CARE International is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to saving lives and ending poverty. We work in over 94 countries around the world to provide over 1000 poverty-fighting development and humanitarian aid projects.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Community Engagement Officer

Location: Damaturu, Yobe
Employment Type: Contract

Job Summary

• CARE Nigeria is seeking the engagement of a Community Engagement Officer for the implementation of the Covid-19 Collaborative project.
• The Project seeks to improve COVID-19 vaccination coverage by increasing vaccine confidence, acceptance, and uptake in vulnerable communities in Yobe State, and document and share those lessons and approaches broadly.
• The Community Engagement Officer will be responsible for quality implementation of community dialogue and communication activities for social behavioural change in the community in collaboration with community engagement facilitators.
• S/He will also be responsible for monitoring and evaluation of community dialogue and communication activities to improve community leaders and frontline health workers capacity to provide accurate information and address misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines, increase community participation and accountability in the equitable distribution and administration of COVID 19 vaccines and strengthen community engagement in preventing and responding to COVID-19 in Damaturu, Potiskum, Bade and Nguru LGAs of Yobe State.
• S/He shall supervise community-based facilitator and train them to conduct Social Analysis and Action with individuals and communities to challenges beliefs and practices related to vaccines hesitancy and COVID-19 prevention behaviors and vaccine confidence/equity.
• Train community facilitators (health promotion officers) to provide clarity on vaccine product safety, efficacy and dosing regimens, and access points/requirements for vaccination and facilitate referrals between local populations and health facilities in each LGA of coverage to vaccine access points.

Job Responsibilities
Project Planning and Implementation (50%):

• Drawing from the objectives and agreed upon key activities in the project proposal, develop detailed quarterly implementation plans and related budgets while ensuring synergies among other HER-related projects within the operational areas.
• Lead the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Activities to address social behavioural change of communities towards Covid-19 vaccines and general immunizations.
• Conduct a Social Analysis and Action with individuals and communities to challenges beliefs and practices related to vaccines hesitancy and COVID-19 prevention behaviors and vaccine confidence/equity.
• Training of community facilitators (health promotion officers) to provide clarity on vaccine product safety, efficacy and dosing regimens, and access points/requirements for vaccination.
• Facilitate referrals between local populations and health facilities in each LGA of coverage to vaccine access points.
• Conduct Community Score Card to monitor the allocation, distribution, and administration of covid-19 vaccines.
• Organize media and visibility events to build vaccine confidence among target populations in collaboration with state, community, and religious leadership.
• Establish/Strengthen existing Ward Development Committees on COVID-19 Response made up of diverse community leaders, youth groups, and women’s groups, people living with disabilities etc.
• Support WDCs to develop action plans for scaling up sensitization and awareness activities on Covid-19 vaccines.
• Train Community Focal points (WDC members) on Covid-19 infection prevention and control.
• Organize community dialogue sessions to support trust-building between the people and the various actors in the continuum of care process. This will provide an opportunity for community members to get to know the healthcare workers in their community and facilitate linkage to facilities.
• Conduct monthly review sessions with community stakeholders to assess satisfaction with linkage to COVID-19 vaccine services.

Management of Relationships with INGOs and Other External Stakeholders (20%):

• Build and manage relationships with the sister INGOs, Government ministries, departments and agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the State Ministry of Health on COVID-19 vaccine roll-out campaigns, programming, using community influencers.
• Lead and influence the state-level Covid-19 Advocacy Group and collaborate with the State Covid-19 Taskforce.
• Interface with other CARE projects, especially Covid-19 Fast and Fair, Covid-19 Vaccine Equity and Lafiya Yara projects in the communities of intersection for synergy.
• Responsible for carrying out relevant advocacy, coordination and accompany or represent the Program Manager on external engagement activities with State Government Ministries/ departments, other NGOs, UN agencies, donors.
• Attend & facilitate coordination and networking meetings with relevant partners, community leaders, support groups and other stakeholders on Covid-19 activities.
• Ensure that Covid-19 risk communication and community engagement concerns and needs are mainstreamed into other sectors of intervention implemented by CARE and other actors.
• Lead in promoting a positive profile CARE’s advocacy work on Covid-19 among other sectors, partners, donors and the community members.

Staff Management and Supervision (20%):

• Effectively supervise all direct reports in the performance of their duties
• Proactively address performance issues of Community Facilitators through regular, constructive and honest feedback and coaching.
• Ensure levels of authority and responsibility are clearly defined, understood and followed by direct reports.
• Collaborate with sector leads to identify and promote advocacy issues where needed and in line with CARE’s mandate in Nigeria and ensure internal coordination and harmonization of Health-related activities with CARE Nigeria’s overall program strategy.

Other Responsibilities as Assigned (10%):

• Participate in the development of new projects

Qualifications (Know-how)
Required:

• Registered Nurse / CHEW / Midwife or public health with extensive experience in Risk Communication and Community Engagement.

Desired:

• Previous experience in a similar role with CARE or any INGO
• Similar implementation experience in any of the 4 LGAs in Yobe.

Skills and Technical Experience:
Required:

• At least 3 years’ field level experience in working with community volunteers and managing diverse partners strongly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge and at least 3 years of proven practical community engagement experience (managing integrated activities at once), including strong skills and experience in M&E processes, report writing, participatory planning, community entry.
• Previous experience in reproductive health and protection is an asset.
• Previous experience in working with community health structures is an asset.
• Clear communication and people skills.
• Coordination and networking.
• Leadership abilities for diverse teams
• Problem-solving skills that lead to feasible resolutions for the future
• Ability to organize large scale projects or departments.

Desired:

• Good command of English and any of the following languages: Hausa/Kanuri/Karai karai/Barde
• Coordination and networking

Competencies:

• Interpersonal Savvy
• Building Effective Teams
• Cross-Cultural Agility
• Integrity and Trust
• Drive for Results
• Comfort Around Higher Management
• Creativity
• Presentation Skills
• Written Communications.

Application Closing Date
6th April, 2022.