Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Community Mobilization Coordinator – Plane

Ref No: 2200043J
Location: Duste, Jigawa
Employee Status: Fixed Term
Reporting To: SBC/Community Mobilization Manager
Grade: 3

Role

• The Community Mobilization Coordinator will provide technical assistance for the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of SBC/community mobilization strategies and strengthening the capacity of SC partners and their frontline workers in SBC/community mobilization. S/he will ensure the utilization of evidence-based, best practices and SC’s global SBC Framework and Process to inform the development of effective SBC strategies, frameworks, tools, materials for the SBC interventions on PLANE Window 3 in consultation with the SBC Manager.
• The post holder will also support SC’s efforts to address the demand side barriers to education, particularly for out of school children, including girls and children living with disabilities, through SBC technical assistance.
• Under the guidance of the SBC Manager and Field Manager Kaduna/Jigawa, the Community Mobilization Coordinator will also support SC’s efforts in creating equitable Partnerships with communities, local  and consortium partners that relate to the project’s SBC components. Specifically, this work will entail support to PMC, the consortium partner with whom SC has joint plans and a teaming agreement to incorporate SBC interventions within this project, develop SBC strategic plans, coordinate delivery of community-based interventions and help manage relationships with state and local partners.

Main Responsibilities
Programme Support (typically will be at field level):

• Under the leadership of an SBC Manager and Field Manager in Kaduna/Jigawa, and working with other team members, the post holder will;
• Provide technical support to evidence-informed SBC approaches and activities to influence shifts in community norms, attitudes and behaviours  in support of learning by households and communities;
• Provide oversight and coordinate day to day implementation, monitoring and suppervision of community mobilization activities across implementation LGAs and communities, in collaboration with project partners, government and community stakeholders against intended objectives, targets, and timelines;
• Provide technical support in the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of a comprehensive SBC strategy, in close coordination with other technical colleagues and PMC;
• Collaborate with MEAL colleagues to contribute to formative research and evaluation protocols, tools, training, data collection, analysis and report writing;
• Work with PMC to develop, adapt and pretest SBCC packages (framework, tools, messages, and materials) on community support to learning for use by PMC and community volunteers;
• Contribute to development of detailed implementation plans, work plans and budgets for PMC and SC-supported SBC interventions, and support high quality and timely delivery of deliverables against intended objectives, targets, and timelines;
• Facilitate and maintain relationship with community leaders, community members and structures such as SBMCs, WDCs and community focal persons;
• Supervise recruitment of community volunteers and facilitators in consultation with community leaders and LGA partners
• Prepare required reporting for social and behavior change activities.

Capacity Strengthening:

• Coordinate SBC program components, including undertaking field visits to partners to oversee implementation, provide on-site feedback and supportive supervision on required improvements, and generate field visit reports with timely and appropriate follow-up on action points;
• Provide ongoing training, mentoring and support to community mobilisation officers, and partner staff, including community focal persons, encourage the development of peer networks and learning opportunities, including through review meetings.

Partner Management:

• Under the supervision of the SBC Manager, liaise and maintain relationships with PMC, SC’s communication partner, with whom the organization has joint ambition/plans/teaming agreement on the SBC and communication components for PLANE;
• Ensure that all supported SBC activities from Partners are appropriately planned and delivered, and report on progress monthly;
• Provide support and ensure the quality of the work of SC and partners’ selected consultants and staff working on community mobilisation and support to learning.

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Ensure that Save the Children’s and PMC’s work is coordinated with other agencies and the Government’s efforts and support Interagency Coordination forums, advocating for the specific needs of children. This may involve supporting coordination working groups within the  project supported communities, LGAs and at the State level;
• In cooperation with Advocacy team, ensure community-based and social accountability initiatives are linked with policy influencing;
• Contribute to communications and media work as required through correction of data and information and sharing with the project heads;
• In cooperation with the MEAL Team, provide tools and support to project staff for the effective monitoring and evaluation of SBC and community capacity strengthening efforts, enabling measurable outcomes and impact to be demonstrated;
• Ensure documentation and dissemination of programme results, including success stories and case studies in close coordination with SCI Nigeria’s Knowledge Management team;
• Ensure that all materials produced have been posted to PLANE’s Sharepoint/Onenet site, SC workplace and external platforms in collaboration with the CO Media and Comms Team;
• Ensure the PLANE experience and learning is shared and given recognition at stakeholder meetings, workshops, donors and other engagements.

