Community Engagement & Participation Specialist at Rhizome Consulting

Job Summary

• The Community Engagement & Participation Specialist will provide technical leadership in the planning, implementation, and management of community engagement, stakeholder participation, and social mobilisation activities across a range of programmes and initiatives. The successful candidate will be responsible for strengthening relationships with communities and stakeholders, facilitating participatory processes, promoting inclusion, and ensuring that programmes are responsive to the needs, priorities, and aspirations of target populations.

Key Responsibilities
Community Engagement & Participation

• Develop and implement community engagement and participation strategies aligned with programme objectives
• Design and facilitate participatory processes that promote meaningful involvement of communities in programme planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Establish mechanisms that strengthen community ownership, accountability, and sustainability
• Promote inclusive participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, vulnerable populations, and marginalised groups

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management

• Conduct stakeholder mapping, analysis, and engagement planning
• Build and maintain productive relationships with government institutions, community leaders, civil society organisations, private sector actors, and development partners
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations, dialogue platforms, and multi-stakeholder engagement processes
• Represent the organisation at meetings, forums, workshops, and partnership events as required

Social Mobilisation & Community Capacity Building

• Design and implement social mobilisation and outreach activities to support programme objectives
• Facilitate community awareness campaigns, community dialogues, and engagement events
• Build the capacity of community structures, local organisations, and community-based facilitators
• Support the establishment and strengthening of community committees, networks, and local platforms

Inclusion, Safeguarding & Social Accountability

• Ensure community engagement approaches are inclusive, gender-responsive, culturally appropriate, and accessible
• Promote safeguarding principles and ethical engagement practices
• Support the design and implementation of community feedback and grievance mechanisms
• Strengthen social accountability and citizen participation initiatives where applicable

Research, Learning & Knowledge Management

• Support community assessments, stakeholder studies, and participatory research activities
• Gather and document community insights, lessons learned, success stories, and emerging issues
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptive management processes
• Prepare technical reports, stakeholder engagement updates, and programme documentation

Educational Qualifications

• Master s degree in Community Development, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, International Development, Public Health, or a related field

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 7 years experience in community engagement, stakeholder participation, social mobilisation, local governance, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing participatory approaches within development, public sector, private sector, or social impact programmes
• Strong understanding of community development principles, stakeholder engagement methodologies, and participatory facilitation techniques
• Experience working with government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and community-based structures
• Knowledge of social inclusion, safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion, and accountability frameworks
• Proven ability to facilitate consultations, workshops, community dialogues, and multi-stakeholder engagement processes
• Strong relationship management, negotiation, communication, and conflict-resolution skills
• Excellent analytical, report writing, presentation, and documentation capabilities
• Ability to work effectively in diverse cultural, social, and geographic contexts