Project Assistant / Focal point – Tanga Tanzania - Search for Common Ground

Project Assistant / Focal point – Tanga Tanzania

Application Deadline: 5pm EDT time (Washington DC), Sunday 16th October 2016.

Company: Search for Common Ground

 Based in Tanga, Tanzania

Job Description / Announcement

The Organization

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 450 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 39 offices in 34 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.

Within Sub-Saharan Africa, SFCG works in sixteen countries: Angola, Burundi, Chad, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Since 2011, SFCG works in Tanzania to develop responsible business practices in the extractive industry sector, to promote gender equality and improve the relationship between government and Civil Society.

Summary of Position

SFCG Tanzania is preparing to implement a project in Tanga with the overall objective to prevent violent extremism and promote peaceful coexistence. The project seeks to empower local communities through an innovative mix of trainings, media campaigns, community dialogue and community-led initiatives activities to prevent the threat of violent extremism. The project will engage with a wide range of stakeholders: community leaders, local authorities, security officials, and community members, with particular focus on women and youth.  

SFCG is currently seeking to recruit an experienced Project Associate/Focal Point in Tanga to work in this project. The Project Associate/Focal Point will be responsible for the implementation of project activities in the targeted communities of Tanga region, reporting to the Project Coordinator based in Dar es Salaam.

Key Responsibilities

 Update regularly the Project Coordinator about relevant changes in context and the dynamics on the ground

 Assist the project staff and partners to conduct the baseline, mapping and needs assessments in the selected communities

 Build and maintain excellent relationships with partners and relevant stakeholders at the local level, including community members (youth and women), civil society, media outlets, government officials, security sector officials, etc.

 Make logistical arrangements for all project activities (organization of roundtables, trainings and related travel, etc.)

 Draft high quality activity reports and contribute to overall project reporting efforts

 Contribute to design the call for proposals for small grants, and contribute to select the best community led-initiatives

 Assist the selected local subrecipients of small grants with project management: drafting of proposals, collecting financial documentation, reviewing activity reports and ensuring timely submission to SFCG.

 Support DM&E Officer to monitor and evaluate progress of the project activities, capturing results, successes, challenges and lessons learnt

 Work with the admin/finance and project teams to ensure that financial documentation is collected and recorded in a timely manner; contribute to financial projections and work plans for upcoming activities

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.

Minimum Qualifications

 Bachelor’s Degree in a related area, preferably in conflict resolution, international studies, development cooperation, or human rights

 At least two years of experience in peace-building, development and/or related fields Community Relations, government relations or sustainability

 Previous field experience in Tanga, considered an advantage, with excellent relationships with local stakeholders

 Previous experience working in prevention of violent extremism, community dialogue and/or social cohesion initiatives considered an advantage

 Experience as a trainer / facilitator

 Demonstrated experience in budget management in compliance with internal policies

Skills

 Spoken and written fluency in Kiswahili and English

 Strong oral and written communications skills

 Cultural sensitivity and adaptability

 Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders

 Good command of Microsoft Word and Power Point

 Dynamic, creative and solution-oriented

 Understanding of international corporate structures and expectations as well as grassroots civil society engagement;

 Willingness to live and work in remote areas

 Shares SFCG’s mission and values

Salary:

Commensurate with experience and education

Duration:

12 month contract with possibility of renewal

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume to tz-employment@sfcg.org with the subject heading:

Project Assistant / Focal point– Tanga, Tanzania.

Please be sure to include minimum salary requirements (in currency figures) or current salary, projected start date, and to mention where you found this posting.

 No phone calls please.

Closing date for applications is 5pm EDT time (Washington DC), Sunday 16th October 2016.

Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.

Please see our web site www.sfcg.org for full details of our work.