General:

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practices concerning child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.

Core Behaviours
Understanding community contexts and application of community mobilisation and humanitarian principles:

• Ensures that program goals and activities uphold the principles of the critical national and international humanitarian frameworks, codes, and commitments as well as Save the Children’s community mobilisation principles and UNICEF’s Community Engagement Standards
• Integrates to communities accountability principles into their approach to engaging with communities.

Achieving results effectively:

• Ensures efficient and transparent use of resources following internal controls
• Establishes effective engagement mechanisms with community and institutional structures and leadership.
• Addresses difficult situations and makes tough decisions confidently and calmly
• Considers the broader impact of decisions in the short and long term.
• Continuously provides feedback and updates to achieve improved results
• Coordinates with stakeholders to avoid duplication and maximize resources
• Documents lessons learned and applied them to future projects.

Maintaining and developing collaborative relationships:

• Actively listens to different perspectives and experiences of stakeholders
• Engages with project participants in a way that empowers and facilitates community-led / collective action
• Actively participates in networks to access and contribute to good practice
• Demonstartes good understanding of local cultures and establishes and maintains clear communication and dialogue with project participants, including community formal and informal leadership, school staff and management structures, and existing community structures.
• Establishes clear objectives with teams and individuals and monitors progress and performance.

Operating safely and securely:

• Identifies and communicates risk and threats and minimizes these for oneself and the organization
• Takes measures to do no harm and to minimize risks for partners and the communities
• Reduces vulnerability by complying with safety and security protocols set by the organization

Managing yourself in a pressured and changing environment:

• Helps team members to practice stress management through prioritization of workloads and modeling of appropriate self-care
• Remains effective and retains perspective in the face of complex or demanding situations
• Demonstrates personal integrity by using one’s position responsibly and fairly
• Maintains ethical and professional behavior following relevant codes of conduct
• Plans, prioritize and perform tasks well under pressure
• Takes responsibility for own work and the impact of own actions

Leadership: Action; Thinking; Self; Inspiring; Developing Others:

• Builds own awareness of the bigger global picture by using a broad range of sources to gather data
• Demonstrates approachability and trust by listening carefully to others and valuing their contribution, and making others feel comfortable by being open and honest about their thoughts and feelings
• Demonstrates self-development and management by taking responsibility for own development and actively seeking out feedback to understand their strengths and weaknesses better
• Makes positive statements about work
• Effectively influences others by understanding their interests and showing how they will be met by own preferred solution
• Gives constructive feedback to enhance capabilities and responsibilities to another for their development.

Qualifications & Experience
Essential:

• Master’s Degree in Social or Behavioral Sciences, Public Health, Education, Nutrition, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or related fields;
• At least five years of  SBC/community mobilization-specific experience in planning, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of SBC strategies and materials as well as related training;
• Experience in planning and implementing participatory learning and community action approaches
• Experienced in pre-testing and concept-testing of SBC approaches and content;
• Master trainer and a good facilitator;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to lead a stream of work;
• Ability to work independently as well as in cooperation with a multi-cultural team;
• Ability to think creatively and strategically;
• The proven capacity of management, leadership, and teamwork;
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive, and empathize with all beneficiaries and their carers;
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions;
• Ability to supervise and work collaboratively with community structures;
• Demonstrable ability at report writing ;
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment;
• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills;
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English and Local languages (Hausa);
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field;
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values, and principles;
• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office)

Desirable:

• Experience in conducting formative research, concept-testing and community mapping

Working Conditions

• Ability and willingness to travel and work in project locations, including working in rural communities, unusual hours and stressful and insecure environments.

Application Closing Date
8th June, 2022.