Joseph S. A. Kpakiwa

Experience

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  Plan International

  Apr 2009 - Nov 2011

  Project Coordinator

  Responsible for all developing project outlines and budgets, setting up projects, donor liaison, narrative and financial report submission, supervision of project activities, managing partnerships with host government and Community Based Organization (CBO). Program portfolio managed includes Two (2) Million Dollars ($ 2,000,000), funding from Plan Canadian National Office – Dubai Cares funded WASH and Education Support to Vulnerable Communities in Bombali District. Participate in the in-depth analysis for all selected communities in the district. Coordinate field feasibility studies keeping community and local resources accessibility in mind. Participate in project introduction in selected communities to ascertain their willingness to participate in project construction and WASH activities. Collaborate with field staff in triggering communities, strengthening of WATSAN community structures, development of MOU’s, regulations and participatory planning with respect to setting achievable benchmark on CLTS and other construction aspects. Ensure Planning and implementation of Construction activities. Networking with other development actors to harmonize CLTS and well construction approaches and preclude duplication. Ensure conformity of engineering designs of the GOSL and international civil engineering technical standards on well construction. Assist in the timely preparation of well construction estimates and analysis of BOQ’s. Vet material, tools and equipment samples to ensure quality control in the field. Take lead in development of implementation plans and monitor adherence to the work schedule keeping community farming calendars in mind. Coordinate logistical operations for timely delivery of construction supplies to sites and attend to conflicts that could hinder work progress. Ensure Planning and Implementation of Education Activities in the district. Participate in planning and conducting training Show less

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  Merlin

  Dec 2011 - Dec 2012

  Program Coordinator

  Manage all emergency program implementation, review emergency management systems and make appropriate improvements. Coordinate and technically manage the overall planning and direction of Merlin’s Emergency health activities in Maryland County. Operational Management - Liaise, manage and Coordinate Stakeholder to ensure and maintains productive relations with key stakeholders, INGO’s, local authorities, community beneficiaries and donors. Ensure all project/program reports (Pool Fund, UNHCR, WFP, EHCO and emergency) are completed in accordance with deadlines/ compliance requirements and undertake report editing where necessary. Health Strategy and Program Development - Monitor the emergency health and humanitarian situation in its area of operation and advise the Country Operations Manager on appropriate courses of action, implications for the emergency programs, review and adaptation. Logistics/Finance/Administration - Review and take corrective action as appropriate on audit findings, advances, Purchase Orders and Requisitions, payments. Human Resource Management - Establish and maintain a harmonious working environment; seeking to strengthen team-building by encouraging active participation and interaction at all levels; foster staff development and empowerment. Communication/Representation - Ensure regular communications are maintained for emergency and ongoing program staff, Project Coordinator Grand Gedeh, County Health Teams and the County Management Team. Grant Management - Manage ECHO, Pool Fund and UNHCR assets and liabilities and ensure proper inventory control; Provide logistical, financial and other supports where possible to the CH&SW Team to ensure fulfillment of objectives. Overseeing Security in the program site, including: Supervise the implementation of Merlin security guidelines and procedures in collaboration with program and support staff; ensure that all staff is familiar with Merlin’s security guidelines and with Merlin evacuation plan; Show less

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  VSO

  Jan 2013 - May 2014

  Programme Manager

  General – To assist in the development and implementation of VSO Sierra Leone Integrated Secure Livelihood Program which delivers on the objectives of the Country Strategic Plan for 2012 – 2015, namely improve the livelihood development opportunities for young men and women by supporting partner organizations working in agriculture related entrepreneurship development work, improve the capacity of young men and women by supporting them to develop the skills they need to take opportunities that improve their livelihoods and be active and productive members of society and to strengthen the governance capacity to local government institutions to deliver effective devolved services and ensure the voice and legitimate livelihood interest of young men and women are taken into consideration in developing planning.Programme planning, implementation and review – draft plans based on consultation and review, ensuring that resources (volunteers, staff and funding) are allocated appropriately. Develop and manage partnerships with local organisations and government line ministries working to improve livelihoods of disadvantaged communities. Fund Raising and Donor Management, taking lead in developing and implementing funding plans and develop competitive concepts notes and grant proposals. Monitoring and Evaluation – Support documentation of program work in accordance with VSO processes. Support development of mechanisms to monitor and evaluate program impact, partnership and placement levels impact. Manage relationships with key stakeholders to fulfill VSO objectives, representing VSO at external consultative and planning events as necessary. Volunteers Support – Be the first point of contract for all volunteers in program on administration, logistical and financial matters prior to each volunteer’s arrival and during their length of service. Ensure volunteer safety during emergencies. Assess volunteer training needs and oversee the delivery of agreed learning. Show less

