Project Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is a humanitarian organization that partners with communities affected by conflict, climate change, and disasters to save lives, build resilience, and promote long-term health and well-being. Established to address the needs of vulnerable populations, RI operates in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, focusing on Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods programming. The organization is structured as an alliance of four corporate members: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France, and Relief International-Europe, which allows for a unified management approach across its operations.

Job Overview:
The Project Officer plays a crucial role in the successful implementation of the 'Y-LEAD BARMM: Catalyzing Youth Leadership for Peacebuilding and Participatory Governance in Lanao del Sur' project. This position is designed to strengthen youth leadership in peacebuilding, governance, and local policy participation. The Project Officer will provide technical support and field-level coaching to implementing partners and youth groups, ensuring high-quality training rollout, effective stakeholder engagement, and active youth participation. The role also involves documenting field activities and contributing to Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) processes, adhering to Relief International standards and principles such as Gender Equality, Disability Inclusion, and Do No Harm.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Officer's responsibilities include providing technical support at the field level under the guidance of the Project Manager and coordinator" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">MEAL Coordinator. This involves coordinating with implementing partners, local government units (LGUs), youth groups, and community actors to manage routine field challenges and ensure timely documentation of activities for MEAL. The officer will also provide technical guidance to partners and youth groups in executing project activities, organize youth leadership trainings, policy advocacy workshops, and community dialogues, and support youth organizations in designing peace advocacy projects. Additionally, the Project Officer will engage with various stakeholders to ensure that project activities are inclusive and sensitive to gender and cultural contexts. The role includes capacity building for youth leaders, supporting the rollout of Youth Civic Action Plans, and promoting RI's accountability mechanisms. The officer will also be responsible for preparing budgets, ensuring compliance with donor regulations, and submitting timely reports that capture project progress and insights.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies, Education, or related fields. A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in development, peacebuilding, youth engagement, governance, or community work in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is essential. Experience working with local government units, civil society organizations, youth groups, or humanitarian actors in Muslim-majority cultural contexts is also required. Strong coordination and communication skills, particularly in multi-stakeholder settings, are necessary for this role. Desirable qualifications include experience with international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and a solid understanding of operational issues.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields such as Community Development, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies, or Education. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of community engagement and development work, particularly in conflict-affected areas.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience in development, peacebuilding, youth engagement, governance, or community work, specifically within the BARMM context. Candidates should have experience working with local government units, civil society organizations, and youth groups, as well as experience in training facilitation, mentoring, and community organizing.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential for documentation and reporting purposes. Knowledge of local languages spoken in the Philippines, particularly in the BARMM region, would be advantageous and is considered a good-to-have skill for effective communication with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified under the T3 - Technical job family level and requires standard pre-employment checks. The role involves travel to project sites, and the Project Officer will report directly to the Project Manager. There are no direct reports or budget responsibilities associated with this position. The role emphasizes collaboration with various stakeholders, including youth groups, civil society organizations, and government offices, to promote youth participation in governance and peacebuilding initiatives.