Job Opportunities at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

Location: Potiskum, Yobe

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the EMAP (Engaging Men through Accountable Practice) approach within the community to prevent GBV and promote gender equality.
• Facilitate structured EMAP sessions with male and female participants in targeted clusters, ensuring adherence to the EMAP curriculum and methodology.
• Mobilize and register male participants in collaboration with local peace committees (LPCs), religious leaders, and protection staff.
• Promote positive masculinity, respectful behaviours, and support for women and girls through guided reflection and group dialogues.
• Support the delivery of training and sensitization sessions on EMAP, gender equality, GESI, and GBV prevention in schools, communities, and with government stakeholders.
• Work closely with peacebuilding teams to integrate EMAP into broader social cohesion and conflict resolution interventions, including joint EMAP-driven mediation and dialogue forums.
• Contribute to the organization of awareness-raising campaigns and cultural activities (e.g., edutainment events, market day sensitizations) that promote peaceful coexistence and challenge harmful gender norms.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation of EMAP activities including session attendance tracking, feedback collection, and behavioural change observations.
• Contribute to the documentation of success stories, lessons learned, and challenges to inform program improvement.

Requirements

• Diploma or Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Gender Studies, Peacebuilding, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience facilitating male engagement or gender-transformative programming, preferably in GBV prevention or peacebuilding.
• Knowledge and experience with the EMAP model or similar structured behaviour change approaches.
• Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills, particularly in engaging male community members on sensitive topics.
• Proven ability to build trust, manage group dynamics, and promote reflective dialogue.
• Understanding of gender equality, GBV, GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion), and protection principles.
• Experience working with community-based structures (e.g., LPCs, peace clubs, youth groups) and local leaders.
• Fluency in English and local languages (e.g.Hausa, Kanuri); ability to adapt messaging to local context.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding, accountability, and inclusion.

go to method of application »

Location: Potiskum, Yobe

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the EMAP (Engaging Men through Accountable Practice) approach within the community to prevent GBV and promote gender equality.
• Facilitate structured EMAP sessions with male and female participants in targeted clusters, ensuring adherence to the EMAP curriculum and methodology.
• Mobilize and register male participants in collaboration with local peace committees (LPCs), religious leaders, and protection staff.
• Promote positive masculinity, respectful behaviours, and support for women and girls through guided reflection and group dialogues.
• Support the delivery of training and sensitization sessions on EMAP, gender equality, GESI, and GBV prevention in schools, communities, and with government stakeholders.
• Work closely with peacebuilding teams to integrate EMAP into broader social cohesion and conflict resolution interventions, including joint EMAP-driven mediation and dialogue forums.
• Contribute to the organization of awareness-raising campaigns and cultural activities (e.g., edutainment events, market day sensitizations) that promote peaceful coexistence and challenge harmful gender norms.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation of EMAP activities including session attendance tracking, feedback collection, and behavioural change observations.
• Contribute to the documentation of success stories, lessons learned, and challenges to inform program improvement.

Requirements

• Diploma or Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Gender Studies, Peacebuilding, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience facilitating male engagement or gender-transformative programming, preferably in GBV prevention or peacebuilding.
• Knowledge and experience with the EMAP model or similar structured behaviour change approaches.
• Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills, particularly in engaging male community members on sensitive topics.
• Proven ability to build trust, manage group dynamics, and promote reflective dialogue.
• Understanding of gender equality, GBV, GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion), and protection principles.
• Experience working with community-based structures (e.g., LPCs, peace clubs, youth groups) and local leaders.
• Fluency in English and local languages (e.g.Hausa, Kanuri); ability to adapt messaging to local context.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding, accountability, and inclusion.

go to method of application »

Location: Potiskum, Yobe

Job Description

• The Livelihood (IGA and Capacity building) Officer will be responsible for establishing, training, and monitoring income generating activities (IGAs) groups, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and to support women-based projects to enhance economic resilience, foster social cohesion, and reduce poverty-driven conflicts in target communities.
• The role involves promoting financial inclusion, livelihood diversification, reintegration, and peaceful coexistence through community-managed savings groups.

