If you are qualified Somali National looking for a chance to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable Somali children while gaining opportunities for career growth, you are invited to apply for the Social mobilization & Development Officer, with UNICEF Somalia, North West Zone Programme to be based in Bossaso.
Kenya Jobs: Project Officer (Social mobilization & Development Officer)
Category and Grade Level: NOB
Type of Contract: Fixed Term – 1 Year
Post Number 72327
Organization Unit: Programme
Duty Station: UNICEF Somalia - (Bossaso)
Date of Issue: 15th August 2011
Closing date of Application: 30th August 2011
If successful, you’ll be part of a dynamic and passionate team in Somalia and Nairobi that works together to improve the health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and basic education of Somali girls and boys and protect them from violence, exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate will be offered a Fixed Term Appointment for one year. Further extensions will be based on organizational needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
Purpose of the Post:
Under the supervision of the Social Policy, Planning & Monitoring (SPPM) programme specialist, the general guidance of the Chief of Field Office (CFO) in close collaboration with the JPLG Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for the coordination and technical implementation of UNICEF’s Community Development work through the Joint Programme on Hocal Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG) aimed to strengthen the community role in planning and participation in [district] decision making processes, and influencing policy reforms including decentralization. The post will represent UNICEF in JPLG team meetings and review workshops in Garowe with UN JPLG partners, local authorities and the inter-ministerial working group at zonal level. The role will also include monitoring the implementation of community mobilization; civic awareness activities; partners’ capacity building for advocacy on children’s and women’s rights; and to support the Chief of Field office in coordination with UNICEF sectoral teams on service provision in line with agreed district/sectoral priorities.
Major duties and responsibilities:
- Provides professional assistance in UNICEF’s engagement in social policy dialogue and community driven development with the Government, maintains constructive dialogue and partnerships between international and local stakeholders to support the development of social policies and programmes contributing to the progressive realization of children’s and women’s rights and strengthening of implementation and monitoring mechanisms at all levels of society, and ensures that the services reach out in innovative, effective ways to those most vulnerable pockets of children and families that have been previously left out.
- In collaboration with UNICEF, UN agencies and government programme officers, designs and manages the implementation of plans of action aiming at: (a) increased community participation in development programmes which include children, women and marginalized groups; and (b) social mobilization of communities and civil society organizations to advocate for increased equitable service delivery and strengthened coordination between sectors and national/sub-national plans.
- Provides on-going support to facilitate decentralization process where the national decentralization process is taking place, collaborates with the central and local authorities to assist in planning, policy discussion and service delivery closely responding to the needs of local communities.
- Manages UNICEF’s inputs in the JPLG for Puntland, specifically the community development aspects of the programme; participates in joint programme review meetings and monitoring of local partners. This includes tracking progress as per the deliverables in the agreements/contracts and the joint work plan, undertaking field visits to review jointly with the communities, progress as far as implementation is concerned and documenting achievements as well as constraints, recommending possible steps for addressing identified constraints in implementation. Is responsible for the development and/or introduction of new approaches, methods and practices in project management and evaluation.
- Analyzes and evaluates zonal policy and programming environment and designs and implements project activities to strengthen the overall policy environment for children, including advocacy for CRC ratification and implementation.
- Participates in planning at the zonal level with partners UN Agencies, Ministries and local NGOs. This includes ensuring that responsibilities assigned to UNICEF under the joint work plan corresponds to UNICEF’s mandate and resources (human and financial), ensuring that lessons learnt from the JPLG pilot project as far as community capacity development is concerned are adopted within the joint programme.
- Collects systematically qualitative data for the sound and up-to-date assessment of the situation of children and women to provide the base-lines for result-based decisions on interventions and evaluations. Provides technical support for the development of information systems for monitoring child rights indicators, with emphasis on community and child participation.
- Supports and contributes zonal inputs to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. Ensures that the community development programming enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.
Qualifications, Experience and Attributes
- University degree in the social/behavioural sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology) or a related field.
- At least five years experience one of which should be at a professional level managing and implementing projects in the area of community mobilization and social development preferably in the areas of participatory planning, social mobilization and community empowerment as a professional level.
- Knowledge of current developments in the fields of adult learning theory, community organization and participation.
- Proven ability to manage budgets, write proposals, project agreement documents
- Strong community communication skills, willingness to spend time in the field
- Training in community planning, behaviour analysis, formative research, and evaluation of communication interventions.
- Ability to research, analyze, evaluate and synthesize information.
- Ability to express clearly and concisely, ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
- Proven skills in communication, networking, advocacy and negotiation, especially at the community level.
- Computer skills, including internet navigation, and various office applications.
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications with updated UN Personal History Form (P.11), updated CV, copies of academic certificates to one of the following addresses. UN staff are requested to provide at least two Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs). Please quote the vacancy number in your application.
Or email to: somaliahrvacancies@unicef.org
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted
QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
UNICEF IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT
