Country Programme Officer- Norwegian Red Cross

Nairobi, Kenya
Contracted
Experienced

INTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Country Programme Officer will be contracted by the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and seconded to the Norwegian Red Cross (NoRC), working as part of the NoRC country set-up that supports partnership management, programme quality, and operational follow-up with the Host National Society.
NoRC is a membership-based humanitarian organisation established in 1865 and mandated as an auxiliary to the Norwegian authorities, with a nationwide presence and more than 41,000 volunteers. As a National Society in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, NoRC works closely with National Societies, the IFRC and the ICRC, guided by the Fundamental Principles, and prioritizes contexts with unmet humanitarian needs where it can add value through specialized expertise and support to local capacities.
NoRC’s international strategy for 2024–2026 focuses on strengthening access to healthcare, clean water and protection for people affected by conflict, crisis and climate-related disasters, while also promoting humanitarian values, respect for international humanitarian law, and principled humanitarian action through advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy.

The purpose of the Country Office (CO) is implementation of the international strategy and institutional representation at the country level.
  1. The CO is responsible for partnership management and operational support to the National Society.
  2. The CO is responsible for Movement coordination, and contributions to preparedness for emergency response operations in accordance with relevant IFRC categories and ICRC emergency response architecture.
  3. The CO contributes to Norwegian Red Cross humanitarian diplomacy and external relations. This includes the identification of resource mobilization opportunities.
  4. The CO is responsible for results and finance management according to grant requirements and Norwegian red cross finance and administrative regulations, and to manage risks, herein security and fraud and corruption.
  5. The CO is responsible for the technical quality of all projects in line with operational standards, herein quality assurance of projects implemented by the National Society
Kenya Red Cross Society is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in Kenya. Our mission is to timely, effectively, and innovatively deliver humanitarian services with respect, in solidarity and accountability to our stakeholders, our communities and affected populations.  
The Norwegian Red Cross Society is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the following position: 
Position Title:    Country Programme Officer - Nairobi 
Reporting to:     Country Manager: Deputy Regional Representative (DRR)
Location:           Nairobi
The focal person will work directly with the County Coordinator and Youth staff on a full-time volunteer basis paid a monthly allowance at the end of the month. He/ She will provide regular youth updates to the County Coordinator on program and project highlights. He/She will work with the existing youth leadership, youth governance and partners to support all youth activities across the county, act as a link between the county youth department and the clubs, organize activities, trainings and campaigns, consolidate work plan for the school clubs in the county etc.  
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Country Programme Officer (CPO) is to support effective and accountable programme delivery by contributing to programme planning, implementation follow-up, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), and reporting, in close collaboration with the CPC, CM, and the Host National Society.
      
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 
Strategic responsibilities
  • Support the Country Manager/DRR to ensure projects are aligned with the Operational Framework, country operational strategy, and relevant technical standards.
  • Promote quality programming and consistent ways of working with the HNS for all NoRC supported projects.
  • Contribute to evidence-based planning by supporting needs assessments, analysis, and learning from implementation.

Operational Responsibilities
  • Support day-to-day follow-up of programme implementation, ensuring activities and deliverables follow agreed plans and project documentation.
  • Act as a key focal point for HNS project staff on programme design, implementation, and quality processes as agreed with the Country Operational Framework.
  • Support project formulation, including logical frameworks, results frameworks, and activity planning in line with NoRC standards and agreed ways of working with the HNS.
  • Support development and follow-up of MEAL plans for the portfolio, including indicator definitions, data collection approaches, and documentation of evidence.
  • Support and/or conduct monitoring visits (including joint visits with HNS) and document findings, actions and follow-up.
  • Support data quality processes: verification, consolidation, analysis, and safe storage of data and evidence.
  • Support learning activities such as after-action reviews, lessons learned sessions, and documentation of good practices.
  • Contribute to timely, accurate narrative reporting (periodic and ad hoc), including results, narratives, indicator updates, and evidence packages.
  • Support follow-up with partner teams on reporting deadlines and quality and flag risks early to NORC Country Management.
  • Support maintenance of programme documentation and filing in line with NoRC requirements.
  • Provide practical day-to-day support to HNS project staff on planning, monitoring tools, reporting templates, and results documentation as agreed within the Country Operational Framework.
  • Support training, coaching and on-the-job mentoring on programme cycle management and MEAL processes.
  • Support coordination with the HNS or other Movement partners and relevant stakeholders in the field when delegated by the Country Management.
  • Ensure regular updates to Country Management on progress, challenges, risks, and proposed mitigation actions.
  • Promote and uphold NoRC and Movement commitments to safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) in all programme activities.
  • Support integration of safeguarding and PSEA into project planning, implementation, monitoring and partner follow-up, including safe referral and reporting pathways where relevant.
  • Contribute to safe programming by raising concerns promptly through agreed channels and supporting a culture of respectful conduct and accountability.
  • Contribute to emergency preparedness and response tasks as requested, within competence and assigned role in the country response set-up.
  • Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by the Country Management/DRR based on operational priorities.

