About Self Help Africa

Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through

agriculture and agri-enterprise development to end hunger and extreme poverty. The organisation has programmes in 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and also implements projects in Brazil and Bangladesh.

In early 2023 we launched a new five-year organisation strategy, which defines shared mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources. Our wider organisation also includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, which provides ethical auditing and consultancy services, TruTrade, an innovative trading platform in East Africa, and CUMO, Malawi’s largest micro-finance provider.

Our three core values are:

• Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.

• Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing world.

• Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.

Job Purpose:

The Community Development facilitator is responsible for the overall implementation of project activities at community level. Specifically, she/he forms the link between the project field team and the communities and local government representatives and engages in community/institutional capacity building activities. The incumbent provides overall technical, organisational support and play facilitation role in communities. She/he supports people’s empowerment, collective action, social cohesion and inclusion as well as gender equity. Establishes/strengthens VESAs; demonstration sites/fields at farmer and/or FTC level; ensure cascading of trainings; support the disaster risk reduction, saving and IGA activities; and maintains close working relationship with communities and community organizations. The Community Development Officer shall be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of project activities in her/his assigned area. S/he will provide technical support to community development facilitators and volunteer field agents/community/VESA facilitators; mobilize and sensitize communities; and liaise with all relevant stakeholders. 

Key Responsibilities:

Specific duties include, but are not limited to: 

In collaboration with the project officer,

• Organizing and mobilizing smallholder farmers/ village communities into groups/VESAs and/or RuSACCOs in collaboration with relevant government line department staff

• Plan, implement, monitor and evaluate training and project intervention programmes for communities 

• Facilitate different community level trainings, and experience sharing visits 

• Take part in beneficiary selection processes, including to facilitating and ensuring the inclusion more vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, female headed households and women

• Facilitate timely distribution of agricultural inputs to the targeted beneficiaries

• Collect pertinent data from all project intervention areas requested by the Project team and country office

• Participate in stakeholder meetings and networks at district and village levels

• Prepare and submit progress reports properly and timely

• Assist in timely and accurate documentation, publication and dissemination of the business development and financial literacy activities.  This includes success stories, lessons learned, etc.

• Perform other duties as requested by the immediate supervisor 

Key Relationships:

Internal

• Project officer (Line Manager)

• Cluster Coordinator 

• Project Manager 

• R4 Project Team,

• SHA Ethiopia Country Office

External

• Project Donor 

• Local Government Authorities,

• Financial Institutions,

• Other International and Local NGOs,

• Private Sector Organisations,

• Business Advisors and Mentors.

Department: Programmes

Reports to: Project officer

Contract Type: One-year fixed term contract

Job Requirements

Qualifications/Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• BSc/BA degree in Agriculture, Rural Development, Development studies, Economics, Food Security, Disaster Risk Management, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, cooperative development, Sociology, or other related fields 

• At least three years relevant working experience in livelihood, food security, resilience building, climate change adaptation, natural resource management, community mobilization or other relevant fields 

• Plans and prioritizes work activities to meet organizational goals

•  Good inter-personal and communication skills

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

• Creativity and innovation for coordination and management activities

• Capacity and maturity to establish and maintain links with government officials, smallholder farmers and private sector

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks effectively

• Ability to organise and manage events like farmers’ field days, trainings, and workshops

• Computer literacy, particularly in MS Word and MS Excel

• Sense of confidentiality

• Ability to work independently in a timely and organized manner;

• Motorbike license

Desirables:

• Demonstrate capacity to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time to meet goals in a high-pressure environment;

• Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder working environments;

• Experience working in an NGO setting;

• Ability to work and act under pressure;

How to Apply

Please download the Application Form and fill it in online using THIS LINK then upload this along with your CV and a motivational letter.

Please note incomplete applications will not be considered for shortlisting.

Closing date is Wednesday 24th April 2024 at 5pm

Police vetting is required.

All applicants are encouraged to read through the following safeguarding policies as you make your applications:

1. Code of Conduct

2. Conflict of Interest

3. Child Protection

Women applicants are highly encouraged.

Self Help Africa/United Purpose strive to be an equal opportunities employer.