Risk Communication & Community Engagement Officer

Background/IRC summary

The International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) mission is to help the world’s most vulnerable people survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC has been working in Kenya since 1992, providing health care, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, governance and rights, and nutrition services to refugees and the host communities

Risk Community and Community Engagement

Risk communication and Community Engagement helps the IRC staff and partners to safely and effectively deliver messages to communities about COVID-19 – such as preventive measures to mitigate risks about the virus, where to seek medical care, and other essential services to meet their basic needs. RCCE is a suite of resources and methods to help deliver and maintain two-way communication with the community. It is aimed to keep both staff and clients safe through building trust and collective participation, while considering physical distancing and other preventive considerations implemented through coordinated multi-sector activities.

Job Overview

IRC is seeking a Risk Communication and Community Engagement Officer, based in Kakuma under the direct supervision of the Protection Manager and will support implementation of Signpost (two-way dialogue system for interaction with the community) and coordination of RCCE activities across sectors.

Major Responsibilities

• Work with the Signpost team to implement two-way communication through multiple channels including low technology approaches.
• Map community led RCCE activities and sectors’ community engagement activities for complementarity and consistency
• Liaise with Monitoring and Evaluation team in conducting assessments to inform the response
• Collaborate with the community health and protection/client feedback teams to collect feedback, rumours and misinformation and use the information gathered to adapt communication and community engagement activities
• Contribute to development of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, Fact Sheets etc and updating of client/front facing staff such as community health workers, help desk assistants on the response and adaptations.
• Compile and share ideas and methods across the different sectors on how to engage with communities in two-way communication
• Support in training of staff on Risk Communication and Community Engagement and dissemination of the Kenya country program RCCE strategy across the country program
• Compile Risk Communication and IRC program adaptation messages for clients from all sectors teams
• Support dissemination of information and updates on the response to trusted community leaders, persons
• Represent IRC in relevant inter-agency coordination meetings such Communication with Communities (CwCs) working group

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Protection Manager

Position directly supervises:N/A

Indirect Reporting: Signpost Manager

Other Internal and/or external contacts: Regular coordination with Health team, IRC protection team, Signpost team, other IRC sectors (Health, Nutrition, Women’s Economic and Empowerment, Mental Health and Psychosocial Services) and with other humanitarian actors and partners