Project Manager Assistant

Francis Mburu

Embu+*** 071*******

*************@*****.*** www.linkedin.com/in/francis-mburu-92121769/

I am a highly- motivated, and competent collaborator who possess in-depth knowledge and expertise within this industry, with a proven record, I can bring positive support, and a creative and innovative mindset to any team.

I pride myself on taking ownership of challenging problems, maintaining high standards, and assisting my employer in achieving organizational/commercial objectives.

With the desire and passion for continuous professional development, I am confident, I will add value to your organization, with more than 7 years of experience in similar roles, I can be relied upon deliver everything that I set out to achieve, help the organization to grow and at the same time save the organization overall costs.

I fully appreciate your need to employ someone with these qualities who can deliver on the promises, but who can also work as part of the team to accomplish daily tasks. I welcome working on challenging initiatives, in complex environments with multiple work streams and diverse teams.

Learning, adapting, and innovating while leading different types of partnerships has taught me the practical skills of how to deliver in difficult real-world situations.

Work History

Head of Program and Mutirima Microfinance Mar 2018 - Jan 2020

CARITAS- Muranga Catholic Diocese, Kenya

●Provide overall leadership for the implementation of Community microfinance (Muturima Savings and Credit Associations – MSCAs) in Muranga and Kirinyaga Counties.

●Formation and training of Muturima Savings and Credit Associations (MSAs.)

●Advisory role to members of management committees

●Inspection of Muturima Savings and Credit Associations books of accounts

●Supervised Muturima Savings and Credit Associations.

●Prepare and present reports to senior management

●Offer technical support to other existing projects in terms of staff and partner capacity development, resource mobilization, and M+E work.

●Lead in the discovery of new funders, sponsors, and partners to drive CARITAS for incremental growth.

●Take lead in developing Muturima Savings and Credit Associations financial software to enhance efficiency, accountability, and transparency.

●A member of the management committee and participate in decision-making for CARITAS Department.

●Develop and oversee new strategies, approaches, products, and services under the Community microfinance department for ease of doing business with a focus on innovation.

Project Manager Oct 2009 - Dec 2015

CARE International in Kenya, Kisumu

●Provided strategic leadership to the overall project activities (GSL/VSL/YSL, SPM, and SIYB, Youth Enterprise development, financial education, and Bank linkage; Advocacy, and value chain development training targeting youth and women groups) implementation.

●Take the lead in planning and coordination of BOC project activities in six counties of Kisumu, Nairobi, Kisii, Homabay, Embu, and Migori.

●Developed appropriate TORs to guide project activities, partners, and consultancy service providers.

●Support staff and partners (Community-Based Trainers (CBTs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), and Franchisees to scale –up outreaches, cost efficiency, and address quality and sustainability.

●Support in conducting Capacity Assessments, due diligence to partners, and developing MOUs for partners to enhance accountability among partners.

●Prepare and guide project budget preparation, adjustments, and revisions, seek donor approvals and prepare financial reports.

●Oversee project resources management to ensure prudence use.

●Prepare all narrative reports and share them with donors, stakeholders, partners, and government-relevant departments across the six counties.

●Prepare a procurement plan for the project in liaison with the procurement department.

● Support the HR Department in hiring, appraisal, and promotion of staff.

●Support project staff to develop quality project outlines, documentation, briefs and ensure project implementation is in line with annual work plans.

●Working closely with the M&E Coordinator in developing monitoring tools, consultant contract management, and providing program deliverable analysis for the project to enhance quality M&E framework implementation.

●Support Communication and advocacy officers in preparing and organizing advocacy activities in-country and globally.

●Ensure compliance with country office and donor policies, contracts, and agreements.

●Take lead on planning, scanning, generating, and delivering new ideas and leads, cultivates relationships with stakeholders, and facilitate the transformation of innovative ideas and solutions into sustainable programs and projects.

●Managing sub-grant for phase 1 project cycle to PLAN International in Kenya

●Reviewing the quality of work completed by consultants and project partners on regular basis to ensure it meets standards and compliance with the donor's and organizations’ development goals.

●Conducting program meetings and responsible for program tracking and analysis for reporting purposes, and decision-making process.

●Organizing and overseeing field visits and monitoring plans for ongoing monitoring and review of ongoing project activities.

●Represents the Banking on Change Program in the county's development meetings, project global meetings, and other related projects in-country meetings.

●Developed the first financial education curriculum for the informal sector in the country and which has since been borrowed by some banks and MFIs.

●Through the partnership with Barclays Bank Kenya, developed appropriate savings and credit products at the bank level to facilitate the linkage of mature groups to banks for the safety of their financial resources.

Country Programme Coordinator Oct 2008 - Oct 2009

Western Education Advocacy & Empowerment Programme in Kenya (WEAP). Kakamega

● Overall in charge of the WEAP program implementation in the three districts.

● Plan, coordinate and monitor programme activities in consultation with project and field officers and partners.

●Work closely with stakeholders, partners, ministry of education and social services departments to ensure access of education to Orphans and Venerable children (OVCs) and out of school children (street children) gainful apprenticeship placement.

●Support staff and partners to develop and implement project work plans.

●Plan and coordinate quarterly review meetings with partners and stakeholders.

● Ensure that emerging children education issues are identified and brought to attention to stakeholders, donors and WEAP for possible intervention.

●Participate in formulation and implementation of strategic aspects of community-led micro-finance (SACCO), health, Education and integrated OVCs programs

● Working with the community to identify existing and potential Income Generating Activities (IGAs).

● Working with the communities to identify and establish markets for micro and small scale enterprise products.

● Designing of a Micro Credit Scheme that can work in the districts and establishment of an institution to manage the revolving loan fund from Big Lottery Fund.

