Project Officer – Community Engagement At Catholic Relief Services



Job Title: Project Officer – Community Engagement (02)
Department: Programs
Supervisor: Program Manager II- AEGIS
Grade: 7
Location/Country: Yumbe/Uganda

About Catholic Relief Services:
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health (including malaria), agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to address needs across the country. CRS’ projects in Uganda currently include agriculture and value chain, landscape restoration and climate change adaption, health and health systems strengthening, microfinance, and DRR, humanitarian response and recovery. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with other organizations, including the Catholic Church, faith-based organizations, international and Ugandan NGOs, government ministries, private sector companies and academia, for maximum impact and sustainability. CRS Uganda employs around 180 staff and has its main office in Kampala, with sub-offices in Moroto, Yumbe, and Kikuube districts.

Background:
CRS is a sub-recipient on the Advancing Evidence for the Global Implementation of Spatial Repellents (AEGIS) project, led by the University of Notre Dame (UND) in the United States. In Uganda, CRS is responsible for leading an Operations Research aimed at comparing the effectiveness of a novel vector control, known as a passive emanating spatial repellent, between two operational program delivery channels. The study will be conducted in Northern Uganda’s Bidibidi Refugee Settlement.

Job Summary:
As a member of the Advancing Evidence for the Global Implementation of Spatial Repellents (AEGIS) project team, you will monitor and report on all project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:
• Develop and maintain relationships with the different Bidibidi settlement stakeholders, community, Institutions, NGOs.
• Execute community engagement strategies. Host regular meetings to develop partnerships and build rapport internally or externally.
• Lead the coordination and implementation of all community engagement activities in zones and clusters as outlined in the protocol and SOPs in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Develop communication strategies including designing messages in local languages and poster(s) as well as coordinating field sensitization activities.
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified in community engagement activities to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project interventions.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools.
• Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
• Complete project documentation for community engagement activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.

Required Education Background and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in communication, sociology, social sciences or related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in community engagement, public relations, productive partnerships development.
• Experience in health and for an NGO would be a plus.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Personal Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
• Participatory approaches and methodologies that generate interest and active prolonged stakeholder engagement.
• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Required Languages: English and local languages used in Bidibidi refugee settlement (Juba Arabic and Lugbara-Ti) and host communities (Kakwa).
Travel Required: Must be willing and able to travel up to 80% in settlements.

Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory: Volunteer Health Teams (VHT’s) and Voucher Distributors
Internal: In Yumbe: Program Manager, Social science Manager, Project Officer, Social Science Officer, Head of Office, MEAL Manager, Yumbe program and operations team. In Kampala: Director of Health and Social science services, Sr. Program Manager for Emergencies, Head of Programs, Country Representative.
External: IDRC staff

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:
• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

DISCLAIMER CLAUSE:

This job description is not an exhaustive list of skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.

Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding related topics.

CRS Uganda is an Equal Opportunity Employer!

How to apply

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

The deadline for receiving applications is no later than June 19, 2023, before 5 PM.

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