WCW Academy Programme Officer

About Light for the World

Light for the World is a global development organization. We empower people with disabilities and enable eye health services in low-income countries. Over the last three decades we improved health systems, enabled education for all, and amplified the voices of people with disabilities. We focus on the poorest and hardest to reach because that’s where we will have the biggest impact.

Our programmes include:

• Eye Health – preventing blindness and promoting eye health for all.
• Inclusive Education – ensuring children with disabilities receive quality, inclusive education.
• Inclusive Economic Empowerment – ensuring that barriers are removed for men and women with disabilities to access decent work.

In Kenya, our country strategy for the year 2021-2025 focuses Empowering micro-entrepreneurs to build their capacities, disability inclusion in public and private sector institutions, employability skills among students with disabilities –with higher learning institutions, and influence policy and industry leaders through documented lessons Currently, Light for the World Kenya implements projects related on the above areas in 9 counties.

In line with its economic empowerment strategy, Light for the World with funding from Mastercard Foundation is implementing an 8-year project dubbed We Can Work (WCW), a regional signature disability program that uses a system and mindset change approach to impact the lives of at least 1,000,000 young women and men with disabilities and enables them to access dignified and fulfilling work. The program works with umbrella Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and Entrepreneurship Hubs in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Together with our partners, we will effect change at the level of individuals (including households and communities), organizations and institutions. Young persons with disabilities will act as change agents and provide disability inclusion advisory services and confidently advocate for disability-inclusive policies and practices among key system actors.

Throughout the eight-year partnership intervention, the key ingredients of our work with young women and men with disabilities in the lead will be:

• Engaging caregivers and communities through positive and empowering messaging around disability and inclusion.
• Driving co-creation processes to inform inclusive economic development.
• Developing agency of young women and men with disabilities through the We Can Work Academy; and amplifying voices of young persons with disabilities.

Role Profile

Reporting to the We Can Work (WCW) Program Manager, the We Can Work Academy Programme Officer will play a coordinating role in the mobilization, preparation, assessment, and selection process of the Academy participants. The coordinator will further support the logistics of the WCW Academy, with a strong focus on ensuring that assistive technology and reasonable accommodation needs of the WCW Academy participants are met and catered for; closely monitors delivery of Core Life Skills, Entrepreneurship skills delivery and participation of Youth with Disabilities (YWDs) in the WCW Academy; reports on progress/quality and supports transition of YWDs to other pathways. He/she will arrange for effective engagement of Disability Inclusion Facilitators throughout the Academy in close collaboration with the Disability Inclusion Advisory Team. He/She will also provide support needed by Enterprise Support Organization (ESOs) and coordinate with Programme Manager, MERLA, and Entrepreneurship Advisor to ensure smooth running of WCW Academy.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning and Implementation:

• Develop all the project planning documents such as Detailed Implementation Plan, Work Plan, Activity Concept Notes, Purchase Requests, activities-based budgets to support timely implementation.
• Ensure timely logistics for the We Can Work Academies, with a strong focus on reasonable accommodation and provision of assistive technology.
• Cohort planning in line with the agreed targeting strategy and ensuring the diverse needs of participants are met with throughout the Academy.
• Linking up with expert organisations and specialists needed for the assessment process as well as facilitation of selected modules during the Core Life Skills training.
• Coordinates the support of the Disability Inclusion Facilitators as co trainers during the Core Life Skills training as well as the entrepreneurship track.
• Coordinates the contribution of different trainers and service providers with a focus on the Core Life Skills, and employability track.
• Coordinates the mental health/ psychosocial support for the participants and other group activities while leaving initiative with the course participants where possible.
• Coordination of alumni engagements after completion of the tracks (employability and entrepreneurship tracks)

Budget Management

• Participate in developing project budget and workplan.
• Liaise with the Program manager and the grants officer to monitor the budget for Core Life Skills and ESOs activities and make budget revision where necessary.
• Liaise with grants officer to review budget verses expenditures.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Ensure regular monitoring of Core Life Skills and follow-up implementation of planned tasks and activities with the support Organisation.
• Ensure timely delivery of all Planned activities.
• Support proper documentation of activities conducted –case studies, best practices and compile and submit regular progress reports on Core Life Skills and the different pathways selected by the program participants and deliver to the Line Manager and MERLA.
• Timely update beneficiaries database within WCW Academy and share with MERLA.
• Regularly monitor the delivery of Core Life Skills for quality assurance. Monitors attendance and follows up in case of irregular attendance or drop out.
• Supports MERLA teams in data collection and documentation during the pilot period in line with guidance provided, this includes pre-and post-tests and interviews with participants and their caregivers that might drop out during the Academy process.
• Submit monthly reports including segregated total reach to the line manager and MERLA Officer.
• Participate in the preparation of quarterly reports to the donor.

Documentation:

• Support proper documentation of Core Life Skills, and Enterprise Support Organization activities conducted –case studies, best practices and Compile and submit regular progress reports on the planned implementation activities to Line Manager
• Ensure appropriate filing and availability of documentation required for internal and external communications, accountability, audits, evaluation purposes and reporting.
• Liaise with Communications to document activities and take high resolution action photos during programme implementation and share with the Line Manager and MERLA teams.

Partnership, Collaboration and Networking

• Manage relationships with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, Enterprise Support Organization, Core Life Skills, Support Organisation, and relevant district local government. Follow up on events and provide reports as required by Programme Manager.
• Jointly implement strategic and key activities with partners and other external stakeholders
• Monitor Enterprise Support Organisation and Core Life Skills Support Organisation activities in the field and submit a monitoring report to the line Manager.
• Monitor and follow up the Core Life Skills and Entrepreneurship Support Organizations partners on the activities implemented to ensure that they are in line with the programme design and planned activities reflected in the Agreement.
• Network with other Light for the World interventions in areas of operation to improve synergy and holistic approach to Inclusive Employment.
• Represent Light for the World in different local and international meetings, events, Technical Working Groups, task forces and forums as may be deemed necessary.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• University Degree in Development studies, social sciences, sociology, education, or any relevant course.
• Minimum of 3 years’ project related work with grant management experience in a similar INGO or recognized NGO role which explicitly involved donor-funded projects.
• High level of exposure to barriers that persons with disabilities face and practical solutions to overcome those barriers, either through life experience or through previous work experience
• Excellent people skills with the ability to develop others and to impart knowledge and experience in an accessible and clear manner.
• Experience in Core Life Skills and Entrepreneurship project delivery.
• Knowledge and experience of disability inclusion and/or working with organizations of persons with disabilities is desirable.
• Experience in partnership management, including government liaisons.
• Innovative and critical thinker always ready to adapt and learn.
• Proficency in the use of MS Office software packages.
• High levels of integrity, accountability, and honesty.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Show great initiative and be able to work well in a team and independently.
• Ability to produce timely and deliver high-quality results.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to rural areas.