JOAN NJOKI KARANJA
Summary
A results-oriented program management, gender and organizational development professional with over 12 years' experience in Africa implementing projects in the areas of market systems development, gender equality, monitoring and evaluation, social protection, sustainable livelihoods, and innovative market solutions for the most vulnerable populations for empowerment and poverty alleviation. Successful at developing innovative strategies to capitalize on dynamic market conditions. Strategic planner and eloquent communicator with an adaptable approach to sustainable development.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
PROGRAM MANAGER- INCLUSIVE MARKETS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT AND GENDER FOCAL POINT
SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (SIDA)
08.2023 - Current
- Manage the social protection, gender, and innovative finance portfolio in Kenya. Oversee projects and programs executed by UN agencies and the Government of Kenya.
- Lead Sweden's development and implementation of refugee and displaced persons work, and integrate sector interventions into the bilateral strategy.
- Manage Sweden's contribution towards the development of policy and programming on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (Triple nexus) in Kenya.
- Support policy dialogue with relevant Government of Kenya ministries, development agencies, donors and relevant stakeholders in the sector.
- Financial management, including follow-up of partnership contracts, proposal appraisal, and development.
- Contribute to the development of Swedish strategies and policies for Kenya (Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with Kenya 2021–2025).
- Build and manage partnerships and networks with relevant bilateral, multilateral, and sectoral actors.
- Represent Sweden and actively participate in interest groups, donor working groups, and technical working groups.
- Advise the Embassy of Sweden in Kenya on issues of Market Systems Development.
PROGRAM MANAGER- STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC OPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEES
WORLD UNIVERSITY SERVICE OF CANADA (WUSC)
01.2020 - 08.2023
- Facilitated and managed the distribution of grants and cash assistance to 120 refugee-led enterprises, while also coordinating business development services for refugee entrepreneurs in Kakuma, Kalobeyei, and Dadaab.
- Enhanced the knowledge and skills of 2 local business development service providers to establish business incubation hubs for refugee-led businesses, facilitating access to entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and coaching.
- Collaborated with Refugee-Led Organizations, youth groups, and Education and Training partners to enhance the skill sets of young Africans for employment in the ICT sector, both locally and globally.
- Built strong strategic networks with ecosystem actors, such as county government, investors, private sectors, TVET institutions, UNHCR, and financial service providers using the market systems approach.
- Conducted trainings on gender and social inclusion to partners, enabling their implementation of gender-responsive programming that tackles obstacles preventing women's participation in entrepreneurship.
- Prepared timely financial and narrative reports, as well as timesheets, ensuring compliance with plans and donor standards.
- Managed relationships with consortium partners, providing technical support and convening advisory and progress review meetings.
PROJECT OFFICER AND GENDER FOCAL POINT
WORLD UNIVERSITY SERVICE OF CANADA (WUSC)
07.2018 - 01.2020
- Projects I worked on: Strengthening Inclusive Learning Environments (SHULE)- funded by Bureau for Population Refugee and Migration (BPRM)
- Innovative Global Networks for Inclusion + Equality (IGNI+E) – funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
- Hospitality Industry Welcomes Refugee Employment-linked Sponsorship (HIRES)– funded by International Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Coordinated and facilitated the employment and resettlement of 10 young refugees in Canada through an employment resettlement pathway project with Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Conducted verification, selection, and follow-up of education subsidy and cash transfer beneficiaries, which enhanced access, retention, and transition of girls' education.
- Conducted training sessions on Child Protection, Gender-Responsive Pedagogy, and Basic Pedagogy for teachers in Dadaab and Kakuma.
- Provided case management support to unaccompanied, separated, and vulnerable children, utilizing the program's integrated Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS).
- Collaborated with education departments of UNHCR, Turkana, and Garissa County Governments to gather valuable insights into enhancing educational access for children with disabilities and refugees in Dadaab, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei.