Responsibilities 
Establishment and Training of IGAs and VSLAs:

• Mobilize the targeted former associates to form IGA groups, support VSLAs, ensuring inclusive participation (women, youth, vulnerable groups).
• Coordinate with the MEAL team and conduct marketing and livelihood identification assessment.
• Conduct training sessions on IGA and VSLA methodology (savings, loans, record-keeping, and governance).
• Support groups in developing constitutions, bylaws, and leadership structures.
• Promote financial literacy (budgeting, loan repayment, business planning)
• Ensure the IGAs marketing and financial linkages.
• Ensure IGAs incorporate reintegration and peacebuilding principles
• Link the associates to livelihood grants, vocational training, and income-generating activities (IGAs).
• Address economic drivers of conflict (e.g., competition over resources, unemployment).

Capacity Building:

• Regularly monitor IGA and VSLA performance (savings amounts, contribution rates, social impact).
• Provide refresher training on group dynamics, conflict resolution, and enterprise development.
• Identify and troubleshoot challenges (e.g., mismanagement, dropout rates).

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Support in Development and implementation of robust M&E frameworks to measure program impact.
• Analyze data to inform program adaptations and report on progress against indicators

Proposal Development:

• Contribute to the development of proposals for funding, ensuring the inclusion of cash-based interventions and livelihood components.
• Collaborate with the program development team to align proposals with donor priorities.

Coordination and Collaboration:

• Collaborate with microfinance institutions, NGOs, and government poverty-reduction programs.
• Engage with humanitarian actors, government agencies, and local authorities for a coordinated response.
• Participate in cash working groups and sector meetings to advocate for CFF approaches.

Gender and Inclusion:

• Encourage mixed-group IGAs (minimum 30% female beneficiaries) to foster trust and cooperation.
• Ensure women’s leadership in IGAs and VSLA committees (treasurers, chairpersons).
• Organize inter-group exchanges for knowledge sharing and solidarity.
• Ensure that project activities are gender-sensitive and inclusive, addressing the needs of all beneficiary groups.
• Integrate gender and inclusion strategies into program planning and implementation.

Reporting:

• Maintain IGAs and VSLA databases (membership, savings trends, success stories).
• Prepare timely and accurate reports on IGAs and VSLA activities for COOPI, UNDP, and other stakeholders.
• Document lessons learned and best practices for organizational knowledge.

Networking and Partnerships:

• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Leverage partnerships to enhance program reach and impact.

Knowledge Sharing:

• Facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and learning within COOPI and the broader humanitarian community.
• Organize workshops and learning events to share insights from the program.
• Treat beneficiaries with dignity and apply COOPI’s Code of Ethics and Conduct, the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in the field, including sensitizing community mobilizers and daily labourers on such principles.

Additional responsibilities:

• Collaborate with government and humanitarian partners to ensure the smooth sharing of information in consultation with the project coordinators.
• Stay abreast of developments in conflict sensitive programming and humanitarian response.
• Perform other duties as necessary, commensurate with professional background and experience, as deemed by the supervisor.
• Willingness to travel frequently to rural communities.
• Adherence to project policies on gender equality and conflict sensitivity.
• Collaborate with other project teams

Requirements

• Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 4 years’ experience in IGA business management, VSLA, microfinance, or community-based income and savings programs.

go to method of application »

Location: Potiskum, Yobe

• The Programme Officer-VSLA will facilitate the formation and strengthening of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to enhance financial inclusion and livelihood resilience among project beneficiaries.

Key Responsibilities

• Train communities on VSLA methodologies and financial literacy.
• Establish VSLA groups and link to financial institutions/ revolving fund
• Monitor VSLA group performance and provide technical support.
• Link VSLAs to microfinance institutions and agricultural input suppliers.
• Document success stories and lessons learned.
• Identify viable addition opportunities along the agri-value chains
• Support youths and women access capital finance for commodity processing and packaging.
• Train the youths and women in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, marketing and government financial guarantees
• Registration of the VSLA groups as cooperatives and linking them to NDE for government financial guarantees

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Track VSLA group performance, savings, and loan repayment rates.
• Document success stories and challenges.
• Submit regular reports to the VSLA Officer.

Livelihoods and Economic Recovery:

• Link VSLAs to income-generating activities and market opportunities.
• Facilitate small business development among group members.
• Facilitate financial literacy training and linkages to financial institutions of VSLA members
• Promote digitalization of the VSLA groups in partnership with Airtel

Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding:

• Promote inclusive participation (women, youth, marginalized groups) in VSLAs.
• Integrate peace-building dialogues within VSLA meetings.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years experience in VSLA, microfinance, or community-based savings programs.
• Strong facilitation and training skills.
• Knowledge of local languages (Hausa/Kanuri) is an advantage.

