Technical Officer, Community Engagement

POSITION DESCRIPTION

FHI 360/NIGERIA

Position Title: Technical Officer, Community Engagement

Supervisor: Consortium Coordinator

Location: Maiduguri, Roving the LGAs 60% LGA, 40% Maiduguri)

Project Description: NE_CORE

Northeast Nigeria is currently facing a growing humanitarian crisis with a vast number of Internally Displaced Persons in need of emergency assistance. These IDPs are living among host communities, lacking access to livelihoods and resources, ultimately leading to unprecedented levels of malnutrition and food insecurity. FHI 360 has been working in Nigeria for over 30 years and is now expanding activities in Borno state to respond to the IDP crisis.

FHI 360 is expanding its expertise by responding to this humanitarian crisis through integrated WASH, Health, Nutrition and Protection interventions.

Basic Function:

The Technical Officer, Community Engagement (TO-CE) will harmonize the design of the community engagement aspect for all local actors within FHI 360 implementation areas. He/she will take a leading role in engaging all local actors across sectors like WASH, Health, Nutrition, Protection, Food Assistance, Shelter and settlement, Agriculture and Multi-purpose cash assistance across the four implementation locations (Bama, Banki, Ngala and Damasak) with an aim of impactful community engagement.

The TO-CE, jointly with the field coordinators and partners, will liaise with local authority structures, community management structures and other local actors to involve them in programming. Quality and accountability in all programme areas will be the responsibility of the leading person at the state, while FC will provide oversight at LGA level, and the Technical Officer-CE will assist in this endeavor.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Technical Officer- Community Engagement with the Field Coordinators jointly develop and regularly update the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for the Community engagement (CE) activities for all sectors in close consultation and guidance from the sector leads.
• Work with sector team in the implementation of community activities of humanitarian programs based on the DIP & strengthen the sectoral synergy including mainstreaming GBV and child protection.
• Assist Field Coordinators in monitoring and evaluating of all community activities, adapt interventions as necessary to influence behaviour change.
• Contribute to the overall community health strategy development and innovative approaches to influence behavior and achieve short-term and long- term impact in the communities that FHI 360 is serving.
• Ensure all FHI 360 and stake holders (State Government Institutions) guidelines are adhered to and adapted as necessary.
• To ensure that all community volunteers are correctly selected and are functioning as planned and are receiving quality and regular supportive supervision and other capacity building including training, on-the-job training, coaching and mentoring from ATOs, TO’s and FCs.
• Oversee the establishment and strengthening of different community-based protection mechanisms including Child Protection Committees (CPCs), GBV CBPMs, Husband Schools, etc.
• Support the development of community and stakeholders’ engagement tools and techniques such as community awareness campaigns, workshops, surveys, community consultation meetings, celebration of special events, etc.
• Support identification and mitigation against community engagement key risks and advise on engagement for incident management.
• Support Protection field teams to conduct protection risk assessment (GBV, Child Protection) and propose mitigating measures.
• Provide technical support to field teams to develop appropriate messaging for social behavioral change including those related to negative social norms, power dynamics between men and women, boys and girls.
• Contribute to messaging development for advocacy actions at community and state level.
• Provide necessary training and technical support to team leaders and volunteers on monitoring tool and reporting.
• Engage key stakeholders and support development of context acceptable and specific SBC messages and IECs and dialogue tools.
• Support program team to mobilize communities to take ownership and responsibility of facilities.
• Support program team with culturally sensitive messaging approaches.
• Assist the field coordinator in timely compilation, analysis and distribution of all data relating to Community activities part of the Information Systems and submit weekly and monthly narrative reports to improve programme activities at the field level.
• Take a leading role in Community component and engage field team in developing innovative approaches and implementation of the new community strategies which includes integrated Community Case Management, Home Care for COVID-19 cases, peer groups education across all sectors with special considerations for elderly and disabled persons.
• Assist the field coordinator in organizing and implementation of training programmes based on the DIP.
• Provision of strategic input to BOSO for further development of the community component which contribute overall project objective and reduction of morbidity and mortality through preventive approach.
• Close coordination and collaboration with government officials, the Ministries at State and LGA level, WFP, UNICEF, UNFPA and other local partners in the areas.
• Input into Donor reports, monthly reports and any additional reports as required in the areas of community engagement.
• Support in community engagement and communication/advocacy for implementation of program surveys and assessments as needed, ensuring adequate community involvement.
• In collaboration with the M&E unit, support the implementation of community-based accountability and feedback mechanisms.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Good interpersonal, motivational and staff management skills.
  • Excellent written and spoken English. Hausa is an added value
  • Good computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel.
  • Good analytical skills including collection, analysis, and interpretation of programme data.
  • Excellent health and an ability to live and work in harsh/difficult conditions.
  • Previous experience in insecure environments.
  • Must exhibit high levels of professionalism, integrity, and ethical values at all times.
  • Experience and good working knowledge of USAID, FCDO, NHF and other donors regulations is an advantage.
  • Ability to plan and prioritize own work under tight deadlines, as well as to work on own initiative and as a member of a team.
  • Experience in liaising with government officials, communities and other local partners, donors and other international agencies.
  • Ability to work remotely and follow an action plan
  • Ability to travel a minimum of 70% to hardship locations.

    Qualifications and requirements:

    • Degree in public health or recognized equivalent with 5 – 7 years’ experience in program management in the areas of Community Engagement in a humanitarian or development programme.
    • Or MS/MA degree in public health or recognized equivalent with 3 – 5 years’ experience in the program management in the areas of Community Engagement, PHC/Community health in a humanitarian or development programme
      • Familiarity with Nigerian public health sector systems and NGOs and CBOs is highly desirable.
      • Experience in running community-based programme and assessments.
      • Emergency response experience would be an advantage.

        Safeguarding:

        FHI 360 is committed to provide a safe environment for all employees, beneficiaries and anyone contracted by FHI 360. This Includes taking measures to protecting vulnerable people from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by either FHI 360 employees or associated personnel. FHI 360 abides by child safeguarding principles. FHI 360’s Safeguarding Policies apply and flow out to all FHI 360 staff, board members, volunteers, and partner staff (subcontractors, consultants, vendors, and sub-recipients), regardless of the funding mechanism or amount of contract, agreement, or purchase order.

        This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

        FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

        Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

        FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.
        
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