Program Officer

Reports to: Senior Technical Director

Project End date: May 2025

Contract Duration: Till September 2024

Level of Effort: Full Time

Program Overview:

USAID Youth-Powered Ecosystem to Advance Urban Adolescent Health (YPE4AH) is a five-year (May 2020 –May 2025) award funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is being implemented in Lagos and Kano by DAI in partnership with the Government of Nigeria, Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI), Women Friendly Initiative (WFI), Yellow Brick Road (YBR), and Grassroot Soccer (GRS). The project is aimed at improving the health and well-being of out-of-school youths in urban slums in selected communities in Lagos and Kano States. The program will foster an ecosystem that centers around Youth Hubs , seek to provide safe spaces to access sexual and reproductive health and rights information and referrals. Similarly, the program will empower young Nigerians to think about their futures differently and access the skills, social capital, and resources needed to realize their aspirations .

Job summary

The Program Officer will provide technical support and assist in the implementation and coordination of program activities, particularly for multi-sectoral partnerships, capacity development to local partners, and M&E activities in the target cities. S/he will assist in the development of work plans, support the team and management to ensure adherence to proposed budget as well as to build and maintain relationships with local communities.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

The Program’s officer responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Working closely with the Technical Director, build and maintain partnerships and relationships with program partners, such as non-profits, federal agencies, and community organizations, in order to expand resources, raise funding and educate the public about the work of the project.
• Participate in the development of project Implementation plans, training manuals/curricula, and other various standard operational procedures (SoP).
• Assist in developing and monitoring annual work plans, program initiatives, and budget development including coordination and operationalization of the YPE4AH project result framework.
• Support effective project management, and coordination and provide support to partners on the project implementation procedure, data management, and effective financial management.
• Provide support as needed, the preparation and timely submission of detailed reports by the partners on project activities on a quarterly and annual basis in compliance with project requirements.
• Support the development of annual, quarterly donor and government report writing including management and updates.
• Participate in project monitoring and supportive supervision of partners, project sites, and communities.
• Provide support to government and key stakeholders to ensure community buy-in and sustainability of the YPE4AH activities.
• Support, as needed, the mobilization of private partners’ support for activities.
• Assist in the collection of data to inform and support Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Research related activities.
• Represent the YPE4AH Health project at various meetings, technical working groups, and relevant forums.
• In collaboration with DAI Nigeria’s Strategic Communications team, manage and produce program content for the program website and activities as required.
• Provide support to all program activities for the state office

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years professional work experience on a U.S Government funded project will be preferred and an added advantage
• Demonstrated project management experience including budget development, event planning, coordinating multiple partners and stakeholders
• Demonstrated strength and experience in writing technical reports
• Excellent written and oral communications skills; fluency in the English language is essential
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Strong critical thinking skills, ability to solve problems, and resourcefulness
• Demonstrated ability to work within a team environment
• Strong computer skill in MS Office Suite is required
• Fluency in the local language will be an added advantage
• Understand cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability of the states (Lagos or Kano).

Language

Fluency in the English language is required. Knowledge of the Hausa language is an advantage.

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties.