National Community Engagement Officer

[Erbil,Iraq ]

Context:

 

The Return and Recovery Unit (RRU) within IOM Iraq works to remove the initial obstacles to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) return in Iraq’s post-conflict areas and lay the foundation for longer-term recovery, economic development, and reconstruction in general. RRU’s engagement includes activities related to data and research, leadership of coordination and strategy development mechanisms and field-level activities such as housing, livelihoods, basic services rehabilitation, social cohesion, and other activities.

Under the general supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM), the overall supervision of the Head, Return and Recovery Unit, the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator for Durable Solutions and Community Engagement and of the Programme Coordinator, in coordination with Regional Program Coordinator, the successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the successful implementation of RRU’s activities related to community engagement . The National Community Engagement Field Officer is responsible for supporting the coordination, planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of community-based interventions that increase access to essential services, community resilience, and reintegration capacity.

To fulfill this role the Community Engagement National Field Officer will manage Regional Community Engagement staff and will spend a substantial percentage of her/his time working outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of respective stakeholders. S/he provides timely analysis on the situation in the field, highlighting important political, social, security, and economic developments affecting operational areas.

 

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

 

1. Provides technical guidance in the application of community-based standards, operational procedures, and practices at the field level.
2. In close collaboration with the CE Officer, contribute to the development of technical guidance, tools and approaches, and coordinate the operational roll out of these tool and ways of working, including through quality monitoring and control of implementation in the field locations across areas of operation. Provides support to the development and roll out of learning materials, training, and guidance to staff on best practices for community-based interventions.
3. Under the guidance of the Programme Coordinator, the officer manages regional Community Engagement staff and coordinates with respective field teams, other technical teams and IOM units to facilitate integrated and holistic implementation of activities.
4. Provide technical guidance to Regional CE staff and operational teams for the implementation of community engagement activities providing technical support, mentoring and capacity strengthening support to field teams.
5. Undertake technical assistance missions to support field level initiatives; identify, review, and map out essential experiences and as well as capacity and operational gaps concerning community engagement in the field.
6. Through relationships with affected populations and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on programming, while remaining fully informed about community structures and power dynamics within respective communities through the development of strong links with communities and relevant stakeholders.
7. Ensure that the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the communities are reflected in the rollout of strategies and implementation plans.
8. In collaboration with the CE Officer, support the capacity building of community engagement field teams to ensure the successful roll-out of community-based interventions related to livelihood, infrastructure, reintegration case management, youth empowerment, gender mainstreaming and women participation, awareness raising and sensitization, and community governance and self-management initiatives.
9. Rviews and analyses community engagement processes and identifies challenges and issues to be addressed and opportunities.
10. Liaises with local and governmental officials, UN counterparts, local and international organizations, clusters, related to the implementation of activity and roll out of work plans.
11. Conducts location desk review and development of community profiles, field assessment, and draft reports upon requests.
12. Facilitate the integration of cross-cutting issues in all approaches and activities, notably Protection mainstreaming, Gender mainstreaming, Disability inclusion and Conflict-sensitivity.
13. Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Context:

 

The Return and Recovery Unit (RRU) within IOM Iraq works to remove the initial obstacles to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) return in Iraq’s post-conflict areas and lay the foundation for longer-term recovery, economic development, and reconstruction in general. RRU’s engagement includes activities related to data and research, leadership of coordination and strategy development mechanisms and field-level activities such as housing, livelihoods, basic services rehabilitation, social cohesion, and other activities.

Under the general supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM), the overall supervision of the Head, Return and Recovery Unit, the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator for Durable Solutions and Community Engagement and of the Programme Coordinator, in coordination with Regional Program Coordinator, the successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the successful implementation of RRU’s activities related to community engagement . The National Community Engagement Field Officer is responsible for supporting the coordination, planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of community-based interventions that increase access to essential services, community resilience, and reintegration capacity.

To fulfill this role the Community Engagement National Field Officer will manage Regional Community Engagement staff and will spend a substantial percentage of her/his time working outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of respective stakeholders. S/he provides timely analysis on the situation in the field, highlighting important political, social, security, and economic developments affecting operational areas.

