JESCA JEPKOSGEI KIPLAGAT

I have an excellent academic background and 10 years work experience working in private and non-governmental organizations. I am a holder of a bachelor’s degree in Education, Science and a Master of Science in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. I am a reliable and dedicated social, economic and community development specialist with comprehensive experience in projects/programs management and implementation, strategic planning and budgeting, multi-stakeholder engagement, community development, administration and leadership, research, data management, report writing as well as partnership management. I have excellent written and oral communication skills, problem solving skills, people management skills and am capable of supervising teams ensuring quality project outputs

April 2021-June 2023-GLFx Regional Chapter Coordinator-Africa Global Landscapes Forum

Duties and Responsibilities                                

GLFx chapters are local organizations and grassroots initiatives that facilitate dialogues, learning, collaborations, and joint actions among different stakeholders, creating partnerships aimed at increasing the sustainability and restoration of their local landscape.

Roles and responsibilities

• Focal point for the GLFx Africa regional chapters (Kenya, South Sudan, Ghana, Lilongwe, Cameroon, South Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Nigeria) and responsible for the day-to-day management of GLFx chapters in Africa
• Lead the administration of chapter recruitment, onboarding, conduct due diligence, draft and manage LoAs, process invoices and track timelines of GLFx Chapters in Africa.
• Oversee and lead the development and implementation of GLFx Africa Chapter projects in Africa, including planning and reporting to donors, and contributes to the development of new projects.
• Support in the development of GLFx strategy, action plans and budget and support designing the implementation of GLFx chapter priorities in Africa ensuring that outputs are in line with GLF and partner strategic goals and priorities.
• Collect, collate, and continuously update feedback on restoration actions undertaken by GLFx Africa chapters to monitor and track progress and impact of actions in their local landscapes.
• Compile and collate donor financial and narrative reports, monthly project reports as well as relevant documentation for audits. 
• Monitor GLFx Chapter initiatives risks and develop contingency plans to address the risks
• Support in proposal/concept writing for donor financial support.
• Organize GLFx Chapter events in Africa and facilitate GLFx chapters’ collaboration and participation in the events, GLF Conferences and campaigns, Digital Summits as well support in session/workshop development and facilitation and other outreach activities. 
• Map out and represent GLFx during existing and potential partners meetings, other external stakeholders’ meetings including at conferences and other relevant meetings and events to identify synergies and strategic opportunities for collaboration.
• Support in the development of new knowledge products and cross-fertilization of knowledge sharing and learning across GLFx Africa chapters, the wider GLFx ecosystem, the Knowledge & Learning Hub, Digital & Communications Hub, and Partnerships
• Conduct capacity needs assessment for GLFx Africa Chapters and lead the development, implementation, and facilitation of innovative GLFx Chapter skills development strategies that address needs of the chapters.
• Link new and existing chapters with relevant platforms for them to connect, learn, share, and act.
• Organize GLFx Africa Chapter meetings, draft and circulate minutes and follow up on meeting action points.
• Build and maintain relationships with GLFx Africa Chapters and other stakeholders and keep them continuously engaged.
• Advise GLFx Africa Chapters on Chapters related policy statements.
• Work with CIFOR-ICRAF Charter members to identify, map and communicate GLFx Chapters funding opportunities to specific chapters work and work with the chapters to design, develop and where necessary write grant applications to secure funding for chapter initiatives.
• Engage with Donors focal points and other partners to ensure that GLFx is positioned as a viable partner for donor/partner programs

Achievements

• Successfully co-developed GLFx/ GLFx Chapter structures, GLFx Action plans and strategies.
• Successfully overseen the implementation of 17 GLFx Africa chapter activities in 10 countries in Africa

February 2019-December, 2020- Platform Content Developer for Kenya, East Africa Community Secretariate, 50 Million Women Speak Networking Project.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for information gathering, content development, content revision and content improvement for the 50 Million Women Speak Digital Networking Platform-Kenya .This is in liaison with the line Ministries/Agencies, National Gender Machineries including both the Private Sector and Civic Society on content related to women economic empowerment initiatives.
• Compiling and continuously updating feedback on the 50 Million African Women Speak Platform to monitor and track progress and impact of the platform on women entrepreneurs.
• Participate in the drafting of the project budget and strategy and ensure project activities are conducted according to the set budget.
• Support the secretariat in the implementation of the 50MAWSP project in Kenya including planning and coordinating project activities as well as providing administrative and logistical support.
• Participate in compiling monthly/quarterly/annual project reports for Kenya.
• Promote the Project through participating in national events which focus on women economic empowerment.
• Coordinate project interventions with the relevant country focal point, country ministries, CBOs as well as civil societies.
• Train women groups, youth groups, TOTs, Country project teams, civil societies as well as ministry staff both at county and national level on 50 Million African Women Speak Networking Platform.
• Coordinate field visits with Donors, media or with any other delegation.
• Act as a careful custodian of the 50 Million Women Speak Platform brand, representing it to an audience.
• Coordinate the Project Country Team for all 50 Million Women Speak Project related activities.

