TITLE: Community Capacity Assistant
LOCATION: Sokoto, Nigeria
GRADE: 4
CONTRACT LENGTH: 1 year
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Breakthrough ACTION (BA) is a five-year cooperative agreement from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead USAID’s social and behavior change (SBC) programming around the world. Breakthrough ACTION/Nigeria (BA-N) focuses on malaria; maternal, newborn, and child health including nutrition (MNCH+N); family planning (FP); and tuberculosis (TB); and increasing the capacity of national and sub-national entities to coordinate and oversee quality SBC programming. BA-N will collaborate closely with the relevant USAID service delivery and commodities implementation partners from the outset to ensure seamless coordination between supply, demand, and quality of services. BA-N will work at the national level and in 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Community capacity assistant will provide technical support and guidance for the implementation of BA-N’s integrated SBC community capacity component in Nigeria in unison with BA-N’s overall strategic SBC approach at the community level, in the media, on mobile/digital platforms, and advocacy approaches with opinion leaders. S/he will support the implementation of the SBC community capacity component of the program. Within the project, the Community capacity assistant will report to the community capacity officer and state coordinator integrated SBC and will work in close collaboration with the respective BA-N Unit officers for each of these components listed above under the leadership of the BA-N Deputy Project Director integrated SBC and Family planning. The Community capacity assistant will support in planning and program implementation of the community SBC component in either of the five Integrated SBC states Ebonyi, FCT, Bauchi, Kebbi, Sokoto.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Senior Community Capacity Officer
Administratively, this position reports up through the Save the Children structure, specifically to the senior community capacity officer. However, on a day-to-day basis, this position is located within the BA-Nigeria office with a reporting line to the State Coordinator
Role Dimensions:
The Community Mobilization Assistant will provide technical, programmatic, and administrative support.
S/he will work closely with the project technical staff and the community to ensure all project activities run smoothly.
He/She will support the state programme teams in planning and programme implementation of the community capacity and mobilization component.
(e.g. complexity, relationships, communication with stakeholders)
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Contribute to technical work related to community capacity strengthening, including strategies, toolkits, communication materials, etc;
Participate in the drafting and implementation of approved workplans.
Mobilize community-based groups, including WDCs, VDCs, community influencers and opinion leaders.
Promote community participation and inclusion so as to encourage community ownership over activities implemented.
Monitor project events and stakeholder’s activities in coordination with project technical leads and capture success stories, to effectively capture lessons learnt on the ground from the projects.
Provide weekly field reports, capturing activities progress, lessons learned as well as general situation and community updates and needs; and collaborate with relevant teams to ensure documentation of all community mobilization and M&E activities.
Assist with the establishment and maintenance of effective relationships at the State level with health partners, implementing partners, State MOHs and other key stakeholders.
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS
Level of Education – First degree BSc/BA/HND/NCE or national diploma in Communications, Journalism, Social Work, Psychology, Health, or related Social Science field
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with donor-funded projects in related tasks
Prior work experience in community engagement in Northern Nigeria.
Working Knowledge of MS Office Packages and database software and applications
Well-organized, with ability to track multiple activities and deadlines.
Ability to work successfully in a cross-cultural, team-based environment.
Fluent English language skills (written and verbal).
Commitment to the values, mission, aims and policies of Save the Children.
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.