 

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

 

1. Provides technical guidance in the application of community-based standards, operational procedures, and practices at the field level.
2. In close collaboration with the CE Officer, contribute to the development of technical guidance, tools and approaches, and coordinate the operational roll out of these tool and ways of working, including through quality monitoring and control of implementation in the field locations across areas of operation. Provides support to the development and roll out of learning materials, training, and guidance to staff on best practices for community-based interventions.
3. Under the guidance of the Programme Coordinator, the officer manages regional Community Engagement staff and coordinates with respective field teams, other technical teams and IOM units to facilitate integrated and holistic implementation of activities.
4. Provide technical guidance to Regional CE staff and operational teams for the implementation of community engagement activities providing technical support, mentoring and capacity strengthening support to field teams.
5. Undertake technical assistance missions to support field level initiatives; identify, review, and map out essential experiences and as well as capacity and operational gaps concerning community engagement in the field.
6. Through relationships with affected populations and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on programming, while remaining fully informed about community structures and power dynamics within respective communities through the development of strong links with communities and relevant stakeholders.
7. Ensure that the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the communities are reflected in the rollout of strategies and implementation plans.
8. In collaboration with the CE Officer, support the capacity building of community engagement field teams to ensure the successful roll-out of community-based interventions related to livelihood, infrastructure, reintegration case management, youth empowerment, gender mainstreaming and women participation, awareness raising and sensitization, and community governance and self-management initiatives.
9. Rviews and analyses community engagement processes and identifies challenges and issues to be addressed and opportunities.
10. Liaises with local and governmental officials, UN counterparts, local and international organizations, clusters, related to the implementation of activity and roll out of work plans.
11. Conducts location desk review and development of community profiles, field assessment, and draft reports upon requests.
12. Facilitate the integration of cross-cutting issues in all approaches and activities, notably Protection mainstreaming, Gender mainstreaming, Disability inclusion and Conflict-sensitivity.
13. Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Education

 

• Master’s degree in Political, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Human Rights, International Relations, Law or any related field from an accredited academic institution , or
• University degree from an accredited institution with 2 years of relevant professional experience.

 

Experience

 

• Knowledge and experience in community mobilization, civil society strengthening, capacity building and training of community groups, organizations, and authorities.
• Must have working knowledge of conceptualizing, implementing, and monitoring community-based interventions and initiatives.
• Thorough understanding of the Iraqi civil society context and knowledge of recent political developments and social conditions.
• Previous working experience in Iraq or the Middle East and Northern Africa region is advantageous.
• Willing to conduct constant travel within the Area of Responsibility.

 

Languages

 

• English, Kurdish and Arabic are required.
• Any other language is an advantage.

 

Required Competencies

 

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies:

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

 

Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

• Fosters a sense of team spirit by developing a shared understanding, accountability and enthusiasm for the team’s work.
• Displays a high level of cultural awareness, sensitivity to different ways of working and leverages individual strengths in order to build a better team.
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and ensures that the contribution of others is recognized.
• Helps create a positive team spirit, putting aside personal considerations to help the team achieve its goals.

 

Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

 

• Produces high-quality results and workable solutions that meet clients’ needs.
• Anticipates constraints, identifies solutions and takes responsibility for addressing critical situations.
• Monitors own and others’ work in a systematic and effective way, ensuring required resources and outputs.
• Aligns projects with Organization’s mission and objectives and demonstrates a good understanding of the impact of team’s and own work on external and internal counterparts.

 

Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

• Disseminates and shares knowledge openly and actively contributes to knowledge/network communities for topics relevant to area of expertise.
• Encourages knowledge-sharing across units/departments and ensures that knowledge is captured, recorded and disseminated appropriately.
• Builds networks for the effective communication and exchange of knowledge and ideas and puts others into contact with various sources of knowledge.
• Contributes to an environment that is conducive to innovation and learning.

 

Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.

 

• Proactively seeks responsibility in delivering towards the goals of the Organization.
• Plans and organizes work with a clear and deliberate focus, ensuring commitments are easily identified and progress is widely communicated.
• Stands by the actions of team or department, publicly accepting ownership.
• Takes responsibility of own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

 

Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

 

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
• Seeks to share information with others, with due respect for diversity and the confidentiality of specific sensitive information.
• Listens and seeks to understand without bias, and responds appropriately.
• Shares information and keeps others up to date; actively seeks others’ views and ideas and respects their contribution.

While this vacancy is open to both Internals and Externals, priority shall be given to qualified Internal applicants.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via a link:

 

https://iraq.iom.int/jobs/national-community-engagement-officer

 

For an application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts online profiles duly completed. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.