Community Engagement Facilitator at Mkombozi

Mkombozi requires a passionate and motivated team player to join the Community Engagement Programme grou p. This position is for someone who believes strongly in the need for social justice for the most socially excluded children and families. Your mission is to facilitate individuals and groups to accomplish their goals. As a facilitator you will allow participants to assume responsibility for their own learning, by guiding and encouraging them to achieve the planned results. You will achieve this through strong knowledge in the areas of child protection. You will need to bring skills in facilitation and the management of group processes.

You will work independently and in teams to facilitate mentors, MEMKWA facilitators and other community stakeholders in learning more about child protection and methodologies for working with vulnerable children and youth. This will involve strengthening these peoples’ awareness about child vulnerability, facilitating them to undertake their own development processes and monitoring their effectiveness. In return you’ll enjoy exposure to ground-breaking initiatives with vulnerable children and communities, and the chance to develop your skills as part of an innovative grassroots organisation.

Key roles and responsibilities:

Act as reference point for queries and/or issues that arise in the target communities regarding child protection. Facilitate identification of child protection systems and procedures existing in the communities as well as enhancing them to accommodate child’s rights matters. Facilitate sharing of Mkombozi's approaches with childcare practitioners, civil servants (LGAs, councillors, social workers, NGOs, staff and children. Facilitate development of a community of practitioners who are able to come together in support groups and bi-annual sharing and learning meetings to discuss practice issues. Support Ward facilitation team, WDC, LGA, social services sub-committee and councillors in the planning cycle. Facilitate the promotion of sustainable community action to support and empower deprived children and their families to access services. Facilitate building of partnerships with local communities where schools are located, the government, churches, and the private sector, to achieve a safe learning environment for children. Strengthen the capacities of school management committees to maintain and improve school infrastructure and learning resources. Facilitate the mobilisation of youth caregivers in their own creation of psycho-social support structures. Ensure the on-going sensitisation and mobilisation of leaders and community members to respect OVC’s voices in the identification of community resources to improve their livelihood. Ensure appropriate documentation and reporting of project implementation including collaborating with the CE Coordinator in writing monthly and bi-annual report including developing advocacy strategies. Represent Mkombozi to the court in all legal matters relating to children in the target communities. To provide legal advice to ward Child Protection Committees and to take legal action if necessary against any issues relating to child abuse. To work closely with community Engagement and children’s programs group in identifying, analyzing and finding solutions on child issues. You will also support Social Workers or the team on issues in the families or communities that may require his/her intervention. Refer to statutory bodies and other service providers’ vulnerable children cases which Mkombozi cannot handle in order to keep children safe. Facilitate the establishment of Child Protection Committees (CPC) in Target areas so that community members take responsibilities to enable children to grow well and become good citizen in a safe environment.

Please note that your professional duties and responsibilities may vary or change situationally to meet the strategic needs of the organization.

Minimum qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in Law or higher; Certification in Project Management, Facilitation is preferred.

Skills and experience:

At least 2 years’ experience in legal matters as well as training and facilitation experience. Proven track record in training and facilitation techniques to support the learning process of adults. Excellent networking and interpersonal skills. Adaptability and sensitivity to the cultural environment. Ability to develop user friendly, relevant and creative training materials and course development skills. Fluency in English and Kiswahili (written and spoken). Knowledge and appreciation to participatory and active approaches to learning that encourage people to think for themselves. Disposition to build upon the contributions of participants and facilitating group dynamics to create learning.

Child Protection Policy:

As a child-focused organisation, Mkombozi is committed to the protection of children; therefore all selected candidates will: successfully participate in a Child Protection screening; and will receive background checks for “working with vulnerable people” in accordance with Mkombozi Child Protection Policies and Procedures.

Terms & conditions:

Salary and benefits correspond to Mkombozi's salary structure and employment policy /procedures. Beginning as soon as possible, positions are full-time offered for a period of 24 months with the first 3 months as a probationary period. Qualifying applicants will be required to undergo a recruitment process that includes a series of opportunities to apply and demonstrate their skills.

How to apply:

Send your application by e-mail to info@mkombozi.org. Please include a resume and cover letter, clearly demonstrating how you meet the qualifications of this position. We thank all candidates, but due to the volume of applications received, only those who are short- listed will be contacted. Tanzanian applicants to be prioritized.