Project Officer – THRIVE (Kenya)

Role Overview

This position sits within the global THRIVE programme team, taking responsibility for the smooth coordination of activities spanning multiple countries. Day-to-day work involves turning programme plans into tangible actions: liaising with partners, preparing documentation, tracking implementation against donor requirements, and capturing learning that shapes future decisions. The Project Officer acts as a connective link between the Project Manager, civil society partners, and technical teams, helping ensure the programme stays responsive to shifting civic space contexts while keeping delivery on track.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate the operational rhythm of programme activities by maintaining work plans, activity schedules, and progress trackers in close collaboration with the Project Manager.
• Support civil society partners through practical capacity-strengthening initiatives focused on organisational governance, financial health, and long-term sustainability.
• Serve as a day-to-day contact for implementing partners, facilitating clear communication, timely problem-solving, and alignment on programme expectations.
• Prepare and review narrative reports, technical notes, and implementation updates to ensure they are accurate, high-quality, and delivered on schedule.
• Draft Terms of Reference and supporting documents for procurement processes, including RFQs and RFPs, following established internal procedures.
• Contribute to learning and adaptive management by documenting insights, good practices, and impact stories that inform both reporting and future programme design.
• Monitor the socio-political environment and help adjust programme activity in ways that are conflict-sensitive and context-aware, flagging risks early.
• Coordinate partner learning exchanges, regional events, and working group participation that encourage networking and knowledge sharing across countries.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Political Science, or another closely related field.
• At least three to five years of professional experience working on international development or donor-funded programmes.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with civil society organisations, grassroots groups, social movements, or human rights defenders.
• Solid understanding of civic space, civil society strengthening, governance, human rights, gender equality, inclusion, and safeguarding.
• Familiarity with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning principles and the ability to supply timely data for performance tracking.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English; proficiency in Arabic, Spanish, or French is considered an advantage.
• Strong facilitation, networking, and report-writing skills, coupled with analytical thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• A collaborative mindset with proven ability to work effectively in cross-cultural teams and with geographically dispersed partners.