Program Officer/Gender Mentor Coordinator (Four Pillars PLUS) at FHI 360

Under the direction of the Project Manager, the Four Pillars PLUS Gender-Mentor Coordinator will be responsible for identifying mentors and organizing mentor training workshops for a number of girls’ mentors in project schools. The Gender- Mentor Coordinator will ensure that mentoring sessions in project schools are being executed as planned and cover topics that are most relevant to the beneficiaries’ lives. The Gender-Mentor Coordinator will assist in the monthly report and work plan preparation; organize and execute mentors’ training workshops; monitor and evaluate mentor training and mentors’ performance; research and provide support to the Project Manager;  facilitate the creation of sustainable girls’ mentoring venues; and prepare  additional activities supporting secondary schools and implementing Internship and Vocational Training programs.

Essential Job Functions

• Assess      the gender gaps of the Four Pillars PLUS stakeholders and conduct      trainings and capacity building activities;
• Support      the development of gender related indicators in the different sectors      using existing data for establishing baseline and future targets;
• Ensure      a monitoring and evaluation plan is in place to measure mentoring results      and informs ongoing program design;
• Undertake      regular monitoring and observation visits to project schools to support and      provide feedback and guidance to mentors;
• Facilitate      mentoring sessions for all students and participants in project schools;

• Develop      a gender communication plan for all mentors and other participants such as      a Mentors Monthly Newsletter and other project related publications and      brochures to inform the communities;

• Work closely with facilitators to improve mentors delivery of their training;
• Facilitate the creation and smooth running of a girls’ mentoring program in each school;
• Ensure the formation of peer to peer mentoring clubs in schools;
• Use and adapt the three FHI 360 Guides to Mentoring on Life Skills, HIV/AIDS and Transitioning from School to Work to the relevant Nigerian context;
• Support the implementation/inclusion of Adolescent Reproductive Health Education in schools;
• Create channels of communication with school committees and teachers, caregivers and parents to support mentoring objectives;
• Help raise awareness on the impact of early pregnancy-early marriage on the girls’ lives and the health and future of their children;
• Liaise with health services, where available, to provide a network of support for adolescent youth in and outside of school, if possible;
• Conduct gender sensitization campaigns to continue raising community awareness about their roles, duties and expectations vis à vis the girls and adolescents;
• Together with the project team, develop and coordinate advocacy initiatives on girls’ education in partnership with media, private sectors and civil society;

Necessary Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent      written and oral communication in English and local languages;
• Experience      in working with schools, preferably secondary schools, and communities in      East Africa or Nigeria;
• Ability      to work independent and as a team;
• Experience      in providing support to OVCs;
• Understanding      the ways that CBOs / NGOs operate;
• Experience      providing capacity support to NGOs and CBOs;
• Ability      to inspire girls and passion for the development of young people;
• Excellent      communication, writing, interpersonal, facilitation and presentation      skills;
• Ability to develop and use training tools,      coordination and facilitation of training programs;

• Experience      in implementing gender strategies and programming preferably with youth;
• Experience      in guidance and counseling;

Supervisory Responsibilities

No staff supervisory responsibilities are required.