Community Mobilization Assistant - NENTAD EiE at Save The Children

Role Purpose

• The Job Holder will take responsibility for providing support towards the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of North East Nigeria Transition to Development (NENTAD) programme to improve children’s learning outcomes (literacy, Numeracy and life skills) and development through the use of evidence- based approaches.
• A combination of adaptable components from SCI Literacy Boost and the QLE Framework are to be used within the already existing approved system and structures including government approved curriculum, medium of instruction among others.
• In fulfillment of the roles, there will be close collaboration with all stakeholders (government, development partners, cross sector networking, members of the sector working group, UN-OCHA, SEMA and the community structures) to ensure that programme goals are achieved and sustained.
• In line with SCI ambition, SDGs and NENTAD goal, inclusion of all children including the girl child and children with disabilities is key in project implementation and monitoring.
• For purposes of ensuring healthy collaboration between the sector’s work and other projects or initiatives in North Eastern region, the EiE Community Mobilization Assistant will actively participate in creating awareness and sensitizing communities on education related demand issues, participate in education-related activities and meetings, and will also seek active collaboration with other players working in the education sector especially at the Local Government Level.

As a member of the EiE Team, the field team, and in line with Save the Children strategy, policies and procedures:

1.) Planning:

• Support the planning efforts at the LGEA and community levels so as to ensure active  community engagement and participation in education service delivery in target locations
• Contribute towards efforts to ensure availability of updated budgets, log frames targets, work plans, and reports are timely and accurate.
• Take active role in the roll out of community awareness and sensitization in new projects with staff in consultation with the program officers’ government and other existing community structures in supported LGAs.
• Support assessment of target locations in collaboration with EiE team and state partners
• Support the distribution of teaching and learning materials as required
• Support the identification of locations for siting TLSs
• Support initial and continues engagement with IQS proprietors and Ministry of Religious Affairs for assessments, reporting, monitoring and selection of beneficiaries for the program
• Liaise and collaborate with LGEAs official for direct backup and technical supportive monitoring and mentoring to SBMCs, community based structures, networks, head teachers, government desk officers, teachers, quality assurance officers and other community resource persons engaged in the project.
• Ensure 100% mobilization of target communities in project locations, monitoring and reporting of key results based on project work plans.

2.) Implementation:

• In line with approved monthly, quarterly and annual work plans, support 100% implementation of Education project activities in the area of operation and in accordance with the project proposal, Save the children policies and as per operational guidelines.
• Activate/establish/strengthening community based structures in target locations including Integrated Quranic Schools (IQS) and Non-Formal Learning centers (NF)
• Facilities joint monthly, quarterly or annual planning sessions with LGEAs, IQS and the NF to agree on workplan, implementation and monitoring activities
• Plan and undertake joint community mobilization and awareness raising activities in target locations to ensure effective implementation and ownership
• Engage with the Ministry of Religious affairs for buy in and sustainability of program implementation, monitoring and reporting.
• Support the organization and delivery of capacity building session in target locations
• Work with project officers to ensure that key lessons from the project are captured and shared or disseminated to wider audience in project states as appropriate
• Identify critical project gaps and vulnerabilities, and clarify roles, responsibilities and accountabilities to effectively address those gaps exploring local solutions
• Adhere to implementation guidelines by ensuring that inclusion, gender and disability knowledge and awareness is created in target locations/are mainstreamed to address SC Commitments for Children in Emergencies, and reflect good practice in emergency education responses leaving no one behind.

a.) Roll-out of the Project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning:

