Shelter / NFI Assistant at Smiling Hearts Initiatives International

Smiling Hearts initiatives international is a humanitarian non-governmental, non profit organization founded in Nigeria, Borno state Maiduguri and has been in operation since 2016 as Zumunchi Hearts Initiatives International before its official registration with CAC on 10th October 2018 as Smiling Hearts Initiatives International.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Shelter / NFI Assistant

Location: Borno

Job Description

• SHI teams are passionately committed to supporting vulnerable communities worldwide, partnering with them to build brighter futures by delivering aid tailored to their specific needs.
• Our approach is both local and global, multidisciplinary, and context-specific, bridging the gap between Emergency, Rehabilitation, and Development. This ensures that interventions during crises are not only effective but sustainable.
• Through long-term support staying present in post-emergency settings and engaging local communities—SHI breaks the cycle of poverty and fosters societal progress.
• Our focus areas include Education, Protection, WASH, CCCM Shelter/NFI, Health and Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, working diligently to enhance the quality of life across regions we serve.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Project Officers in developing and implementing SHI Shelter/NFI response options, including emergency, transitional and durable solutions.
• Contribute to improving Standard Operating Procedures for various Shelter/NFI activities, with a focus on integrating crosscutting issues, mainstreaming of gender and accountability to affected populations (AAP), gender-based violence and disability inclusion throughout the project cycle.
• Focus on integrating AAP and community participation in all project cycles, including by developing, adapting or improving tools and guidance, such as Focus Group Discussions tools, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and other approaches. Support and coach field teams in incorporating these in the project, and analyse the results to inform project choices.
• Provide inputs for proposals, reports and sitreps of Shelter/NFI activities for both internal and external audiences as requested by the programme manager and project officers ensuring all programme aspects are adequately capturing AAP, gender, disability inclusion and GBV risk mitigation as applicable.
• Contribute to updating project progress trackers and monitoring tools.
• Conduct site assessments and support SHI Site Planners to develop site plans in close coordination with Shelter/NFI officers, as well as the relevant Sector coordination teams and/or partner organizations, for both new sites, site extensions, consolidation and improvement, contingency plans for population flux, as well as durable settlements.
• Supervised and report construction works with frequent visit to the site and participate in coordination meetings. 
• Support in the development or update of architectural designs and BOQs for project activities, and to conduct research on innovative materials and construction techniques, including prototyping of new solutions.
• Review the lessons learned on the shelter improvements project and develop a scale-up strategy in collaboration with relevant units such as CCCM, WASH and MHPSS/Protection.
• Assist the Project Officers in monitoring the delivery of Shelter/NFI project targets, highlight challenges and provide recommendations to the management.
• Contribute to needs assessments/post distribution monitoring (PDM) related to Shelter/NFI response and support the analysis of data from assessments and PDM evaluations to guide programming choices.
• Undertake duty travel relating to project monitoring, coordination, assessments and liaison with counterparts.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the supervisors.

Specific Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or related field.
• At least 3 years of working experience with the communities in Borno State.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills
• Fluency in local language Kanuri, Hausa and Shuwa both written and verbal.

Application Closing Date
8th November, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online