpersonal skills, motivated by cooperating with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures. Ability to build and maintain networks…
• Innovative: Thinking creatively and outside of the box so that ideas generated create a positive outcome

Method of Application

Qualified and interested applicants should send their application letters indicating their current/last remuneration, detailed CV with email address, daytime telephone contacts, names, and email contacts of 3 professional referees, 2 must have supervised you at some point, with one being your most recent supervisor (combined in one PDF document saved in your full name) to jobs@mespt.org quoting Job Title in the subject line:

•  “GENDER, YOUTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION ADVISOR”.
•  “HEAD OF FUNDRAISING AND PARTNERSHIPS”.