Community Mobilization Officer

Job Description

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for the technical expertise on approaches and methods for organizing broad scale community engagement and support for the SSSNP project. Through his/her work the Community Mobilization Officer will seek to increase community (local authorities and beneficiaries) involvement through working with the all institutional arrangements agreed upon in the project. This selected candidate will also provide inputs to the development of training materials relevant to community mobilization.

Scope of Work

The Community Mobilization Officer will be a member of the UNOPS Project Management Team (PMT) and she/he will be responsible for:

• Coordinate and supervise the work of community mobilization teams in all the project field locations, including the preparation of the terms of reference, facilitation of recruitment and monitoring of work/results;
• Analyze collected information from the target locations and prepare summaries, briefing notes, implementation plans and roadmaps;
• Prepare and implement a coordinated response to the needs of the communities;
• Design and plan out processes and systems to improve and expand SSSNP support;
• In collaboration with other teams (e.g. Public works, M and E, Environmental and Social Safeguards, cash and communication) implement mobilization strategy guided by the project documents and strategy;
• Ensure the integration of community mobilization activities into communication and advocacy campaigns and initiatives;
• Provide mentorship to the community mobilization field staff and to communities when it is needed;
• Ensure close and effective collaboration with all key stakeholders and ensure their active participation in all project activities and committees;
• Ensure community participation includes the most vulnerable and marginalized groups;
• Leads needs assessments in target areas to inform program development and implementation utilizing tools developed by the other project sections;
• Supervise the preparation of training plans for field teams, stakeholders or focal points;
• Promote the Project by providing substantive input for stories, articles and other PR activities in consultation with the Communication and Reporting Officer;
• Perform other duties as required.

Building partnerships with Project stakeholders and partners:

• Lead the work to expand cooperation between communities and the local authorities for the implementation of the project and to ensure local needs, priorities and initiatives are integrated into the planning of the local authorities;
• Ensure close coordination with the activities of other UN agencies, with special focus on those by WFP, UN Women, UNFPA and UNICEF;
• Ensure awareness about project priorities, strategies and approaches;
• Analyse ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and shares with project management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies;
• Proactively contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Provide support to the Project management and implementation:

• Ensure that all the plans and indicators of the community mobilization team are realistically set and oversight their achievement;
• Contribute effectively to the regular programme reports to the donors.

Measurable outputs of the work assignment:

• Monthly/quarterly/annual/ad hoc reports, risks assessments are prepared and updated;
• Programme activities implemented in keeping with personal work plan;
• Community workshops, focus group Discussions and other meetings organized and supported;
• All programme activities implemented in keeping with project Mobilization and Communications Strategies and using the community based methodology;
• All assignments performed in a quality and timely manner.

Education:

• Masters degree or advanced degree in Public Administration or Political Science or Social Science or Law or International Relations or Business Administration or relevant field is required.
• Bachelor degree in Public Administration or Political Science or Social Science or Law or International Relations or Business Administration or relevant field with additional 4 years relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Masters degree

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years relevant experience in humanitarian activities and/or public works and/or food security and/or community mobilization or related area is required.
• Experience in community development, and civic engagement is an added advantage;
• Experience in preparation of the methodologies, guidebooks, analytical reports is an asset;
• Experience with a multilateral or international technical assistance or development organizations would be an asset;
• Knowledge of local community development principles, trends, and policies in South Sudan is an asset;
• Skills to prioritize and use of political judgment is an asset;
• Knowledge and experience of UN and World Bank systems is an added advantage.
• Skills in Communication and People Management is required.

• Fluent working knowledge of English is essential.
• Knowledge of Arabic language is desired.

About the Organization

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.