Family & Community Strengthening Project Officer (Hosaena)

Who we are

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. We started our humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of our first Village in Mekelle, Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, we have expanded our programs to different regions where there are significant needs for intervention and where we believe we can work in partnership with all relevant actors to bring sustainable positive outcomes for children’s and young people.

Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and those that are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community based organizations across seven program locations; we aspire that every child grows up with love, respect and security.

Why we need you?

We are looking for a Family and Community Strengthening Project Officer who will be responsible for guiding and supporting the work with individual families participating in the project, for whom s/he has been allocated responsibility.

What we provide?

An amazing work environment that promotes personal growth through providing professional space to grow and advance your career!

Your role?

While working with us a Family and Community Strengthening Project Officer you will be in charge of the following,

Programme Implementation

• Facilitate community mobilization sessions together with the community-based organization, local authority, community-based committee and the project coordinator.
• Work towards to the promotion of Community based services in cooperation with the project coordinator and other SOS staff, CBOs, counterparts and beneficiaries
• Implement Family development plan, youth development plan (FDP& YDP), initial assessment and core assessment at household level together with the community-based organization, project coordinator and local authority based on the identified and prioritized needs.
• Record the family data such as Core assessment and FDP in the PDB2 and review and update periodically.
• Participate in strengthening the capacity of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and to enable them support and care for the OVC to ensure sustainability
• Promote community based social integration for the OVC to ensure that children are protected and cared by their community
• Participate in the income generation activities with CBO and beneficiaries
• Collect, analyze, update and compile data and status of beneficiaries on monthly basis kind and government subsidies.
• Support the project coordinator in making appropriate decisions in relation to program activities.
• Ensure gender and disability mainstreaming within the overall project implementation and during the project and program cycle management
• Ensure all project participants have written consent in their folder and updated.

SUPPORT IN BUILDING AND MANAGING POSITIVE relations with the community, volunteers and/or local authorities

• Conduct monthly meetings with the volunteers and beneficiaries, and report on the development
• Provide technical support to the community volunteers and project staff 
• Participate in the Identification of children with psychosocial problems/learning difficulties (if any) and refer them to an appropriate person for early intervention
• Participate in strengthening the capacity of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and to enable them support and care for the OVC to ensure sustainability
• Conduct family visit on regular base and capture the observation in the family book to track the development of the family and make mitigation plan for remedial action.
• Represent the Project as well as the organization at internal and external forums.
• Network and collaborate with government departments and other NGOs involved in capacity building of communities
• Facilitate trainings and ensure trainers have educational background and trainings based on SOS strategic objectives.
• Lead /Support the process of piloting and scaling up local-level beneficiary complaints’ mechanisms concerning co-workers‘ conduct, with an emphasis on the safeguarding policies and measures to prevent sexual exploitation of women and children;

CAPACITY BUDILING OF THE PARTICIPANTS

• Facilitate and arrange project related meetings, trainings and workshops 
• Ensure all training participants are full fill selection criteria and take full responsibility
• Facilitate need based training for project participants and ensure the targets are appropriate for specific trainings.
• Support on developing training and capacity building activities of the target to the project coordinator.

Knowelege management

• Regular develop case and success stories in regular bases based and ensure the stories aligns with the organization and project objectives.
• Collaborate with the project team, community member and other stakeholders to identify best practices.
• Support the MEAL in identifying insight and lesson learned from the project and using the finding as input for future projects.
• Regularly identify areas of enhancement and ensure continuous improvement is applied for the identified areas
•  Recommend innovative ideas to strengthen the project.

Safeguarding (child, young people, adult and asset) and gender Equality

• Ensure that safeguarding and child protection mainstreaming are integrated into all FSCP frameworks through measurable output and outcome indicators.
• Ensure that safeguarding measures are in place within area his/her responsibility and that staff, associates and other key stakeholders are aware of safeguarding principles and measures.
• Ensure and support the process of mainstreaming and integrating safeguarding in all FSCP frameworks through measurable output and outcome indicators;
• Responsible for reporting any safeguarding suspicion, concern, allegation, or incident immediately, following the safeguarding reporting procedures. Safeguarding reports should be made to the Incident Management team at the program level.
• Responsible for ensuring behaviours and all relationships are based on safeguarding and in line with the Code of Conduct and adhering to it in every situation.
• Conduct themselves per the Code of Conduct, Safeguarding and Local/Country Policies and  Procedures;
• Be vigilant about any possible form of abuse/harm, neglect, harassment, or exploitation  against, children, youth and adults in personal and professional lives;
• Report any safeguarding  incident or concern within 24 hours to the Incident Management Team, focal person or concerned party through the defined channels for reporting the allegation

Job Requirements

Up for the challenge...

Then check out our criteria’s:

Must Criteria

• Education: Degree or equivalent qualification in community development social work or sociology or similar discipline

   

• Experience: At least 2-4 years relevant work experience in the field of social services or community development.

  Strong understanding of family and community strengthens programs, child protection, youth development and community development

  Experience working with vulnerable families and communities and coordinate with the local stakeholders, community leaders and local authorities.

  Exposure in capacity building and creating awareness to the community and stakeholders.

Competencies – Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Understanding the organization and commitment to its vision and mission: able to clearly communicate SOS Children’s Villages Who We Are (Vision, Mission & Values), “Living our Values” policies and strategies in all areas. 

• Project Management: ability to execute and monitor family and community strengthening activities.
• Community Engagement:  Experience in building trust and partnership with families, community and local stakeholders.
• Collaboration: driven to work with others, able to build partnerships and teamwork internally and externally.
• Integrity: able to state views openly and act in line with beliefs, maintain the organization’s values, maintain deadlines and commitments; have ethical standards, ability to gain the trust of co-workers, and desire to be of service.
• Communication: strong written and verbal communication/presentation skills; ability to interact effectively with partners and staff at all levels; ability to represent the organization externally; exceptional ability to communicate consistently, clearly, and effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making: ability to analyze challenges and develop practical solution for issues identified.
• Networking: skills to advocate for the project with ability to collaborate and network with local authorities and NGO’s
• Counselling, Coaching and Mentoring : ability to counsel , coach and mentor community  and stakeholders.
• Case Management: ability to assess family needs based on the project objective and provide support to the target groups

 Core competency

• Kindness: Act with empathy towards everyone he/she works with.
• Continuous Learning: Make an effort to learn, understand and grow as a person, admitting your own mistakes.
• Inclusiveness: In any actions show respect and care for others.
• Initiative: speak up when things are not right, do not hesitate to act, and adapt to change when necessary.
• Results Orientation: look for solutions and focus on desired results.

Excited to take on a new Challenge...

Then send us your application (application letter, detailed CV containing contact details of their references) electronically through SOS Children Villages Application portal (ICIMS)

Click to view our EVP Brochure

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia holds strict child safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse in the workplace and other places where the organization’s activities are rendered.  Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection, and hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing candidates value congruence and thorough background checks, and police clearance reference check processes.

SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia provides equal employment opportunities to all co-workers & qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class.