Programme Officer at Smiling Hearts Initiatives International

Summary

The post-holder will lead the design, activation, and management of the Rapid Response and Referral Mechanism (RRRM), ensuring timely, adaptive, and high-quality response across Borno and Katsina.

The role leads consortium implementation with Smiling Hearts Initiative (SHI), ensures compliance with DG ECHO requirements, and upholds localisation, safeguarding, and accountability commitments

Key Responsibilities

• Support implementation of MPCA activities including beneficiary communication, targeting, registration, distributions, and post-distribution follow-up
• Lead WaSH interventions such as water point rehabilitation, solar-powered systems, hygiene promotion, and maintenance activities
• Coordinate with Financial Service Providers for digital cash delivery
• Work with local partners and community structures for safe and inclusive delivery
• Facilitate community sensitization, feedback, and complaints mechanisms
• Ensure protection mainstreaming across all activities and referral pathways
• Support baseline surveys, post-distribution monitoring, and market assessments
• Maintain accurate records, distribution lists, and monitoring data
• Use digital tools such as KoboToolbox/ODK and mobile money systems
• Contribute to weekly and monthly reports
• Uphold safeguarding, PSEA, and data protection standards
• Participate in coordination meetings with local authorities and stakeholders
• Report security incidents and operational risks promptly
• Ensure compliance with organizational and donor requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Development, Public Health, or related field
• 4–5 years humanitarian program implementation experience
• Strong WaSH programming experience
• Experience in emergency or rapid response systems
• Experience in cash programming and protection activities
• Familiarity with digital data collection tools and mobile money systems
• Strong community engagement and field monitoring skills
• Ability to work in insecure and remote environments
• Knowledge of Hausa is an advantage
• Experience in Northern Nigeria (Borno/Katsina) is desirable

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Borno and Katsina coordination systems (clusters, SEMA).
• Experience with referral systems (protection, health, nutrition).
• Experience with localisation approaches and partner capacity strengthening.
• Working knowledge of Hausa and/or Kanuri.