Job ID
38936
Job Title
Community Engagement Assistant - Road to Resilience: Making Rural Agricultural Communities in Syria more viable (RRMACS)
To work for
Aga Khan Foundation
Country
Syria
City
Hamah
Field of Work
Agriculture - R&D | Projects - Humanitarian/Disasters
Job Type
Project Based
Military service
Finished or Exempted (For male)
Minimum Education Level
Bachelor/ License Degree
Responsibilities
Road to Resilience: Making Rural Agricultural Communities in Syria more viable (RRMACS) aims to enhance the resilience of rural communities, with a particular focus on women and youth in six target governorates: Hama, Homs, Aleppo, Rural Damascus, Tartus, and Sweida. This will be achieved through (i) engaging the small-holder farmers in Farmers Groups and enhancing the cooperative actions, (ii) strengthening strategic agriculture, horticulture, and livestock value chains (iii) increasing access to agriculture business services and financing.
The Community Engagement Assistant is responsible for the implementation of project activities related to community engagement and participation through mobilizing the targeted communities, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to establish Common Interest Groups (CIGs) in the strategic value chains, empowering and building their capacity to lead participatory and gender-sensitive processes to address the community needs through the implementation. The incumbent will report directly to the Community Engagement Officer.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Contribute to the development of the project Annual Work Plan (AWP). This includes context analysis of project targeted areas, implementation of Participatory Rural Appraisal’s (PRA) activities and processes, and providing evidence-based inputs to plan the project interventions and determine the activities based on the results.
- Participate in Community Models design, identification of targeted areas, and local partners to implement the Community Models.
- Support the target communities to form Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Common Interests Groups (CIGs), and provide technical and mentorship support to CBOs and CIGs to design and establish their governance and management structures compliant with local laws and legislation.
- In close coordination with the Community Engagement Officer build partnership and trust with CBOs, CIGs, and local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and facilitate their access to and collaboration with the project.
- Support the project team and project experts and consultants to conduct all studies and research in the project target areas.
- Support the project staff in the introduction and adaptation of climate-smart and sustainable management practices in livestock and camel husbandry, poultry, and fishing among the members of supported CIGs and other smallholder farmers in the project-targeted areas.
- Contribute to the process of training need assessment of CIGs and partner CSOs.
- In collaboration with the Community Engagement Officer and other project team, design and implement a capacity building plan, which includes providing training on governance and managerial skills, peace building, effective dialogue, conflict mitigation and management, planning and implementation of gender-sensitive and climate resilient initiatives, and other instructional capacity building training and exposure to best practices.
- Track and follow up with the CBOs, CIGs and local CSOs on the community models’ establishment process, and later on managing of the community models, ensuring that all activities are implemented in accordance with AKF and donor policies, procedures and requirements.
- In coordination the Community Engagement Officer and of MERL Officer, support and participate in M&E activities including baseline/end-line/midterm assessments, project-related surveys and data and information collection.
- Support the development of project communication materials such as case studies, success/human stories and best practices.
- Contribute to the development of project progress reports by providing evidence-based narrative information, data and analysis. Provide periodic (monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc) reports to line manager.
- Support the design and implementation of community-based initiatives, and small grants for CBOs/ CIGs/LNGOs, which includes but not limited to overseeing and providing technical support in the process of proposal development, developing sub-grant agreements, tracking and monitoring the implementation of small grants, and ensuring implementation compliance with AKF’s small grants policy and procedures.
The Community Engagement Assistant is responsible for the implementation of project activities related to community engagement and participation through mobilizing the targeted communities, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to establish Common Interest Groups (CIGs) in the strategic value chains, empowering and building their capacity to lead participatory and gender-sensitive processes to address the community needs through the implementation. The incumbent will report directly to the Community Engagement Officer.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Contribute to the development of the project Annual Work Plan (AWP). This includes context analysis of project targeted areas, implementation of Participatory Rural Appraisal’s (PRA) activities and processes, and providing evidence-based inputs to plan the project interventions and determine the activities based on the results.
