Community Engagement and Information Assistant at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to people affected by war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Community Engagement and Information Assistant

Requisition ID: req7087
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full-Time
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Sector: Protection and rule of law

Background
The International Rescue Committee has been in Nigeria since October 2012 and came in response to a widespread flood disaster. IRC’s Emergency Response Team, with local partner, Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication (CISCOPE), implemented projects to support food security, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH in Kogi State. Beginning of January 2014, IRC shifted geographical location to the North East, in Adamawa state to provide humanitarian response to the conflict-affected populations. In the North East, IRC has three operational offices: Yola and Mubi field offices in Adamawa state and Maiduguri field office in Borno state-with the latter office opened in October 2015. In both states, IRC is providing humanitarian support to internally displaced populations hosted in IDP camps, camp like settings, host communities and returnee populations. Both Adamawa and Borno states have a combined IDP population of 1,658,030 people.

The IRC Nigeria country program is implementing multi-sectoral interventions in the sectors of: Health and Nutrition; Environmental Health; Child Protection; Education; Women’s Protection and Empowerment; Food Security and Livelihoods and Protection. Most of these programs are driven in partnership with strategic local NGOs.

Scope of Work

• The IRC is implementing a protection program featuring strengthening of community based protection structures, capacity building, protection monitoring, information dissemination and referral services. The IRC is also building capacity of government authorities, local organizations and local communities around protection mainstreaming and protection monitoring. The protection program is currently implemented in the NE states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe
• Under the supervision of the Protection Officer, the Community Engagement and Information Assistant will work closely with the Protection Assistants to ensure the smooth implementation of protection programming in the areas of operation.
• The Community Engagement and Information Assistant will have the lead role of mobilizing local communities and conducting awareness raising sessions and other community engagement activities.
• The Community Engagement and Information will be the focal points in the establishment and oversight of community based feedback and complaint mechanisms in target communities.
• The Community Engagement and Information Assistant will be based in Maiduguri. S/he reports to the Protecttion Officer. 

Responsibilities

• Assist the Protection Officer in planning, coordination, execution and monitoring of the capacity building and information dissemination activities such as training, production of IEC materials, information dissemination planning etc.
• Take lead in mobilizing target communities for protection and other IRC related activities.
• Engage community members in design, planning, executing, and monitoring of community based protection activities.
• Work closely with other IRC staff to create awareness and conduct information dissemination activities.
• Participate in the design, planning, and execution of protection activities in the area of jurisdiction.
• In coordination with other Protection staff, take part in identification of new target locations.
• Participate in data collection, vulnerability screening and assessment such as community needs assessment including identification of beneficiaries in need of assistance.
• Be the link between IRC Protection staff and the target local communities.
• Establish, oversee and manage community feedback mechanisms in target locations.
• Hold community meetings with key stakeholders to identify community needs and concerns
• Take lead in budgeting of all community engagement related activities in consultation with the Protection Manager.
• Support Protection Officers in identifying and selecting most vulnerable individuals.
• Support referral process by notifying Protection Officers of key Protection issues and concerns identified in target areas.
• Establish good working relationship with relevant stakeholders such as camp officials, local community leaders, traditional leaders etc.
• Ensure that information collected on target beneficiaries is disaggregated by age and sex.
• Keep record of all community engagement activities implemented and relevant stakeholders in target communities.
• Ensure timely preparation of monthly work plans as well as preparation and submission of weekly and monthly reports.
• Attend regular internal Protection sector meetings.
• Carry out other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience

• University degree in Social Work, Psychology or a related field.
• 2 years’ experience implementing protection programming including experience in emergency or post-conflict project management
• Demonstrated experience using international human rights standards in protection programming
• Excellent communication skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
• Experience in using community based and participatory approaches.
• Experience in community mobilization and awareness creation.
• Experience in working in remote and hard to reach areas with limited amenities
• Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor.
• Must be female with knowledge of the local language (Kanuri and Hausa)

Standards of Professional Conduct:

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidate should:
Click here to apply online

Note: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.