Community Engagement Officer

Job Details

Location: Tripoli

One Oxfam Grade : D2

FLEXIBLE WORKING

‘We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization.

TEAM PURPOSE: Oxfam in Lebanon is increasingly working at local, national and international levels to “ensure that women and men are protected and empowered to enjoy their basic rights and access services enabling them to live in dignity, within a more equitable society.” To achieve this vision, Oxfam in Lebanon implements activities under three main programmatic pillars: A Humanitarian Pillar, a Human Rights and Economic Justice Pillar, and the Beirut Response Pillar. The purpose of the Humanitarian Pillar is to ensure that marginalised women and men, including refugees from Syria and Lebanese, are able to have safe access to water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH), attain their rights to life, security, protection and assistance, and that they are enabled to support their own basic needs, develop their livelihoods, all in a manner that respects and maintains their dignity.

JOB PURPOSE: To lead in the development of connected, more sustainable and stronger communities across Tripoli, Lebanon to drive locally-led community action. The job holder will also support in the formation of  community groups and support existing groups in close coordination with Oxfam partners. The Community Engagement Officer will be supporting local residents and stakeholders to design and deliver a range of projects in line with Oxfam’s community-based approach, this will involve relationship-building, as well as connecting people with skills, tools and networks. The job holder will also be expected to promote community engagement and build long-lasting relationships with varied stakeholders. This will involve being responsible for developing and maintaining strong, positive and long-lasting relationships with a wide range of stakeholder groups in Tripoli including but not limited to community and voluntary sector, community services, and grassroots initiatives.

JOB REPORTS TO: Project Manager, with technical support from Protection & Gender Advisors based in Beirut

ROLES REPORTING TO THIS JOB: None

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY : No direct budget holder responsibility but contribute to budget planning and monitoring.

GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE: Tripoli

KEY STAKEHOLDERS: Other Project Staffs, Partner Staffs, MEAL staff

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, People and Resource management)

Embed Community Engagement in the Organisation

• Support the updating of the community focal points and community structures – including women’s groups – strategy through a participatory approach
• In consultation with community groups, develop guiding documents and capacity development plans as needed in coordination with partners and other stakeholders
• Work with programme team on planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating community-based approach through a gender sensitive lens
• Provide written feedback about protection incidents, issues and tensions in Tripoli ensuring women’s voices are heard
• Prepare and facilitate community consultations on project activities, encourage and collect feedback and suggestions from different stakeholders and provide orientation sessions as necessary on topics covered by the respective projects
• Assists in conducting evaluation studies and preparing written reports on assigned programs
• Support the team in recruiting, training, supervising and supporting young people to be involved in community structures and/or develop other mechanisms to engage young people with Oxfam’s community-based approach
• Work with the team and volunteers to co-design, organise and hold activities and events that draw in and involve a range of people and stakeholders
• Facilitate the participation and coherent engagement between CSOs and Women’s Rights Organizations and Oxfam and ensure appropriate follow-up

Community Engagement Advice and Support

• Work in an inclusive and engaging way with local people to support them to design and deliver local projects through a gender sensitive lens
• Work as part of a team to engage a broader range of people to become active leaders in their community, ensuring that they remain engaged and involved and that your approach puts people first and is tailored to their unique needs
• Participate in developing clear methods to increase a meaningful participation of marginalized women, and adapt implementation throughout all activities as appropriate
• Oversee the development of a wide range of community-led projects using an approach which is flexible, adaptable and considers sustainability
• Prepare for community mobilisation activities with community focal points and community structures remotely and in the field
• Support community groups in participating in protection risk mitigation activities
• Conduct regular meetings with community focal points and community structures
• Improve the consulting process with the civil sector at the regional level
• Develop and assist in the implementation and review of strategies for the involvement of CSOs

Communications

• Network, develop and sustain positive relationships with a range of people from different backgrounds and age ranges - including residents, community leaders, local groups, services and organisations, project partners and local authorities
• Develop cases studies that reflect specific success  
• Assist in creating face-to-face, online, and print content to promote programme activities
• Use culturally appropriate feedback mechanisms accessible people of different nationalities and gender and ensure that the feedback loop is closed
• Propose practical measures and mechanisms for strengthening relationships between CSOs and Oxfam

Working with Partners

• In coordination with Oxfam’s local partner in Tripoli, contribute to facilitating and building the capacity of different groups on leadership to raise the voices of the community
• Engage local services and partners to ensure local awareness and explore opportunities and co-production activities

CORE DIMENSIONS

• Delegated authority to supervise junior staff and/or volunteers and delegated projects/activities.
• Problems vary and include a combination of routine and some complex.
• Work pattern is a mixture of reactive and project work.
• Required to make sound judgements regularly within agreed processes using a good understanding

of the team and the facilities of the team.

• Communication is largely with internal staff, (including internationally) also with some external

contacts and target audiences to support operational work.

• Analysis and communication of some complex information at a simple level is required to a wide

audience to promote and influence

Person Specification

Most importantly, every individual in Oxfam needs to be able to:

• Live our values of INCLUSION, ACCOUNTABILITY, EMPOWERMENT, COURAGE, SOLIDARITY and EQUALITY (read more about these here)
• Ensure you commit to our ORGANIZATIONAL ATTRIBUTES (including adhering to the Code of Conduct):

1. Be committed to our feminist principles, and to applying them in your day-to-day behaviour and your work. Be ready to keep learning, with accountability to those who experience oppression as a result of their identities, such as their gender, race/ethnicity, disability, class, or LGBTQIA identity."

2. Be committed to undertaking Oxfam’s safeguarding training and adhering to relevant policies, to ensure all people who come into Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Experience, Knowledge & Competencies

ESSENTIAL

• Self-Awareness
• Listening
• Relationship building

In addition:

• Relevant work experience of 2 to 3 years in working and connecting with organisations, services and different communities
• Demonstrable experience in community mobilisation, as well as with local authorities and civil society engagement
• Experience of designing and facilitating community workshops, activities and events where everyone feels able to attend and contribute
• In depth knowledge and understanding of community-based protection, in addition to an understanding of gender inequalities
• Good understanding and knowledge in application of do no harm, conflict sensitivity principles and ICRC standards and ethics for protection work
• Good levels of spoken and written English and Arabic
• Proven analytical skills with proven skills in drafting and preparing reports
• Strong facilitation skills and ability to deliver capacity building training sessions
• Experience of balancing time between multiple projects and responsibilities, including responding to volunteers, attending various meetings, and completing administrative tasks
• Willingness to work in insecure environments and a high level of adaptability and initiative

Desirable

• Degree in gender studies, sociology, anthropology, or any other related field.
• Experience contributing to reports, project plans, and monitoring, evaluation and learning processes
• Understanding of monitoring and evaluation processes, learning, and adaptation
• Previous experience working with communities in Tripoli

SAFER RECRUITMENT: Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.