RH Community Mobilization Assistant at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world's leading crisis response agencies, providing life-saving assistance and supporting recovery and reconstruction for people affected by war and natural disasters. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women's empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: RH Community Mobilization Assistant

Requisition ID: req5902
Location: Monguno, Borno
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No
Sector: Health

Background/IRC Summary

• 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

Job Overview/Summary
The community Mobilization assistant’s is responsible for the following major roles:

• The implementation of educational and promotional activities as well as conducting all community awareness / mobilization activities related to Reproductive Health (RH) for women, girls, men and boys in Gwoza/Monguno LGA of Borno State.
• He / she will supervise a network of community volunteers and traditional birth attendants and work closely with the other members of the reproductive health and GBV team.
• Design and lead efforts to improve community awareness and acceptance of reproductive health services. Implement community mobilization efforts to improve women, girls, men and boys’ access to and use of reproductive health services.

Major Responsibilities
Under the technical supervision of Reproductive Health officer- Community Mobilization and the direct supervision of the CWC Integration Officer the responsibilities of the Community Mobilizer includes but are not limited to the following:

Community Activities:

• Conducts assessments and surveys in the community to identify trends and needs
• Participation in the design, plan and input to the work-plans, based on identified trends and needs.
• Implementation of community mobilization activities to specifically access “hard to reach” and vulnerable beneficiaries.
• Organize culturally sensitive educational and promotional activities to raise awareness on RH topics/services, including:
  • Family Planning
  • Mother and Neonatal health, Antenatal Care, and Postnatal Care ,
  • Awareness of STIs and infection prevention
  • Referral and guidance for survivors of sexual assault.
• Contribute to the development of a variety of health education material and tools to fit the context.
• Mobilize the community, women and girls, women’s groups, community groups etc. to increase RH awareness and service utilization, together with RH and GBV teams.
• Liaise with midwives and community health workers to track and monitor women/clients targeted by the program.
• Ensure the safe and confidential referral of identified survivors of sexual assault to GBV services.
• Organize meetings with community representatives, and target groups as needed.
• Engage community leaders, stake holders and influential members of the community in creating awareness and community support for Reproductive Health.
• Participate in the recruitment of community health volunteers, traditional birth attendants, Peer educators and Men champions
• Training of community health volunteers, Traditional birth attendants, Peer Educators and Men champions on RH topics/service promotion, hygiene promotion, waste management, infection prevention etc.
• Supervise community volunteers and traditional birth attendants during planned community activities.
• Participate in community workshops, meetings or any discussions on reproductive health.
• Participate in the development and translation of all messages in the most appropriate language.
• Active participation in the regular RH/WPE meetings.
• Coordinating and implanting Community Mobilization activities in work locations
• Identify advocacy concerns, Initiate and coordinate advocacy actions
• Liaise with community leaders, community health workers, government agencies, IRC sectors, Partners to organize training and capacity building on RH services
• Communicate all obstacles/Problems to respective supervisor for further action.
• Follow-up on training/sensitization/meetings conducted to ensure implementation of plans

Monitoring Responsibilities:

• Keep record of all the health education/promotional sessions (disaggregated by gender/ age/ IDP/Host etc).
• Compile weekly summary of community mobilization activities
• Responsible for compiling timely monthly community mobilization activity reports and data compilation.

Other Duties:

• Ensure that all distribution of community mobilization items are done in a timely manner according to distribution plan with relevant supporting documentations
• Keep a record of distributed/used materials and provides a monthly stock report.
• Any other assigned task by supervisors

Confidentiality:

• Ensure non-disclosure of any information whatsoever about practices and IRC activities to any other person or organization without permission, except in the normal performance of the service

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: CWC Integration Officer
• Position directly supervises: Community Volunteers and Traditional Birth Attendants
• Indirect Reporting: RH Community Mobilization Officer

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

• Internal: WPE Community Mobilizers, Case Workers and Midwives
• External: Community Leaders/Stakeholders

Qualifications

• Education: Qualified Health Educator, Nurse or midwife, Community Health Extension Worker

Work Experience:

• University Degree or Higher Diploma in Health Education, Social Sciences, Nursing or Community Health.
• Or Secondary Certificate with at least a minimum of four years of experience working with local communities.
• At least 2 years’ experience working in a health education/promotion and community project, with displaced population is a plus.
• Familiarity with the local context: language, culture, etc.
• Sensitivity and diplomacy to provide education on a variety of sensitive RH topics

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Good communication skills
• Basic computer Literacy: Word and Excel
• Ability to work in an environment with limited resources with poor living conditions and difficult situations
• Able to work remains productive in a team and under difficult and high pressure situations with the ability to prioritize effectively, and respects and adheres to deadlines

Language Skills:

• Spoken and written English and local language (Hausa, Kanuri, Shuwa, Fulfulde, Gwoza)

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.

Gender Equality:

• IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates 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, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.