Community Mobilization Assistant - BPRM at Save The Children

Ref No: 220002ZN
Location: Ogoja, Cross River
Employment  Type: Contract
Contract Lenght: 6 months
Team / Programme: BPRM
Grade: 5
Reports to: BPRM Project Manager
Staff reporting to this post: None
Budget Responsibilities: None

Child Safeguarding

• Level 3:  the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

Role Purpose

• Support the BPRM project 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 refugee response 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
Strategy Development:

• Identify policy and practice change, based on 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 Child Protection, Education, WASH, et al
• Ensure that voices of children form the basis of Save the Children’s advocacy strategy.
• Acquire information and understanding of social policy and adapt strategies as necessary.
• Ensure Save the Children visibility is seen in areas of implementation
• Actively participate in all Save the Children, partners and CSO Coalition driven activities in the state
• Establish as well as sustain existing synergy among community groups and coalitions
• Engage with the state and local governments in policies review when needed
• Facilitate meetings of the coalition groups
• Prepare monthly reports of activities carried out

Influencing:

• Develop good knowledge of local and national government structures, parliamentary and political processes and key decision-making structures and how to influence them.
• Initiate and support lobbying, communications and other activities to inform and persuade policy makers, including donors and politicians, of the value of Save the Children’s policy recommendations.
• Support in building systems for research, analysis and documentation that underpin evidence-based advocacy and influencing at state and national levels.
• Produce reports, briefing papers and presentations for internal and external audiences, as directed.

Collaboration & Representation:

• Develop and sustain strategic relationships with other agencies engaged in advocacy and policy work.
• Support in maintaining a network of external contacts with key individuals in the government, NGO sector, civil society and the media.
• Support in facilitating capacity building of staff from Save the Children and partner agencies in advocacy and communications.
• As a spokesperson for Save the Children to a variety of external audiences including policy makers and the media, as directed.

Programme Development:

• Provide technical support on voice and community mobilization to State programme team
• Develop a community mobilization strategy in collaboration with the team and ensure implementation
• Train and mentor community volunteers – Community support
• In collaboration with the rest of the Programme team, prepare and facilitate training sessions.

Behaviours (Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength 
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills
Essential:

• A good First Degree or HND in Health, Social Work, Psychology, Communications or related Social Science field.
• Entry level skills in advocacy and policy development / research in the humanitarian 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.

Desirable:

• Training skills in advocacy techniques and influencing tactics.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of Cross River state culture and the diversity of ethnic groups and People of Concern.
• Ability to speak Local languages

Equal Opportunities

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

• We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety:

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.