Community Liason Officer at Mines Advisory Group (MAG International)

Line managed by: Community Liaison Team Lead (CLTL)

Location: Borno, with travel across LGAs of North East as security conditions permit

Dead Line for Submission: 16th June 2024

Important Notice: Position is subject to funds availabilty

Overview of role:

The Community Liaison Officer (CLO) will implement community liaison activities across the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno State in accordance with MAG Nigeria's SOPs and guidelines, local and international standards, as well as MAG global technical standards. Under the guidance of CL management, the CLO will engage with communities and stakeholders in a participatory manner, and work closely with their team and other MAG departments to ensure that community liaison activities are relevant, of high quality, innovative, and seamlessly integrated into all MAG operations.

Responsibilities:

• Liaise with communities, traditional leaders, local authorities, NGOs, INGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to gather information that will support MAG’s operational planning using interviews, meetings, community mapping and other participatory approaches
• Carry out Contamination Baseline Assessments and non-technical surveys to identify suspected or confirmed hazardous areas, recommend further action, and produce related reports and sketch maps
• Gather information relating to accidents and survivors of explosive ordnance or SALW, and produce related reports and referrals
• Deliver adapted, inclusive and participatory Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) and Small Arms and Light Weapons Risk Education (SALW RE) to targeted groups as needed, ensuring that all participants have a good understanding of risks and mitigation strategies
• Deliver risk education training and support to community focal points, leaders and/or teachers where relevant and provide follow up monitoring and support
• Gather data relating to the impact of MAG’s work through relevant reports and case studies/success stories
• Contribute to the process of developing, designing, and field-testing CL methodologies, materials, processes, procedures and tools as required
• Submit clear, legible, accurate and timely reports and documentations to CL Team Leader and management
• Maintain and care for all equipment issued by MAG, and ensure to use them efficiently and as appropriate for activity implementation
• Coordinate daily with the CL Team Leader, and report immediately any security incidents, significant change in context or deployment plans, and non-compliance concerns
• Uphold MAG policies, procedures and guidelines – notably on CL, safety and security, and safeguarding – and work towards achieving programme objectives
• Represent MAG with communities, partners and/or other stakeholders as required

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Previous experience in carrying out awareness or community-based education activities or similar
• Previous experience in data reporting and/or using participatory techniques to gather information in at-risk communities.
• Relevant experience in community-based facilitation and community mobilisation
• Experience of developing good relationships with people and working in a participatory manner with groups of different ages, statuses, and backgrounds
• Previous experience living and working in a cross-cultural, multi-sector team environment in Northeast Nigeria
• Experience working with rural communities from a variety of different ethnic groups.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience in Humanitarian Mine action
• Experience in data analysis including the development of data-gathering mechanisms and tools.
• Experience using mapping equipment and platforms such as GPS, range finders, Google Earth, etc.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English and either Kanuri or Hausa.
• Interpersonal Abilities: Strong interpersonal skills, capable of building effective relationships and maintaining effective communication with diverse community groups and stakeholders. 
• Presentation Skills: Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to engage and captivate an audience.
• IT Skills: Proficient in Ms Word, MS Excel and PowerPoint
• Organizational Competence: Outstanding organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines effectively.

Essential Aptitude

• Teamwork and development driven: Ability to work well with teammates and other colleagues even in high pressure situations, and to collectively develop the work, demonstrating initiative and a solution-oriented approach.
• Self-Motivation and Flexibility: Self-motivated, flexible, able to think of solutions, and enthusiastic in your approach to work, with frequent travel of varying lengths and locations.
• Commitment to Quality: Determined to maintain high-quality standards.
• Cultural Respect: Ability to respect and appreciate others' cultures, beliefs, norms, and values. 
• Cultural Adaptability: Ability to blend in and adapt effectively to people from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

Qualifications

University/college Degree/Diploma studies in the field of Sociology, Education, social administration, Community Development, Development Studies, or any relevant field of study