Community Mobilization Officer

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.

What we provide?

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

Your role?

Under the supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Community Mobilization Officer will provide technical support for the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of community mobilization strategies and strengthening the capacity of SC partners and their frontline workers in SBC/community mobilization.

The position holder will support the utilization of evidence-based, best practices Framework and Process to inform planning, development of tools, and materials. The post holder will also support SC's efforts to address the demand side barriers to education, particularly for out of school children, including girls and children due to the conflict.   

Under the guidance of the project Coordinator, the Community Mobilization Officer will work on  creating equitable Partnerships with communities, local partners. Specifically, this work will entail support to the consortium partners with whom the project has joint plans and a teaming agreement to incorporate SBC/community mobilization interventions within this project, support delivery of community-based interventions, and help manage relationships with local partners. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly. 

The incumbent is required to carry out his/her duties following the SOS CV Safeguarding policies and regulations, the Code of Conduct, the values-based competency frame “Living our Values” and any further international and local regulation that influences safeguarding at SOS CV.’

PRIORITY TASK AND RESPONSIBILITY

Project Implementation

• Provide day to day oversight and support towards implementation, monitoring and supervision of community mobilization activities across implementation in collaboration with project partners, government and community stakeholders against intended objectives, targets, and timelines.
• Contribute to the carrying out of formative research, baseline assessments, and community mapping, including development of evaluation protocols, tools, training, data collection.
• Support the development of an evidence-informed  strategy, approaches and activities to influence shifts in community norms, attitudes and behaviours in support of learning by households and communities, in close coordination with other technical team;
• Develop terms of reference, budgets and seek approval for upcoming activities
• Facilitate and maintain relationship with community leaders, community members and structures such as core groups and community focal persons; 
• Coordinate recruitment of community volunteers and facilitators in consultation with community leaders
• In collaboration with finance, ensure timely processing and payment of volunteer stipends monthly.

 Capacity Strengthening:

• Undertake field visits to partners and facilitators to oversee implementation, including provision of on-site feedback and supportive supervision on required improvements, and generate field visit reports with timely and appropriate follow-up on action points.
• Lead training of community volunteers and other relevant community partners, and ongoing capacity strengthening through mentoring and supportive supervision and encourage the development of peer networks and learning opportunities, including through review meetings.

 Partner Management:

• Under the supervision of the project coordinator, the officer  liaise and maintain relationships with the partners’ communication partner, with whom the organization has joint ambition/plans/teaming agreement
• Ensure that all supported project  activities from Partners are appropriately planned and delivered, and report on progress monthly. 

 Representation & Advocacy & Organizational Learning:

• Ensure that SOSCV and partner’s work is coordinated with other agencies and the Government's efforts and support Interagency Coordination forums, advocating for the specific needs of children. This may involve supporting coordination working groups within the project supported communities, local government.
• In cooperation with advocacy and education team, ensure community-based and social accountability initiatives are linked with policy influencing;
• Contribute to communications and media work as required through collection of data and information and sharing with the team leads;
• In cooperation with the MEAL Team, support data quality assessments and support community volunteers to effectively document and report community mobilization activities using appropriate tools. 

Monitoring and evaluation

• Ensure timely and accurate data collection, entry, analysis, and reporting to inform project planning, learning, and decision-making.
• Lead or participate in baseline, midline, and endline assessments, as well as ongoing monitoring efforts such as field monitoring visits and regular data reviews.
• Coordinate community feedback and accountability mechanisms, including complaint response systems, to ensure program responsiveness and community engagement.
• Contribute to documentation of lessons learned, best practices, success stories, and case studies for internal learning and external sharing.
• Support capacity building of project staff and community volunteers on MEAL tools, data management, and learning processes.
• Ensure MEAL findings and recommendations are integrated into planning and implementation for continuous improvement of project quality and impact.

