Program Officer at Learning Through Skills Acquisition Initiative (LETSAI)

Learning Through Skills Acquisition Initiative (LETSAI) is a non-for – profit, non-governmental and charity organization was established in June 2015. With the mission to offer literacy and social awareness, self-reliance and self-supported Community, community health and wealth liberation, Leadership development, Relief and Rehabilitation, Empowering women and encouraging gender equality. With the vision to create a new world where there is no caste, creed, race, patriarchy, Religion discrimination but only humanitarian ship and equality between genders. The Organization particularly targets vulnerable adolescent girls and boys, adult men and women, children and Geriatrics in other words the most vulnerable members of the society.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Officer

Requisition ID: LTS/CBM/BOR/22/PRO
Location: Maiduguri, Borno (with frequent visits to field locations)
Project Duration: 1 year

Project Scope

• This project will directly target persons with disabilities, their family members and other community structures, the state and local government ministries, departments and agencies, Civil Society Organizations including Organization of People with Disabilities (OPDs), Women and girls, Community Health Workers and community members in Dikwa, Borno state.
• The objective of the project is to promote the well-being of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups through improved access to affordable, right-based and sustainable basic packages of sexual and reproductive health and livelihood services in Borno State.

Roles and Key Responsibilities
In Collaboration with LETSAI Staff Field Team and Other Stakeholders of PWD/GBV Specialists, the PWD/GBV Coordinator will be responsible for the following:

Support in Program Design, Development and Implementation:

• To support in leading rapid need assessment and accessibility audit in selected health facilities for improved services delivery;  in project target areas.
• Leads the preparation of ongoing situation reports, periodic updates and analyses, by compiling and analyzing data, and related information in overall IDP and Host communities, with a specific focus on persons with disability/GBV, and prepare written inputs accordingly to inform effective program planning, development and management.
• Support efforts to ensure gender/sex/PWD disaggregated data and inputs relevant to LETSAI program are collected, analyzed and reported on in a regular manner.
• Undertakes field visits to project areas, to assess local conditions and monitor progress. Establishes contact with community groups and partners to keep abreast of emergency situation.
• Collect information, identify problems and constraints in order to ensure effective project delivery.
• Design, prepare, monitor and evaluate projects in partnership with the community structures, the state and local government ministries, departments and agencies, Civil Society Organizations including Organization of People with Disabilities (OPDs), Women and girls, Community Health Workers and community members.
• Establish effective leadership for the GBV sub-working groups and OPDs, map existing activities and undertake protection gap analysis, support the elaboration of Standard Operation Procedures and standardized tools, promote data collection and management, build capacity of LETSAI staff.
• To provide timely feedback on the ongoing activities and propose amendments as needed and way forward/mitigation measures to challenges faced;
• To contribute to proposal development (narrative and budget) by providing relevant inputs on GBV/PWD related aspects in close coordination with the technical unit and project management team as well as engaging in resource mobilization efforts to support joint programming;
• To contribute to the development of the PWDs/GBV program strategic direction for responding to the needs of women, girls, boys and men;
• To provide technical support to revise and develop contextualized training and IEC materials and coordinate/facilitate the use of these materials during training and community awareness sessions on PWDs/GBV;
• Supervise the Village Economic and Social Association (VESA) activities from inception to graduation of beneficiaries;
• Work together with Mentally Aware Initiative in the identification of health facilities for counselling and psychosocial support to persons with disability;
• To perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop Plan programs;

Monitoring, Implementation and Reporting:

• To work closely with LETSAI MEAL Unit to ensure that implementation and monitoring of activities are implemented in a coordinated and phased manner, in accordance with agreed guide lines, best practices and policy;
• To ensure that ethical, confidential and sound data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate PWD/GBV analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy;
• To identify and raise technical challenges staffs face in the delivery of GBV/PWD relevant activities and services and propose tools and mechanisms to overcome them in a timely manner;
• To lead the development and facilitation of trainings/workshops as well as Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and reporting systems and approaches focusing on people with disability and GBV related topics;
• As required, to provide technical support through developing sessions to support the implementation of the project’s activities including adaptation and upgrading of GBV/PWD evidence-based tools and systems;
• To lead and support the development of M&E Framework and monitoring & evaluation plan for PWD/GBV related activities and indicators and ensure adherence to the plans and systems;
• To support and monitor the referrals of cases as per the inter agency SOPs and referral pathways;
• To plan and undertake regular monitoring visits and meetings with relevant stakeholders in the targeted areas in assessing the protection trends, patterns and advise on the prevention and response strategies;
• To support the analysis and reporting on programme and project progress and trends in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems; identify constraints and resource deficiencies, and recommend corrective action;
• To coordinate and support timely delivery of quality project and financial reporting and ensures adequacy with finance and activities;
• To provide inputs and consolidate weekly, monthly and quarterly progress reports on the protection related activities, training and meetings and contribute high-quality LETSAI and donor reports on activities, indicators and achievements, as well as best practices and lessons learned;
• To maintain effective and efficient oversight, quality control and reporting systems and processes that ensure regular field monitoring and modifications as required.

Coordination and Communication:

• To attend regular calls, meetings, etc. as required by LETSAI;
• To coordinate with the Communication and Advocacy officer to ensure that all media related activities are in line with the Do No Harm approach and interagency guidelines and to support resource mobilization efforts by contributing to proposal preparation and development of communication and advocacy materials and related engagements;
• Through advocacy and policy dialogue, including through GBV, Protection coordination frameworks, OPD meetings. Work to facilitate the understanding of the importance of addressing issues indicate above by all stakeholders, including through national and local level planning and investment frameworks.
• Promote knowledge management including through drafting/finalizing inputs into LETSAI Protection programme documents and reports, including donor reports, sharing good practices, lessons learned, and knowledge/information exchange with all partners on response, and harnessing knowledge institutions resources and partnerships as appropriate.
• Build and maintain for overall project tasks on planning, budgeting, and staffing requirements on achievement by Ensuring project goals and Outputs achieved and met
• To share relevant information with the teams in accordance with confidentiality regulations and policies; establishing and supporting the development and revision of the proper and sound documentation and data filing system;
• To regularly attend relevant meetings, Case Management meetings at appropriate levels to contribute to the coordinate of case management responses across agencies at field level;
• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors (if required), government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• In line with PWDs and GBV SOP for Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Gender based Violence in Emergencies, consolidate existing assessments on the GBV situation and/or work with relevant agencies and the displaced and host populations to conduct relevant participatory analyses of GBV.

Human Resources – Staff Supervision and Development:

• To maintain open and professional relations with all the team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions and different task assigned to them;
• To ensure that all LETSAI policies are upheld including Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings, GBV Case Management Standard Operating Procedure and Core Humanitarian Standards Grant Planning & Implementation etc.;
• Ensure timely completion and submission of regular program and staff reporting and annual performance reviews, as appropriate
• Submission of field visit reports.

Technical Qualification and Expertise Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Social Work, Social Sciences, Psychology, Public / Community Health, Human Rights or another related field;
• Minimum of 5 years (GBV And PWD) of progressively responsible experience in implementing Gender Based Violence and/or Women´s Empowerment and/or, preferable social work and/or case management in humanitarian, post-conflict recovery and/or development settings;
• Sound knowledge of gender issues in humanitarian and/or development settings, particularly GBV, including relevant international human rights, principles and established international standards (ex: GBVIMS, SGBV, etc.);
• Sound knowledge of Village Economic and Social Associations (VESA) is an added advantage;
• At least 2 years of direct experience in working with and providing services to people with disability at risk of abuse, exploitation and violence, providing gender-sensitive, and/or developing/implementing referral pathways and case management systems;
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building trainings
• Previous experience in emergency preparedness and response as well as prior trainings in gender and GBV /PWD issues and their application in humanitarian, conflict, recovery and development settings;
• Experience working with case files and databases and providing regular documentation preferred
• Strong understanding of gender and ability to engage on gender equality issues;
• Good Experience in utilizing internationals tools such as: GBV Standard Operating Procedures; GBV Information Management System; IASC GBV Guidelines; IASC Gender Handbook; GBV Coordination Handbook; Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Sexual Violence in Emergencies;
• Prior experience in counselling and psychosocial support will be an asset;
• Experience in developing methods, tools and programs/interventions in collaboration with government agencies, civil society, and private organizations/institutions.
• Experience of conducting assessments in emergency contexts.
• Experience of training on relevant technical areas with a variety of audiences.
• Experience of multiple managing grants and donor’ reporting requirements

Skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with very good command of spoken and written English, Hausa & Kanuri;
• Excellent interpersonal qualities and the ability to work with people from a range of backgrounds, promote teamwork, flexible and able to handle pressure and conflict well in a calm and constructive manner;
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision from Executive Director and under pressure with competing priorities and deadlines and communicate clearly and effectively at all levels;
• Excellent negotiation, representation, and facilitation skills and the ability to work comfortably in a very sensitive environment;
• Strong organizational and work prioritization skills and attention to detail;
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively.
• Behaviors (LETSAI’s Values in Practice)
• Strong commitment and adherence to humanitarian values and standards;
• Focused and striving for the delivery of programme;
• Cross-culturally agile;
• Aware of own strengths, weaknesses and pro-active in using feedback and self-development;
• Aware of impact on others and uses impact to create positive climate at work;
• Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to LETSAI’s core values and humanitarian principles;
• Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable, and resilient manner;
• Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessments particularly in high-stress contexts and situations;
• Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive under pressure.
• Preparedness to work in uncertain security environments

Standards of Professional Conduct

• LETSAI and LETSAI workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the LETSAI Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.
• In accordance with these values, LETSAI 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:

• LETSAI 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 allowance.

Benefits
Salary and employee benefits are compliant to the Nigerian NGO Sector.

Application Closing Date
23rd September, 2022.