- Participate in Community Models design, identification of targeted areas, and local partners to implement the Community Models.
- Support the target communities to form Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Common Interests Groups (CIGs), and provide technical and mentorship support to CBOs and CIGs to design and establish their governance and management structures compliant with local laws and legislation.
- In close coordination with the Community Engagement Officer build partnership and trust with CBOs, CIGs, and local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and facilitate their access to and collaboration with the project.
- Support the project team and project experts and consultants to conduct all studies and research in the project target areas.
- Support the project staff in the introduction and adaptation of climate-smart and sustainable management practices in livestock and camel husbandry, poultry, and fishing among the members of supported CIGs and other smallholder farmers in the project-targeted areas.
- Contribute to the process of training need assessment of CIGs and partner CSOs.
- In collaboration with the Community Engagement Officer and other project team, design and implement a capacity building plan, which includes providing training on governance and managerial skills, peace building, effective dialogue, conflict mitigation and management, planning and implementation of gender-sensitive and climate resilient initiatives, and other instructional capacity building training and exposure to best practices.
- Track and follow up with the CBOs, CIGs and local CSOs on the community models’ establishment process, and later on managing of the community models, ensuring that all activities are implemented in accordance with AKF and donor policies, procedures and requirements.
- In coordination the Community Engagement Officer and of MERL Officer, support and participate in M&E activities including baseline/end-line/midterm assessments, project-related surveys and data and information collection.
- Support the development of project communication materials such as case studies, success/human stories and best practices.
- Contribute to the development of project progress reports by providing evidence-based narrative information, data and analysis. Provide periodic (monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc) reports to line manager.
- Support the design and implementation of community-based initiatives, and small grants for CBOs/ CIGs/LNGOs, which includes but not limited to overseeing and providing technical support in the process of proposal development, developing sub-grant agreements, tracking and monitoring the implementation of small grants, and ensuring implementation compliance with AKF’s small grants policy and procedures.
Qualifications
- The applicant must have a university degree in Agriculture, Economics, Social Development or other related fields.
- One year of prior experience in community mobilization and participatory community development with international and/or local NGOs.
- Knowledge and understanding of gender equality principles and integration in project design, planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Diplomacy skills in networking with partners, authorities, and communities.
- Ability to travel and work in other governorates.
- Good communication and problem-solving skills.
- Good command of English and Computer skills.
- Male applicant should have finished their military service, exempted, or postponed for one year at least.
- One year of prior experience in community mobilization and participatory community development with international and/or local NGOs.
- Knowledge and understanding of gender equality principles and integration in project design, planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Diplomacy skills in networking with partners, authorities, and communities.
- Ability to travel and work in other governorates.
- Good communication and problem-solving skills.
- Good command of English and Computer skills.
- Male applicant should have finished their military service, exempted, or postponed for one year at least.
Specific Vacancy Requirements
Deadline for applications submission is Monday April 15th, 2024
Salary and Benefits
According to the Aga Khan Foundation Salary Scale
Health and Life Insurance
Health and Life Insurance
About us
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of development agencies with mandates that include the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, and the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. AKDN agencies conduct their programmes without regard to faith, origin or gender.
Safeguarding Commitments:
AKF is committed to maintaining the highest standard of ethical behaviour among its staff, representatives, and partners to make sure of do no harm of the beneficiaries and whom they deal with. In line with this commitment; the selected Trainer must adhere to the AKF Code of Conduct and the relevant Safeguarding policies
Safeguarding Commitments:
AKF is committed to maintaining the highest standard of ethical behaviour among its staff, representatives, and partners to make sure of do no harm of the beneficiaries and whom they deal with. In line with this commitment; the selected Trainer must adhere to the AKF Code of Conduct and the relevant Safeguarding policies
Required employees number
1
Posted On
Apr 03, 2024
Expiry Date
May 03, 2024
CV Language
English
