Family and Community Strengthening Project Coordinator

Who we are

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. We started our humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of our first Village in Mekelle, Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, we have expanded our programs to different regions where there are significant needs for intervention and where we believe we can work in partnership with all relevant actors to bring sustainable positive outcomes for children’s and young people.

Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and those that are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community based organizations across seven program locations; we aspire that every child grows up with love, respect and security.

Why we need you?

 We are looking for a Family and Community Strengthening Project Coordinator who leads the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the family strengthening Project’s activities, in accordance with the organizational standards and strategies.

 What we provide?

 An amazing work environment that promotes personal growth through providing professional space to grow and advance your career!

 Your role?

While working with us as Family and Community Strengthening Project Coordinator you will be in charge of the following,

Lead the planning of the family strengthening Project

• Carry out a feasibility study or up-date existing information for starting a family strengthening Project in a particular community ensuring participation of key stakeholders.
• Identify key stakeholders including the local government, community-based partners and Project participants and ensure their active participation in the Project design and implementation putting a particular emphasis on child participation.
• Draw-up an initial action plan based on the findings from the feasibility study, followed by annual plans with concrete Project activities based on the analysis findings and in line with the organisations mission, policies, strategic priorities and available resources.
• Identify local funding sources and apply for grants and other forms of local income, such as donations in kind and government subsidies.

Coordinate the implementation of Project activities 

• Lead the implementation of Project activities with partners according to the objectives, actions and time frames outlined in the annual plan and joint action plan.
• Ensure that the Project operates in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
• Ensure that a proper Project intake process for children and their families is implemented through an initial assessment process and the systematic prioritisation of cases in collaboration with key stakeholders involved in the management/coordination of the Project.
• Coordinate the development of a comprehensive Project service package according to the findings in the initial assessment. Capacity-building of all participating families towards self-reliance is supported through the implementation of a family development planning process.
• Support capacity-building of Project implementation partners (can be community-based organisations or structures, self-help groups, local NGOs or local authorities) to ensure the long-term sustainability of service delivery and ongoing development of the Project in future.
• Build a strong network of partner organisations. Where appropriate formalise these partnerships through Memorandum of Understandings (MOU).

Build and manage positive relations with the community and/or local authorities

• Build strong relationships with local government authorities, recognized community leadership, like-minded groups, organisations and/or institutions operating with the local community, who share the organization’s vision, as well as those who provide complementary services.
• Participate in governmental and/or community forums dealing with issues affecting children of our target group.
• Build good relations with the local media (e.g. community radio), so child rights issues in general as well as the organization’s mission and objectives can be promoted on a regular basis.

Build a strong Project team

• Follow professional recruitment processes for new staff (draw-up advert, screening of applications, interviews, and reference checks) in consultation with direct superior.
• Plan orientation Projects for new staff to ensure they have a good understanding of the organisation and their role within it.
• Ensure effective performance management systems are implemented for all Project staff, including job descriptions, regular review sessions, and annual performance appraisal, in line with the required practices of the national association.
• Ensure that individual staff/volunteer training and development needs are identified and that these are addressed through staff development measures, according to priorities and available resources.
• Be a supportive and understanding superior, on whom staff and volunteers can depend. Build a culture of learning and openness amongst staff and volunteers.
• Build a culture and understanding of and foster positive attitude towards working on community based development issues and rights based approaches.

Financial management and administration of the Project

• Ensure that the organization’s financial resources are used modestly and efficiently.
• Implement financial and administrative procedures, in line with policies/guidelines of the national association and in consultation with financial support staff.
• Ensure all Project expenditure/resource usage is in line with the annual plan and budget.

Establish mechanisms for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Project

• Put in place effective monitoring and evaluation plans and systems, on the basis of the international systems requirements, as a basis for ongoing monitoring, self-evaluation and external impact evaluation. These tools shall facilitate both quantitative and qualitative evaluation, using participatory approaches.
• Provide direct superior with regular up-dates on Project activities and results, including regular written reports on a monthly/quarterly basis as required.

Contribute to the work of the broader organisation

• Participate in local, national and regional processes, meetings and structures within the organisation as required and agreed with the direct superior.
• Document and share good practices and lessons learned with colleagues to support organizational learning.
• Prepare Project information as required for public relations and fund development purposes.
• Keep track of child rights issues in general as well as current social development issues and trends relevant to the organization’s mission.

Child Safeguarding:

• Responsible to take part in awareness raising sessions and capacity building trainings in relation to Child Safeguarding to prevent and protect children and young people from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination
• Support children and young people to make them understand the CS risks and protection mechanisms
• Responsible to report any CS suspicion, concern, allegation or incident immediately, following Child Safeguarding reporting procedures. CS reports should be made to the CS team at programme level and/or to the respective line manager
• This job description outlines only the general scope of activity and the basic tasks and responsibilities associated with this position. It may be supplemented with a more detailed definition of tasks, responsibilities and work-plan and is subject to change at the discretion of the direct superior.

Job Requirements

Up for the challenge...

Then check out our criteria’s:

Must Criteria

• Degree or equivalent qualification in social sciences, development studies, community development or public administration.
• Minimum of 3 years relevant work experience in the field of social services or community development. Management experience will be an added advantage.

Competencies – Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Understanding of child rights issues: knowledge in the area of child rights, child protection, child development and family & community development; knowledge of relevant local and national laws, regulations and protocols.
• People development: facilitation skills to build the capacities of families, children and partner organisations.
• Leadership: able to build effective teams, motivate high performance, and generate commitment to the programme goals.
• Communication & networking skills: ability to foster effective relationships with the key stakeholders of the programme including the local authorities, community leadership, partner organisations and participating families. Ability to represent the organisation externally.
• Collaboration: driven to work with others, able to build partnerships and networks internally and externally.
• Functional skills: financial management, HR management, project cycle management.
• Experience in project management, monitoring and evaluation.
• Excellent command of at least two local and/or national languages used in the country and good communication skills, including both written and verbal. Preferably fluent in the language(s) spoken in the programme’s target communities.
• Positive and professional approach: highly organized, able to work independently, using initiative and keeping commitments, leading a team;
• Good knowledge of children’s rights.
• Awareness and understanding of social development issues including gender, education, health, HIV/AIDS, etc.
• Basic financial skills.
• Basic human resource development skills.
• Basic computer skills (Windows, Word, Excel)

Core Competency:

• Kindness: Act with empathy towards everyone he/she works with.
• Continuous Learning: Make an effort to learn, understand and grow as a person, admitting your own mistakes.
• Inclusiveness: In any actions show respect and care for others.
• Initiative: speak up when things are not right, do not hesitate to act, and adapt to change when necessary.
• Results Orientation: look for solutions and focus on desired results.

How to Apply

Excited to take on a new Challenge..

Then send us your application (application letter, detailed CV containing contact detail of three references) electronically through SOS Children Villages Application portal (ICIMS)

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia holds strict child safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy for conducts of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in the workplace and other places where the organization’s activities are rendered.  Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing candidates value congruence and thorough background checks, police clearance reference check processes.

SOS Children's Villages Ethiopia provides equal employment opportunities to all co-workers & qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class.