Community Mobilizer – Gardula (Derashe) and Karat zuria (Konso), Ethiopia

About Ayuda en Acción:  

Ayuda en Acción Foundation is a secular, non-partisan international non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 1981 with a global commitment to fight against poverty, inequality, and exclusion. Its headquarters is in Madrid, Spain. The organization operates in 20 countries within Africa, South and Central America and Europe (Spain, Portugal). 

In Ethiopia, Ayuda en Acción has supported a range of humanitarian and development interventions through local and international partners between 2002 and 2017; an independent country program was established in 2018. Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia aspires to tackle poverty, inequalities and exclusion that perpetuate poverty. The organization perceives women, men, girls, and boys as the center of its efforts in the country, giving it an impetus to strengthen people’s and institutions’ capacities to meaningfully contribute to development and dignified life of all in Ethiopia. To achieve its mission, Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia has been working in Afar, Oromia and South Ethiopia Regional States in close cooperation with local and international partners, international research institutes, Government, and private sector actors.

Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia, as part of the institutional strategy, manages a range of projects: Food security and resilient food system, employment, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, value chain using market system, inclusive education and gender, humanitarian and resilience building within three program priorities: sustainable livelihoods and resilient food systems; inclusive education; and emergency response and resilience building. Ayuda en Acción are part of Alliance 2015, a strategic network of seven European NGOs engaged in humanitarian aid and development projects. 

Purpose of the Role:

Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia seeks a Community Mobilizer to support the implementation of the Moringa Project, enhancing community engagement, livelihoods, and local economic opportunities in its Southern Ethiopia operational areas. The position will be based in Karat Zuria (Konso) and Gardula (Derashe) woredas, where the selected candidates will be stationed to support field-level activities.

The Community Mobilizer plays a critical role in ensuring strong community participation, ownership, and engagement, which are essential for the success and sustainability of project interventions. By fostering trust and effective communication between the project team and the community, the role ensures that activities are relevant, inclusive, and responsive to local needs. Additionally, the role contributes to accountability and continuous improvement by capturing community feedback and supporting adaptive project implementation.

This role serves as a key bridge between the project team, community members, and local institutions, supporting inclusive participation and fostering local capacity for livelihood and development.   

Reporting line and Interdependencies with other functions:

The Community Mobilizer will report directly to the Moringa Market and Agronomy Specialist and will work closely with the Extensionist, Project Officers, Project Coordinator, Communication and Solidarity Link Coordinator, and other area office team members to ensure effective project implementation and strong community engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

    i. Community Mobilization and Project Implementation:

• Mobilize and organize community members to actively participate in project activities in line with the project work plan.
• Raise awareness on project objectives, interventions, and opportunities within the target communities.
• Facilitate community meetings, dialogues, and awareness sessions to promote understanding and engagement.
• Support the identification, targeting, and registration of project beneficiaries in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Promote active participation of community members in trainings, workshops, and other project interventions.
• Identify community needs and priorities, ensuring that project activities are responsive and inclusive.
• Serve as a key link between the project team and the community to ensure smooth communication and coordination at the grassroots level.

   ii. Community Feedback, Monitoring, and Reporting:

• Collect community feedback on project activities, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the documentation of community-level activities, including participation and engagement outcomes.
• Monitor community participation and engagement, providing regular updates to the supervisor.
• Assist in compiling field-level information and reports in line with organizational and donor requirements.
• Contribute to documenting lessons learned and best practices from community engagement processes.

   iii. Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with community members, local leaders, and relevant stakeholders.
• Liaise between the community and project team to ensure effective communication and mutual understanding.
• Support coordination of community meetings, stakeholder consultations, and engagement platforms.
• Facilitate collaboration and trust-building among community members and project stakeholders to strengthen partnerships.

   iv. Perform any other duties assigned by the immediate supervisor.