Profile

Before joining Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP) in April 2009, I worked for close to 3 years in Southern Sudan with Stromme Foundation (SF), a Norwegian NGO where I coordinated the activities of SF’s programme of post conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation, focusing mainly on peace building, livelihoods and education. Earlier, I had worked for the Lutheran World Federation in Kakuma Refugee camp where I started as Gender Officer and later appointed to head the Repatriation Department. Throughout my service in the field of humanitarian services, I have learnt a lot and gained much experience in managing humanitarian projects; as well as interacted with different communities including IDPs, refugees and people in urban informal settlements. My special interests lie in conflict and disaster risk reduction, gender and human rights.

Daily Activities

I am currently working as a Project Officer for JCCP, based in Nairobi office in Kenya, working with a dedicated team of JCCP Kenya programmes, finance and administration. I am responsible of ensuring that effective project plans are in place and they are implemented timely. The project activities need a lot of community participation and as such, I am responsible for putting in place effective community organizing strategies that facilitate involvement of the community in JCCP’s projects. I also do a lot of liaison with the authorities and stakeholders of our projects. JCCP works in partnership with local community based organizations, and I have played a remarkable role in their capacity building as well as in maintain the partnerships. I also supervise local project staff working in the same projects. From time to time, i take part in facilitating in trainings both in Kenya and in Somalia.

Challenges, Opportunities and Motivation

Community involvement is very important in sustainable projects. Key to community participation is the involvement of the community leaders. One of my biggest challenges while working at JCCP was to bring on board our project the participation of local government administrators and the police. Through team work, JCCP project team has succeeded and now JCCP is enjoy the support of, and working very closely with the police and local government administration officers in our project area.

In my work at JCCP, I have had opportunities of learning a lot on the dynamics of conflict management, and for the first time I am currently learning a lot from our ongoing project of early warning and early response (EWER) in conflict prevention. I have also learnt a lot from my local colleagues, Japanese colleagues, and even more from communities where JCCP has been working. I believe in learning something from every opportunity that presents itself, and within the 4 years that I have been working for JCCP, I have learnt a lot ranging from project management to people’s management. I have had the experience to interact with different communities, including IDP camps in Kenya and Somalia.

The joy of listening to some of the beneficiaries as they narrate their stories of how they have benefitted from our project is one of the things that makes me want to do more and more of my work. It is very satisfying to listen to victims of GBV or drug addiction give their success stories because of JCCP’s work, but even more elating is to know that I played a role in their success.

At JCCP, Nairobi office, the teamwork is a great motivator, something that makes me look forward to undertaking each of my assigned tasks because I know it is not ‘’my battle alone.’’ Everyone is so supportive and very cooperative. The office environment is very friendly and makes it easier even when workload looms. I enjoy the support I get from all JCCP Kenya team members, and I always look forward to giving similar support every time is needed.

Things I achieved in Nairobi

During the time I have been working with JCCP, my major contribution has been in the program matters. I have played a key role in designing, implementing and successful completion of at least 4 major projects within Nairobi and the Rift Valley; with multiple activities including water installation, house construction and income generation activities for IDPs and host communities, capacity building of groups in small business management and psychosocial support programme. Currently I am taking the lead role in implementing a 3 years project of enhancement of community safety in Mathare Informal Settlement.

I also played a key role in partnership building including the process of CBOs capacity assessment, partners selection and capacity improvement. These local partners are the ones JCCP is using today for its work in Mathare informal settlement, and strong partnership has been one of the factors that ensures success of our project as well as suitability in Mathare informal settlements.

I have led the team that has established a very good working relationship of JCCP and the local authorities including the police and government administrators in the project area. The support of these authorities is vital if the project has to have good impact and sustainability

Life in Nairobi

The old adage ‘’east or west, home is best’’ works for me. Nairobi is home for me and working and living here is perfect because this is where my family is. Though Nairobi is a very competitive city in terms of opportunities, and life is very fast here compared to other Kenyan towns, I manage very well. I am able to commute from home to work daily with ease. During weekends when am not working, I have lots of fun things to do and time to spend with my family.