Community Engagement Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a prominent non-governmental organization (NGO) that has been operational in Sudan since 200

• DRC focuses on addressing the challenges of displacement and has developed a robust framework for delivering life-saving programs across various sectors including protection, emergency response, shelter, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, livelihoods, disaster risk reduction, camp management, and humanitarian mine action. The organization operates in several regions within Sudan, including Central Darfur, South Kordofan, Gedaref, Port Sudan, and White Nile. With over 3.7 million internally displaced people and more than 1.1 million refugees from neighboring countries, Sudan presents a complex humanitarian landscape exacerbated by ongoing political crises, economic instability, and social turmoil. DRC's mission is to foster peaceful coexistence and address conflict sensitivity through community engagement and peacebuilding initiatives, making it a vital player in the humanitarian sector in Sudan.

Job Overview:
The Community Engagement Officer position is crucial for the implementation of DRC's peacebuilding initiatives in Gedaref. This role is designed for a dedicated individual who will support and implement strategies aimed at promoting co-existence, reconciliation, and conflict resolution within various communities. The officer will work closely with local stakeholders, community leaders, and project partners to facilitate dialogue, build relationships, and create sustainable peace-building strategies. The position requires organizing activities, monitoring progress, and documenting impacts to contribute to positive social change. The officer will also be responsible for ensuring that conflict sensitivity is integrated into all DRC activities, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the organization's interventions in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Community Engagement Officer will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Project Implementation: Collaborate with project stakeholders to develop and implement community cohesion initiatives and activities aligned with project objectives. Facilitate community dialogues, workshops, and training sessions focused on conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and reconciliation. Support the development and implementation of local peace-building strategies that consider the cultural and social context of target communities. Provide guidance and support to local community leaders, civil society organizations, and volunteers engaged in peace-building activities. Monitor project progress, identify challenges, and propose adaptive measures to ensure effective implementation.
• Community Engagement: Establish and maintain strong relationships with key community members, local leaders, and other relevant stakeholders. Conduct regular field visits to project sites and engage directly with community members to understand their needs, perspectives, and concerns. Foster a sense of ownership and participation among community members by promoting inclusive decision-making processes. Organize and facilitate community meetings and forums to encourage open dialogue, conflict resolution, and mutual understanding.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting: Implement monitoring and evaluation activities to track the progress and impact of peace-building activities. Collect data to assess the effectiveness of interventions and identify areas for improvement. Prepare timely and accurate reports on project activities, outputs, and outcomes for internal and external stakeholders. Document success stories, lessons learned, and best practices to contribute to knowledge sharing and organizational learning. Lead the reporting of community engagement and peacebuilding activities. Promote a culture of learning within the team by actively sharing challenges and lessons learned.
• Technical Support and Capacity Building: Ensure understanding and adoption of conflict sensitivity concepts and approaches across all DRC interventions in Gedaref. Support the DRC team in Gedaref on conflict sensitivity analysis and decision-making processes. Develop tools, facilitate training/workshops, and provide technical support on programming decisions.
• Context and Conflict Analysis: Collect relevant data on drivers/triggers of conflict and community tensions in the area of operation. Participate in impact assessments of community engagements and peacebuilding initiatives. Provide guidance and recommendations on conflict sensitivity programming to DRC partners. Ensure that conflict assessments are updated and shared with relevant DRC staff.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires at least 2 years of work experience in peacebuilding, conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity, conflict management, or a related field. Candidates should possess knowledge and understanding of the conflict context and dynamics in Gedaref, as well as experience working with local authorities, communities, and civil society. Experience in facilitating training, workshops, and dialogues is essential. Strong analytical and writing skills are necessary, including the ability to analyze and present information clearly and concisely. Candidates should demonstrate strong organizational skills and attention to detail, along with strong interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking. The ability to set priorities and work independently as well as part of a team is crucial. Political and cultural sensitivity is required, including the ability to adapt to different contexts and work with people from diverse backgrounds. An affinity for working with displacement-affected populations is also important, along with the ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have at least a Diploma in conflict management, peacebuilding, conflict prevention, development studies, social sciences, or other relevant fields. Alternatively, relevant working experience may be considered in lieu of formal education. The organization strongly encourages qualified females to apply, reflecting its commitment to gender equality in staffing.

Experience:
The role requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in areas such as peacebuilding, conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity, or conflict management. Candidates should have a proven track record of working effectively with local authorities, communities, and civil society organizations, as well as experience in facilitating training and workshops.

Languages:
Fluency in Arabic is mandatory for this position, while the ability to work in English is also required. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication with diverse community members and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a national contract with a duration of 12 months. The salary range starts from USD 1,225.00 per month. The duty station for this role is Gedaref, and the start date is as soon as possible. The closing date for applications is set for April 28, 202

• Employees are expected to demonstrate DRC's five core competencies, which include striving for excellence, collaborating with stakeholders, taking the lead in tasks, communicating effectively, and demonstrating integrity. The organization offers various benefits, including two bonuses during Eid festivals, contributions to national social insurance and pension funds, health insurance for employees and their families, group personal accidental insurance, and opportunities for professional growth through various learning and development courses. DRC is committed to equal opportunities in employment and does not discriminate based on age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, color, race, marital status, or other protected characteristics.