- Prepared financial and narrative reports in compliance with plans and donor standards.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION OFFICER
KENYA GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION PEPFAR/USAID PROGRAM
08.2016 - 07.2018
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive MERL framework, system, structures, performance plans and tools for internal and external audiences that guided effective decision-making for the project
- Developed and managed a project data base with 10,000 beneficiaries who all got interventions ranging from sexual reproductive health training, education subsidies, cash transfer, financial literacy skills, entrepreneurship training and start up kits
- Developed and maintained quality standards for data management and undertook regular reviews of systems and processes for continuous quality improvement in data collection, processing and disaggregation
- Managed field activity monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans, systems to ensure compliance with donor monitoring and evaluation requirements
- Capacity building and training of project teams and implementing partners in monitoring, evaluation, research and learning
- Prepared and compiled periodic project reports and supported project team in preparation of various implementation and progress reports
MONITORING AND EVALUATION GRADUATE TRAINEE
KENYA NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (KNCHR)
04.2015 - 04.2016
- Evaluated the performance of KNCHR on gender equality and social inclusion using the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Guidance to ensure compliance with Article 27 of the Constitution
- Developed and implemented a share point platform where departments posted reports, work plans and activity schedules that helped guide and track program implementation progress internally
- Prepared monthly, quarterly and annual reports as per donor standards
- Managed a team of fifteen field data enumerators that provided technical and research support to sub grantees, CBO’s and civil society members
- Received and evaluated annual reports on progress made by public institutions and other sectors on compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements
JUNIOR LECTURER
JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, TECHNOLOGY- SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
01.2015 - 04.2015
- Courses Taught: Communications Skills, Rural and Urban Sociology, Gender Mainstreaming and Development, Leadership and Effective Governance
MONITORING AND EVALUATION FIELD CONSULTANT
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI ENTERPRISES
02.2014 - 12.2014
- Supervised 17 field assistants, conducted data collection, data entry and analysis and report generation various assessments and evaluations across the country
ATTACHÉ CHILD PROTECTION AND INCLUSION
PLAN INTERNATIONAL MACHAKOS PROGRAM UNIT
05.2012 - 08.2012
- Trained local administration authorities on child protection and inclusion, set up gender desks, and documented department activities
- Developed a child protection case management curriculum that lead to enhanced capacity of child protection caseworkers
- Developed and strengthened partnership with the Department of Children Services (DCS) and law enforcement officers in Matuu Sub County
- Documented activities and filmed quality videos for the 'Because I'm a Girl' campaign that got recognition in a UN General Assembly as a video that best captured the plight of young adolescent girls in rural Kenya
Education
M.D. - Market Systems Development
Springfield Centre
Bangkok, Thailand11-2022
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES -
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
01-2019
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT STUDIES -
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
11-2016
BACHELOR OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES -
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
11-2013
Skills
- Market systems development
- Gender equality mainstreaming and inclusion
- Program development
- Skills & Workforce development
- Youth engagement
- Project management
- Mediation and arbitration
- Partnership development and management
References
- Maureen Nderitu, Protection, Gender and Inclusion Coordinator, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Maureen.nderitu@ifrc.org, +254729445379, +254789664231
- Gladys Kiptoo, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), GJebichii@knchr.org, +254729638881
- Linda Kola Odeko, National Resilience Officer Migrant Protection Assistance Unit - Horn of Africa, International Organization for Migration (IOM), lkola@iom.int, +254705916951, +254720554182
Timeline
PROGRAM MANAGER- INCLUSIVE MARKETS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT AND GENDER FOCAL POINT
SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (SIDA)
08.2023 - Current
PROGRAM MANAGER- STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC OPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEES
WORLD UNIVERSITY SERVICE OF CANADA (WUSC)
01.2020 - 08.2023
PROJECT OFFICER AND GENDER FOCAL POINT
WORLD UNIVERSITY SERVICE OF CANADA (WUSC)
07.2018 - 01.2020
MONITORING AND EVALUATION OFFICER
KENYA GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION PEPFAR/USAID PROGRAM
08.2016 - 07.2018
MONITORING AND EVALUATION GRADUATE TRAINEE
KENYA NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (KNCHR)
04.2015 - 04.2016
JUNIOR LECTURER
JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, TECHNOLOGY- SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
01.2015 - 04.2015
MONITORING AND EVALUATION FIELD CONSULTANT
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI ENTERPRISES
02.2014 - 12.2014
ATTACHÉ CHILD PROTECTION AND INCLUSION
PLAN INTERNATIONAL MACHAKOS PROGRAM UNIT
05.2012 - 08.2012
M.D. - Market Systems Development
Springfield Centre
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES -
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT STUDIES -
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
BACHELOR OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES -
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
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