Project Officernew

Project Officer (2 Positions)

LOCATION

Kisumu (1) and Kakamega (1), Kenya

REPORTS TO

Programmes Manager

Employment type: Full-time | Application deadline: October 30, 2026

ABOUT ICS SP

For over 30 years, ICS SP (Investing in Children and their Societies) has worked across Africa to build safe and nurturing environments for children and families. Our programming spans Violence and Exploitation, Early Childhood Care and Development, Inclusive and Safe Education, and Sustainable Livelihoods. Visit www.icsafrica-sp.org to learn more about us.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Project Officer will lead day-to-day implementation of ICS SP’s child-centred family strengthening, care reform, early childhood development (ECD) and child protection activities in Kisumu or Kakamega County. The role will help families provide safe and nurturing care, prevent unnecessary child–family separation, support safe reintegration and family-based alternatives, and strengthen community protection and referral systems. Working with government services, caregivers and community structures, the Officer will ensure quality field delivery, frontline capacity strengthening, learning and accountability in line with ICS SP policies and project commitments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Project planning, delivery and community coordination

• Coordinate ICS SP activities at county and community levels, translating approved project plans into practical schedules, responsibilities and deliverables.
• Prepare activity plans and budgets, track expenditure and outputs, and flag implementation delays or emerging risks for timely corrective action.
• Organize community dialogues, training, field visits and review meetings, ensuring that participants and local actors are meaningfully involved.
• Guide and support community facilitators and frontline personnel through joint planning, supervision, coaching, and regular follow-up.

2. Family strengthening and care reform

• Lead community-level family strengthening and positive parenting activities that address the factors driving unnecessary child–family separation.
• Work with authorized Children Services personnel to support family tracing, reunification, reintegration planning and safe follow-up, in accordance with government case-management procedures.
• Link vulnerable children and caregivers to available psychosocial, social protection, livelihood, health and other services that help families remain safe and stable.
• Support government-led transition from residential care and appropriate kinship, foster and other family-based care pathways; statutory placement and certification decisions remain with authorized authorities.

3. Nurturing care, ECD and child protection

• Connect parenting and family support with early learning, responsive caregiving, health, nutrition and protection services for young children.
• Strengthen the capacity of caregivers, community child protection volunteers, community health promoters, and other local actors to identify risks and promote nurturing care.
• Promote inclusive access to services for children with disabilities and other vulnerable children and maintain effective referral connections between community and county systems.
• Support safe identification, reporting and referral of violence, neglect, exploitation and other child protection concerns using approved safeguarding and referral procedures.

4. Evidence, accountability and programme learning

• Work with the MEAL team to track agreed indicators, validate activity records, gather participant feedback, and use findings to improve delivery.
• Prepare accurate field updates, reports, outcome stories and lessons learned; handle child and household information confidentially and in line with data protection protocols.
• Apply ICS SP safeguarding, child protection and PSEA standards in all activities, and promptly escalate concerns through authorized channels.

5. Local partnerships and systems strengthening

• Build strong working relationships with county and sub-county Children Services, health and ECDE teams, community structures, civil society, care institutions and faith/community leaders.
• Contribute to county coordination forums and technical working groups, supporting government ownership and continuity of family- and community-based care.
• Support local partners and frontline actors through joint planning, practical mentoring, referrals, and follow-up on agreed actions.
• Carry out other relevant project duties assigned by the supervisor in line with the responsibilities of the position.

REQUISITE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Child Protection, Early Childhood Development, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Health or related discipline.
• At least five years of relevant experience in NGO or community-based programming, preferably in child protection, care reform, family strengthening, parenting or integrated ECD.
• Sound understanding of Kenya’s child protection and alternative care systems, family-based care, safeguarding, case management and referral pathways.
• Practical experience working with children, caregivers, frontline workers and government structures to deliver parenting, nurturing care or family strengthening interventions.
• Ability to manage activity plans and budgets, coordinate field implementation, monitor results, and meet organizational and donor reporting requirements.
• Strong community facilitation, partnership management and communication skills, including working respectfully with county government and local service providers.
• Good judgement in sensitive child protection matters, commitment to confidentiality and inclusion, and ability to apply safeguarding procedures consistently.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; strong written and spoken English and Kiswahili. Knowledge of relevant local languages and ability to travel regularly within project areas are added advantages.

Protecting children, vulnerable communities and our staff is ICS SP’s absolute priority. We have zero tolerance for violence, abuse, and exploitation of children and other people in the communities we serve. Successful candidates must sign and adhere to our safeguarding, child protection and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) code of conduct and policies.