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  Save the Children International

  Jun 2014 - Jan 2016

  Field Manager

  Ensure vision, mission and values of Save the Children are clearly and properly understood and upheld by all staff in Pujehun. Maintain the organizational and operational policies and procedures in the Pujehun programmes and offices. This includes Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding Policy, Fraud Policy, the Minimum Standards of Humanitarian Relief, etc. Responsible for the overall management and supervision of programme, finance, logistics, HR, and administration functions. Maintain awareness on legal cultural/traditional issues and ensure these are considered in the implementation of the programme if required and relevant. Makes close follow up of local situations, and programme implementation; identify constraints and challenges and take proper actions in consultation with the Programme Operations Manager. Work closely with the Director of Program Operations to maintain Save the Children’s emergency preparedness capacity development. Take a lead role in monitoring the security situation and update and implement Save the Children security and emergency policies and procedures. In collaboration with Logistics Manager, review and ensure compliance with security plans and guidelines. Responsible and ensure to the day to day of security management in field office. In collaboration with the field office management team play a leadership role to ensure child participation is incorporated in all the program implementation cycle. Ensure effective and quality management of Programme Implementation. Facilitate and coordinate the preparation of operational plans for all projects to be implemented in Pujehun district. Facilitate and coordinate implementation of planned activities. Ensure that planned activities are timely implemented, according to the operational plans, budget and donor requirement. Ensure an integrated approach to programme implementation in order to maximize resource utilization and synergy. Show less

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  Christian Aid

  Sept 2016 - now

  SABI Programme Manager

  Good quality, timely monitoring and reporting from SABI implementing partners, SABI grantees and SABI Programme Team. Strong knowledge in management partners portfolio to respond and support SABI’s key themes. Projects delivered on time and to budget. Funds used for designated purpose. Compliance with financial policies and procedures including reporting requirements and contributions made to other team members in the development and implementation of partner capacity building and training. Grant calls managed efficiently and grant proposals/ reports based on strong planning and evaluation in line with SABI grant procedures. Positive relationships developed with partners through effective communication. Recruitment, management and development of high performing team who are meeting their objectives. Lead on SABI Christian Aid’s contribution to technical coordination activities among the stakeholders and consortium members. Check all project expenditure to be in line with donor requirements and relevant to Christian Aid policies and procedures. Coordinate with consortium members and stakeholders to prepare timely narrative and financial donor reports. Work with stakeholders and consortium members on key project issues and policies. Engage target or potential beneficiaries to enable them to ask the question, raise their voices against any irregularities and mistakes, voice their opinion and needs and use their decision in programme decision making for an appropriate use of funds and resources. Ensure that beneficiary communitarian has balanced integration in all the aspect of programme cycle management. Install systems of feedback from the community utilizing the CE tools allowing information to be fed in to the overall programming. Frequent field visit to carry out action researches and beneficiary satisfaction surveys. Support and train IP’s programme staff on the use of CE tools in order to ensure quality and programme the sustainability. Show less

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  National Youth Commission

  Mar 2018 - Jul 2021

  AfDB Consultant Project Manager

  -Supported programme management and teams in the development of quality programme proposals through technical support in the areas of context/situational analyses, reviewing relevant secondary data, theory of change, log frames, M&E plan.-Provided overall leadership, management, and technical direction to strengthen the Youth Entrepreneurship Employment Program (YEEP) TVET institutions, increase availability and improve management of key TVET institutions and strengthen community systems for high-quality Youth services in Sierra Leone. -Served as the project’s primary liaison to the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), implementing partners, the government of Sierra Leone, key government and nongovernment institutions and actors, and project stakeholders and counterparts in the public and private sectors. As key consultant, I was harnessing and strengthening strategic partnerships with Development Partners;-Preparation of sector-specific training manual and toolkits for carpentry, masonry, aquaculture- fishing, Tourism and Hospitalization, Toll guide, hotel management entrepreneurial training. -Conduct Field research, stakeholders’ interviews, focused group discussions, semi-structured interviews, key-informant interviews, literature review, data analysis.-Established the Project Steering Committee and appropriate flow of knowledge, lessons and experience between different aspects of the Development for Recovery portfolio (policy, strategic planning, implementation etc.) -Support development of a public private partnership framework that will guide the cooperation between the Government of Sierra Leone/MEST, selected TVET institutions, the Ministry of Youth Affairs/NAYCOM and Private Sector Employers;-Ensure cooperation and seek out opportunities for collaboration with relevant Government agencies, international development actors, donors, civil society stakeholders and policy/research institutes concerned with skills development and entrepreneurship; Show less