• Support the implementation of the gender tracker, accountability and learning framework for the project
• Contribute towards filling of the monthly activity target tracker and quarterly Indicator Performance Tracking Table Tracker
• Identify areas for capacity building and follow-up on implementation of action plans in collaboration with government partners and other sector interventions
• Contribute to documenting best practices and most significant change stories
• Conduct periodic /regular meetings with stakeholders including community leaders, SBMCs, CBMC, women and children groups
• Engagement of beneficiaries in all stages of programme cycle - assessment, design, implementation and maintenance at the LGEAs and community levels.
• lead regular monitoring of project activities in the respective schools and communities and follow up in implementation of planned tasks, activities and agreed actions in the work plans.
• In collaboration with MEAL Officer, support proper documentation of the project activities conducted - case studies, best practices and unique experiences for sharing and learning to Line Manager.
• Regularly monitor and mentor SBMCs, community based structures engaged in the project locations
• Contribute to monthly reports (progress against planned activities, expense against estimated budget) of project activities to the line manager as per agreed schedule.
• Participate in the preparation of semi-annual and annual work plans and reports on project interventions
• Ensure appropriate filing and availability of documentation required for internal and external communications, accountability, audits, evaluation purposes and reporting
• Participate in weekly up-date meetings and as directed by the Field Manager and Technical Adviser

b.) Technical Support and back-stopping:

• Coordinate LGEA planning and implementation of the program locations
• Participate and contribute to the NENTAD project reviews on the program as required.
• Contribute to intervention design, including building linkages within the education, health, nutrition and livelihood sectors.
• Provide input to reports, briefs and other documents as necessary.
• Provide quality support and facilitate community engagement in school PTA/SBMC/traditional/religious structures meetings for improved learning outcomes and school level decision making processes
• Promote women and children especially girls and those affected with disability participation in program delivery and reporting

3.) Budget Monitoring responsibility:

• Monitor training schedule and attendance so as to ensure efficient and timely delivery.
• Work with logistics and admin to ensure effective implementation of capacity building activities and field monitoring of activities are efficiently carried out.
• Take due diligence in ensuring correct attendance list, coding and verification of participants as per expenditure aligned with approved workplans.

a.) Coordination and Collaborations:

• Provide coordination of all community activities in consultation with the program officers at State, LGEA and school levels in the areas of intervention.
• Work closely with the relevant state agencies and parastatals, LGEA, other NGOs and Agencies in the Education sector, Schools, SBMCs, PTAs among others so as to identify areas of collaboration and leverage against state resources so as to maximize impact.
• Advocate for, and support, the development of sustainable, child-friendly and hazard-resistant standards and designs for learning centres, the integration of life skills into both formal and non-formal education, with a particular focus on Disaster Risk Reduction( DRR)

b.) Reporting and documentation:

• Generate timely, consistent and accurate monthly and quarterly progress reports.
• Participate in and share progress during weekly meetings
• Document key success stories and areas of innovation for sharing on quarterly basis

c.) Resource acquisition:

• In collaboration with the EiE Coordinator, Education Technical Advisor, Program Officer, partners, LGEA officials and communities conduct needs assessment to identify gaps in education sector

d.) Partnership:

• Continuously identifying and map community based structures in the operational areas as part of building partnerships and brokering relationships for improved service delivery
• Support and mentor community based implementation, identify capacity gaps and recommend for capacity building where possible.
• Jointly document best practices and unique experiences with government LGEA officials for sharing and learning and field visits.
• Identify partner’s capacity gaps in different areas and share the information with the Line Manager.

e.) Empowerment and Project Impact:

• Innovatively support children to participate, own and benefit from the project interventions
• Mobilize and facilitate active participation of parents and their communities to participate in planning, monitoring and implementation of community development initiatives and supporting child education
• Build the capacity of children, their parents and the community to collectively engage local leaders on identified issues especially child protection
• Liaise and follow-up on commitments made by leaders on improvement of the child well-being especially the three breakthrough of survive, educate and protect.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of a Degree in Education, Social Work, Social Administration, Psychology, Social Sciences, Development Studies.
• A Post graduate Diploma in Project Planning, Management and Evaluation would be an added advantage
• At least three (3) years experience of working with an International NGO with budget management and monitoring responsibilities.
• At least two (2) years experience with good understanding of Community Education and training skills (Training of Trainers) particularly Non-Formal Education
• Experience of working with local partners and State and Local Government in Education and Child Protection program delivery.
• Excellent report writing skills and experience in generating Donor compliant reports of high quality.
• Ability to speak local language and directly interact with target group will be an added advantage
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Ability to intervene with crisis management or troubleshooting as necessary.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Excellent time management and planning capacity
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.