Community Mobilizer at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

Job Description

• The Community Mobilizer will act as the primary liaison between COOPI and the target communities, fostering strong collaboration, trust, and active participation in all field activities under the SPRiNG Project.
• This role is central to driving community-led initiatives by coordinating mobilization efforts, supporting the implementation of interventions, and ensuring that beneficiaries are meaningfully engaged throughout the project cycle.
• Working in close partnership with the Program Officer, Natural Resource Management (NRM) Officer, and MEAL Team, the Community Mobilizer will contribute to the effective execution and monitoring of activities in reforestation, agroforestry, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), and peacebuilding.
• The position emphasizes inclusive participation, gender sensitivity, and long-term sustainability, ensuring that project outcomes not only address immediate community needs but also strengthen resilience and harmony for the future.

Responsibilities
Community Engagement & Mobilization:

• Sensitize and mobilize community members, lead farmers, youth groups, and women’s associations for participation in project activities.
• Support the formation and reactivation of Natural Resource Management (NRM) Committees.
• Support the formation of VSLAs.
• Facilitate community meetings, awareness campaigns, and dialogues on climate resilience and peacebuilding.
• Ensure inclusive participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in all project interventions.

Support for Ecosystem Restoration & Climate-Smart Agriculture:

• Assist in the establishment and management of community nurseries for tree planting and land reclamation.
• Supervise tree planting, watering, and maintenance activities at community sites.
• Promote climate-smart agricultural practices through demonstration sessions and farmer training.
• Report any environmental or conflict-related challenges that may affect implementation.

Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion:

• Facilitate community-level dialogue platforms between farmers, pastoralists, and traditional leaders.
• Support community peace structures and conflict mitigation processes.
• Report emerging community disputes and support non-violent resolution mechanisms.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Feedback:

• Maintain accurate records of beneficiaries, attendance, and progress.
• Submit regular field updates, photos, and success stories.
• Support data collection, assessments, and MEAL activities.
• Facilitate feedback and complaint mechanisms to strengthen accountability.

Expected Deliverables

• Monthly progress reports on community engagement and activities.
• Updated records of active NRM Committees and trained beneficiaries.
• Verified evidence of community participation (attendance, photos, maps).
• Regular reporting of challenges, lessons learned, and success stories.
• Contribution to the establishment of VSLAs

Supervision and Reporting:
The Community Mobilizer will report directly to the NRM Officer and collaborate closely with:

• NRM & Program Officers for technical guidance.
• MEAL team for monitoring and reporting.
• Community NRM Committees and local authorities for coordination.
• They will submit weekly field updates and monthly narrative reports to the NRM officer. Performance Indicators
• Timeliness and quality of community mobilization activities.
• Inclusiveness (women, youth, and marginalized groups) in participation.
• Accuracy and completeness of reports submitted.
• Contribution to project targets (tree survival, restored land, trained beneficiaries).
• Positive feedback from communities.

Requirements

• Diploma or Degree in Sociology, Community Development, Agriculture or related field. Minimum of 2 years of experience in community engagement or outreach, preferably with NGOs.
• Familiarity with rural livelihoods, reforestation, or peacebuilding projects.
• Language Requirements: Spoken and written fluency in English, Hausa, Mwaghavul and Berom.
• Experience working in multi-ethnic, conflict-affected contexts.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal, mobilization, and coordination skills.
• Experience in participatory training and facilitation.
• Ability to produce simple field reports and documentation.
• Commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and Do No Harm principles.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently in the field.

Networking and partnerships:

• Establish and maintain collaborative relations with relevant project stakeholders and other organizations
• Ensure that main protection concerns are brought to relevant stakeholders to advocate for the respect of human rights and minimum protection standards.
• The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.