Community Awareness Raising Expert-AFD job at ALIGHT (Formerly known as American Refugee Committee)

JOB DETAILS:
Project Background
National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) with funding from Agence Française de Development (AFD) is implementing the South Western Cluster WATSAN Infrastructure Development Project for the Mbarara and Masaka Areas. This is in line with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Objectives and Strategies as outlined in Uganda’s Strategic Investment Plan (SSIP) for the Water and Environment Sector (2018 – 2030). As part of this project, NWSC intends to develop a water distribution network from the new Kagera water supply system to serve the people in Nakivale and Oruchinga refugee settlements and to construct appropriate sanitation infrastructure (public toilets) at public and institutional locations for the people in the settlements and a faecal sludge treatment plant to satisfy the population of the whole Isingiro District. This project will also involve various social safeguards including assessments on the willingness to pay for water and sanitation services, determination of tariffs for water and sanitation services, modulus operandi for water and sanitation services and gender mainstreaming approaches to support project sustainability.

Job summary and Purpose
We are looking for a highly motivated community awareness raising expert for a 2-year AFD funded WASH project in Isingiro district, Uganda who will be responsible for internal/external communication and public awareness for the project at community & national level. In collaboration with the Joint venture team, ACF leadership team, the government, stakeholders and beneficiaries, he/she will lead actions to ensure a timely information’s sharing by building a strong communication system.

Engagement:
You will work closely with local leaders, OPM, DLG, MWE, NWSC, NGOs, and other stakeholders to build robust networks that facilitate community involvement and awareness on project deliverables.

Key Duties & Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Support the development of a communication and public awareness strategy with focus on raising awareness on the project interventions, process and deliverables.
• Support in implementation and monitoring of a communication and public awareness strategy with focus on raising awareness on the project interventions, process and deliverables with strong adherence to standards and guidelines.

• Propose concrete solutions and approaches, as well as a set of standards for appearance and content development for communication with the stakeholders, public and media.
• Explore and propose innovative project awareness-raising and promotional tools, actions, and materials matching the objective of the project and support the project staff in implementing actions, using the tools, and procuring the materials.

• Lead the design and developing for production of relevant communication & information and awareness-raising materials and context specific information and ensure their dissemination to the local community and stakeholders.

• Ensure existence of a strong M&E system for the project to monitor and evaluate content performance against Key Performance Indicators in the M&E framework.

• Create, manage, and maintain accurate database and professional relationship of/with all partners participating in the project.
• Facilitate partners meetings, workshops, or seminars when required.
• Maintain calendar of key events/conferences/meetings and work with colleagues across the organization to maintain the internal collaboration and sharing.

• Provide monthly reports outlining implemented activities and achieved results with the detailed quarterly communication / promotion plans.
• Build and maintain health relationships with the key stakeholders in the project location.
• Other duties as assigned

Fiscal Responsibility
• Manage budget allocations for community awareness and outreach activities, ensuring resources are used efficiently to maximize impact.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions
• This position involves frequent local travel to community sites and requires flexibility to work outside regular office hours as needed.

Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

• Promote gender-sensitive community engagement practices and uphold Action Against Hunger’s commitments to gender equality and zero tolerance towards abuse.

Requirements
• Degree in social sciences, communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field is recommended.

Specific experience
• Minimum of 5 years progressively working experience in national and international multimedia and non-media communications activities, including social media, focus group discussions, community meetings and dialogues, digital, video, audio, and print formats, is required while implementing community-based projects.
• Relevant experience in social marketing, awareness raising and compensation claims preparation for infrastructure projects.

• Demonstrated experience with drafting and implementing communication, outreach, and awareness-raising strategies and plans on issues related to the technical aspects of the applicant’s proposed strategy is required.
• Demonstrated capacity on designing communication tools
• Demonstrated capacity in organizing large gathering events
• Demonstrated experience with media relations is required.
• Experience with AFD or other international donor-funded projects.
• Experience in a refugee context and Implementing humanitarian – Development nexus project.
• Good understanding of the local community content and connected power dynamics is desirable.

Required Skills
• Proven track record in successfully developing and implementing community engagement strategies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of effectively working with diverse community groups.
• Experience in facilitating workshops, meetings, and community gatherings.
• Knowledge of the WASH challenges and opportunities within rural areas of Uganda.
• Good understanding of the WASH Social Behavior change programming.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced and challenging environment.
• Fluent in English and local languages spoken in Nakivale & Oruchinga settlements and Isingiro district.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure

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