Community Promoter - Venezuela (National Position)
Description
Location: Sucre, Venezuela
Position Status: Full-time, contingent upon availability of funds.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a global leader in humanitarian and development programs for the most vulnerable populations that is driven by the conviction that a better world is possible. In disasters, in hardship, and in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action, help people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now and for the future.
Mercy Corps has been operating in Venezuela since 2018, implementing humanitarian and development programs, with special emphasis on water, sanitation and hygiene, health, protection, food security and nutrition, while playing a key role in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information relevant to the humanitarian community in the country. It is currently expanding its programs at the country level, making it necessary to hire a Community Promoter to support nutrition, maternal health, sexual and reproductive health activities.
The Mercy Corps Venezuela Programs Team is responsible for the entire life cycle of programs implemented in the country. The team also supports the development of new business opportunities, as well as in-country grant management and reporting in line with donor regulations and Mercy Corps policies.
General Position Summary
The figure of the promoter focuses on accompanying the communities in vulnerable conditions that are integrated into the proposal, strengthening their organizational capacities to raise awareness and disseminate information, particularly on maternal health, SRH, along with nutrition issues on which they must manage sufficient and adequate information. To this end, the person in the position must be able to build and maintain strong relationships with local community stakeholders, the health centers (outpatient clinics/maternities) for which he/she works, plus the set of institutions that make life in the place. On the basis of a program of key messages, training and awareness-raising to be deployed, the promoter must be able to accompany the local organization in order to promote protection and information on the above-mentioned issues. In addition, the promoter is responsible for recording the activities carried out, the participants reached with their respective supports and registration in kobo.
Essential Job Responsibilities
PLANNING & FIELDWORK
Manages the organization's instruments to collect information at different times and in response to key processes: community assessments, census of people with the profile to participate in the proposals, evaluations of the workshops, etc.
Follows up on weekly participant cases and submits update report.
Updates the participant database on a daily basis.
Identifies and maintains cordial collaborative relationships with community leaders.
Prepares participants' location update report.
Conducts community visits to the residence of the participants according to particular accompaniment needs.
Record in the relevant instruments, the attendance of people attended each day, in order to have information on the flow of visitors.
Attends trainings about programs and regional outreach by Mercy Corps..
Articulates with local entities the different activities developed by Mercy Corps in the community.
Orientates the participants in relation to the concerns that may arise, providing the respective support and follow-up until the closing of each case.
Supports with the promotion of referral systems for people with focused needs in nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, and protection.
Supports in the follow-up of program participants.
Records, files and safeguards the supports of people participating in community activities.
Directly responsible for entering data from the promotoría comunitaria into the organization's information systems, following recommendations and provisions set forth by the MEL department.
Supports with the coordination of events in assigned communities.
Supports in convening families for scheduled activities.
Supports in the logistics of preparing for focus group discussions and other community activities.
Record life stories and success stories in M&E delivered format.
SAFETY, SECURITY AND ACCESS
Ensures compliance with security procedures and policies, as determined by country leadership, in particular the security manager.
Contributes to a safe environment operation and mindful of Mercy Corps policies.
TEAM CULTURE
Creates and maintains a mutually respectful work environment in which team members strive for excellence.
Ensures strong communication and relationships with partners, including local NGOs, corporate donors/partners, and institutional and UN donors.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability according to Mercy Corps Venezuela policy, especially with program participants in accordance with international standards guiding humanitarian and international development work, involving individuals and communities as active participants throughout the program cycle including in program design, monitoring and evaluation activities.
Supervisory responsibility
None
Responsibility
● Reports directly to: Field Operations & Administrative Officer.
● Works directly with: on-site program team; on-site technical team.
Knowledge & Experience:
● Bachelor's degree or equivalent in social work, social sciences, education or similar.
● 1 - 3 years of field experience in relief or development programs.
● Experience in capacity building and field management.
● Proficiency in basic computer software, and experience in information processing.
● Demonstrated negotiation, communication and organizational skills.
● Excellent oral and written communication skills.
● Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
● General knowledge and understanding of the humanitarian sectors and established humanitarian capacity in Venezuela.
Success Factors
Mercy Corps is looking for professionals with solid knowledge, common sense and experience to solve atypical situations presented in the field. Organized, disciplined, proactive, and efficient, oriented to planning and accomplishment of objectives. Possess excellent oral and written communication skills. It is important to have sufficient maturity to accept criticism and the demands of the job, as well as to recognize their weaknesses and rely on the work team. Must have empathy and commitment to the eradication of the unfair conditions to which the most vulnerable people are subjected. Willingness to travel and support activities in other areas of the country as needed.
Living conditions / Environmental conditions
The position is based in the Cumana locality of Sucre State, Venezuela and will require occasional travel to support national programs that may include insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited, as well as to areas where services are intermittent.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development .
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).
As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.
Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.