- Location
- Kitui
- Workplace
- Onsite
- Type
- Contract
- Department
- Kenya Programs
- Education
- Bachelor
- Source
- Greenhouse
Description
About GiveDirectly
What if the most effective way to fight poverty was also the simplest: give people money and trust them to decide what they need?
Since 2011, GiveDirectly has proven that idea at scale. We’ve delivered more than $1B in cash directly to 2+ million people living in poverty and crisis across 15 countries, and rigorous research shows the results: healthier kids, stronger businesses, sturdier homes, and more resilient families and local economies. Cash is now widely recognized as one of the most scalable, cost-effective, and dignified forms of aid.
Our ambition goes beyond our own programs. We want cash to become the benchmark for aid, much as the index fund became the benchmark for investing, so that every aid dollar is held to one question: is this doing more good than giving the money directly to people living in poverty?
We’re growing fast, and this is a rare and important moment to join.
We expect to hit $1B in revenue in 2026 with significant growth forecast for 2027. At the same time we are building a new technology stack and operating model designed for a roughly 10x change in scale, and we are actively pursuing partnerships with major funders to move even more money in bigger ways, to people who need it. We are known for our extensive integration of technology into field processes; our quantitative approach to performance measurement; and our commitment to rigorous, independent, experimental evaluation of our impact, with multiple Randomized Control Trials completed and others in progress.
How we work
Our team spans 20+ countries and 69 languages. Our culture is candid, analytical, and non-hierarchical. We expect high ownership and give people real responsibility early. Our values are central to how we hire, work, and grow, and they are deliberately opinionated:
- Recipients first. Recipients’ preferences come before those of donors or ourselves.
- Team next. We optimize for organizational success, not individual success.
- Be proactively candid. We say what we believe and share information openly.
- Create positive energy. We aim to be a source of energy for colleagues, not a drain.
- Think rigorously; act quickly. We reason from first principles, then act rather than debate.
- Know yourself and grow. We own our imperfections and seek feedback to grow.
- Accept reality. Propose solutions. We focus on what can change and bring solutions, not just problems.
- Be productively ambitious. We take risks for step-change impact, not incremental progress.
If they describe how you like to work and they energize you, this could be a great fit.
Want to learn more? Read and listen:
We are one of Time100’s Most Influential Companies of 2026, and our work has been covered by The Economist, NPR, TED, and The Washington Post. We're now preparing to deliver billions of dollars a year to people in extreme poverty, if funding allows. Read our CEO's essay on what that will take.
Overview:
The Field Officer (FO) is the backbone of GiveDirectly's field operations, responsible for executing end-to-end recipient engagement in Kitui County. Field Officers work across multiple enrollment stages to ensure accurate data collection, high-quality service delivery, and effective community engagement. This role demands strong attention to detail, integrity, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the local context. Field Officers serve as the face of GD in communities and play a key role in ensuring our programs are impactful and trusted.
Key Responsibilities
Recipient Engagement and Fieldwork Execution
- Conduct high-quality surveys across all enrollment stages, including census, registration, and audit.
- Accurately explain GiveDirectly’s program, processes, and recipient rights to ensure informed participation.
- Support recipients in navigating enrollment processes with empathy and professionalism.
- Ensure respectful, dignified interactions that uphold GD’s values and community trust.
- Address recipient questions or complaints on-site, escalating complex issues to management as needed.
Data Collection and Quality Assurance
- Collect data using mobile devices with strict adherence to survey protocols and timelines.
- Regularly review and clean submitted data to ensure completeness and accuracy.
- Collaborate with field managers to resolve discrepancies and improve data integrity.
- Participate in spot checks, shadowing sessions, and refresher trainings to enhance data quality.
Program Support and Process Improvement
- Participate in piloting new tools, surveys, or workflows and provide feedback on usability and effectiveness.
- Share insights from the field on process challenges, community dynamics, or emerging risks.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of operations by offering grounded, practical feedback during debrief and brainstorming sessions.
Community Relations and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain respectful relationships with local leaders and community members.
- Support smooth program rollouts by conducting community mobilization and sensitization (barazas).
- Report community concerns, rumors, or risk indicators to field leadership promptly and appropriately.
Logistics and Resource Stewardship
- Safeguard GD assets including data collection devices, protective gear, and recipient phones.
- Report logistical or equipment issues promptly for repairs or replacements.
- Adhere to team schedules, travel protocols, and safety guidelines while in the field.
Content Generation
- Identify, collect, and document authentic, emotionally engaging recipients’ stories that are aligned with the organization’s mission and values to support fundraising efforts.
- Collaborate with the content team to tailor stories for different campaigns and donor audiences.
- Maintain a database of stories for easy access and future use
Required Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.
- Fresh graduates from Kitui County are highly encouraged to apply.
- Proficiency in Kamba language is a MUST.
- Fluency in English and Kiswahili.
- Demonstrate maturity when dealing with and communicating community challenges and concerns with recipients and their leaders.
- Physical fitness and ability to cope with difficult field conditions.
- Empathy, honesty, and the highest standards of integrity, including positive attitude, strong work ethic, strong follow-through mindset, and team-player mentality.
- Strong ethics and commitment to integrity, especially in handling sensitive data and recipient information.
- Comfortable working in rural, remote, or challenging environments.
- Tech-savvy and comfortable using smartphones or tablets for data collection.
Working at GiveDirectly
GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to the person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Flagging for US applicants: We invite you to "Know Your Rights" as an applicant.
Commitment to Safeguarding
As a global organization working with communities to eliminate extreme poverty, GiveDirectly takes the safeguarding of its recipients, staff, and partners seriously. To that end, GiveDirectly is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and will systematically check with previous employers about any abuse or misconduct related matters involving potential new hires. We may also employ other robust pre-hire screens, including in-depth reference checks, criminal background checks, and sanctions screens.
These efforts help us continue to build and maintain trust with the communities we work with, and prevent abuse to our recipients and staff.
**GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect people and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance when it comes to preventing, reporting, or responding to any form of abuse or exploitation.” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.**
Reasonable Accommodations
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of the role, please email us at [email protected] with the email subject “Accommodation Needed”. We will work with you to ensure reasonable accommodations are made to support your needs.
Want to put your best foot forward on your GiveDirectly application? Take a look at our Candidate Application Prep Guide!
Referrals
Know the right person for this role? Please consider referring them. We offer a reward of $3,000 for a Senior Manager or above role, and $500 for a Manager role, paid if we end up hiring your referral. Thank you for sending great people our way!