Area Coordinators -Border Security Programme - Moyale

Role Overview

The Border Security Programme Area Coordinator brings partners, programme teams and government counterparts together to deliver a coordinated set of activities across the assigned area. Reporting to the Kenya Country Lead, this role turns programme priorities into practical area workplans, monitors implementation and addresses gaps or risks so that activities remain timely, connected and within budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate partner activities across the area, checking that delivery is aligned with programme objectives and that work is sequenced to avoid duplication and make the most of links between outcomes.
• Develop and revise the area workplan each quarter with the Kenya Country Lead and outcome leads; convene regular partner coordination meetings and contribute updates at quarterly programme meetings.
• Track implementation against agreed plans, verify activities and milestones, identify delays or delivery gaps, and recommend practical adjustments or corrective action.
• Maintain the area risk register, review it quarterly and when circumstances change, and promptly raise significant concerns with programme leadership.
• Coordinate day-to-day communication between consortium and local implementing partners, programme leads and other area stakeholders; identify ways to connect partner activities for greater impact.
• Build working relationships with county and national government offices, share regular programme updates, support joint field visits and planning, and represent Mercy Corps and BSP at local coordination forums as agreed with programme leadership.
• Coordinate with finance, procurement, logistics, HR and administration teams to ensure field activities have appropriate operational support and follow organisational and donor requirements.
• Work with the security focal point and MEL team to support safe activity planning, reliable area-level data collection, learning and the use of evidence in programme adjustments.
• Apply safeguarding principles in programme coordination, promote respectful treatment of participants and colleagues, and encourage team members 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 in multisector programmes, including work related to security, governance or policing, strategic planning and programme implementation.
• Experience coordinating complex programmes, multiple activities and partner relationships, with the ability to identify operational links and opportunities for collaboration.
• Strong planning, coordination, management and decision-making skills, including the ability to adapt plans as conditions and implementation needs change.
• Experience working with subnational government, international and national NGOs, and local stakeholders; demonstrated commitment to local capacity building and participatory programme design and delivery.
• Understanding of financial, procurement, logistics and administrative systems, including experience with remote management.
• Knowledge of adaptive management and participatory approaches to programme design, implementation and evaluation.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to anticipate programme and operational needs while working constructively with diverse teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong written and spoken English and Swahili, plus knowledge of the local language spoken in the assigned area. Competence in an additional relevant local language is an advantage.