National Consultant - Community Liaison Specialist

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business Administration/Management, Development Studies, project management, public administration, economics, or relevant field. At least five years of working experience in programme implementation in relation to livelihoods development, conflict-prevention, peacebuilding and social development, preferably in a displacement context, including in Kenya. Proven ability to forge strategic partnerships, build trust and work with a wide range of actors and design mechanisms for coordination. Knowledge of the Market System Development (MSD) approach, market-based solutions for livelihood development, and private engagements relating to enterprise development, particularly in displacement contexts. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in engagement with women, youth and members of vulnerable and marginalized groups. Ability to engage and work with different partners, team members and stakeholders. High proficiency in computer skills particularly MS-Office. Ability to work independently, with flexibility and deliver quality results under time pressure with minimum supervision. Understanding of project result-based management and coordination.

Work Location

15 April 2024 – 2 October 2024 (120 workdays)

Expected duration

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND TIMELINES Output 1: Stakeholders with complementary activities in project locations mapped and their engagements and collaboration plan developed. Completed by: 10th May 2024. Output 2: Target groups within refugees and host communities mobilized and sensitized on the project activities, approach and work plan. Completed by: 7th June 2024. Output 3: Right project participants for identified value chains selected based on clearly defined and agreed selection criteria. Completed by: 5th July 2024. Output 4: At least 2 relevant coordination and stakeholder meetings attended every month, and updates on activities shared to raise project visibility. Completed by: Ongoing; biweekly updates until 2nd October 2024. Output 5: Bimonthly community and stakeholder engagement forum organized and compiled information used to guide the project team in the implementation process such as in targeting and developing sustainability pillars for deliverables (local ownership). Completed by: Ongoing; bimonthly updates until 2nd October 2024. Output 6: Project events and field activities (e.g. assessments, donor visits) organized and relevant participants successfully mobilized in time. Completed by: Ongoing; biweekly updates until 2nd October 2024. Output 7: Strong collaboration and mutual linkages between the project activities and similar initiatives in Turkana County developed and maintained during the project period. Completed by: Ongoing; biweekly updates until 2nd October 2024. Output 8: Implementation Lessons including feedback from the community, partners and stakeholders documented and shared. Completed by: 2nd October 2024.

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN) with a mission to enhance inclusive and sustainable growth and development in developing countries, especially least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition through improving the international competitiveness of MSMEs. ITC supports people in vulnerable and forced displacement contexts through its Refugee Empowerment through Markets Initiative (REMI) which is housed in the Section for Women, Youth and Vulnerable Communities (WVYC) of the Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT). REMI deploys a market-led approach to harness the productive potential of refugees and local communities in the displacement contexts to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth. It focuses on development of commercially valuable skills and supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in creating value and employment in the host countries through increased national, regional and international business. In the context of this work, ITC partners with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to implement a project titled “Promoting sustainable socio-economic development and creating market-based livelihood opportunities for refugees and host communities” in Kenya. The goal of the project is to enhance the employability and competitiveness of social MSMEs in refugee settings and host communities in Turkana. It specifically aims to improve the livelihood and self-reliance of refugees and host communities in the targeted region through technical skills development in selected value chains; enhance social entrepreneurship and business development capacities of project beneficiaries as well as strengthen institutional capacity to promote inclusive economic opportunities for refugees and host communities. To support the delivery of this project, ITC seeks to recruit a Community Liaison Specialist based in Turkana County. The specialist will primarily be responsible for mobilizing and engaging partners, stakeholders and potential project beneficiaries to ensure smooth and collaborative delivery of the project activities and ensure alignment with ongoing and planned initiatives across the county e.g the Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan II (2023– 2027), KISEDP, County Integrated Development Plan III (2023– 2027), Shirika Plan etc. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the REMI Programme Manager and the Country Manager for Kenya and the direct guidance of the National Coordinator of the Project. He/she will: • Undertake mapping of actors with complementary activities in the targeted project locations and spearhead partnership engagements to facilitate collaboration and synergies across different interventions. • Conduct mobilization and sensitization of target groups within refugees and host communities on the project activities, approach and work plan. • Support screening and selection of project participants based on agreed selection criteria (e.g. skills, technical capacities, ability to follow guidelines). • Attend relevant coordination and stakeholder meetings to raise awareness and provide consistent visibility to project activities in Turkana County. • Collect and provide reliable information concerning the situation in the project target areas and populations to guide the implementation process including targeting and developing local ownership of deliverables. This will include organizing community and stakeholder engagement fora to enhance their meaningful participation in the project activities. • Organize and mobilize relevant participants for project events and visits from staff, donors, partners, and other relevant actors including supporting assessments and review exercises. • Promote collaboration between the project activities and similar initiatives in Turkana County and maintain mutual linkages with relevant actors at the county and national levels to achieve positive and lasting results. • Develop community feedback mechanisms to collect feedback and concerns to ensure accountable implementation and document lessons learned to support project reporting. Copyright Clause: The Consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Duties and Responsibilities

Home Based in Turkana County, Kenya with possible local travel

Qualifications/special skills

Excellent communication and writing skills in English. Spoken fluency in Swahili.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.