Jhpiego, an Affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, is a global leader in improving healthcare services for women and their families.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Community Engagement Officer
Job ID: 2025-7108 Locations: Anambra, Abakaliki - Ebonyi, Kwara and Gombe
Category: International Positions
Employment Status: Full-Time
Overview
Jhpiego is seeking a Community Engagement Officer to lead demand generation and community mobilization efforts for integrated health services, including Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and communicable diseases (e.g., HIV, TB, malaria).
The officer will coordinate with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), community leaders, and other stakeholders to strengthen community participation, increase service uptake, and ensure culturally appropriate and rights-based approaches to health promotion.
This role requires a culturally competent professional who can navigate complex social dynamics around sensitive health issues while advocating for improved health outcomes and rights-based approaches within Nigeria's diverse community contexts.
Responsibilities
Integrated Community Mobilization and Rights Advocacy:
Design and implement comprehensive community engagement strategies that integrate SRHR and communicable disease programming while promoting human rights principles
Lead demand generation campaigns using interpersonal communication, community dialogues, and mass media to address the integration of SRHR and communicable activities
Mobilize community influencers, youth groups, women’s associations, and traditional leaders to support health initiatives and address stigma and discrimination related to SRHR and communicable diseases
Advocate for community ownership of integrated health programs while promoting dignity and non-discrimination
CSO Coordination & Capacity Building:
Coordinate and support CSOs and community-based organisations (CBOs) involved in health service delivery and advocacy.
Facilitate training, mentoring, and joint planning sessions with CSOs to enhance their capacity in community mobilization and health promotion.
Monitor CSO activities and ensure alignment with project goals and standards.
Multi-Stakeholder Relationship Building:
Represent Jhpiego in community-level forums and technical working groups.
Engage with local government authorities, ward development committees, school-based management committees, community health insurance schemes, religious institutions, and community gatekeepers to foster enabling environments for SRHR and communicable disease interventions.
Foster relationships with community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and civil society groups working on health and human rights
Facilitate regular multi-stakeholder meetings that promote inclusive participation and shared decision-making at the community level
Integrated Health System Strengthening:
Support training and capacity building of community-based and civil society organizations.
Facilitate community-facility linkages for SRHR and communicable diseases planning services
Promote community ownership of health programs through participatory planning and implementation
Support the establishment and strengthening of community health committees with representation from diverse groups
Encourage community feedback mechanisms and accountability systems for health service quality.
Community Data Collection & Participatory Monitoring:
Support the collection of community-level data on SRHR and communicable disease health service access, quality, and community perceptions
Track and report on community engagement activities, challenges, and success stories across integrated programming
Support community-led advocacy initiatives based on locally identified priorities and concerns and facilitate community feedback sessions to program management
Work closely with the SRHR Technical Advisor and consortium partners to ensure community-level data informs program improvement.
Contribute to the development of success stories, case studies, and learning briefs.
Required Qualifications
A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Community Development, Public Health, Human Rights, Sociology, or related field
Additional certificates in community mobilization, human rights advocacy, SRHR programming, or communicable disease prevention preferred
Training in participatory approaches, conflict resolution, or gender transformative programming is an added advantage
Minimum 5 years of experience in community engagement, preferably in integrated SRHR health programming, health promotion or social mobilization
Strong understanding of human rights principles and rights-based programming approaches
Proven experience working with CSOs, community structures, and local government
Strong facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills
Fluency in English (written and verbal) – essential
Working Knowledge of the language of any of the locations is an asset.
Working Conditions
Primarily field-based position with minimal office time (85% field work)
Extensive travel within assigned communities, including remote and difficult-to-access areas
May require overnight stays in rural communities during intensive program implementation and supportive supervisory visits.