I.  JOB SUMMARY:  

The Regional Program Officer is expected to contribute to the Kefeta activity’s programmatic and operational leadership and management at the regional and cities levels. They will oversee Kefeta implementation by national CSO partners in the assigned clusters. The primary role would be to ensure quality implementation as per set Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) throughout activity implementation both technically and operationally.  The position holder will be coaching and mentoring the Project team hired by the implementing CSO partners.

II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Regional Program Coordinator will provide direct hands of support for Kefeta partner Civil society organizations (CSOs) implementing the project in In assigned city. She/he will have the following roles and responsibilities.

Technical leadership and capacity building 

• Be responsible for ensuring that Kefeta’s strategies, guidelines, SOPs and manuals are understood and properly implemented in the clusters or Cities;
• Hold overall responsibility for high-quality design and implementation of all aspects of the program based on actual needs analysis.
• Lead, coach, support and mentor project staff and implementing partner(s) in the areas of responsibility in the delivery of the program’s goals and objectives.
• Ensure quality implementation of Kefeta’s technical and operational deliverables in the clusters working closely with the Cluster Managers;
• Coach and mentor CSO team and Youth Coalition to strengthen their technical and organizational capacity;
• Coordinate program/project staff to ensure the delivery of outputs according to plan;
• Identify/prioritize capacity development needs of implementing CSO;
• Facilitate capacity building activities for the implementing CSO and its staff in consultation with Capacity Building and Partnership Advisor;
• Provide leadership and technical support to the field staff as needed; and
• Support and lead learning and development initiatives for the team/ CSO organizations.
• Ensure the implementation of project activities in accordance with the DIP and with the aim of 100% achievement of project results and approved budget.
• Regularly visit field activities and provide formal and informal feedback to the project staff in terms of adequate and inadequate progress as well as recommendations for improved performance;
• Establish regional and wereda/town level linkages and partnerships with private sectors, MFIs, GOs, NGOs, TTIs etc and maintain existing partnerships in a City and regional level
• Communicate effectively with program staff and partners to identify needs and develop alternatives business solutions
• Escalate any issues that require the decision or action of senior management in a timely fashion

Program Coordination and Communication

• Lead coordination of  activities as well as planning technical and operations field visits from the country office;
• Ensure effective coordination with the respective technical advisors to ensure the implementation of the work plan;
• Support documentation of lessons learned and success stories and communications ensureing linkages with knowledge management and other Amref youth projects, as part of an integrated approach

 Networking, partnering, and representing

• Ensure positive and productive relations and collaboration is maintained with the regional/city-level stakeholders;
• Map and identify potential partners (Private sector, community-based groups, public sector, civil society organizations and Higher Education Institutions) that Kefeta can work with;
• Establish and maintain active working relationships with local partners; and
• Represents Kefeta at regional and local level fora and platforms.

Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning 

• Plan and facilitate planning and performance review sessions.
• Responsible for ensuring the quality and timely submission of updates and periodic reports;
• Ensure feed backs are gathered from participants and beneficiaries on the IYA curriculums, services and program activities for further improvement and possible actions.
• Ensure that MEL findings/results are utilized to improve/enhance implementation;
• Assist in identifying priorities for and in the conduct of program documentation; and
• Monitor and maintain progress of the project activities
• Work with the MEL director and the M&E team and provide support to the CSO to hold quarterly, bi-annual and annual review meetings at regional level;
• Ensure the quality preparation and dissemination of internal and external reports as well as all deliverables requested by government partners and donors;
• Document lessons learned and share with other projects, Amref Country programs and implementing partners;
• Organize joint supportive supervision visits together with the SI team.

Operations support 

• Ensure that operational processes are in line with Kefeta policies and procedures;
• Ensure program staff are deployed on respective target cities and SDP level
• Oversee compliance including procurement plans and financial procedures;
• Participate in monthly budget vs actual plan (BVA) meetings with the in field office and ensure project is spending as per its phased monthly budget.
• Ensure Kefeta resources are utilized and maintained properly; and
• Coordinate with Country Office (CO) Finance department to ensure timely release of financial support for approved activities.