●Building the capacity of the target group in group formation, savings mobilization and management of credit.

● Develop business advisory centers for the micro entrepreneurs

●Conducting a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and involve the communities to identify existing economic opportunities in the area.

●Conducting Training Needs Assessment (TNA) for existing entrepreneurs and in liaison with the vocational training component organize for technical training.

●Conduct market surveys for MSE products

●Carry out feasibility studies to assess the viability of enterprises at the village level.

●Undertake annual staff appraisal in line with Job Description (JD) and Individual Operation Plan (IOP) requirements on a timely manner.

Assistant Project Manager Jan 2008 - Sep 2008

Child Fund International in Kenya, Nairobi

●Overall to monitor and manage field-level activities’ implementation, follow-up, and reporting of all Child Centered Spaces (CCS es) to ensure Community collective child protection and well-being.

●Taking the lead in the community training on child rights and protection modules within the targeted areas.

●Taking lead in mobilizing the community in building supportive and community-friendly structures for non-violent conflict management and peace-building activities.

●Attend meetings, as required, and contribute towards ensuring effective communication across the children's program and the organization.

●Assisting field staff in developing advocacy/public education on child rights, Gender –Based Violence incidences on women and children.

● Provide support, monitor, plus supervise Field Assistants and Social Workers so as to establish and coordinate active community–based child protection and Gender -Based Violence prevention and response initiatives.

●To participate in inter-agency coordination and Nairobi Sub-cluster meetings at UN-OCHA offices -in Nairobi.

●Participate in drafting a national action plan for deprived and vulnerable children due to post-election violence.

●To be part of the development of proposals, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of designated projects including writing internal and external reports.

●Training youth in and out of school in protection risks promoters on protection risks promotion skills, touching on Gender-Based Violence, Conflict Resolution, and Peace Building activities.

Programme Officer May 2004 - Dec 2007

Child Fund International in Kenya, Siaya

●Coordination and facilitation of activities aimed at improving care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children through Care and support of early child development initiatives that integrate child holistic development at home and in ECCD Centers.

●Contribute to the implementation of appropriate methods to monitor progress and evaluate the impact of project activities, in particular ensuring all ECCD s records, reports, services, and equipment are well taken care of.

●Support the implementation of other planned activities to enhance the project to deliver child protection services within the community while promoting respect and advocacy of child rights.

●Reporting and Monitoring of Project field expenditures against budgets

●Facilitated capacity building of ECCD staff in order for them to offer quality care and environment to the children

●To mobilize, organize, and community members to participate in community-owned and managed Group Savings and Loans (GS&L).

●To facilitate business skills – Selection, Planning, and Management-SPM training for selected group members to establish and improve their Income Generating Activities. (IGA s).

● Work with established community-based structures, ECCD staff, and community, relevant government departments, plus legal organizations to sensitize and enhance community awareness and protection of the rights of the child.

●Take lead in assisting in building the capacity of ECD Caregivers (ECD teachers), civil society organizations, parents, and guardians on Health and Nutrition, Legal Aid procedures, ECD curriculum and Material development, Psychosocial Care and Support plus Child Development, and Scale training.

●Monitor child labor and develop systems that promote child labor protection and advocacy for child labor policies.

Project Officer

Jul 2002 - Apr 2004

CARE International In Kenya, Siaya

●To mobilize and organize community members to participate in group savings and loans (GS&L) to mitigate the negative social–economic impacts of HIV / AIDS at the household level.

●To facilitate business skills – (Selection, Planning, and Management) training for selected group members to establish and improve their IGA s.

●Mentor vulnerable groups to build agro – business resources management skills and develop marketing linkages/contract forwarding for their farm produce.

●To regularly monitor, supervise and report on project activities.

●Through the development of partnerships and collaborations with government, local administration, and civil societies at the community level, we Ensure that the partners are able to identify result-based intervention strategies to reduce HIV / AIDS-related stigma impacts and rights advocacy

●Monitor and promote child labor protection initiatives as community initiatives that respect child rights.

●Facilitated the establishment of local community custodians and religious networks that spearheads/influence rights advocacy, open acceptance, and inclusion of +people in various community informal structures in a bid to allow them to live with dignity.

●To build partners’ capacity to manage and account for their grants.

EDUCATION

Diploma in Project Management Jan 2003 - Dec 2003

Career Guidance Counseling and Preparatory Centers, Nairobi

Advance Certificate in Psychology Counseling Jan 2001 - Dec 2001

Career Guidance Counseling and Preparatory Centers, Nairobi

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) – History and Ethics and Social Studies Sep 1996 - Nov 2000

The Catholic University of East Africa, Nairobi

I did History with a major course in Ethics which overall I got a Second class honors

SKILLS

Expert in: Capacity Building, Interpersonal Skills, Supervision and Motivation, Team building, Problem Solving, and Community development

Intermediate in: NGOs /Charity Management, Report Writing, Risk Management, result Based Management, First Aid Skills, Counselling and Psychosocial Support, Fund raising, Farming and value addition skills

VOLUNTEER

Social Care Volunteer

Golden Dove

I volunteer every year (Once a month -during my annual leave Period) in their various programs as follows;

●Prison Inmates by providing them with psychosocial support sessions.

●Help their senior management in fund raising.

●Facilitate employability and entrepreneurship training to youth group under the economic empowerment program.

●Carry out Agro-nutrition education to address the problem of micronutrient deficiencies through the promotion of nutritionally rich foods. Through Kitchen and vertical garden demonstrative training- plan vegetables and berries.

●To build the capacity of Business Service Providers (BSPs) in the Meat Value Chain.

●Training on calf rearing feeds and feeds production, financial goal, and saving plans to improve livestock.

●Entrepreneurial skills – financial goal setting and saving plans for household improvements

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