Community Officer

BACKGROUND

Present in Sierra Leone since 1999, IRC supports the Sierra Leonean institutions – Government, Civil Society, Community-Based Organizations and Private Sector – to provide improved social services, decrease youth unemployment and mitigate gender based violence.This is done through programs and partnerships designed to improve the life of women, youth and children by implementing Health, Education, Youth and Women and Girls’ Protection and Empowerment programming.IRC has a Country Program office in Freetown, and regional Field Offices in Kenema, Kono, Bo and Kailahun.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, and Anti-Retaliation.”

Job Overview/Summary

The Community Officer will work under the supervision of the WGPE Site Manager. S/he will be mainly responsible for working with communities and starting, training and monitoring VSLA groups, overseeing the Discussion Group Series (DGS) and facilitating the Engaging Men for Accountable Practice intervention.

Major Responsibilities

VSLA Creation and Training

·Establish positive relations with the target communities and target groups, facilitating the formation of self-selected women’s VSLA groups in each community.

·Plan, organize, and carry out facilitation activities with each VSLA group, in line with the project’s timeline and implementation model, and as adapted to the needs of each group.

·Conduct regular monitoring, mentoring, and support visits to each community/VSLA group, and collect portfolio data on a regular basis, in line with the implementation plan and timeline.

·Participate in initial TOT trainings and periodic refresher trainings. Utilize training materials and resources provided by the program to improve the quality of VSLA activities as appropriate.

·Conduct regular data collection in line with tools provided and give regular reports on activities and other information as required.Attend all EASE team meetings and site meetings as required.

·Prepare individual work plans, and review them with supervisor; give and receive regular feedback on community activities and notify supervisor of any problems or issues that arise.

·Help conduct initial and periodic information/advocacy sessions with community leaders and local authorities to build awareness, understanding, and support for the EASE program activities.

·Handle financial and other resources for specific community activities as required, ensuring that all activities are implemented in line with IRC financial and procurement procedures.

·Attend staff meetings, trainings, and special events as required by the GBV/IRC management.

Discussion Series

·Together with the community facilitators, co-facilitate the EASE Project’s intra-household ‘discussion series’ activities in each target community with VSLA members and their spouses.

·Attend initial trainings and periodic refresher trainings on the discussion series implementation model and utilize additional materials provided to enhance these activities as relevant.

Male Engagement

• Participate in initial TOT trainings during Phase 1 of the intervention and engage in her/his own
• process of self-reflection and Accountable Practice
• Establish and lead the ‘Engaging Men for Accountable Practice’ - EMAP discussion groups, and monitor their progress
• Directly oversee the EMAP community facilitators and provide weekly support for them.
• Conduct regular data collection in line with tools provided and give regular reports on activities and other information as required including the EMAP Pre- and Post-Questionnaires, “the Women’s Reflection Surveys, and the End of Intervention Reports.

Other

• Any other tasks necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the VSLAprogram.