Community Capacity Strengthening Assistant at Save The Children

mployee Status: Fixed Term
Team/Programme: Breakthrough-Action (Nigeria Country Office)
Grade: TBD
Post Type: National

Child Safeguarding

• The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children or young people and, 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.

Background

• Breakthrough ACTION Nigeria (BA-N) is a United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) flagship social and behavior change (SBC) programming around the world. Breakthrough ACTION/Nigeria (BA-N) focuses on malaria; maternal, newborn, and child health including nutrition (MNCH+N); family planning (FP); and tuberculosis (TB); and increasing the capacity of national and sub-national entities to coordinate and oversee quality SBC programming. BA-N will collaborate closely with the relevant USAID service delivery and commodities implementation partners from the outset to ensure seamless coordination between supply, demand, and quality of services.  BA-N will work at the national level and in 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
• The Community capacity assistant will provide technical support and guidance for the implementation of BA-N’s integrated SBC community capacity component in Nigeria in unison with BA-N’s overall strategic SBC approach at the community level, in the media, on mobile/digital platforms, and advocacy approaches with opinion leaders.
• S/he will support the implementation of the SBC community capacity component of the program.  
• Within the project, the Community capacity assistant will report to the community capacity officer and state coordinator integrated SBC and will work in close collaboration with the respective BA-N Unit officers for each of these components listed above under the leadership of the BA-N Deputy Project Director integrated SBC and Family planning.  The Community capacity assistant will support in planning and program implementation of the community SBC component in FCT state.

Scope of Role

• Reports to Administratively, this position reports up through the Save the Children structure, specifically to the community capacity officer. However, on a day-to-day basis, this position is located within the BA-Nigeria office with a reporting line to the State Coordinator
• Staff directly reporting to this post: N/A 

Role Purpose

• The Community Mobilization Assistant will provide technical, programmatic, and administrative support.
• S/he will work closely with the project technical staff and the community to ensure all project activities run smoothly.
• He/She will support the state program teams in planning and programme implementation of the community capacity and mobilization component.

Key Areas of Accountability

• Contribute to technical work related to community capacity strengthening, including strategies, toolkits, communication materials, etc.
• Participate in the drafting and implementation of approved workplans.
• Mobilize community-based groups, including WDCs, VDCs, community influencers and opinion leaders.
• Promote community participation and inclusion so as to encourage community ownership over activities implemented.
• Monitor project events and stakeholder’s activities in coordination with project technical leads and capture success stories, to effectively capture lessons learnt on the ground from the projects.
• Provide weekly field reports, capturing activities progress, lessons learned as well as general situation and community updates and needs; and collaborate with relevant teams to ensure documentation of all community mobilization and M&E activities.
• Assist with the establishment and maintenance of effective relationships at the State level with health partners, implementing partners, State MOHs and other key stakeholders.

Skills & Experience
Essential:

• Level of Education - First Degree BSc / BA / HND / NCE or National Diploma in Communications, Journalism, Social Work, Psychology, Health, or related Social Science field
• Minimum of 2 years experience working with donor-funded projects in related tasks
• Prior work experience in community engagement in Northern Nigeria.
• Working Knowledge of MS Office Packages and database software and applications
• Well-organized, with ability to track multiple activities and deadlines
• Ability to work successfully in a cross-cultural, team-based environment
• Fluent English language skills (written and verbal).
• Commitment to the values, mission, aims and policies of Save the Children.