Community Liaison Officer at Life at Best Development Initiative - 2 Openings

Life at Best Development Initiative (LABDI) is a team of change-makers who believe that every helping hand can create a better future for survivors of wars. We started extending help to vulnerable children and women who were affected by the insurgency which began in Borno state, Nigeria, in 2009. This moment intensified when we found that there were many such vulnerable children, women, and households who needed help with food, shelter, and education. Our team expanded and we spread out into different parts of the BAY states to make sure we cover all possible areas and help as many children, women, and households as possible. We support children, families, and communities affected by insurgencies and natural disasters.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Community Liaison Officer

Locations:  Monguno and Bama, Borno
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Description
Under the leadership of the LABDI Community mobilizer coordinator, the Community Mobilization officer, and working with other team members, the post holder will:

• Provide day to day oversight and support towards implementation, monitoring and supervision of community mobilization activities across implementation LGAs and communities, in collaboration with project partners, government and community stakeholders against intended objectives, targets, and timelines.
• Contribute to the carrying out of formative research, baseline assessments, and community mapping, including development of evaluation protocols, tools, training, data collection.
• Support the development of an evidence-informed SBC strategy, approaches and activities to influence shifts in community norms, attitudes and behaviors in support of learning by households and communities, in close coordination with other technical team.
• Contribute to development of detailed implementation plans, work plans and budgets for partners and SC-supported SBC interventions. 
• Develop terms of reference, budgets and seek approval for upcoming activities
• Facilitate and maintain relationship with community leaders, community members and structures core groups and community focal persons; 
• Coordinate recruitment of community volunteers and facilitators in consultation with community leaders and LGA partners; 

Capacity Strengthening:

• Undertake field visits to partners and facilitators to oversee implementation, including provision of on-site feedback and supportive supervision on required improvements, and generate field visit reports with timely and appropriate follow-up on action points.
• Lead training of community volunteers and other relevant community partners, and ongoing capacity strengthening through mentoring and supportive supervision and encourage the development of peer networks and learning opportunities, including through review meetings.

Partner Management:

• Under the supervision of the Community Mobilization Coordinator, LABDI Consortium manager, liaise and maintain relationships with community communication partner, with whom the organization has joint ambition/plans/teaming agreement on the project and communication components for PLANE.
• Ensure that all supported project activities from Partners are appropriately planned and delivered, and report on progress monthly. 

Representation & Advocacy & Organizational Learning:

• Ensure that LABDI partner’s work is coordinated with other agencies and the Government's efforts and support Interagency Coordination forums, advocating for the specific needs of children. This may involve supporting coordination working groups within the project supported communities, LGAs and at the State level.
• In cooperation with advocacy and education team, ensure community-based and social accountability initiatives are linked with policy influencing.
• Contribute to communications and media work as required through collection of data and information and sharing with the team leads.
• In cooperation with the MEAL Team, support data quality assessments and support community volunteers to effectively document and report community mobilization activities using appropriate tools. 
• Support documentation and dissemination of programme results, including success stories and case studies in close coordination with LABDI Nigeria’s Knowledge Management and Media and Comms team.
• Support in sharing the PLANE experience and learning at stakeholder meetings, workshops, donors and other engagements as appropriate.

Safeguarding:

• Comply with LABDI policies and practices concerning safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.

Behaviours (Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling LABDI values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for LABDI, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined   risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

Qualifications

• Minimum of a BSc or its equivalent in Social or Behavioural Public Health, Education, Nutrition, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or related fields.
• At least three years experience implementing Community mobilization related interventions, monitoring, supervision and training. 
• Experience in planning and implementing participatory learning and community action approaches is an asset.
• Master trainer and a good facilitator
• Demonstrable report writing and presentation skills
• Ability to supervise and work collaboratively with community structures. 
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive, and empathize with all beneficiaries and their carers.
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment.
• Ability to work independently as well as in cooperation with a multi-cultural team.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically.
• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English and Local languages (Hausa);
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field;
• Commitment to and understanding of LABDI's aims, values, and principles. 
• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office)   

Desirable

• Ability to track and document success stories and case studies to demonstrate intervention impacts

Additional job responsibilities

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the LABDI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

• We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

• The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the LABDI anti-harassment policy.

Application Closing Date
11th December, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications (Letter of motivation and CV in a single PDF file) to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Note:

• LABDI has zero tolerance to sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), any act of child abuse including sexual exploitation and sexual abuse constitutes acts of serious misconduct and are therefore grounds for LABDI plenary measures, including summary dismissal.
• We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.