Community Mobilization Officer at Save The Children

Role Purpose

• Support the State team to ensure commitment and involvement of local authorities and community members in the programme; and support community mobilization to ensure participation, sustainability of the Humanitarian programme as well as that the voices of community members, including women and children are heard.
• In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Key Areas of Accountability
Objective 1: Strategy Development:

• Identify policy and practice change, on the basis of Save the Children’s experience, that would promote and protect the rights of children.
• Support in formulating key advocacy messages and targets from lessons learned, assessments, research and evidence gained through project implementation on Nutrition, WaSH and child Protection.
• Ensure that voices of children form the basis of Save the Children’s advocacy strategy.
• Support community mobilization officer in areas where is necessary
• Maintain a strategic overview of issues affecting child Nutrition, monitoring trends in the external environment and inputting to organisational strategy and planning processes.
• Ensure Save the Children visibility in the state
• Prepare monthly reports of activities carried out In the states
• Support any other Save the Children-led activities as may be requerid

Objective 2: Influencing:

• Develop good knowledge of local and national government structures, parliamentary and political processes and key decision making structures and how to influence them.
• Develop a feedback mechanism for communicating Save the Children programmes
• Produce reports, briefing papers and presentations for internal and external audiences, as directed.

Objective 3: Collaboration & Representation:

• Develop and sustain strategic relationships with other agencies engaged in advocacy and policy work.
• Support in facilitating capacity building of staff from Save the Children and partner agencies in advocacy and communications.
• Represent Save the Children at various policy forums and advocacy opportunities at state and LGA levels, as directed.

Objective 4: Programme Development:

• Provide technical support on voice and community mobilization to State programme team
• Develop a community mobilisation strategy in collaboration with the team and ensure implementation
• Train and mentor Local consultants - Community support
• Participate in the preparation or review of programme monitoring and evaluation tools where necessary
• Ensure flexibility at all time

Experience and Skills
Essential:

• A degree in Health, Social Work, Psychology, Communications or related Social Science field.
• Substantial experience in advocacy and policy development / research in the development context.
• Good understanding of the possibilities and tactics for influencing decision and policy makers, politicians, donors, and other key actors.
• Knowledge of the media and its role in raising awareness and shaping public policy.
• Good understanding of strategies for achieving child protection, Psychosocial programming policies through participatory processes, and the links with gender, diversity and other aspects of identity.
• Excellent conceptual and analytical skills and demonstrable ability to think strategically, innovatively and practically to ensure achievement of desired change objectives.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences at local, state and national levels.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with partner agencies and key contacts in the government, NGO, civil society (coalitions) and media sectors.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively handle multiple tasks and meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability and ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Good computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, email / internet) and ability to be self-supporting in most administrative tasks.
• Fluent English language skills (written and verbal).
• Commitment to the values, mission, aims and policies of Save the Children.

Desireable:

• Experience in training others in advocacy techniques and influencing tactics.
• Prior work experience in advocacy in Nigeria.
• Experience working on Humanitarian programming.
• Local language skills (Hausa).
• Due to the urgency to fill this position applications will be assessed as they are received and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.