Collaboration
  • Support integration of safeguarding and PSEA into project planning, implementation, monitoring and partner follow-up, including safe referral and reporting pathways where relevant.
  • Works closely with the Country Management/DRR for programme coordination and day-to-day supervision and for overall priorities and performance management.
  • Works in close partnership with HNS programme and MEAL counterparts to support joint follow-up, monitoring and reporting.

Mission responsibilities

The CPO will have a specific focus on health preparedness, including epidemic surveillance, and digital health–enabled response, with the following key responsibilities:

1. Follow-up of health preparedness & response portfolio of NoRC with KRCS
  • Lead day-to-day technical and programmatic follow-up of NoRC-supported projects implemented with KRCS, including:
    • Digitalization of community health services (eCHIS)
    • AI-enabled public health surveillance and early warning and response
    • Support capacity strengthening of KRCS staff and volunteers on digital health tools, public health surveillance and health emergency response, and data use for action.
    • Contribute to discussions on AI-supported surveillance, early warning thresholds, triggers, and response pathways, ensuring public health relevance, feasibility, and ethical use.
  • Support KRCS and NoRC in strengthening health emergency preparedness and response readiness, including:
    • Preparedness planning and contingency arrangements (incl. development and rollout of early action protocols)
    • Early warning-early action (EWEA) approaches
    • Supported cash assistance
    • After-action reviews and lessons learned from outbreaks and simulations
  • Support the development and implementation of project plans.
  • Monitor implementation progress against project results frameworks, plan of actions/milestones, and indicators, flagging risks and proposing corrective actions to Country Management.
  • Contribute to capturing and documenting operational learning, best practices, and evidence from Kenya to inform NoRC and Movement-wide learning on epidemic preparedness and digital health.
  • Support coordination with KRCS technical departments, the International Centre for Humanitarian Affairs (ICHA), and relevant Movement partners.
  • Ensure integration of PGI and PSEA, data protection, and accountability to affected populations across all health and digital interventions.
  • Contribute to quality donor reporting, technical inputs, and resource mobilization discussions related to health preparedness and response.

2. Regional support (as required)
  • When requested, provide short-term technical support to NoRC operations in other countries in the Africa region on:
    • Health preparedness and response
    • Epidemic surveillance and CBS
    • DHIS2, digital health, and data use for emergencies and programming
  • Contribute to regional knowledge sharing, mentoring, and surge preparedness initiatives in coordination with NoRC and Movement partners.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience   
  • Higher university degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Global Health, Medicine, or a closely related field.
Key Competencies   
  • Strong skills in programme cycle management and follow-up in humanitarian or development contexts.
  • Strong professional experience in health preparedness and response (epidemics), preferably in humanitarian or fragile settings.
  • Demonstrated experience with DHIS2, health information systems, and digital health platforms (community or facility level).
  • Solid understanding of public health surveillance systems, including community-based surveillance and early warning mechanisms.
  • Experience working with or supporting national health systems and Ministries of Health is a strong asset.
  • Experience in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement or similar partnerships is an advantage.
  • Practical application of MEAL tools. including indicator tracking, monitoring processes, data quality and reporting.
  • Good writing skills and ability to contribute to donor reporting and evidence documentation.
  • Ability to work constructively with partners and support capacity strengthening through coaching and follow-up.
  • Fluency in English. Relevant local language is an advantage.
  • French is an asset, particularly for regional surge and cross-country support.
  • Commitment to safeguarding and PSEA principles and ability to apply them in daily work.

Desired Competencies   
  • French is an asset, particularly for regional surge and cross-country support.
  • Commitment to safeguarding and PSEA principles and ability to apply them in daily work.
  • Ability to work towards achieving objectives and results.
  • Ability to convince and gain acceptance.
  • Ability to communicate effectively.
  • Ability to be solution oriented.
  • Collaborates well with others and supports others in the pursuit of team goals.
  • Willingness to travel to security tense areas in the country.

Equal Opportunity
The Kenya Red Cross Society are equal opportunity employers. We value diversity and encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of gender, nationality, race, or disability.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit the following documents to the link below by 31st January 2026:
https://redcross.applytojob.com/apply/Mujt90qFE7/Country-Programme-Officer-Norwegian-Red-Cross
  1. A letter of interest outlining relevant skills, experience and competence.
  2. A detailed CV.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
 
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