General Conditions for this position:

• Willingness to travel frequently to rural communities.
• Adherence to project policies on gender equality and conflict sensitivity.
• Collaborate with other project teams (peacebuilding, Forestry and Natural Resources Management, Nutrition etc.).

go to method of application »

Job Summary

• The Gender and Protection Officer will be responsible for supporting implementing the minimum measures for mainstreaming gender and protection as outlined by the Humanitarian Principles, the SPHERE Standards, UNDP Policy on Gender and Protection and the Inter Agency Standing Committee Guidelines.
• The Gender and Protection Officer is also mainly responsible for mainstreaming gender and protection across the various components and activities of the UNDP-funded Project in Yobe State.
• The officer will create and develop protection and Gender integration activities in line with the priorities determined by COOPI.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks

• Under the direct supervision of the project coordinator, the Gender and Protection Officer will perform the under listed tasks:
• Work closely with the project team and the beneficiaries to ensure activities are being implemented in a gender and age sensitive manner.
• Prepare, organize and conduct the protection-oriented Focus Group Discussions and Gender Discussion Meetings during project implementation
• Ensure equal participation of women and men in the activities and ensure to have an appropriate complaint and feedback mechanism to collect the communities’ feedback in a gender sensitive manner and ensure that the programme includes these feedbacks throughout the project implementation
• Meet regularly with the program team to fine-tune programming, ensuring activities are implemented using a gendered lens
• Support vulnerable individuals identified during project implementation.
• Ensure Do No Harm approach is applied in all activities conducted with the site and host communities.
• Supports project staff to mainstream gender in beneficiary identification and verification.
• Ensures gender is mainstreamed in various stakeholder meetings and capacity building.
• Prepares and forwards to the Project coordinator monthly work plans and progress reports for the entire projects based on set indicators for the 5W matrix and any other required reporting to partners and donors;
• Identify program gaps and suggests to the Project manager mitigating actions in periodic reports;
• Collects and documents success stories and photographs for reports; Follows and enforces all COOPI codes of conduct and policies (globally and in-country); Protection, gender and AAP are to be integrated into the partner monthly narrative report. Additional reports to be shared include: safety audits, protection monitoring scorecards, protection risk assessments and outcome of consultation with PMCs and the affected population on the impact of food assistance.
• Submit weekly and monthly work plans along with detailed activity reports to the Project Manager/coordinator.

Capacity Strengthening:

• Build the capacity of the project staff on Protection and GBV-related issues, in order to enhance internal knowledge and expertise and provide qualitative delivery of activities with high protection standards and enhance protection sensitive approach within the targeted communities.
• Translate gender and protection mainstreaming into concrete, practical actions (awareness- raising, training and on the job mentoring) of project colleagues.
• Lead the delivery of the protection and gender components of the social behavioral change communication;
• Conduct training and/or awareness raising for project teams on mainstreaming protection and integrating gender;
• Support to implement good practice in data protection and privacy;
• Support awareness-raising of the food security team and the affected population on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Protection Analysis: 

• Conducting joint protection risk and gender analysis with Donors and Internally as required;
• Accountability to Affected Populations (consultation, information provision and complaints and feedback mechanism management)
• Contribute to the design and implementation of approaches related to information provision, community consultation, feedback and complaints mechanisms;
• Establish and consult Project Management Committees.
• Understanding the conflict context;
• Carefully considering the interactions between planned or ongoing interventions and the
• Analyze the conflict context, identifying the conflict drivers/ dividers and the connectors;
• Acting upon the understanding in programme design and implementation, to minimize
• potential negative impacts by emphasizing the connectors and diminishing the dividers; and
• Responding to changes in conflict dynamics by adjusting programming.

Networking, Integration, Peacebuilding and Partnerships:

• Establish and maintain collaborative relations with relevant donors, partners, project stakeholders and other organizations
• Maintain effective relationships with Protection, GBV and CP clusters and related working groups at national level
• Ensure that main protection concerns are brought to relevant stakeholders to advocate for the respect of human rights and minimum protection standards.
• Reduce the risk of a lapse or relapse into violent conflict by directly addressing root causes and consequences of conflict;
• Strengthen national, community and individual capacities to address conflict constructively; and
• Lay and support foundations for sustainable peace and development.

