Area Coordinators -Border Security Programme

Role Overview

The BSP Area Coordinator leads the day-to-day coordination of Border Security Programme activities across an assigned area in Kenya, working with consortium and local partners to keep plans connected, on schedule and within budget. Reporting to the Kenya Country Lead, the coordinator also builds working relationships with government counterparts and uses field progress, risks and community feedback to help programme teams adapt their approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Bring partner activities together into a coherent area workplan, coordinating sequencing and links across programme outcomes; review and update the plan quarterly with the Country Lead and outcome leads.
• Chair regular area coordination meetings, monitor delivery against milestones, and report progress, delays, gaps and overlaps with practical recommendations.
• Maintain the area risk register, review it quarterly and when circumstances change, and raise significant concerns promptly.
• Serve as the operational contact for consortium partners, local implementing partners and programme leads; verify reported activities and recommend milestone payments or corrective steps when appropriate.
• Identify ways to connect work across partners and outcomes, while checking that implementation meets programme, donor and safeguarding requirements.
• Maintain relationships with county and national government offices, share updates on progress and challenges, facilitate government involvement in planning and activities, and arrange joint field visits where useful.
• Represent Mercy Corps and BSP at relevant area coordination forums in consultation with programme leadership, and contribute local priorities and learning to quarterly programme reviews.
• Coordinate with finance, procurement, logistics, HR and administration colleagues to address field requirements; work with the security focal point on safe activity planning and support the MEL team to use area data in programme decisions.
• Promote safeguarding, respectful conduct and open communication, and encourage colleagues to raise concerns through available reporting channels.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in programme management, development studies, migration, security sector or police reform, border or security management, or a related field.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience, including work on multisector programmes involving areas such as security, governance or policing, as well as programme planning and delivery.
• Experience coordinating complex programmes and multiple partners or activities, with the ability to build collaboration and adapt plans as conditions change.
• Strong coordination, management, planning and decision-making skills, with sound judgement and close attention to operational detail.
• Familiarity with finance, procurement, administration and logistics processes, including support arrangements in remote settings.
• Experience working with subnational government, international NGOs and national NGOs; a commitment to strengthening local capacity and involving local stakeholders in programme design and implementation.
• Understanding of adaptive management and participatory approaches to programme design, implementation and evaluation.
• Strong written and spoken English and Swahili, knowledge of the relevant language in the assigned area, and proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Additional relevant local-language ability is an advantage.
• Ability to work constructively with colleagues and stakeholders from diverse national and professional backgrounds.