PROGRAM OFFICER – COMMUNICATION AND MOBILIZATION

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting poverty and social injustice with a special emphasis on women and girls.  CARE Tanzania is part of CARE International, whose vision is to seek a world of hope, tolerance, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security.  CARE International is a global force and a partner of choice within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty.  We are known everywhere for our unshakable commitment to the dignity of people.  CARE Tanzania and partners contribute to the empowerment of the most marginalized and vulnerable rural women and girls to exercise their rights.

Job Summary

The Program Officer (PO) will be under the “Kasapo My Village” Program Initiative, which is funded by CARE Denmark. “Kasapo My Village,” is a “Friendship Village program” being implemented in Same district due to the fact that it is one of the semi-arid districts and one of the current beneficiaries of CARE Tanzania’s other program initiatives. Program initiatives currently being implemented in and designed for Same, which will work in a manner complementary to the Kasapo My Village Initiative, include: Global Water Initiative (GWI) Phase 2, Where the Rain Falls (WtRF), Eco-Village Initiative, wPower initiative, and Advocacy and Capacity Strengthening of Civil Society. This means that for right person will be working in a manner that s/he incorporates links and collaborates with other programs’ staff and resources to achieve the goal.

Reporting to the National Policy and Advocacy Advisor, the incumbent will effectively be responsible to implement the assigned program initiative activities. S(he) will play a very important role of documentation and communication of “Kasapo My Village” and also other program initiatives’ work as well as general social, political, economic and cultural situation in the district with a wide range of internal and external audiences. He/she will actually be responsible for documentation of all program activities, case studies, stories, lessons and experiences for sharing and advocacy purposes. He/she will assist proper implementation of the activities of the program, in collaboration with other team members.  S/he is expected to maintain effective working relationships with other staff working with other CARE program initiatives and impact groups, key government partners and NGOs working in the same geographic areas.

Key Responsibilities: 

Job Responsibility #1: Take lead of the execution of Program Initiative’s Documentation, Communication and learning agenda

30% of time

·         Develop and implement, in collaboration with Kasapo My Village’s program team and CARE Denmark’s relevant staff members including Danish Intern, CO Communication Advisor and GWI communication Coordinator, Communication methodologies to reach target audiences, using various means of communication such as website, social media, video and other means which are relevant to the context.

·         Lead documentation of all implemented activities, case studies and change stories

·         In collaboration with Kasapo My Village’s program team members, CARE Denmark and GWI Communication coordinator design and produce communication materials/products.

·         In collaboration with NPAA carry out communication with CARE Denmark to feed on their communication agenda with their members as well as feeding GWI EA program. Keeping CARE Denmark informed through out program implementations.

·         Facilitate gap identification and building capacities of Kasapo My Village’s program team of staff members and partners in designing and producing communication materials/products as per program implementation.

·         Support and organize farmer to farmer learning visits within and outside the geographical areas.

·         Participates in forums and meetings, developing & maintaining strong relationships with all partners and potential partners at local level

·         Facilitate and supervise local communities and/or farmers’ organisation link or network with respective stakeholders at government such as District, regional and ministerial levels as well as institutions to support their water resources management and community based adaptation initiative or scheme

·         Represent the initiative in strategic advocacy and knowledge sharing forums.

·         Support in various advocacy initiatives, particularly processes concerning media advocacy.

Job Responsibility #2: Community Mobilization and organisation of groups to undertake various initiatives

25 % of time

·         Mobilize, organise and facilitate Kasapo village members to be in groups to implement and manage their initiatives together like initiatives on water, agriculture and other Income Generating Alternatives (IGAs)

·         Facilitate vulnerable women and girls to participate in planning and decision-making process at various levels and occasions

·         Use communication skills to create and/or strengthen awareness on climate variability and adaptation responses in Kasapo villages

·         Enable the active engagement of groups that are often overlooked (e.g. poor women, adolescent girls, poorer households) in community discussions and planning processes.

·         Ensure by sensitizing communities take a lead in their development activities, while CARE giving support and facilitating role.

·         Support building the governance capacity of community groups including VSL, Farmers’ groups as well as water groups to better respond to climate variability and the challenges faced by marginalized and climate  vulnerable women and girls

Job Responsibility #4: Facilitate the execution of Kasapo My Village Program Initiative’s activities Strategy

20% of time

·         In collaboration with Same’s Policy and Advocacy Manager as well as Same program team of staff members develop and implement work plan to achieve the program initiative objectives

·         Assist developing capacities of the Same’s program team of staff members and partners to design and produce communication materials/products.

·         Participate in leading participatory planning, learning and action with the respective groups to implement and achieve Program Initiative objectives.

·         In collaboration with GWI and WtRF initiatives, facilitates villagers adopt technologies that ensure more access to water for agriculture, conservation agriculture practices (including tree planting, terraces and improved agronomic practices)  for soil and water conservation as well as sustainable agriculture production

·         Collaborates with other players in Same to support community level adaptation planning and budgeting  as part of the annual development planning cycle which will ensure implementation of proper community based adaptation practices

·         Collaborates in facilitating drilling of 2 water wells

Job Responsibility #4: Carryout Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

20% of time

·         Participate in preparing M&E plan for the program

·         Ensure proper monitoring documentation of program activities and outcomes

·         Measure and document records of all implemented activities

·         Prepare reports on program initiatives assigned, and document lessons and experience.

·         Support sharing of practical experiences at village, ward, district and national levels.

