Community Engagement Specialist at Danish Refugee Council

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and - whenever possible - for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Community Engagement Specialist

Location: Maiduguri, Borno with significant travel required to Adamawa state
Employment Type:
Supervisd by: AVR Programme Manager - Nigeria
Rerporting to: AVR Programme Manager - Nigeria
Area of Operation: Nigeria
Employment period: 8 months (potentially renewable)
Type of contract (Expatriate - National-Trainee): National or Expatriate

Background
DRC started operating in Nigeria in 2015 with plans to implement a combination of Emergency, Livelihoods, WASH, Protection and Advocacy, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding Programmes. DRC currently has offices in Abuja (Country Office HQ), Adamawa state (Yola, Mubi and Michika), Borno State (Maiduguri and other deep field locations) and Yobe state (Damaturu).

This position will directly support Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding sector whose mandate is ‘to create a safe environment free from armed violence and remnants of conflict’. The Nigeria Country mission does this via a programmatic focus on three key sub-sectors:

• Addressing the needs of youth at risk of dangerous migration, criminality and radicalization.
• Enhancing community safety, conflict mediation and security sector governance.
• Reducing the risks associated with Mines, Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) and IEDs.

Purpose

• The Community Engagement Specialist is an advisory position for DRC Nigeria programme designed to promote community safety and security in Borno and Adamawa states through capacity development of local security providers (national police, civilian joint task force and other local security providers recognized by the state) and strengthening trust and collaboration between security providers and local communities.
• Community Engagement Specialist is responsible for providing strategic guidance and support to the implementation of community based- policing and engagement in the areas of training, capacity and institutional development. Community Engagement Specialist is a non-management position.

Duties and Responsibilities
The main responsibilities and tasks of the Community Engagement Specialist are the following:

• Strategic guidance and technical support:
  • Identify capacity gaps in terms of skills, knowledge and policy for a robust community-based policing and engagement program component.
  • In partnership with state police departments, contribute to the development of training approaches to community-based policing that prioritize community-based responses to prevent and reduce crime and armed violence at the local and state level.
  • Contribute to the development of training curricula in basic law enforcement skills for field-based security providers on: transparency and accountability; community participation in security and safety management; community outreach and consultation methods; ethics and professionalism and human rights.
  • Ensure the technical work undertaken across the project is in line with international good practice and adapted to the local context in Nigeria.
  • Ensure liaison with Nigeria Police Service (NPS) at the state level and other key security providers in Borno and Adamawa states.
  • Where necessary provide strategic guidance and advice to security providers and other partners on community-based policing approaches.
• Project Planning and Development:
  • Identify entry points to community-based policing that produce tangible improvements to security provision in local communities.
  • Ensure technical soundness of program activities and achievement of program outputs and outcomes in line with the approved work plan through the day-to-day planning, coordination and implementation of activities.
  • Raise visibility of Dutch-funded programme through sharing best practices and well developed communication materials.
  • Ensure effective project implementation including training and support provided to DRC staff, management of resources and development of appropriate linkages with other actors involved in supporting community-based policing practices.
• Coordination and Strategic Partnerships:
  • Coordinate program activities and contribute to the development of synergies with relevant actors to ensure a coherent approach to community-based policing in Nigeria.
  • Contribute to the development of functional partnerships between the program and relevant stakeholders such as security providers, state government, CSOs, community leaders and international NGOs to provide knowledge and understanding, ensuring accurate interpretation of the program objectives and implementation strategy.

Required Qualifications

• University degree (Basic or Master’s Degree) in security studies, police studies, law, criminology, political science or other related field; a combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive field experience (SSR training, etc.) is preferred.
• Experience in using concepts of adult learning and associated methods of training.
• Ability to conceptualize and implement within a complex context, with a view to the broader social and political environment.
• Knowledge on security management, accountability and transparency, community engagement and human rights.
• Knowledge about international and national human rights protection standards with primary focus to those related to the human rights observance in law enforcement and community-based policing activities.
• Proven experience in working with international or local organizations on similar assignments is an asset.
• Past experience of working in conflict affected countries desirable; Experience in West Africa, in particular NE Nigeria, is a strong advantage
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, including at least 3 years in an international development role in police reform and/or community- based policing; Preference will be given to candidates with experience in Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience managing law enforcement officials; through provision of appropriate training, technical assistance and mentorship.
• Understanding of protocol and processes related to cultural norms of driving change processes with police and government officials;
• Experience developing training materials and delivering trainings.
• Previous experience in carrying out needs and capacity assessments and designing and/or providing professional capacity building support is an asset;

Required Skills & Qualities:

• Mature judgment combined with a proactive, resourceful and energetic approach to problem solving.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; and strong organizational and time management skills.
• A team player and self-starter able to inspire and influence action.
• Ability to write good program reports.
• Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders.
• Basic computer skills and experience in use of applications such as Microsoft Office;
• Ability to coordinate different stakeholders in a complex work environment.
• Ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.
• Proven ability to work effectively under minimum supervision.
• Demonstrated behavior of professional and personal ethics.

Core Competencies of DRC:

• Striving for excellence
• Collaboration
• Taking the lead
• Communication
• Demonstrating Integrity

General Regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request

Salary & Benefits
Non- Management G.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Note

• All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.
• DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
• DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.
• However, applicants must be aware that DRC cannot employ, under an expatriate contract, a citizen of the country in which she/ he is going to be stationed (in such case, the Republic of Nigeria).
• Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline

Application Deadline  13th November, 2020.