Community Engagement Officer Job – International Justice Mission (IJM)

Job Title:   Community Engagement Officer (3 Fresher Jobs)   

Organisation: International Justice Mission (IJM)

Duty Station:  Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Napak, Uganda

Reports to: Project Coordinator – Karamoja Region

About US:

International Justice Mission (IJM) is an international human rights organization that works to ensure that all, especially the most vulnerable, have proper and appropriate access to justice. IJM has been delivering ground-breaking partnerships with justice sector actors and governments globally for over 20 years, offering collaborative casework, mentoring and system reform to ensure that justice systems work for all, especially the vulnerable and marginalized.

About IRISH Aid – IJM Project:

The Government of Ireland project with IJM is a multi-year project that aims to strengthen protection mechanisms within the justice sector and local community structures as a way of ending violence against women and girls (VAWG).

As part of the project, International Justice Mission will work in 5 districts in the Karamoja region through its mentoring and collaborative casework model to improve survivor and community knowledge of justice essential services, strengthen and improve the coordination of services, incorporate survivor voice, empower survivors, and strengthen accountability of justice services to communities. IJM will use this innovative, evidence-based model to implement 3 specific objectives on the project.

Job Summary:  The Community engagement officer will among other responsibilities be the main liaison between IJM and the community in the project districts. The officer will be at the forefront of contributing to and implementing engagement plans and strategies for community engagement in fulfillment of the project goals and objectives

The officer will develop and maintain positive working relationship between the IJM team and various stakeholders in the community and the district. Lead the planning for and development of activities designed to equip local leaders and communities to support VAWG survivors. Lead the formation of survivor groups within communities

Curate learnings from engagement with the community to support alignment of IJM programs and activities to effectively respond to VAWC. The incumbent will lead the engagement with Local leaders to empower them be effective first responders to protect women and children against violence

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Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure appropriate consultation of community stakeholders before the implementation of activities and feedback concerns, suggestions to the project for them to be considered.
• Ensure that the community level dialogue is inclusive by supporting the mapping of key stakeholders in the districts.
• Integrate Community engagement into IJM strategies, operational frameworks, policies, and plans, setting out how community engagement activities and approaches will be implemented in the context of Karamoja.
• Ensure programme staff have a full understanding of the communities they are working with, including the community dynamics, culture, and power relations between different groups.
• Develop strong and open relationships with key community stakeholders and establish community committees or representatives if needed, ensuring they fairly represent the full cross-section of the community, including men, women, boys, girls, and vulnerable groups.
• Based on community feedback and assessment data, identify, and utilise the best communication approaches to provide communities with relevant and actionable interventions for the mitigation and response to VAWG in the region.
• Produce and disseminate internal and external reports, evaluations, brochures, case studies and web stories that demonstrate the impact of Community Engagement, promote it to new audiences, and raise the profile of IJMs operations in Karamoja.
• Support programmes and operations to adopt innovative approaches and evidence-based advocacy to better understand and engage with communities in Karamoja on VAWG and behaviour change issues.
• Carry out regular checks as part of monitoring to ensure behaviour and social change approaches are appropriate and are having an impact on communities and adapted as and when needed.
• Support the Knowledge and Awareness community outreach campaigns (IEC Materials, Door to door campaigns, use of megaphones, Radio Talk shows, Billboards, Community Drives using PA System, Community Drama groups, Community Radios) which seek to address prevalent VAWG issues in the community.

Key Deliverables

• Participate in the formulation and the implementation of a stakeholder engagement strategy at community level in duty location.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of all stakeholders IJM is working with and coordinate all activities at the duty station.
• Prepare quality activity and monthly reports to be submitted to the coordinator.
• Take part in the risk management for Irish Aid project for issues related to stakeholders’ acceptance of the project and reporting activities in the district.
• Participate in the monitoring and evaluation of the engagement and stakeholder’s acceptance level for the project.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal candidate for the Community Engagement Officer job must hold a bachelor’s degree or its Equivalent in Community psychology, Adult & Community Education, Development Studies, Social Work, communications, Social Sciences or related field.
• At least two to three years of community engagement work and technical assistance experience in addressing issues of Gender Based Violence.
• Professional and able to communicate clearly, with clients, communities, and staff.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent English.
• Knowledge of Nga’karimojong and other locally spoken languages is a requirement.
• Must reside in either Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Napak.
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), or government agency implementing related interventions.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to analyse and interpret data, identify errors, and prepare reports.
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action with the goals and objectives of the project in mind.
• Has sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas.

How to Apply:

All interested candidates should email their Application, CV, and statement of faith to ugandarecruiting@ijm.org

Only Shortlisted Candidates will be contacted

What is a statement of faith? A statement of faith should describe your Christian faith and how you see it as relevant to your involvement with IJM. The statement can either be incorporated into the cover letter or submitted as a separate document and should include, at a minimum, a description of your spiritual disciplines (prayer, study, etc.) and your current fellowship or place of worship.

Deadline: 16^th January 2023