Officer – Community Empowerment and Governance At Concern Worldwide

Job Title: Officer – Community Empowerment and Governance

Reports to: County Manager – Sub-County level in Isiolo and Marsabit

Job Location: Laisamis and North Horr (Marsabit) and Merti and Galba Tula (Isiolo) (Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Kenya at the time of application – National Position)

Contract Details: Fixed Term One (1) Year Contract, subject to availability of funds and performance

Job summary :

The incumbent will provide technical leadership in developing and maintaining community engagement interventions at the Sub-county level using community conversations approach. S/he will be responsible for capacity building Nawiri project consortium partners on community engagement and work closely with governance structures at the Sub-County and Ward levels to promote citizen participation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Community engagement

• Build the capacity of Nawiri project consortium partners on community engagement using the community conversations approach.
• Participate in the training of CC TOTs (Ward Development Assistants, Programme Officers, Consortium staff) on community engagement using Community Conversations and other proven approaches.
• Provide technical backstopping for CC TOTs in conducting community entry using the community conversations approach.
• Conduct on-job mentorship for Ward Development Assistants, Programme Officers and consortium staff on practical aspects of community engagement
• Responsible for coordinating utilization of Community Conversations for delivery of different layered components of Nawiri projects
• Participate in development and review of community engagement materials including manuals, tools, templates etc.

Citizen participation:

• Provide technical assistance to the Department of Public Administration and Coordination to strengthen the linkages and coordination between formal governance structures and Organized Community Groups at village, ward, sub county and county level in line with county public participation laws and policies

Planning, reporting and documentation

• Responsible for providing leadership in developing linkages between community conversations and other Nawiri project components for addressing acute malnutrition.
• Responsible for development of monthly and quarterly work plan for all community engagement layered interventions.
• Develop quality training, monthly and quarterly project reports

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project implementation and quality
• Responsible for sensitization and ensuring M&E tools are used effectively to monitor implementation and Programme quality

Responding to Emergencies:

• Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary
• Complying with Concern’s health, safety and security guidelines during emergencies

Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies:

• Adhering to the standards of conduct outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct & Associated Policies
• Supporting and promoting the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Associated Policies to the team, partner organisations and beneficiaries, and being committed to providing a safe working environment

Accountability

In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard

(CHS):

• Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E);
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed;
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme participants and communities.

Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:

• A bachelor’s degree in community development, social sciences or any other relevant field, or a diploma and four (4) years experience in community engagement
• Must be a Trainer of Trainer (TOT) in Community Conversations approach
• At least three years’ experience in utilizing community conversations and participatory approaches for community engagement in ASAL contexts.
• Must have a working knowledge of Project Cycle Management
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Swahili. Knowledge of at least one of the local languages spoken in Marsabit and Isiolo Counties is an added advantage
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Good computing and report writing skills

Concern has an organizational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Concern’ is the trading name of ‘Concern Worldwide’, a company limited by guarantee, registered number 39647; registered charity number CHY 5745, registered in Ireland, registered address is 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Follow Concern online: www.concern.net