Community Partnerships Specialist (Tanzania)

Community Partnerships Specialist (Tanzania)

SSG Advisors is accepting applications from qualified Community Engagement/Enterprise Development Specialists for a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); water resources management; and agriculture project in Tanzania. The project will focus on improving water resources management and WASH in Tanzania while advancing local livelihoods and sustainable agriculture, particularly in the Rufiji and Wami-Ruvu river basins.

Responsibilities

The Community Partnerships Specialist will work with local communities in Tanzania to support the development of alternative livelihoods and small-scale enterprises. S/he will also facilitate what we call “community partnerships,” in which community organizations design and lead their own partnerships with the public or private sectors and/or civil society to advance local development and Project goals. The Community Partnerships Specialist will provide community members with training and technical expertise on public-private partnership issues, such as the development of strategies for outreach to the private sector, and will foster small-scale enterprises at the community level.

The Community Partnerships Specialist will be responsible for carrying out the following duties:

• Engage local communities (both community leaders, as well as more historically marginalized community members such as women and youth) through town hall meetings or other means to identify areas of need or interest for alternative livelihoods, enterprise development, and community partnerships that reduce pressure on watersheds and/or promote WASH services. Possible areas for alternative livelihoods include non-timber forest products, agroforestry, high value tree crops, sustainable fisheries, ecotourism, etc.;
• Help community members identify and assess potential private sector partners and partnership opportunities for identified alternative livelihoods/community enterprises;
• Work with the Strategic Partnerships Specialist to help connect emerging enterprises and community-based efforts with the business development support and financing they will need to succeed;
• Facilitate the development of public-private partnerships between communities and partners both within and outside of the community;
• Provide technical assistance to communities for the design, formalization, and management of public-private partnerships;
• Support the development of innovative financing tools to promote investment in community partnerships as well as in local agriculture intensification and climate smart agriculture;
• Identify areas of collaboration across different communities;
• Work with the Strategic Partnerships Specialist to link community partnerships to project-wide public-private partnerships;
• Coordinate with other donors, local organizations and Tanzania’s government structures, particularly community leaders, to ensure harmonization of public-private partnership activities.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in relevant discipline from an accredited university;
• At least 7 years’ relevant experience in the East Africa region, preferably in Tanzania;
• A proven ability to engage community members;
• Community enterprise development and alternative livelihood experience strongly preferred;
• Partnership development experience preferred;
• A proven ability to work collaboratively, lead negotiations, and reach a consensus among community members, as well as with private and public sector stakeholders;
• Ability to work independently and effectively within tight deadlines;
• Experience designing capacity building events and facilitating training sessions for a variety of audiences;
• Native or bi-lingual proficiency in written and spoken English and Swahili.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a CV and the names and contact information for three references to tess@ssg-advisors.com. Please include “Tanzania Partnerships Advisor” in the email subject line, and save CV as ‘Last Name_First Name.pdf’ (e.g., Smith_Jane.pdf). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls please. SSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer.