Community Engagement and Information Assistant (Zamfara) at International Rescue Committee

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 refugees forced to flee from 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Community Engagement and Information Assistant

Requisition ID: req41345
Location: Zamfara, Nigeria
Employment Type: Full-Time
Employment Category: Regular
Sector: Protection and rule of law
Open to Expatriates: No

Project Overview

• The BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) project, Integrated Emergency Response to the Displaced Population in Zamfara, Sokoto, And Katsina States, Northwest Nigeria” depending on fund availability will be carried out by a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in collaboration with the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima), Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), and Life Helpers Initiative (LHI), aims to leverage each partner's expertise to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people populations through area-based approach.
• The Consortium partners will provide an integrated multisectoral intervention in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Protection, and Multi-purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) activities in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states in collaboration with state governments, UN organizations and other key actors in Northwest Nigeria. 
• The project will be implemented by a dedicated support, quality assurance, and coordination team, who will work closely with all partners through a management unit of well-structured consortium governance for the activity.

 Scope of Work

• The IRC is implementing a protection program featuring strengthening of community-based protection structures, capacity building, protection monitoring, information dissemination and referral services. The IRC will also build the capacity of government authorities, local organizations and local communities around protection mainstreaming and protection monitoring. The IRC will also include legal assistance and counselling services. The protection program is currently implemented in the NE States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe and Northwest States of Zamfara and Katsina. 
• Under the supervision of the Protection Officer, the Community Engagement and Protection Assistant will work closely with the Protection Officers, Legal Officers, Case management Officers and M&E officer to ensure the smooth implementation of protection programming in the areas of operation. The Community Engagement and Protection Assistant will have the lead role of mobilizing local communities and conducting awareness raising sessions and other community engagement activities. The Community Engagement and Protection Assistant will be the focal point in the establishment and oversight of community-based feedback and complaint mechanisms in target communities. 
• The Community Engagement and Protection Assistant will be based in Gusau. S/he reports to the Protection Officer.  

 Responsibilities

• Take lead in mobilizing target communities for protection and other IRC related activities.
• Engage community members in design, planning, executing, and monitoring of community-based protection activities.
• Work closely with other IRC staff to create awareness and conduct dissemination information activities.
• Participate in the design, planning, and execution of protection activities in jurisdiction.
• In coordination with other Protection staff, take part in identification of new target locations.
• Participate in data collection, vulnerability screening and assessment such as community needs assessment including identification of beneficiaries in need of assistance.
• Be the link between IRC Protection staff and the target local communities.
• Establish, oversee and manage community feedback mechanisms in target locations.
• Hold community meetings with key stakeholders to identify community needs and concerns
• Take lead in budgeting of all community engagement related activities in consultation with the Protection Manager.
• Identify and register extremely vulnerable individuals for targeted individual assistance in coordination with other Protection staff.
• Manage targeted individual assistance cases, including maintaining strict protocols for confidentiality and update case files, following IRC SOPs and ensuring beneficiaries’ information is protected. 
• Carry out needs assessment to understand EVI needs and ascertain what assistance they require
• Develop TIA distribution, implementation and follow up plans and ensure that EVIs selected for TIA receive appropriate assistance.
• Conduct follow-up visits to ensure that needs of EVIs have been met in an appropriate manner and beneficiary can provide feedback on the TIA received.
• Act as focal point for the identification of extremely vulnerable individuals (EVIs) for adequate assistance according to IRC Protection sector pre-defined criteria.  
• Conduct general (community-level) and incident (individual-level) protection monitoring to identify vulnerabilities, protection needs and concerns of the targeted population.
• Support Protection Officers in identifying and selecting most vulnerable individuals.
• Support referral process by notifying Protection Officers of key Protection issues and concerns identified in target areas.
• Establish good working relationship with relevant stakeholders such as camp officials, local community leaders, traditional leaders etc.
• Ensure that information collected on target beneficiaries is disaggregated by age and sex.
• Keep record of all community engagement activities implemented and relevant stakeholders in target communities.
• Ensure timely preparation of monthly work plans as well as preparation and submission of weekly and monthly reports. 
• Ensure to attend regular internal Protection sector meetings.
• Carry out other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

• University Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or a related field.
• 2 years’ experience implementing protection programming including experience in emergency or post-conflict project management.
• Demonstrated experience using international human rights standards in protection programming.
• Excellent communication skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
• Experience in using community based and participatory approaches.
• Experience in community mobilization and awareness creation.
• Experience in working in remote and hard to reach areas with limited amenities.
• Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor.

 Languages:

• Fluency in English and other languages desirable. 
• Knowledge of the local language will be an added value.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
•  Ability to Travel: 50% of time if applicable.

 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.

 Working Environment:

• IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants based on 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.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.