Community Engagement and Accountability Officer

P.S: Please ensure that you fill in all details before submitting your application. Empty and incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Background

NRC has provided first-line humanitarian response since 2021 with multisector activities in shelter, education, livelihoods and food security, and information, counselling and legal assistance. Our focus is on supporting people in hard-to-reach areas, working in partnership with authorities and local actors. We are piloting cash-based interventions with displaced populations living in host communities. NRC offers a comprehensive response for returnees and IDPs of high need, addressing their food security, livelihood, shelter, education, ICLA, and water, hygiene and sanitation needs and also responding to emergencies through NRC’s six core competencies; Shelter, Education, Livelihoods and Food Security, WASH and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) and Protection from Violence.

NRC Somalia is part of NRC’s East & South Africa regional operation which comprises of large-scale multi-country humanitarian and early recovery interventions spread across Ten countries (Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan and Mozambique).  NRC’s overall strategy in the region is to enhance protection and promote the rights of displaced people in humanitarian need by improving living conditions and seeking durable solutions. The regional office is based in Nairobi and works with country programmes to ensure standardization of programmatic and operational approaches, promote multi-country programming and ensure quality and coordination.

Role and Responsibilities

The Community Engagement and Accountability Officer contributes to accountability to affected population, quality programming and organisational learning through effective communication, community engagement, collaboration, and mutual accountability with stakeholders, particularly within the NRC-served community in Galmudug. The role is essential for ensuring that interventions are responsive, inclusive, and ultimately beneficial to the communities. S/he will work with the management and the program teams to establish and sustain partnerships with target communities, government entities, private sectors, and other relevant project stakeholders.

Generic responsibilities

• Adherence to NRC policies, guidance, and procedures.
• In coordination with the field coordinator represent NRC in all relevant meetings in to ensure effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders.
• Enhance community engagement through active participation, information dissemination, and establishing robust feedback mechanisms for project improvement.
• Ensure that projects target beneficiaries most in need and explore and assess new and better ways to reach them effectively.
• Promote the rights of displacement-affected population in line with the humanitarian standards and the advocacy strategy.
• Contribute to NRC's strategic and programmatic planning, including the development of community engagement and accountability initiatives.
• Ensure NRC’s related activities are implemented in accordance with NRC Safe and Inclusive Programming (SIP) guidelines.
• Report any breaches/concerns, in a confidential manner, through NRC SCO reporting channels.
• Promote and secure a safe working environment for reporting concerns/breaches, and that all cases reported are processed in a confidential and sensitive manner.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Provide regular briefings and updates about the situation of the area, keeping the area management informed and aware of developments.
• Provide context analyses and stakeholders mapping identifying key actors and dynamics for informed decision-making.
• Conduct the mapping of the services available within the geographical area of responsibility, both internally and externally. 
• Ensure assessments are transparent and participatory, and capture a thorough understanding of the context, peoples’ needs and priorities, and most appropriate approaches for community engagement.
• Enable active community participation in managing and guiding programmes and responses.
• Ensure programme and response evaluations involve communities, including asking if they are satisfied with the programme or response, how it was delivered, and what could be improved.
• Ensure programmes and responses are designed with the involvement and input of community members, including men, women, boys, girls, and any marginalized or at-risk groups.
• Support the program team in implementing project activities by coordinating access to the community.
• Regularly share information about the programme or response with community members, using the best approaches to reach different groups.
• Support in collecting information and reports from program areas, analyzing them to assess progress, challenges, lessons, and best practices for decision-making in subsequent program activities.
• Contribute to building awareness on the knowledge of the CFM with programme and support teams in the country office and area offices, as well as among partner organizations.
• Raise awareness of complaint mechanisms among beneficiaries, target communities, and external stakeholders to ensure transparency and responsiveness.
• Receive complaints and feedback from project participants on NRC feedback channels; logging and entering data in the database, acting, and following up on each case according to the SOPs.
• Monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of the CFM, the level of satisfaction of users, and other aspects according to the SOP.
• Ensure feedback, community perceptions and insights are regularly analysed and used to inform changes and improvements to the programme/response.
• Support the development of awareness-raising materials on the CFM/CEA for distribution among project participants and target groups.
• Support programmes and operations to update information shared with communities regularly, based on the beliefs, fears, rumour, questions, and suggestions in communities.
• Work with communities to identify community-led solutions to address challenges, improve behaviours and/or reduce the spread of infection.
• Review and validate monitoring and accountability activity findings with relevant stakeholders, providing insights to enhance the quality of assessments and activities.
• Undertake any other additional duties at the request of the program.

Professional competencies

Generic professional competencies

• A university degree in a relevant area such as community engagement, community development, social and behaviour change communication, sociology, anthropology, health education, or relevant work experience.
• At least  Two to three years’ experience working in community engagement and accountability for a humanitarian or development organization.
• Experience of designing and implementing/implementing CEA approaches, including community feedback mechanisms, tools for communicating with communities (radio, social media, social mobilization) and participatory planning processes.
• Experience in planning and implementing targeted and appropriate behavior change or risk communication approaches and activities.
• Experience of designing and delivering trainings and building the capacity of staff and none-staff
• Experience of planning and implementing CEA approaches within and emergency response
• Experience of designing and implementing/supporting assessments, community consultations, research and/or focus groups discussions
• Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian standards, and principals of accountability to affected populations.
• Ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods.
• Ability to analyse and integrate information from a wide range of sources.
• Experience from working directly with affected/local communities within an international or local organization in a humanitarian/recovery context.
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile 
• Knowledge of basic computer skills (MS Word, Excel and Power point) 
• Great analytical skills, including knowledge of data analysis and visualization software. Expertise in excel, ODK based toolkits and PowerBi highly preferre
• Previous experience in handling complaints is an advantage
• Previous experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal 

Context/specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of the South west context.
•  Knowledge of the local languages

What We Offer:

• Duty station:  Baidoa
• Contract duration: Up December, with possibility of extension.
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s salary scale and terms and conditions, terms and conditions.
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. In the selection of our staff, we are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative. 
• NRC may be required to verify the identity of its partners and to check that its partners have not been involved in illegal activities. NRC reserves the right to use electronic screening tools for this purpose. 

Key Information - Please Take Note When Applying

• Apply by completing all the system-required fields of your experience, employment history, and education in your application.
• Ensure to attach your latest updated CV.
• Submit your application and CV in English.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as per your passport.
• Incomplete, email and paper applications will not be considered.
• Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as applications may be screened prior to the vacancy deadline.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered.
• Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.

Additional Information:

Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as applications may be screened prior to the vacancy deadline