Myanmar: Community Engagement Expert

Scope of Work:

IRC seeks a Community Engagement Expert (CEE) for the proposed USAID-funded Advancing Community Empowerment in Southeastern Myanmar (ACE-SM) program. ACE-SM is a $48 million, five-year program that seeks to empower vulnerable communities in Southeastern Myanmar by mitigating their vulnerabilities, encouraging robust community participation in decision making and strengthening mechanisms for more accountable local governance. ACE-SM aims to achieve this goal by:

• Meeting critical needs in health, education, livelihoods, water, sanitation and other basic needs;
• Increasing the capacity of communities, civil society and local governments in marginalized areas to constructively engage with each other; and
• Developing or strengthening community institutions capable of effective, participatory self-governance.

Reporting to the Chief of Party (COP), The Community Engagement Expert will serve as the project's lead liaison between communities and other stakeholders, and will assist the COP and the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) in the design, management, and implementation of project activities.

This position is contingent on IRC being awarded funding for this project, which is anticipated to begin in September 2017.

Responsibilities:

• Under the guidance of the COP, provide leadership and oversight of project activities, ensuring efficient and effective project implementation including the timely completion of high-quality work plans, accurate reports, and other mandated deliverables.
• Act as a liaison among Union, State, and Township level state and non-state service providers to ensure an integrated approach to service provision.
• Lead in developing and implementing capacity building strategies in essential service provision, local governance, community driven development, and provision of services to communities, with a focus on vulnerable populations in southeastern Myanmar.
• Develop strategies to help communities reinvigorate or develop community governance institutions, such as Village Development Committees, that are responsive, transparent, and accountable to the communities they serve.
• Work with project staff and local partners to develop and implement capacity building services for local civil society and government partners for improved service delivery to vulnerable populations.
• Lead the ACE-SM team in promoting trust and reconciliation within communities and between communities and other state and non-state stakeholders.
• Develop strategies to promote and strengthen participation of women, ethnic and religious minorities, and youth in community governance structures and decision making processes.
• Assist in developing strategies to promote and facilitate integration of community and delivery of basic services.
• Maintain productive working relationships with USAID, project partners and key stakeholders, including local authorities, civil society, local government officials, civic leaders, media, business people and international donors.
• Support the project in developing/integrating evidence-based best practices.
• Work with the ACE-SM project team to document and disseminate best practices and capture key lessons learned.
• Work with the COP, DCOP, and M&E Manager in preparing project work-plans with clear objectives and achievable benchmarks, reflecting strategic long-term and short-term priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• At least 10 years of proven experience in strengthening citizen participation at the local level.
• Successful track record in advising local authorities, governments and civil society on citizen engagement and participation, including methodologies for oversight of local government.
• Ability to establish strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders, including: local authorities, civil society, local government officials, civic leaders, media, business people and international donors.
• Masters' degree in political science, international development or any other social sciences related field.
• Must have professional level English ability - both written and spoken.
• Deep understanding of the social and political context of Southeast Myanmar.
• Demonstrated ability to promote the integration of project efforts with other programming implemented in the same contexts.
• Indigenous and local language (Burmese, Karen, Karenni, Shan, Thai) capability an asset.
• Myanmar nationals highly encouraged to apply.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=a2F0cmluYW1pbGxlci40MDEyMy4zODMwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20