Protection Monitoring and Gender:

• Monitoring and communicating to the project manager changes in the protection environment; Document barriers faced by certain groups in accessing safe and meaningful assistance (child headed households, people with disabilities, separated and unaccompanied minors, women headed households) and provide Project Manager with appropriate adjustments to ensure inclusion of most vulnerable and at-risk categories;
• Mapping and communicating protection (including gender-based violence and child protection) referral pathways to Project Manager and on-site help and feedback desk;
• Ensure safe and confidential referrals of protection cases for the provision of food assistance to COOPI Programmes.
• Coordinate and ensure implementation of gender mainstreaming in all EFP-funded COOPI’s program
• Lead and conduct gender analyses, technical studies, and assessments on gender in relation to UNDP project activities
• Ensure that program activities are carried out with cultural sensitivity while promoting gender equality and inclusion of marginalized groups
• Leads in integrating gender into program processes, setting specific indicators for process monitoring and advising team in obtaining gender specific information.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Gender studies, Social Sciences, Development studies. Humanitarian studies or related field.
• Minimum 4 years experience in gender programming, safeguarding, protection, or GBV-focused intervention in humanitarian settings.
• Strong understanding of gender justice, women’s rights, and power analysis methodologies
• Experience working with rural communities and former NSAG in Northern Nigeria
• Strong facilitation and training skills.
• Knowledge of local languages (Hausa/Kanuri) is an advantage.

General Conditions for this position:

• Willingness to travel frequently to rural communities.
• Adherence to project policies on gender equality and conflict sensitivity.
• Collaborate with other project teams

go to method of application »

Location: Bun Yadi, Yobe

Summary

• The Community Mobilizer will play a central role in enhancing community engagement and ensuring effective communication between the project and the affected populations.
• The role focuses on disseminating accurate and timely information, creating awareness through community structures, and strengthening community-based mechanisms to support informed decision-making and access to services.
• This includes mobilizing and coordinating with key community stakeholders such as existing former associates IGA groups, peace clubs, VSLAs, and local government officials to ensure the success of the reintegration and peace building of the UNDP project activities.

Key Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the coordinator and Livelihood Officer, the Community Mobilizer will be responsible for:
Community Engagement and Information Dissemination:

• Lead community-level outreach activities to share critical information related to project interventions, including entitlements, service availability, and feedback mechanisms.
• Conduct regular sensitization sessions based on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to address community concerns and improve knowledge about the project.
• Facilitate beneficiary selection messaging campaigns, ensuring communities are well informed about distribution dates, locations, and eligibility criteria.
• Support in identifying and utilizing appropriate communication channels (e.g., community radio, mobile announcements, posters) tailored to the local context and languages.

Collaboration with Community Structures:

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with the members, women groups, local peace clubs, local peace committees, traditional and religious leaders, women and youth groups, and other key influencers to foster community trust and participation.
• Coordinate closely with Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to align outreach activities with local priorities and ensure support for interventions.
• Provide capacity-building sessions for peace clubs and local peace committees on community dialogue, conflict resolution, and information sharing.

Mentoring and Support to Community-Based Structures:

• Mentor and coach existing community structures (e.g., peer mother support groups, community volunteers) on effective communication strategies and how to guide beneficiaries through service pathways.
• Train and support Rapid Response Committees on community mobilization, early warning systems, and basic response protocols during emergencies or community disturbances.
• Encourage the active participation of target beneficiaries, NSAG, existing VSLAs, community-based organizations and volunteer networks in outreach and awareness initiatives.

Referrals and Service Linkages:

• Facilitate the community-based referral process by identifying needs and linking individuals to appropriate service providers, including protection, health, education, and livelihood actors.
• Follow up on referred cases to ensure services were received and document feedback to improve the referral process.

Community Empowerment and Behavioral Change Communication:

• Promote positive behavior changes by designing culturally sensitive messages aimed at improving health, hygiene, and protection outcomes in the community.
• Encourage community members to actively participate in mass campaigns and outreach service delivery events.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Other Duties:

• Document outreach activities, attendance, and community feedback to inform program adjustments and learning.
• Contribute to periodic reporting, success stories, and case studies reflecting community impact.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Stay abreast of developments in conflict sensitive programming and humanitarian response.
• Perform other duties as necessary, commensurate with professional background and experience, as deemed by the supervisor.
• Willingness to travel frequently to rural communities.
• Adherence to project policies on gender equality and conflict sensitivity.
• Collaborate with other project teams

Desired Qualification

• Diploma or degree in Sociology, Community Development, or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in community engagement or outreach.
• Fluency in local languages (Hausa/Kanuri) is essential.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Resident of Bun Yadi