JOB TITLE: Community Mobilisation and Engagement Manager
TEAM: Nigeria Country Office LOCATION: Based in Abuja, with frequent field travels
GRADE: 3
POST TYPE: National
TYPE: Regular CONTRACT LENGTH: One Year
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3. The responsibilities of this post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children and young people. In the overseas context all posts are considered to be level 3 posts in view of potential situations which may allow staff unsupervised access to vulnerable children and young people.
As part of these responsibilities the post holder will support the establishment of child safeguarding systems, promote a culture of keeping children safe, and ensure that potential harm to children (by our own staff and/or because of how we do our work) is identified and addressed on an ongoing basis. The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.
ROLE PURPOSE: To providing strategic and technical leadership for, and build capacities of, Community Mobilization and Engagement staff in SCI Nigeria Field Offices and Area office. S/he will develop an SCI Strategy and Plan for community mobilization and engagement – with an aim to enhance the quality, efficiency and impact of our work at the grassroots level. S/he closely works with the New Business Development to ensure community mobilization and engagement functions are adequately covered in proposals. The job holder ensures to obtain the buy-in of children, their families, communities, traditional and local community leaders’ towards the projects SCI implement at LGA level. In addition, s/he will work towards the commitment, participation, ownership and support of local authorities and community members in programme implementation. The Community Mobilization and Engagement Manager shall ensure the voluntary participation of communities and other stakeholders towards a sustainable humanitarian and development programmes implementation and amplify the voices of community members, including women, girls and all children are adequately heard and responded to.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Director of Advocacy, Campaign, Communication and Media (ACCM) with dotted line report to Deputy Director, Humanitarian Programme Operations
Staff directly reporting to this post: Community Mobilization Coordinators in all A/FOs (dotted report line)
Works Closely with: Advocacy, Campaigns and Policy Manager (Survive, Learn and Be Protected); Media and Communication Manager; Area/Field Office Advocacy and Campaigns Coordinators; Field Managers; Community Mobilization Coordinators; Community Mobilization Assistants; Project Managers; TEs; Field Managers; Programme Managers; Project Managers;
Membership: Community Mobilization and Engagement Manager is an ESMT Member position
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Objective 1: Community Mobilization and Engagement Strategy and Implementation Plan Development and Capacity Building
• To provide strategic and technical leadership for community mobilization and engagement staff at national, as well as area and field offices across SCI Nigeria
• In collaboration with other policy, advocacy and breakthrough leads and community mobilization team, s/he shall develop a community mobilization and engagement strategy and ensure implementation
• Work with the New Business Development team to ensure that all proposals adequately cover mobilization, local engagement, behavioral change communication and community participation activities.
• In collaboration with other breakthrough leads, identify policy and practice change, on the basis of Save the Children’s experience, that would promote and protect the rights of children
• Support the review and production of community mobilization and engagement training materials and guidelines to encourage positive behavior and attitudinal change
• Ensure that SCI Community Champions are identifies, informed, trained and opportunities are arranged for them to promote SCI key messages around the projects/programmes being implemented in the LGAs
• Ensure close engagement of, and partnerships with related government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), donor-funded programs, private/commercial entities, and NGOs at the local community levels
• Ensure the formation of local committees are from within communities of project/programme implementation; and contribute to programme exit strategy whereby these community structures remain sustainable, linked to local government structures so that all stakeholders would allow project results to continue benefitting the communities
• Support in groundbreaking for SCI Nigeria’s effective and smooth project/programme implementation.
Objective 2: Influencing, Campaigning and Positively Shifting Behaviors and Practices at Community Level
• Develop an Influencing and Engagement Strategy from community, state to the national level with an aim to creating conducive approach in amplifying the voices of children at all level
• Support in formulating key advocacy messages and targets from lessons learned, assessments, research and evidence gained through project implementation
• Support policy, advocacy, campaign and influencing initiatives from the local to global
• Initiate and support lobbying, communications, and other activities to inform and persuade policy makers, including donors and decision makers with an aim to deliver SCI Nigeria Country Strategic Plan
• Support in building systems for research, analysis and documentation that underpin evidence-based engagement and influencing at national, state and local levels
• Identify success stories, best practices and lessons learnt at local community level with an aim to support media and communications team in gathering packaging and dissemination of contents
• Produce reports, briefing papers, and presentations for internal and external audiences, as directed
Objective 3: Collaboration, Coordination and Representation
• Develop and sustain strategic relationships with other agencies engaged in advocacy and policy work
• Support in developing a database of key stakeholders, community structures, building synergies and maintaining a network of external contacts with key individuals in the government, NGO sector, civil society, and the media
• Represent Save the Children at various policy forums and advocacy opportunities at state and LGA levels, as directed
• Serve as a spokesperson for Save the Children at community level to a variety of external audiences including policy makers and the media, as directed
• Support other sectors in community assessment, and entry meetings
Objective 4: Project Design, Programme Development and Implementation
• Provide technical support on voice, community mobilization and engagement to State programme team
• Involve and contribute to proposal development in collaborating with the CO NBD/PDQ Unit; provide inputs in the DIP; participate in the APRM and similar project and budget management processes
• Participate in the preparation or review of programme monitoring and evaluation tools where necessary.
• Ensure correct use of programme monitoring and evaluation (recording) tools, including analysis.
• Work closely with NBD/PDQ to ensure that Community Mobilization and Engagement Manager role is funded for the long term across new business development opportunities
• Works closely with ACCM Breakthrough Leads to ensure that all projects are in compliance with the SCI KPI 20 (Advocacy Programming) and MI 28 (Advocacy Resourcing)
• Participate in the regular ACCM Unit core team meetings and countrywide ACCM meetings
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Advocacy, Campaign, Communication and Media
Objective 5: Safeguarding
• Ensure country programs adhere to SCI safeguarding requirements
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our 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 others to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.
• Build strong influencing networks among policy makers, donors and CSOs to push the partnership agenda.
Collaboration:
• Working effectively with stakeholders to achieve common goals.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members, and external partners.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
• Designing more effective admin systems
• willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency, demonstrates highest levels of integrity.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Essential
• Level of Education: First Degree/Master’s Degree in relevant area of studies, preferably, in Development Economics, Community Work, Public Policy, Law, Social Work, Human Rights, Development Studies, Public Mobilization and/or Engagement
• 5 years in community mobilization, behavioural change communication, community participation program development and implementation with at least two in technical leadership roles. (in advocacy with a focus on education financing, access, safety, quality, governance and enhanced voice and accountability)
• Language Requirements: English – Excellent. Proficiency/Fluency in Hausa and Kanuri is an added advantage
• Level of IT Expertise Required: Excellent
• Strong writing, presentation, and coordination skill.
• Strong analytical framework to clearly articulate and communicate our policy positions.
• Ability to be strategic and proactive when required to be able to keep advocacy plans dynamic and aligned to new policy and political developments.
• Ability to clearly communicate and easily relate to federal and state authorities.
• Able to demonstrate positive attitude, diplomatic, negotiator, and team player.
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment and respect for diversity.
• Comply with the requirements of Save the Children’s commitment to protect children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy.
Prior Experience Expectations:
• Building external networks
• Strategic Planning
• Governance and Gender advocacy
• Enhanced voice accountability
• Training and Facilitation.