Reporting and documentation

• Engage communities in identifying challenges, prioritizing needs, and co-developing sustainable solutions aligned with project objectives.
• Document and disseminate community-driven success stories, lessons learned, and best practices to inform adaptive programming.
• Prepare and submit timely community activity reports, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations for improvement.
• Coordinate and facilitate quarterly review and planning meetings with community representatives, partners, and stakeholders to track progress and encourage collective learning.
• Support proposal development and donor reporting processes by gathering and synthesizing community-level insights and feedback.

CHILD PROTECTION

• Lead child protection and safety programming in emergencies including assessment, program development, training for and management of Child-Friendly Spaces.
• Support humanitarian colleagues in the implementation of emergency programs and establishment of recovery programming
• Organize discussions on child protection risks, concerns with stakeholders, children and young persons on  community members
• Strengthen the Child Safeguarding through creating awareness with the woreda and community leaders.
• Ensure adherence to SOS CV policies such as the Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding Standards and others as well as the minimum standards of humanitarian relief
• Ensure that all support is provided in the best interest of the child.

SAFEGUARDING

• Ensure adherence to SOS CV policies such as the Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Standards and others as well as the minimum standards of humanitarian relief
• Ensure that all support is provided in the best interest of the child.
• Responsible for taking part in awareness-raising sessions and capacity building training in relation to Safeguarding and Code of Conduct and to protect children and young people from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination
• Support children, young people and program participants to make them understand the Safeguarding risks and protection mechanisms 
• Ensure proper safeguarding procedures and policies are in place to protect programme participant children, young persons, adults and other stakeholders.
• 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 Incident Management Team 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: B.A./B.Sc./B.Ed. degree in Psychology, community development or related filed.
• Experience: A minimum of three years’ experience in implementing community mobilization in child protection, GBV, back to school and girls’ education in humanitarian program
• Proven experience in leading implementation, monitoring, and reporting of community-based projects.
• Experience working with local government structures and community-based organizations.
• Proven experience in facilitation and community mobilization skills
• Experience with child protection systems, including running Child-Friendly Spaces and conducting child protection awareness.
• Familiarity with safeguarding policies and procedures and demonstrated ability to implement safeguarding standards in a community setting.
• Proven skills in facilitating training and capacity building, particularly for volunteers and community groups.
• Solid understanding of humanitarian principles and standards (e.g., Sphere Standards, Core Humanitarian Standard).

DESIRED CRITERIA

• Education: MA degree in Psychology, community development or  social work or related filed
• Understanding of gender-sensitive and inclusive programming principles.
• Prior experience working with SOS Children’s Villages or a similar child-focused organization.
• Experience in gender-sensitive program experience, particularly related to girls’ education.

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.
• Child rights & child development: Working knowledge in all areas of child rights, child protection, child development, family & community development, and rights-based programming in a developing country.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting: experience in preparing structured report and using evidence to support the program.
• Community Engagement and Capacity Building: ability to build and maintain partnership with stakeholders such as schools, community and government stakeholders.
• Networking and Relationships Building: ability to build, maintain and leverage networks with local government, NGO communities’ leaders and other relevant stakeholders.
• Accountability and Result Orientation: ensure the ownership of task and meets deadlines effectively and monitor progress and communicate concerns proactively.
• Collaboration: driven to work with others, able to build partnerships and teamwork internally and externally.
• Advocacy & Influence: Competence in linking grassroots mobilization with policy and advocacy efforts.
• Training & Facilitation: Skills in delivering training to community volunteers, partners, and stakeholders, using participatory and adult-learning methods.
• Partnership Management: Effective coordination, communication, and relationship-building with implementing partners and community leaders.
• Advocacy– Ability to influence community norms around education and child protection.
• Inclusive Education – experience in ensuring gender, disability, and crisis-sensitive approaches in education programming.
• 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: high-level 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.
• Software: - Computer literacy (MS Office and MS Project, and other statistical softer wares such as STATA, and SPSS)

COMPETENCIES

Core Competency (these competencies are relevant for every co-worker):

• 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.

How to Apply

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.