Program Officer

Background

The Health NGOs Network (HENNET) was founded in 2005 and registered in 2007 as an NGO with a goal of coordinating and networking the CSOs in the health sector. This came as a result among the players that a common platform among the CSOs dealing with health-related issues in Kenya was necessary for purposes of collaboration, sharing of experiences and advocacy. HENNET has a membership of over 108 members as of 2023 which comprises of both local and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and Research Institutions working in all the 47 Counties in Kenya but all focused-on health and health related issues. The various members have diverse health-related interests but all share on the vision of having a healthy Kenyan society.

Vision: A healthy Kenya Society

Mission: To stimulate linkages and strategic partnerships among health NGOs, government, and private sector to enhance their responses towards health needs of Kenyans.

Overall, Purpose of this role

Reporting to the Program director, the program officer will be assigned respective duties based on prevailing donor/partner agreements. This may include the following: Advocacy and direct implementation of Family Planning, MNCH, SRHR, Immunization and PHC related projects. It is expected the ideal candidate has experience in working for more than one project concurrently with excellent project management/implementation skills and knowledge of Health policy landscape & the advocacy sector. The Officer will represent HENNET in articulating CSOs/member priorities, views, and opinions in various for a with GoK (National, subregional and county) and other stakeholders. Such for a would include dialogue forum, TWGs and other networking events.

Duties and Responsibilities

Projects’ support roles

• Participate together with other staff in the planning, coordination, and Implementation of HENNET’s program and project activities.
• Take lead in planning and executing activities related to designated projects among others.
• Develop work plans and tools for the Projects and monitor and evaluate the progress of the projects’ activities with great attention on adherence.
• Participate in the project activities and meetings, ensure that the project activities are aligned to the timelines of the donor and HENNET and ensure that relevant structures basic for the success of the project are established/strengthened.
• Participate in HENNET /stakeholder engagement as approved by the organization.
• Develop monthly narrative and financial reports for the activities you are engaged in.
• Contribute to membership drive exercises and monthly HENNET members meetings.
• With support of the Project Director, provide oversight to partners and grantees during joint implementation of projects.
• Support supervision and oversight to respective HENNET field staff and sub-regional/county networks and teams.

Communication and Coordination roles

• Proactively identify and develop internal and external relationships to meet the advocacy objectives.
• Provide logistical and technical support for HENNET events and forums, including meetups, working group meetings, policy roundtables, discussion forums, membership surveys, network-wide challenges/contests, consultations, and strategic planning processes.
• Support coordination of membership education and knowledge-sharing forums.
• Track members’ attendance and participation during HENNET’s events.

General roles

• Work flexibly across teams and programs as may be required from time to time.
• Reflect HENNET’s values in his/her work.
• Represent HENNET as per the direction given by the organization.
• Any other responsibilities as may reasonably be required from time to time.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• A degree in either of the following fields: – Public Policy, international affairs, Health and policy development studies, social sciences, or related field.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in policy and advocacy work related to Health sector in development policy development, /or influencing the policy and practice of governments and institutions.
• Has experience in PHC healthcare financing at National and/or county level.
• Knowledge of current health and development policy trends and frameworks.
• Experience in representation with stakeholders from civil society, governments and/or other relevant bodies.
• Experienced in developing advocacy objectives and influencing tactics.
• Excellent skills in research and/or policy and advocacy brief preparations and report writing.
• Experience in networking and building close working relationships with various stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including public speaking and policy dialogues.
• One who will work with minimal supervision.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, plan and implement strategic initiatives within the context of health sector and/or other related fields.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas Family Planning, MNCH, SRHR, Immunization.
• Knowledge in Primary Health Care (PHC) and or Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Working Relations Internal: Interacts regularly with the Programs Director. S/He is peer to other program officers, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) officer, Human Resource Officer. S/He supervises the program associate operation in the county.

External: Interacts HENNET members, Ministry of Health both at the county and national levels, parliamentarians, Civil Society Organizations, Private sector, Community Teams, Health Regulatory Bodies and Other likeminded organizations.