Social Protection Officer at Helen Keller International (HKI)

Job Title: Social Protection Officer

Job Summary

• The Social Protection Officer will lead the design, execution, and monitoring of social protection strategies under the Advancing Nutrition program in Akwa Ibom.
• This role will require close collaboration with community groups, local authorities, and other stakeholders to strengthen linkages between social protection and nutrition, specifically targeting vulnerable groups.
• The officer will ensure all social protection activities are inclusive and responsive to gender dynamics, contributing to the sustainable development of community-led interventions.

Main Responsibilities
Coordination and Implementation:

• Lead the implementation of community-led social protection interventions, ensuring alignment with the program’s objectives and GESI principles.
• Identify and address capacity gaps within existing community structures, designing relevant training and support programs.
• Coordinate with community stakeholders and structures to support the implementation of income-generation and social protection activities.

Community Engagement and Capacity Building:

• Mobilize and facilitate community meetings, training, and awareness sessions around social protection and its integration with nutrition and MNCH services.
• Conduct training and mentorship for community members and program participants on social protection benefits and gender-sensitive service provision.
• Support and facilitate the establishment of safe spaces within the community for the participation of women and adolescents in decision-making related to nutrition and MNCH.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Collaborate with the M&E team to track progress and collect data on social protection interventions, ensuring proper documentation and reporting of success stories and best practices.
• Conduct field visits to monitor the implementation and sustainability of social protection initiatives, assessing the effectiveness of activities and their impact on nutrition uptake.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Advocacy:

• Work closely with the Gender Advisor, Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Specialist, VSLA Specialist and Nutrition Advisor to strengthen demand and supply-side linkages for social protection and nutrition interventions.
• Engage with Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and other local stakeholders to foster supportive environments for women’s and adolescent’s participation in nutrition-related decisions.
• Develop and implement community mobilization strategies and advocacy plans to promote the long-term sustainability of social protection interventions.

Reporting and Compliance:

• Prepare and submit regular reports on social protection activities, challenges, and achievements.
• Ensure compliance with all donor guidelines and program requirements.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Public Health, Development Studies, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience working in social protection, community development, or public health programs, preferably with a focus on GESI and nutrition.
• Experience collaborating with PHC workers, local authorities, Ward Development Committees, and social groups.
• Proven experience in community mobilization and engagement, with skills in conducting focus group discussions and training sessions.
• Proven experience working with the community in activities like cash transfer, VSLA, entrepreneurship etc. 
• Familiarity with USAID and other donor frameworks is an asset.
• Willingness to work within local communities with 80% of time allocated to field visits across Akwa Ibom LGAs.

Skills & Knowledge:

• Strong interpersonal, networking, and communication skills, with cultural sensitivity.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and knowledge of data analysis tools.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
• Familiarity with the socio-cultural landscape of Akwa Ibom is essential.
• Ability to contribute to research processes and analyse and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data. 
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team
• Possession of good report writing skills.

Application Instructions:

The application deadline is 30th November, 2024. Therefore, Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using the job title as the subject of the email.