Kenya Country Lead -Border Security Programme

Country: Kenya Organization: Mercy Corps Closing date: 21 Aug 2026 About Mercy Corps Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has a robust portfolio in East Africa, with country offices in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia and Ethiopia working to address structural causes of poverty and injustice and to strengthen systems that enable men, women and children to access opportunities, participate in and contribute to peaceful democratic processes, and thrive in the face of ecological and social change. To do this, we deliver integrated programming to strengthen market and governance systems, address the root causes of conflict, and equip vulnerable populations- in particular youth, women, adolescents and marginalized social groups- with the skills, opportunities and resources they need to be healthy, productive and to drive the development of their communities. We work closely with the private sector, civil society and governance structures at local and national levels to facilitate change and ensure that opportunities are inclusive of all citizens. Programme / Department Summary The East Africa Border Security Programme (BSP) is a multi-year programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The programme works with governments, law enforcement agencies, communities and civil society organisations across East Africa to strengthen border security, disrupt organised immigration crime (OIC), improve protection for victims of trafficking and smuggling, and strengthen community resilience in border areas. The programme combines evidence generation, law enforcement strengthening, community engagement and victim protection through an integrated regional approach implemented through a consortium of partners. BSP operates in Kenya in partnership with the MIONA and the National Police Service, with expansion plans into Ethiopia and Uganda; supporting national governments’ efforts and enhancing regional cooperation in countering OIC. General Position Summary The Kenya Country Lead provides strategic leadership and oversight of BSP field activities in Kenya and serves as Mercy Corps' primary programme representative with the stakeholders from the NPS and county-level representatives, including national and county government officers, community leaders and local organisations. Working closely with the BSP Team Leader and Deputy Team Lead, and consortium partner technical leads, the Country Lead ensures effective delivery across all four programme outcomes in Kenya, maintains strong government and stakeholder relationships, coordinates implementation across multiple border locations, and supports adaptive programme management. The position provides leadership and management oversight to programme field staff and local partners while ensuring that programme activities remain aligned with national priorities, donor expectations and programme protocols. Working with the Team Lead, other Country Leads and the Communications Specialist s/he will identify opportunities to influence policy discussions on OIC at the national and regional level and will build relationships with policymakers to support policy influencing and learning opportunities. Finally, s/he will work with local civil society organisations to design and support interventions that support community engagement in counter OIC efforts, including capacity building, community-police dialogues, local counter OIC campaigns and media engagements. Essential Job Responsibilities STRATEGY AND PROGRAMME LEADERSHIP • Work with the TL and the DTL, and consortium technical leads to ensure that the BSP in Kenya is contributing to the programme’s aims of OIC disruption, and responsive to GoK interests. • Contribute to shaping the programme’s learning, research and influencing agendas. PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT • Lead implementation of Mercy Corps’ BSP activities across Kenya in line with programme objectives and annual work plans. • Ensure integration across programme outcomes at strategic border locations, including: Evidence and analysis Law enforcement strengthening Community engagement in counter OIC actions Victim protection and referral systems • Work with the DTL and MRELA Manager to ensure that implementation is aligned to programme country workplans and budgets, ensuring delivery is on time, target and budget. • Lead adaptive management processes, ensuring programme delivery responds to changing operational and political contexts, emerging risks and programmatic learning • Ensure that programme implementation is responsive to emerging local needs and opportunities, and consistent with Mercy Corps’ programme guidelines, principles, values, quality standards. GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT • Serve as a principal representative for Mercy Corps with BSP-relevant Government of Kenya institutions including the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation’s Task Force, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Counter Trafficking in Persons Secretariat. Alongside the TL and DTL, represent BSP in Kenya with the British High Commission and other HMG counterparts. Maintain strong relationships with county-level governments in programme locations. Support national coordination mechanisms relating to organised immigration crime and border security. • Engage with other actors working on OIC, Counter-trafficking and Victim support in Kenya, building a network for learning and policy influence. • Engage stakeholders and local partners at the county and community levels in Kenya, on action planning and developing strategies in support of counter-OIC/community-policing programming activities. RISK MANAGEMENT • Monitor contextual developments affecting programme delivery in partnership with the BSP Risk and Security Manager. • Support implementation of programme risk management systems, ensuring compliance with BSP security protocols and standard operating procedures. • Participate in incident management and crisis response where required. • Promote safeguarding and Do No Harm approaches across programme implementation TEAM MANAGEMENT • Manage project officers operating at field sites, ensuring quality and performance in the delivery of community engagement and community-policing interventions. • Oversee performance of Kenyan sub-grantees, and provide team members and implementing partners with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives. • Contribute to programme team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes. MONITORING & EVALUATION (M&E) AND REPORTING • Work closely with the programme M&E Manager to ensure that effective M&E systems and processes are embedded within programme implementation and that data is collected, analyzed, and used to inform ongoing adaptation of programme strategies and delivery approaches. • Assess and analyze impact and adaptively manage the programme to meet results. • Contribute to the production of formal and informal reports and work plans on all aspects of Kenya programme delivery in a timely and efficient manner. ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES • Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. • Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. SAFEGUARDING • Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work • Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members • Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options. Supervisory Responsibility Project Officers Accountability Reports Directly To: Deputy Team Leader Works Directly With: Consortium partners, MRELA Manager, Finance and Compliance Director, local and national government officials, local civil society organizations, implementing partners and communities. Knowledge and Experience • Master’s degree in security Sector/Police reform, Border/Security Management, or related discipline. • At least 15 years’ experience working on security sector or police reform, community policing or crime prevention programming in the Horn of Africa • In-depth understanding of the Kenya context, including border security, governance and policing frameworks, OIC and migration dynamics and key stakeholders working within the organised crime, irregular migration space. • Excellent representational skills, with demonstrated experience working to influence national government and national police/security sectors’ ways of working and policies. • Solutions-oriented individual, with strong strategic thinking capabilities. • Demonstrated effectiveness managing a diverse team of staff, consortium partners and local implementing partners, building a cohesive and results-oriented team to deliver on complex programming result. • Experience working with a diverse range of community members to discuss sensitive and delicate topics in a conflict-sensitive manner. • Excellent writing and reporting skills. • Excellent verbal and inter-personal communications skills. • Demonstrated sensitivity, skill, and experience working within different cultural settings and navigating public affairs and communications on sensitive issues. Success Factors The successful candidate will have strong leadership and representational skills, able to lead teams and engage in negotiations on complex and sensitive issues such as security, community policing, and organized crime. S/he will have exceptional relationship building, diplomacy and communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps. S/he will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate an ability to communicate, assume leadership, and make solid decisions while working remotely from country leadership. Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, with regular travel to programme sites/border areas and potential travel to additional programme countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia). Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs, and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. Ongoing Learning In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development Team Efficiency and Effectiveness Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work. We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together. Equal Employment Opportunity Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work Safeguarding & Ethics Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org). How to apply https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/MER1024MERCY/JobBoard/37f6929f-9b61-486b-94c1-2ca23179877f/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=f8fae954-5d26-4795-91e6-736068decda0