Kenya: Community Engagement Officer

Title: Community Engagement Officer

Ref N: PROG/KEN/-010

Sector: Child Protection

No. of positions: 3

Location of work: Kakamega and Nakuru

Reports to: Project Manager

Start of work: As soon as possible

Duration: 1 year with possibility of renewal

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

CISP is an equal employment opportunity employer with its Headquarters in Rome. Currently CISP has various field offices, including a Regional office in Nairobi. CISP Kenya carries out projects in areas of development by supporting national and county authorities to provide quality, equitable, transparent and accountable services in the sectors of health and nutrition, higher education, child protection and governance.

Job purpose

CISP is leading a consortium of partners to implement a Child Protection project funded by AICS in four sub-Counties in Nakuru and Kakamega Counties. The purpose of this position is to mobilize and engage with community structures and stakeholders, and to initiate community dialogues for a positive change for children in Kakamega/Nakuru Counties. The position will work closely with all other staff in the consortium and other stakeholders to enhance prevention and response mechanisms for child rights violations in the targeted communities.

Role and Responsibilities

• Assume primary responsibility for community dialogues and children empowerment activities (child rights clubs) at field level, and ensure compliance with the discussion tools, project tools and work plan;
• Ensure timely and effective implementation of the supervision and monitoring tools of the community dialogues and child rights clubs;
• Select, train, supervise and mentor the community dialogue leaders for the discussion groups;
• Supervise the community dialogue groups and monitor the communication action plans aiming at changing harmful social norms and improving community awareness on child rights;
• Supervise the activities of the child rights clubs and train, mentor and support the patrons, including regular visits to the community groups and schools with child rights clubs to coordinate discussions/activities and monitor their progress;
• Ensure active collaboration, information sharing and joint meetings with local authorities and other stakeholders to identify and strengthen support for project activities;
• Support in monitoring and liaising with the sub-county Children’s Office staff and other partners providing services to children;
• Support the implementation of the community-led awareness and prevention activities, including participating in the design of BCC materials;
• Ensure timely and accurate data and reports including pictures, good practices, lessons learnt and human interest stories are submitted to the line manager;
• Participate in weekly meetings with line manager to plan, discuss any issues, share ideas and coordinate project activities;
• Ensure child-friendly procedures are included in all activities;
• Assess and share gaps in the field of child protection and initiate partnerships to address those gaps;
• Mentor and coach partner staff on approaches/ methodologies used by CISP on community engagement and social change (community dialogue approach, participatory theatre approach, talk boxes and child rights clubs);
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Profile Required

Educational:

· Bachelor's degree in development studies, project management, child rights, or relevant fields

Technical / Professional:

· Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in child protection or related field with international organizations.

· Good communication skills with fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili

· Knowledge of community-based child protection approaches, preferably including experience in participatory approaches (PRA/PLA) and child participation methodologies.

· Proficiency in IT including ability to use MS application packages (Word, Excel and database software)

· Demonstrate ability to adapt to changing programme priorities

· Demonstrated experience and knowledge in working with rural communities and social norms change related activities.

· Strong self-starter, able to take initiative and adapt to changing circumstances and priorities

· Positive attitude towards community work with emphasis on the ability to learn from communities and support innovative approaches to problem-solving

· Experience in designing and facilitating training sessions

· Strong skills in planning, organizing, cooperation and performance-oriented

· Commitment to CISP Values and Child Protection Policy.

· Have a valid certificate of good conduct.

Please send your application by e-mail to Human resource admin@cisp-nairobi.org,HR@cisp-nairobi.org and cc waduu@cisp-nairobi.org and yorgan@cisp-nairobi.org clearly demonstrating how you meet the qualifications for this position and your expected remuneration, no later than 31^st December 2019 by 5.00 (EAT). For more information about this position, you can contact us through the same email address.

Email subject: “Application for the position of Community Engagement Officer”.

Application to include ALL the following:

• CV (not exceeding 4 pages), including 3 references.

• Cover letter (1 page maximum)

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For more information about CISP, please visit www.cisp-ngo.org.

CISP is strongly committed to ending Child Abuse, all forms of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and to building a work environment that is safe and welcoming for all, where Sexual Harassment does not take place. The desired candidate for any position should share and support this commitment in all aspects of their personal and professional behaviour. Any history implicating that the applicant has a history of Child Abuse, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, or Sexual Harassment, is a reason for excluding him or her from employment with CISP.