Community Liaison Assistant at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and nonchurch partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS has worked in Nigeria for more than 25 years.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Community Liaison Assistant

Job Reference Code: CLT12320
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Department: Emergency Programs
Position Band: 3
Reports To: Community Liaison Officer

Project Background

• NE Nigeria has been severely affected by insurgency led by armed opposition groups (AOGs) since 2009 and has been declared to be in a “state of emergency” since 2013. As clashes between Nigerian security forces and AOGs persist into its tenth year, over 2 million individuals remain displaced across the six Northeastern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe.  Pockets of relative stability have encouraged some households (HHs) to return to their places of origin, yet they remain vulnerable and precariously sensitive to the changing contexts. Additionally, the prolonged conflict has eroded economic and livelihood opportunities of vulnerable HHs who struggle with limited incomes and purchasing power.
• Since 2016, CRS Nigeria has responded to critical WASH, shelter, food security and nutrition needs in both Yobe and Borno States, including through four phases of the USAID office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) funded Emergency Food Assistance for Conflict Affected HHs (FFP/EFSP) project. During an anticipated 12-month fifth phase of the project, CRS will scale-up lifesaving support to a total of 15,900 HHs, or 95,400 individuals. CRS’ goal is to improve food security for vulnerable HHs in conflict-affected areas through e-vouchers for food.
• CRS is looking for a strong candidate to work as a Community Liaison Assistant (CLA) on the project team. She/he will be based in Maduguri, and primarily responsible for activities conducted inGubio, Magumeri, Kaga and Jere LGAs in Borno state Local Government Area (LGA), barring significant changes in security dynamics.

Job Summary

• You will assist emergency programming field activities by working directly with local partners and community membersin support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work to serve the poor and vulnerable.
• Your service and community interpersonal skills contribute to projects that benefit local communities that consistently applies best practices and continuously works towards improving its impact.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Support programming activities at the field level, including beneficiary identification and verification; cash, voucher, and in-kind distributions; and post-distribution interviews contributing to ensuring quality implementation.
• Foster an environment that supports community involvement and ownership, and sense of control over knowledge and information being imparted to them.
• Provide community members with opportunities to express their concerns and raise issues with field staff.
• Establish and maintain an effective relationship between the local community and the CRS staff including community mobilizers.
• Contribute to ensuring accountability to project beneficiaries and local stakeholders
• Support community mobilization efforts through communication and information sharing with project beneficiaries at the community level.
• In coordination with the project team support capacity building events for community volunteers.  
• Liaise with community members including beneficiaries, community leaders and local government representatives and dignitaries as required.
• Liaise with leaders and other key stakeholders to gather information on humanitarian situation and community needs and to keep the community updated about CRS’s vision, mission and activities

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Sociology, Communication or related fields
• Minimum 2 years work experience in supporting community development and mobilization.
• Well-developed knowledge of local community cultures, leaders, customs and practices through prior involvement in the community can account for lack of work experience.
• Proficient in the operation of computers and knowledge of business support software including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal and communication skills.

Required Languages:

• Hausa, Kanuri and English

Travel:

• Must be willing and able to travel about 60% of the time, including in Gubio, Magumeri, Kaga and Jere LGAs in Borno state.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Observation and active listening skills
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff) 
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• Integrity 
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships 
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Key Working Relationships: 

• Internal: Emergency Coordinator, PMs, Emergency MEAL Coordinator, MEAL Officers, Operations team, Security Coordinator, Project Officers,
• External: UN Agencies, IOM, Partner Agencies, Local Partners, NEMA, JDPC, NEYIF, SEMA, Community mobilizers, enumerators, etc.

Application Closing Date
25th March, 2020.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should download the "CRS Application Form" using the link below, fill and send with a detailed Resume as one document (in a PDF Format) indicating "Position" being applied for and the Job Ref Code as the subject of the application (e.g. Community Liaison Assistant , CLT12320 ) to: [email protected]

Click here to Download Application Form (Drop-box)

Click Here for Job Details (Drop-box)