Achievements

• Successfully developed women empowerment content for Kenya and uploaded in the 50MAWSP portal
• January 2018 to January 2019-Program Officer, Assessment for Action-Peoples Action for Learning (PAL) Network

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in the drafting of the organization plan/budget and strategy and monitor the budget to ensure that organizational activities are conducted according to the set budget/ plan. 
• Serve as the secretariat point person and support member countries in the implementation of the accelerated learning actions/interventions/projects.
• Support the secretariat in planning and coordinating activities of the member countries including drafting budgets, making requisitions for imprests or petty cash, follow up as well as provide administrative and logistical support .
• Collection, collation and continuously updating feedback on learning actions/interventions undertaken by PAL Network members to monitor and track progress and impact of actions/interventions in learning outcomes of children.
• Participate in compiling and collating donor reports, monthly project reports as well as preparing the relevant documentation for audits and ensure that donor financial and narrative reports are submitted on time.
• Participated in proposal/concept writing for financial support, maintained donor proposal matrix and initiated the proposal writing process.
• Conduct financial controls of the activities carried out and reconcile financial accounts based on the approved budget. 
• Be in regular touch with member organizations and interested countries to build personal relationships and enhance mutual understanding that enables learning and collaboration.
• Work with member organizations and interested countries to identify learning needs to be addressed and organize responses to the identified learning needs, such as country exchanges or training courses, recommend and support preparation of standard learning tools and kits where appropriate.
• Coordinate learning sessions for staff members for sharing knowledge.
• Maintain and ensure staff compliance with the PAL Network electronic Project Management System 
• Coordinate PAL Network meetings, Secretariat meetings and retreats e.g steering committee, Working group and other network meetings.
• Draft and manage organizational contracts, terms of reference, expression of interest, MoUs and tracking timelines to ensure successful delivery of work.  

Feb 2016 to Dec 2017 -Executive Assistant to the Group Managing Director, Sasini Group

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage GMDs Diary and daily agenda, book meetings/venue, book cabs where necessary and prepare necessary documents for the GMD.
• Handling telephone calls for the GMD and taking messages.
• Draft correspondence on behalf of the GMD as required.
• Follow up on deadlines, commitments made and actions to be taken.
• Handle all travel arrangements for the Group Managing Director.
• Compiling GMDs quarterly/Annual reports through research and analysis 
• In charge of PR and Communication including call center handling at the GMDs office.
• Maintaining a filing system for managing and easy retrieval of documents. 
• Carrying out General office administrative duties including repairs and maintenance
• Scheduling, organizing and coordinating meetings and Writing minutes during meetings.
• Leading and managing GMDs office support staff including drivers and cleaners

January 2014 to May 2014- Development Consultant, Action Aid-UK 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for guiding teams in analysis of voluntary land guidelines and specific country land governance 
• Facilitated the Identification and matching of the various countries using similar land guidelines and comparison of the existing land governance.
• Development of research tools and design research methodologies
• Carried out the Collection of data through specific government land agencies from various countries i.e., Senegal, Haiti, Mozambique, and Tanzania
• Facilitate an analysis of data and publication of report with recommendations from the research.

Achievement

Successfully compiled and published a paper

February 2011 to April 2015-Relationship Officer

Equity Group Foundation-MCF, DFID and USAID Scholarship Program

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Carry out general office administrative duties 
• In charge of PR and Communication including call centre handling and correspondence.
• Developing and maintaining a filing system and database for managing documentation and ensuring easy retrieval of the same.
• In charge of procurement and administrative financial management 
• Participate in preparing scholarship application forms, shortlisting and recruiting of Wings to Fly scholars.
• Participate in mentoring of Wings to Fly scholars
• Drafting work plans and budget and ensuring activities are conducted within the budget and within the set timelines
• Compile scholars financial and performance reports 
• Track progress and impact of the scholarship program on the scholars.
• Compile biodatas for all scholars
• Develop timely donor financial reports
• Organize scholars leadership and training programs as well as stakeholder events 
• Responding to inquiries on the Wings to Fly Scholarship Programme

OTHER SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE

• Board Member- Cheles Day Secondary School 
• Founder and chairlady-Widows of Heroes Foundation, Kenya, January, 2017-date
• Vice President and Secretary, Butlers Wharf Students Residence, The London School of Economics and Political Science, 2013 to 2014:       
• Teacher: Iten Day Secondary school, May 2009 to August 2009:

AWARDS

Crowned the Face of Kenya UK, Brand Ambassador, 2014

Awarded Full Scholarship by Program for African Leadership to study Masters of Science Degree at London School of Economics and Political Science

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Training offered by the London School of Economics and Political Science

• Proposal and Reporting writing, Monitoring and Evaluation of Humanitarian Projects, Logical Framework for Humanitarian Projects, Advocacy skills for development and humanitarian work, Media and NGOs, Leadership skills, Research and data analysis.

PUBLICATIONS

Implementing Land Tenure Guidelines for Women and Small Scale Food Producers: An analysis of Mozambique, Tanzania, Senegal and Haiti by Thomas Coleman, Olivia Kolbe-Booysen, Jesca Kiplagat, Guido Zanetti. 

• The London School of Economics and Political Science, London UK ( 2013 to 2014)

Master of Science in Development Management

Thesis topic:Fiscal Decentralization in Kenya: Does Community Participation Matter For the Effectiveness and Sustainability of Decentralization Programs? A Case Study of Constituency Development Funds in Marakwet-West Constituency, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Rift Valley Province-Kenya

• Egerton University (2005 to 2010)

Bachelor of Science in Education Science ,Second Class Honors, Upper Division

• Loreto high School (Matunda, 2000 to 2003)

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, Mean Grade B+