Job Announcement

Beneficiary Feedback Mechanism (BFM/CE) /Community Engagement Officer

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

The Government of Liberia, through the Liberian Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MGCSP) is implementing the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) (P173677) with financing from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. The LWEP aims to improve social and livelihood services for women and girls in targeted communities, foster positive social norms, and strengthen the government’s capacity to advance women and girls’ empowerment through a “whole community” approach targeting multiple actors and levels. The World Bank views this project as creating a platform for the empowerment of women where policy dialogue happens, evidence of what works is produced and disseminated, and partnerships are strengthened. The project will be implemented by the Liberian Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MGCSP). Catholic Relief Services is a member of a consortium that has been awarded the contract of Lead Service Provider for components 1,2 & 3 of this project under the supervision of the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the MGCSP. Catholic Relief Services is leading the implementation of component 3 of the project. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Beneficiary Feedback Mechanism/Community Engagement Officer to join our team in Rivercess and Grand Gedeh counties. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in supporting and strengthening communication between the project and the communities while facilitating a feedback loop for project adaptation.

Job Summary:

As a lead for the BFM/CE Officer, you will lead efforts at the county level in establishing beneficiary feedback and citizen engagement strategy and actions in ensuring robust participation of participants in project activities, ensuring beneficiary safeguarding, and project adaptation while advancing Catholic Relief Services (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project for which you are responsible applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Title: Beneficiary Feedback Mechanism (BFM/CE) /Community Engagement Officer (2)

Location: Field Based (Grand Gedeh, Rivercess counties)

Type of Role: Fixed-Term Contract

Reports to: Lead Beneficiary Feedback Mechanism Specialist

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Organize and lead the design and implementation of a beneficiary feedback and citizen engagement strategy to ensure robust participation in the project’s processes and activities.
• Lead, design, and apply a range of mechanisms, such as focus group discussions, key informant interviews, community gatherings, consultations, one-to-one outreach with beneficiaries, feedback committees, suggestions boxes, surveys, etc., to regularly gather feedback and suggestions on the project’s interventions.
• Lead and collaborate with the PMU BFM Specialist and CBAs to raise awareness of BFM at the community level.
• Lead and ensure all suggestions/complaints submitted through the BFM are logged correctly and receive timely responses.
• Lead in close collaboration with the social officer to ensure project-related complaints are logged in project GRM and responded to timely.
• Continuously review, assess, and adapt the project’s engagement and two-way communication platforms, channels, and tools to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness
• Effectively build an active constituency of support, interest, and action for the targeted community beneficiaries and other stakeholders, as well as more widely across the various sectors, namely gender, gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, agriculture, and health and education.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of the BFM and CE strategies on target audiences and continuously improve.
• Collaborate with the social officer to ensure project-related complaints are logged in project GRM and responded to on time.
• Effectively review and assess the use and adaptation of the project’s engagement and two-way communication platforms, channels, and tools to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness.
• Provide BFM and CE inputs to monthly, quarterly, periodic, and annual progress/monitoring reports on operational activities.
• Regularly monitor, evaluate, and report the impacts of the BFM and CE strategies on target audiences and continuously improve.
• Provide technical support/input to BFM and CE to prepare monthly, quarterly, periodic, and annual progress/monitoring reports on operational activities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, project management, development, or a related field
• At least 8 years of relevant project management experience in World Bank-funded projects or projects funded by international development agencies, with a particular focus on community-based development projects
• Experience in training and capacity-building activities for communities
• Proven track record of managing teams and experience in development of project documents, guidelines, and reports
• Sound understanding of program management issues, including fiduciary aspects
• Experience working with government structures and officials
• Digital skills including MS Office and Internet

Required Languages – English

Travel – This position is field-based and will require frequent travel to project communities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners

• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Staff supervision experience is a plus.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and are used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually look for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: LSP Manager, Lead Gender Officer, Lead Livelihood Specialist, Climate Change Officer, Lead Climate Change Specialist, Livelihood Specialist, M&E Officer, Operations Officer, Finance Officer.

External: Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, The World Bank Group, Implementing Partners, Local Government and Project community leadership.

Applications:

Please send a cover letter and a resume/CV to LR_HR@crs.org by January 24, 2025, with the subject line “Beneficiary Feedback Mechanism (BFM/CE) /Community Engagement Officer County Name.” Both cover letter and CV/resume should be in PDF format and submitted as a single document. Applications will be reviewed and assessed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

No phone calls. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity; however, if you don’t hear from us after two months of the vacancy deadline, kindly note that your application was not successful.

CRS follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity welcoming applications from all especially women and people living with a disability.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviours related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.