Community Engagement and Outreach Consultant

Central | Sami

Organization: IOM - International Organization for Migration
Location: Central | Sami
Grade:
Occupational Groups:
- Social Affairs
- Communication and Public Information
- Civil Society and Local governance
Closing Date:

Job Description

Project Context and Scope

The Gambia is grappling with the adverse impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, leading to unpredictable weather patterns, higher temperatures, storms, and ecosystem damage. These issues are undermining peace and stability in the country, with agriculture suffering from reduced rainfall, and rising sea levels threatening freshwater sources. Climate-induced land degradation through flooding water from the ocean is causing agricultural lands to become too salty and with reduced productivity, resulting in lower yields, abandoned land, and conflicts over productive areas. Productive land is reducing over time due to salt intrusion causing pressure on available arable land by both the surrounding communities and those that move into these areas. Women, primarily engaged in rice farming, which is a staple food in The Gambia, are disproportionately affected due to competing needs of the arable land that is needed by climate-induced migrants for agriculture and livestock for pasture. Most women do not own land, although in some cases they have access to the land for agriculture production through negotiations with landowners. The increasing competing demand for arable land is therefore causing a reduction in food production, limited access to land by women and conflict among and within communities that surround the productive lands. This land degradation is also influencing migration patterns, including irregular migration, and rural-urban migration, contributing to declining food crop production, increased dependence on imports, food insecurity, poverty, inequality, declining agricultural productivity, and resource conflicts.

Against the above background, FAO, WFP and IOM are implementing the project titled “Empowering Communities in The Gambia to prevent, mitigate and resolve land related conflicts exacerbated by climate change” funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund. To address the main conflict factors of climate exacerbated conflicts over land and natural resources within and between communities; the project is implementing a gradual/incremental approach, whereby community members between and within the targeted areas will be jointly engaged to use technical land reclamation and management practices to increase production and productivity of degraded lands to address food and nutrition insecurity vulnerability, climate induced migration, and create a conducive opportunity for local communities to take part in community-based resources management to address environmental degradation for sustainable and long term use. The project will also enhance availability of climate information and services to ensure that livelihood plans are climate informed and livelihood options are chosen based on seasonal forecasts and appropriate advisories. The project will work with a range of stakeholders to address the above challenges in 10 targeted communities which are located in North Bank region, Central Bank region and Lower River region; Jokadou, Lower Badibu, Upper Badibu, Upper Saloum Cluster, Sami, Niamina West cluster, Kiang East, Kiang West Cluster and Jarra West that were identified based on a vulnerability assessment conducted by FAO.

As part of the project’s outcome to strengthen capacities of local government structures, district tribunals, communities and other local conflict resolution mechanisms in targeted communities, IOM aims to implement a range of activities. These not only include community engagement activities to facilitate exchange on climate, peace and security challenges to increase learning and adaptation among the communities but also assessments to inform green livelihoods interventions that will be supported as part of the project.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing

Migration Management Unit

Responsibilities

Tasks to be performed under this contract

Conduct field visits to the 10 targeted communities for design, implementation and monitoring of project’s activities
Provide technical, administrative and logistical support for the community engagement and assessment activities
Conduct mapping of key stakeholders in the targeted communities to be engaged during project activities
Facilitate open communication and dialogue between organizations and community members, ensuring diverse perspectives are heard.
Support development of methodology and necessary tools to implement the green livelihoods assessment
With IOM team, conduct and facilitate community needs assessments to understand local priorities and challenges and generate detailed reports
Develop and implement strategies to reach diverse community segments with relevant information and resources
Collect, analyze, and interpret community feedback to inform decision-making and project implementation.
Provide training and capacity building to community members and organizations to enhance their engagement skills
Draft key findings of the assessment and conduct validation with relevant stakeholders
Produce a final draft of the assessment report and provide recommendations with a gender lens
Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

At the end of the assignment, the consultant is expected to have:

Provided technical, administrative and logistical support for 10 community engagement activities
Drafted detailed reports outlining the proceedings and results of the community engagement activities
Supported methodology and detailed work plan, including any interview questionnaires, guidelines etc. for the livelihoods assessment
Supported IOM with data collection and analysis for the assessment in 10 communities
Drafted the assessment report based on a format agreed at the inception stage
Supported validation workshop with key stakeholders and partners to discuss the draft and initial findings of the assessment; as well as final draft of the assessment report, taking into consideration feedback received during the validation workshop and ensuring that a gender lens has been utilized throughout.

Qualifications

Education

University Degree in Development Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, or a related field

Experience and Skills

A minimum of five years of experience in The Gambia on supporting community engagement activities on migration, environment and/or climate change
Experience in structurally formulating and supporting research studies on Environment and Climate Change with a focus on green livelihoods
Experience in planning and facilitating community-based participatory approach to conduct community needs assessments to understand local priorities and challenges
Experience in mainstreaming is desirable
Demonstrated experience in producing quality reports in English language
Excellent oral and writing skills
Excellent organizational skills and being detail oriented

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Experience in working with capacity building of government, especially at the local level, for capacity building, training and engagement work is desirable
Experience in either/or conflict mitigation, conflict resolution, conflict prevention, conflict transformation, risk reduction and crisis management, conflict management and/or peacebuilding is desirable
Experience of working in a UN agency or International NGO is an asset

Languages

Full working proficiency in English is required

IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Travel required

Travel duties are mandatory specifically to the 10 targeted communities. Related costs will be covered by IOM as per standard rules and procedures.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
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.
Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Notes

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.
IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies

All applications should include a functional email address, mobile numbers and detailed curriculum vitae (CV).

Required Skills

Job info

Contract Type: Consultancy (Up to 11 months)
Initial Contract Duration: 3 Months
Vacancy Type: Consultancy
Recruiting Type: Consultant
Grade: UG

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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