Requisition ID: req47974
Job Title: Community and Youth Engagement Officer-OTL
Sector: Education
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No
Location: Yola, Nigeria
Work Arrangement: In-person
Job Description
BACKGROUND
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, the IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In early 2014, IRC opened a field office in Mubi town of Adamawa state followed by offices in Yola in Adamawa state in November 2014 and Maiduguri in Borno state in October 2015. With rapid expansion in late 2016 and early 2017, the IRC opened additional field offices in Monguno and Gwoza in Borno state and Damaturu in Yobe state. The country office is in Abuja. The IRC Nigeria implements programs in primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security, and livelihoods.
The Boko Haram insurgency has created nearly 1.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northeast Nigeria. Up to 40% of children aged 6-11 in the region are out of school. Factors impeding school attendance include children providing labor at home and on farms, widespread poverty and inability to afford fees, and cultural bias against formal education from parents, particularly for female students. The armed conflict has greatly exacerbated challenges in accessing education as Boko Haram deliberately targeted and destroyed education facilities, leaving communities without functioning schools and with no teaching or learning materials. Intensive violence, including violence targeted towards teachers and students, has created much fear of attending school among children. There is a shortage of teachers trained to deal with the psychosocial effects of the insurgency and even children with the desire and resources to attend school may opt to remain at home due to security concerns. IDP children are particularly affected.
SCOPE OF WORK .
The IRC Nigeria is currently expanding its education portfolio in the northeast of the country in line with its five-year Strategic Action Plan (SAP). A priority outcome for the country program is that girls and boys enroll in and attend safe, functioning, responsive education services. The IRC aims to both rebuild, reequip, and staff damaged school infrastructure and enhance the quality of education through curriculum improvements in formal and non-formal institutions, with a particular focus on social and emotional learning.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC), in partnership with Plan International, the American University in Nigeria (AUN), Inclusive Development Partners (IDP), and Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI) is implementing a five-year USAID-funded education program called ‘Opportunities to Learn (OtL) in Borno Adamawa and Yobe States between October 2021 and October 2026. The Programme intends to ensure more than 193,854 OOSC and youths in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States are safely able to gain foundational literacy, numeracy, and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills to progress to higher levels of education, training, and or engagement in the workforce.
The Community and Youth Engagement Officer, based in Yola, will be responsible for the overall implementation of OTL Community and Youth engagement Activities in Adamawa State. S/he will ensure that Community and Youth Engagement activities are delivered per the Project's Detailed Implementation Plan, contribute to the strategic objectives of the program, and meet global and IRC technical standards for education in emergencies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Project planning & Implementation
Implement and monitor community mobilization strategy in line with IRC/OTL community engagement strategy ensuring effective participation of community members especially vulnerable groups (OOSC, girls and people with disability)
Develop and update clear mapping of relevant community stakeholders and community actors.
Develop TORs and budgets for planned youth and community engagement activities.
Ensure the effective implementation of designed plan in the areas of intervention with the support of program manager and technical leads.
Mobilize and support existing community groups for active participation in OTL program activities.
Mobilize and facilitate the engagements of stakeholders during planning and development meetings, workshops, and seminars.
Participate in planning and preparation of work plans, implementation of planned activities and reporting of progress.
Facilitate community engagement meetings, Mappings, and workshops.
Youth and Community Engagement.
Undertake information dissemination in a timely and understandable manner to all stakeholders (community, LGA and state).
Coordinate sensitization/ awareness campaigns and trainings for the community stakeholders tailored towards the enrolment and retention of OOSC in NFLCs
Participate in the development of toolkits and guidelines for community mobilization; and how to conduct mass information campaigns, participatory activities, focus group discussions etc
Participate and support in the capacity building of Community Based Organizations to advocate for accountability in education programming
Facilitate active participation of the communities in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of OTL ABEP Learning Centers
Monitor the implementation of planned activities and community level engagements.
Build the capacity of the community to collectively engage local leaders on identified issues.
Working together with activists and youth movements, committed to expanding access to quality education.
Develop modalities for strengthening meaningful and representative youth engagement through training, networking, exchanges, and building stronger linkages between young people’s participation in community led initiatives including ABEP.
Support the development and implementation of innovative Youth led initiatives.
Serve as a focal person for effective communication between community groups /leaders/volunteers and IRC/OTL Program team.
Coordinate and establish network for the social mobilization when required and as deemed necessary with other humanitarian actors, local leaders and organizations (e.g. CBO, faith-based organization) operating in the same field.
Support the design of communication materials based on community mobilization strategy.
Support the collection and documentation of impact and success stories on quarterly basis.
Participate and provide updates in IRC/OTL Meetings
Provide weekly, Monthly, and quarterly update reports on activities Implemented.
Others.
The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the Post holder may be required to carry out additional duties appropriate to their level of skills and experience.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Position Reports to: Education Program Manager. Indirect reporting line to Community and Youth Engagement Lead
Position directly supervises: None
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional 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, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (education, social work, community development, etc.).
Proven experience in community engagement and youth development initiatives.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups and individuals.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Knowledge of local community dynamics and educational challenges
At least three years of relevant professional experience with an international or civil society organization, including direct implementation of education programming.
Excellent spoken and technical writing ability in English, including report writing.
Excellent computer skills in programs including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Ability to work under pressure in challenging working and living conditions
Willingness to travel extensively in northeast Nigeria, including to remote and/or insecure locations
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,
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The position will be based in Yola, Adamawa, Nigeria with frequent travel throughout project areas in the northeast, including to remote and insecure locations. The situation in northeast Nigeria continues to be volatile and the security phase is orange or red depending on location. This is a non-accompanied position.
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