About the job

• Job Type : Full Time

• Industry : Program Development /Administration (NGO)

• Education Level : Senior level

Job Description

BACKGROUND: 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works to aid in the development of societies in which people could realize their full potential and are supported by institutions and practices that are just, transparent, accountable, inclusive, and which promote and protect rights.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been operating in Kigoma region since 1993 implementing Education, Health and Protection programs including Child protection, Women Protection and Empowerment and Protection Rule of Law in Nyarugusu, Nduta and Mtendeli refugee camps and surrounding host communities

Scope:

IRC Tanzania is seeking to recruit a Program Officer for an anticipated USAID funded project “Youth-First!” designed to Strengthening youth resilience and decrease violence in Mtwara. This two years project will promote positive youth engagement and strengthening local governance relationships for the benefit of future generations, using youth-centered, evidence-based, and scalable interventions.

Project objectives:

Objective 1: Strengthen inclusive leadership capacities and increase civic participation opportunities of young women and men to promote peace and development and

Objective 2: Strengthen relationships and address youth grievances through improved youth participation in local governance

Activities under objective 1 include a comprehensive, flexible, and youth-led capacity-building program for a cadre of Young Change Makers (YCM), and peer-led awareness-raising events on inclusive leadership, conflict resolution, non-violent communication, community organizing, civic activism, gender equity, and gender-based violence prevention. Activities will provide youth with the knowledge and skills to prevent, mitigate, and resolve conflicts peacefully and engage with local governance for structural reforms. In addition, through youth-led forums, participants will be able to engage constructively with one another, identify shared peace and development concerns, and generate strategies to address them collectively.

Under objective 2 the project will work with Youth Lead Organizations (YLOs) to strengthen their organizational capacities. The project will also help them engage in single-identity work with local government, traditional and faith leaders to shift their incentives, improve their capacities, and strengthen accountability for youth participation in local governance. Ultimately, this will result in improved legitimacy, trust, and relationships between the different groups, as well as inclusive local governance processes.

Core Responsibilities:

Project Implementation

• Operationalize implementation of project activities.
• Work closely with youth and partner organizations on program/project implementation.
• Report regularly on project implementation, progress, constraints, and lessons learnt.
• Generate and timely submit all activity reports, training reports and project progress reports like weekly and monthly reports, and other.
• Ensure that project targets are met and reported on.
• Help design project frameworks/objectives with local partners and ensure that activities meet all set criteria and standards.
• Organize and participate in the facilitation of forums to help increase the capacity of youth lead organizations and implementing partners in planning and implementation of peacebuilding and social cohesion projects.
• Keep up to date with all contextual changes and the impact on current future projects. 

 Training and Capacity Building

•  Help identify training needs for project beneficiaries and project partners.
•  Contribute to design, develop, and organize tailor-made workshops and training programs to provide youth with the knowledge and skills to prevent, mitigate, and resolve conflicts peacefully and engage with local governance for structural reforms
• Evaluate trainings and workshops and produce training or workshop reports.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate. 

Coordination and Representation

• Liaise with authorities, local partners, implementing partners and other key stakeholders at community level in areas of operation.
• Represent the department at the community level in relation to project.
• Attend coordination meetings as delegated by supervisor.
• Establish and maintain strong, positive, and productive working relationships with key stakeholders in the target project area.

Qualifications

Skills specific to the post

• Strong presentation, facilitation, and communication skills, appropriate to the audience.
• Proficiency in computer skills like Microsoft packages such as Word and Excel.
• Skilled in program management, including assessment, planning, budgeting, and monitoring.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment
• Demonstrate teamwork with other staff members, project partners and stakeholders.
• Strong report writing skills.
• Ability in running community capacity building activities including trainings; community mobilization; and peacebuilding activities
• Ability of working with youth lead organizations and government at all levels
• Excellence in oral and written communication skills in English. Knowledge in spoken Swahili will be an added advantage

Qualifications and experience 

• University degree in Social Science, Local Governance, Development studies or other relevant discipline.
• At least 3 years working within the peacebuilding, social cohesion, development context or related field.