Project Officer

Job Description

Career with BRAC Sierra Leone 

BRAC is an award-winning international non-governmental development organisation, with the vision of a world free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination, where everyone has the opportunity to realize their potential. BRAC is a leader in developing and implementing cost-effective, evidence-based programmes to assist poor and disadvantaged communities in low-income countries, including in conflict-prone and post-disaster settings. It is an organisation of and for the people of the Global South, pioneering new development and social enterprise approaches to equip communities to achieve prosperity. As well as being the world’s biggest NGO by number of staff and people directly reached, BRAC has regularly been ranked the number one NGO in the world by the Geneva-based NGO Advisor, an independent organisation committed to highlighting innovation, impact and governance in the non-profit sector. BRAC retained the top spot in 2020 among the top 500 NGOs for the fifth consecutive year.

BRAC was founded in Bangladesh in 1972 by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. It started its first programme outside of Bangladesh in Afghanistan in 2002 and has since reached millions of people in 11 countries in Asia and Africa. BRAC has a holistic approach to development that uses a wide array of programmes and social enterprises, including in microfinance, education, health, agriculture, gender, and human rights. BRAC believes that every person has inherent potential, and when an enabling environment is created and that potential is unleashed, even the poorest can become agents of positive change in their own lives, for their families and their communities. 

About the Project:

This project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), will engage communities, provide access to quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) services, and support young mothers’ education and income generation.

BRAC Sierra Leone NGO is seeking applications from competent, dynamic and self-motivated individuals to fill the following position in Sierra Leone NGO.

Purpose:

The Project Officer will support the day-to-day activities of an integrated and transformative project aimed at empowering young mothers and their children in Sierra Leone. The ideal candidate will have experience in supervising program activities in the field, support mentors or community champions. The Project Officer will be based in the field and support in the project delivery of the project activities, results are achieved in a timely manner and according to the agreed standards in the project framework and in the grant agreement. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Community Engagement and Sensitization:

• Collaborate with community champions and other stakeholders to promote community engagement and participation.
• Conduct sensitization sessions to raise awareness about the project’s objectives and benefits among community members.
• Facilitate cross-gender dialogues, intergenerational dialogues, and community meetings to challenge harmful gender norms.

Action Planning and Implementation:

• Attend required trainings.
• Support community-led action planning, ensuring that the priorities of young mothers and community members are central.
• Assist in the adaptation of curricula and materials for young mothers’ empowerment and education programs.
• Support activities, workshops, and training sessions to empower young mothers with skills and knowledge. Ensure attendance of participants
• A minimum of 4 visits at project sites and training during the week.
• Follow SOP

Education and Economic Empowerment:

• Identify and engage young mothers aged 15-24 who are interested in joining young mothers groups.
• Assist in the implementation of empowerment and livelihoods curricula for young mothers, focusing on education and income generation.
• Liaise with local education authorities to support young mothers’ re-enrollment in school, if applicable.
• ECD Access and Quality Improvement:
• Promote the importance of enrolling children in ECD services and facilitate access for young mothers’ children. Link children to ECD centers.
• Assist in organizing ECD teacher training and play material development workshops to improve ECD centers’ quality.
• Support the implementation of gender-transformative approaches within ECD centers.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Collect data, stories and lessons learned on project activities and progress, and maintain accurate records.
• Contribute to the preparation of progress reports and updates for project management and stakeholders.

Monitor the impact of interventions on young mothers and children and gather feedback from participants.

Person Specifications:

• Empathetic and compassionate approach towards the needs and challenges of young mothers.
• Enthusiastic about promoting gender equality and social change.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Adaptability and flexibility to work in challenging and dynamic environments.
• Commitment to BRAC’s mission and values.

Safeguarding:

• Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation to achieve the programme’s goals on safeguarding implementation. Act as a key source of support, guidance and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.
• Practice, promote and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.

• Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Engage in activities’ budget preparation like training budgets, celebrations, meetings etc
• Attend external meetings as directed by supervisors. 
• Engage in the inter-project exchange visits.

Educational Requirements:  

First Degree in Early Childhood Care and Development, Education Management, Sociology, Social Work, Development Studies, Community Development.

Experience Requirements: 

• At least 1-2 years’ practical experience working with NGOs, Education, Early Childhood, child protection or related programs.
• Teaching experience in early years will be an added advantage.
• Experienced in Administration and leadership. 
• Have soft skills like teamwork, communication and flexibility. 
• Knowledge on the Sierra Leone education system mainly about the available service of early learning opportunities, government policies, departments and institutions in the education field etc.
• Strong understanding of gender-transformative approaches and community engagement.
• Previous experience working with vulnerable populations, particularly young mothers, is an asset.
• Experience working collaboratively with community members and local authorities.
• Knowledge of early childhood development, education systems, and gender norms is desirable.

If you feel you are the right match for the above-mentioned position, please follow the application instructions accordingly:

Candidates need to email their CV with a letter of interest mentioning educational grades and years of experience at recruitment.sierraleone@brac.net 

PLEASE MENTION THE NAME OF POSITION IN THE SUBJECT LINE

Only complete applications will be accepted and shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Application deadline: 2nd October 2023

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.