Governance Assistant at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

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: Governance Assistant

Requisition ID: req43574
Location: Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria
Sector: Governance
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No

Scope of Work

• The IRC is implementing a BHA (Integrated Emergency Assistance for Displaced Persons in MMC/Jere) Consortium Project, featuring the strengthening of community and government structures, capacity building, information dissemination, referral services and organizational development.
• The IRC will strengthen the capacities of government authorities, local organizations, partners, and local communities via this BHA Project funded by USAID. This project is to be implemented in the environs of MMC/Jere, Borno State. 
• Under the supervision of the Governance Officer, the Governance Assistant will together with other team members be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the BHA project in MMC and Jere.
• He/She will support the Governance Officers in implementing Governance projects and ensuring that projects run smoothly by providing technical support, training, and mentoring stakeholders both at government and community levels, and coordinating the implementation of project activities.
• He/She will support the Governance Officer in establishing and managing relationships with local partners, humanitarian actors, state authorities, beneficiaries and local/traditional leaders and contribute to the achievement of IRC Governance program and IRC SAP.

Major Responsibilities
Project planning and implementation:

• Assist Governance Officer in community entry in coordination with other sectors and partner within MMC/Jere
• Support Governance M&E Officer to ensure project quality; for example, strengthening data collection, reporting, accountability initiatives, and documenting the impact of IRC presence in the field.
• Ensure synergy and coordination of Governance programming with other IRC sectoral activities in Borno State, in close coordination and consultation with other Governance staff and other sectors.
• Contribute and support effective monitoring, evaluation and learning processes and initiatives, and ensure effective data and information management for the BHA project.
• Assist in carrying out major Capacity strengthening activities for and with community, Local government, and state government actors across all BHA outcome areas.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, capacity strengthening and mainstream governance approaches into all activities as appropriate.
• In close coordination with sectors, conduct Governance activity visits in target communities in MMC/Jere.
• Collaborate with the Consortium Community Volunteers (CV) and ensure effective CVs coordination in implementing Communities.
• Assist in establishing, overseeing, and ensuring the smooth running of Community Structures and their activities such as community dialogues and forums through community volunteers.

Administrative Support:

• Provide direct administrative support to the Governance team including photocopying, dissemination of documents, assisting the preparation of procurement-related documents, tracking purchase and payment requests, etc. 
• Collect information, compile data, produce reports, and organize files as requested Governance Officer.
• Support the development and maintenance of knowledge management systems for sharing information across the consortium, to other sectors within the IRC, and to external stakeholders.
• Coordinate with IRC HR and Logistics teams as necessary to organize travel and administrative needs.
• Carry out other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Governance Officer
  Position directly supervises: Community Volunteers.

Qualifications
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences, Economics, International Affairs or related field required.

Work Experience:

• At least 1 year of professional humanitarian/development experience; experience in Governance or Advocacy programming with focus on Stakeholder Engagements, Advocacy, Coordination and Capacity Strengthening highly desirable.
• Experience with community engagement and participatory processes, including previous facilitation of group work with relevant populations, active participant of sectoral/social groups, and experience with capacity building or training exercises.  
• Good communication skills (written and verbal), cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player. 
• Able to solve complex problems through a reciprocal and consultative approach.
• Ability to live and productively work under stress while maintaining a sense of humor.

Languages:

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
• Knowledge of one or more local languages is obligatory. 

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online