·         Support and organize farmer to farmer learning visits within the villages/ward.

·         Involve very much in not only documenting but also sharing practical experience and learning from the program activities with national learning HUB of GWI 2 in Morogoro with SUA and the Research Oversight Group

·         Support and participate to regular reflection sessions on program initiatives including climate change issues, gender challenges, changes, and approaches with communities, frontline workers and collaborators

·         Participate in team reflections on CVCA findings, and promote climate change-aware recommendations for relevant change in project strategies, and/or approaches

·         Contribute to the design of new programs, especially in the areas of public relations and communications.

Job Responsibility #5:  Promote Gender Equality

All the time

·         Practice a behaviour that is consistent with CARE’s core values and promotion of gender and diversity goals.

·         Support gender analysis programme as well as mainstreaming in programme activities

·         Enable identifications of vulnerable farmers especially women and girls in engaging in various programme activities including meetings, leadership positions and as beneficiaries

·         Develop strategies to assist vulnerable women to participate and benefit from program initiative implementations

·         Advises the Program Manager on various ways to create awareness to women to participate to various programme initiatives

Job Responsibility #10:  Perform Other Duties as Assigned (including)

5% of time

·         When applicable, participate in emergency response and recovery efforts in the event of an emergency in his/her program area.

·         Perform any other duties as may be given by programme and CARE Tanzania high authorities

Qualifications (Know-How)

Education/Training

Required

·         Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication or Mass Media or related field to the program initiative.

·         Extensive communications-related training experience, including training expatriate and local communications personnel in media relations, crisis communications, messaging, audience targeting and other relevant skills

Desired:

·         An Advanced degree in Journalism, Communications/or Mass Media

Experience

Required

• Minimum 2 years of work experience in a communications role for a project or organization;
• Experience conducting training sessions on effective communications, including: strategy, planning, media, events, publications and monitoring and evaluations;
• Practical experience in documentation and sharing of lessons as well as application of communication approaches and tools.

Desired

• Knowledge on community development, climate change issues, human rights, land rights, project planning and management, administration
• Experience in working with government staff and government authorities

Technical Skills

Required

·         Good understanding of issues impacting rural communities in the region, particularly around, land,  climate change, natural resource management, sustainable livelihoods, water and sanitation, and sustainable development;

·         Experience using and/or organizing media relations, web/mobile/social media, print and events;

·         An approach to mirror our core values: commitment, accountability, respect, effectiveness and diversity;

·         Ability to work and communicate with a range of stakeholders including policymakers and government officials, NGOs, the media, community representatives;

·         Strong ability to engage with communities and capability in being proactive to organize community outreach activities

·         Strong writing, editing, and communications skills. Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, Internet usage and design programs such as Photoshop and In Design

·         Ensuring that gender and power dynamics related to communication are taken into consideration;

·         Ability to thrive in team environments, with a strong understanding of diversity and other cultures. Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, sensitivity to HIV/AIDS and participatory approach and sustainable development.

·         Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a fluent writing style and good knowledge and practical use of both English and Kiswahili

Desired

·         Ability to work with minimal supervision and adaptability in rural community.

·         Ability to use GPS equipments for measuring and mapping converted farmlands

Competencies

·         Excellence: Sets high standards of performance for self and/or others; successfully completes assignments; sets standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed; ensures interactions and transactions are ethical and convey integrity.

·         Respect: Behaves in a manner that reflects a true belief in and appreciation for the dignity and potential of all human beings. Gaining other people’s confidence and setting an environment of trust and openness.

·         Diversity: Promotes, values and respects each individual’s unique qualities, background, race, culture, age, gender, disability, values, lifestyle, perspectives or interests; creates and maintains a work environment that promotes diversity.

·         Communicating with Impact: Diplomatically, logically and clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the recipient / audience and helps them understand and retain their message.

·         Managing Performance: Establishes a culture which encourages CARE Tanzania employees and their units to take responsibility for achievement of high-level organizational performance by constant improvement in business processes, skills, behaviors and contributions; working with managers to set ‘smart’ objectives consisting of clear milestones; Identify development needs; Providing constructive and continuous feedback by managers.

·         Facilitating Change: Supports and manages the change process at CARE-Tanzania by developing a culture affirmative of change; encouraging others to seek and act upon opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities; critically analyzing evolving and fluid situations; facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace; actively engaging with resistance to change.

·         Strengthening Partnership: Identifying and utilizing opportunities within and outside of CARE Tanzania to develop effective strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas/departments/units or external organizations to achieve CARE’s objectives.

·         Adaptability: Effectively manages changing environments in the organization; maintains effectiveness when dealing with multiple and conflicting priorities across different cultural settings or during emergency and crisis situations.

·         Information Collection and Monitoring: Sets up ongoing procedures to collect, review, and synthesize information needed to manage a function, or the work within a function.

·         Planning and Organizing: Establishes courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently and effectively in accordance with CARE’s core values.

·         Building Commitment: Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifies one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations, and individuals involved.

·         Contribute to Team Success: Actively participates as a member of a team or work unit to move the team/unit toward the completion of shared goals

·         Initiating Action: Takes prompt action to accomplish objectives; takes decisive action to achieve goals in times of uncertainty or in fluid contexts; is proactive

Our diversity is our strength; we encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences, particularly women, to apply

Apply through hrm@co.care.org to Country Director by 03 May 2014 with a motivation letter, detailed CV with 3 Referees