Project Officer Social Cohesion at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary: 

You will provide leadership and guidance to JDPC on the establishment of area-based committees (ABC) in each DRIVE community and oversee the development of capacity strengthening activities by DRIVE sector teams for ABC members. Your team will also support JDPC to organize and oversee the holding of monthly planning and review meetings with ABCs and DRIVE leadership. In coordination with the DRR team in DRIVE, you will engage ABCs in the identification and implementation of project activities that can build long term, interdependent relationships within and across the communities. Your team will also support JDPC to ensure effective integration of social cohesion capacity building into all DRIVE sector activities, including organizing and conduct training in trauma awareness and social cohesion for community level stakeholders and DRIVE program functional groups (SILC groups, DRR committees etc.). In coordination with the SPO Government Liaison you will support capacity building on social cohesion and trauma awareness for BSG and LGA level stakeholders as requires. You will also support JDPC to facilitate engagement by the ABCs with LGA and BSG level officials in the planning, implementation and close out planning for DRIVE.

Under the direction of the SPO Social Cohesion, you will serve as the focal point for community engagement and entry in the DRIVE target communities. You will support the DRIVE team in JDPC to establish and maintain relationships with community members and local leaders and monitor and report on all project activities. You will contribute to the capacity building of the JDPC DRIVE team on social cohesion and trauma awareness training. You will support and co-facilitate training and ToTs on social cohesion for program staff, 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support JDPC in the coordination and implementation of all assigned community level engagement activities in the Jere communities as outlined in the DRIVE DIP.
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist JDPC in their efforts to reflect on project experiences related to community engagement.
• Support the SPO Government Liaison in facilitating engagement between community level stakeholders and LGA and State level stakeholders.
• Work with JDPC and sector team leads to plan, schedule and implement a program of training for DRIVE field-based staff, community stakeholders, ABC members on trauma awareness and social cohesion. 
• Plan and facilitate training and ToT events for DRIVE sector staff on social cohesion and trauma awareness. 
• Ensure that feedback on DRIVE from community level stakeholders is systematically collected and shared with DRIVE program leadership.
• Lead JFPC in the mobilization, formation and capacity development of the DRIVE ABCs. Work with the JDPC DRIVE team to develop capacity development plans for committee members to strengthen their participation in planning, organizing, overseeing and monitoring and providing feedback to strengthen implementation of DRIVE sector activities.
• Set up and facilitate the ABCs to conduct an agreed schedule of monthly meetings with DRIVE program sector leadership. Ensure that JDPC circulates the agenda, action points and concerns from the meetings to senior management and documents follow up action and reporting back to committees.
• Coordinate communication and facilitate information sharing between the DRIVE project teams and project beneficiaries at the community level in the target communities of MMC/ Jere. Assist JDPC in strengthening the community interest, involvement and support networks.
• Support JDPC to liaise with various community level stakeholders in the DRIVE communities and mobilize them to ensure full involvement of community leaders, community representatives, and local government representatives in the overall implementation and improvement of project activities.
• Support the DRIVE field teams to identify community entry points, potential conflict triggers related to program activities and devise mitigating measures where needed.
• Build capacity among CRS and JDPC partner staff in community engagement and effective communication techniques for trust and relationship building.
• In coordination with the project team support capacity building events for community representatives. 
• Compile data provided at the community level as per project requirements and contribute to the preparation of reports.
• Support JDPC to develop and maintain a directory of community stakeholders directory to include but not limited to key contacts in the community, ABC members, CBOs and LGA officials. 

Required Languages: English, Hausa and Kanuri are essential. Proficiency in another language used in MMC/Jere, such as Shuwa Arabic or Fulani is desirable

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 60% of the time to field locations throughout the work week.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (SKAs) 

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Good knowledge of local and state government structures, practices and protocols
• Detailed knowledge of local community cultures, leaders, customs and practices in MMC/Jere. 
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Basic Qualifications

• Secondary School diploma required. Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Minimum three to five years’ experience working in project support and community engagement in Northeast Nigeria.
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills.
• Skills and experience in training and facilitating training on social cohesion and trauma awareness at community level.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to organize and prioritize a variety of initiatives
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.