Community Outreach Worker (COW) -Internal/External (5 Positions)

• Donor: AWA_UNOCHA
• Report to: Zonal Project Coordinator/Woreda CP-GBV Case Worker
• Duration of the contract: Until May 6, 2027 with possible extension based on availability of fund and performance
• Sex: Females only

Background

Amhara women’s Association /AWA/ is a nonprofit, nonpolitical and non-religious civic organization established in 1998 to empower women and girls socially and economically in Amhara regional state including Addis Ababa city administration.

AWA is launching twelve /12 -month project with funding secured from UN-OCHA to support internally displaced people and vulnerable house hold in North Shoa Zone, Merhabetie woreda and Shoa Robit town. This initiative aims to provide humanitarian assistance that strengthens protection outcomes, focusing on Protection and CP-GBV interventions. The project reduces protection risks for conflict-affected women, girls, children, and other vulnerable groups through survivor-centered case management, MHPSS, safe referrals, dignity kits and targeted cash for protection, ensuring safe and dignified access to life-saving services and, ultimately safeguarding their dignity and rights. The project will be carried out in North Shoa Zone, Merhabetie woreda and Shoa Robit town. In relation to this AWA wants recruit a full time project coordinator

Purpose of the Position

The CP-GBV Community Outreach Worker will support the implementation of CP-GBV prevention and response activities at community level, including awareness raising, service demand creation and referral, community mobilization, and strengthening referral pathways, while ensuring confidentiality and adherence to survivor-centered principles.

Major Duties and responsibilities

The community outreach worker will have the following duties and responsibilities.

• Conduct community awareness sessions on child protection (CP) and gender-based violence (CP- GBV), women’s rights, child protection, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH).
• Facilitate community conversations, dialogues, and group discussions at kebele/community level.
• Lead behavior change communication activities to challenge harmful gender norms and practices.
• Organize mass awareness campaigns during international and national observance days related to CP-GBV and gender equality.
• Identify women, girls, and other vulnerable individuals at risk of CP-GBV through outreach and home visits.
• Provide basic information on available CP-GBV services.
• Safely refer survivors to appropriate services (health, psychosocial, legal, protection, shelter).
• Follow established referral pathways and maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Support survivors in accessing Women and Girls Friendly Safe Spaces (WGFS) and other support services
• Provide basic psychosocial support and Psychological First Aid (PFA) when appropriate.
• Conduct supportive listening and emotional support sessions at community level.
• Facilitate peer support groups and life skills sessions for women and adolescent girls.
• Promote positive coping mechanisms and resilience-building activities.
• Work closely with community leaders, religious leaders, women’s groups, youth groups, and school gender clubs.
• Support Anti-HTP (Harmful Traditional Practices) and child protection (CP) committees and at kebele level.
• Support the engagement of men and boys in CP-GBV prevention initiatives.
• Strengthen community-based referral and protection mechanisms
• Coordinate with health facilities, schools, social protection offices, WGSS, CFS and other service providers.
• Participate in woreda-level coordination meetings when required.
• In collaboration with other project staffs, map and update service providers in the referral pathway.
• Collaborate with CP-GBV Case Workers and Social Workers for survivor follow-up.

Reporting and coordination

• Maintain accurate activity records and outreach reports.
• Prepare weekly, monthly and quarterly reports on time and submit to the respective/immediate supervisor.
• Document challenges, lessons learned, and best practices at community level.
• Ensure safe and confidential handling of sensitive information.

Educational Qualification and Background

• BA degree and above in social work, sociology, gender studies, psychology, social psychology, educational psychology, social anthropology, Adult Education and community mobilization, health back grounds such as public health and nurse, psychiatric nurse and other important related work experience and educational backgrounds.

Required professional work experience

• Two years’ work experiences for BA degree and one and above years for master degree. Candidates who have a working experience in the social work, community outreach work, community mobilization, CP-GBV case work, CP-GBV case management, PSS counseling community facilitator, in health extension in humanitarian context , NGOs, CSO and other relevant work experience will have encouraged to apply and are advantageous.
• Clear understanding on gender, abuse of power and violence against women and girls
• Government work experience will be relevant when the candidates work directly on community outreach , community mobilization/ facilitation and CP-GBV relater experience in CP-GBV and other related conflict situations

Desired Skill of the Community Outreach Worker

The community outreach worker must have the following skills such as Communication skills, advocacy skills, organization skills, Coordination skills, coaching and community mobilization skills fluent communication skills in Amharic and English language are advantageous.

• Demonstrated experiences in the management of CP-GBV, HTP and violence against women and girls are advantages

Safeguarding and Ethical Conduct

• Respect the safeguarding, code of conduct and policies and the standards of the CP-GBV and PSEA.
• Maintain confidentiality and respect survivor dignity.
• Apply the survivor-centered approach at all times.
• Promote “Do No Harm” principles in all project activities

Misconduct Disclosure Theme

All offers of the employment at AWA are subject to satisfactory references and background checks. In accordance with this, we will request information from an applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment or incidents

under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Language requirement:

• Fluency in English and Amharic both written and spoken.