Conflict Transformation Officer – Swiss Church Aid/HEKS Ethiopia
Social Sciences and Community
Swiss Church Aid/HEKS Ethiopia
About Swiss Church Aid/HEKS-EPER
Swiss Church Aid/HEKS is the aid organization of the Protestant Churches of Switzerland and has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland. Swiss Church Aid/ HEKS works towards a more humane and more equitable world, assisting people and communities to overcome economic, social or humanitarian disparities in order to gain autonomy and to live with dignity both in Switzerland and abroad. Therefore, Swiss Church Aid/ HEKS engage in development cooperation, humanitarian aid and church cooperation and works in more than 30 countries and runs around 200 projects world-wide. Swiss Church Aid/ HEKS is a member of the ACT Alliance.
About Swiss Church Aid/HEKS-EPER
Swiss Church Aid/HEKS is the aid organization of the Protestant Churches of Switzerland and has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland. Swiss Church Aid/HEKS implements development and humanitarian responses programs to tackles the causes of hunger, injustice and social deprivation both in Switzerland and abroad and runs around 200 projects world-wide.
Swiss Church Aid/ HEKS is a member of the ACT Alliance.
In Ethiopia, Swiss Church Aid/ HEKS implements development and humanitarian interventions with focus on natural resource management, climate change adaption, conflict transformation, water, hygiene & sanitation, and inclusive markets.
Swiss church Aid/HEKS is looking for a committed and competent Conflict Transformation Officer for its ‘Women for Peace’ which aims at strengthening local capacities to improve communities’ resilience in border areas between Borana (Ethiopia) and Marsabit (Kenya). The project aims to enhance women’s leverage in conflict prevention, resolution, peace building, relief and recovery. The position holder will report to field office coordinator and will work closely with the project team in the field and in Addis as well as with partner organizations in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Job Description
Key areas of responsibilities are:
- Coordinate and lead the implementation of the peace and conflict transformation component of the project “Women for Peace – Strengthening Local Capacities to Transform Conflict in the Border area of Borana-Marsabit in Ethiopia and Kenya.”
- Carry out an in-depth conflict mapping, identifying different interest groups, sources of tension and capacities for peaceful coexistence.
- Analyse the impact of project activities on existing socio-political dynamics; development and implementation of adjustments in order to enhance conflict sensitivity.
- Establish and facilitate inclusive forums for institutional dialogue.
- Support facilitation of peaceful cross-border coexistence meetings involving pastoral and agro pastoral groups, including women, local authorities, gada leaders, elderly and youth.
- Organize and support women and other community members to facilitate dialogues and mediation meetings using HEKS diapraxis approach, (“dialogue through practice”).
- Build capacity on conflict sensitivity and conflict transformation for women leaders and other local relevant actors as well as the project team members.
- Organize strategic conflict prevention and peace building events like community driven
awareness campaigns on peaceful coexistence (e.g. drama, sports, drawing competitions. - Develop IEC materials with peace building messages and disseminate them to relevant stakeholders.
- Strategic steering and coordination of the peace building component of the project.
- Ensure the development of the monitoring and results measurement, as well as knowledge for steering, accountability and learning for the peace building component.
- Support the project objective to increase the number of women participants in peace-building processes, dialogue activities, and initiatives.
- Support the implementation of capacity-building activities relating to strengthening skills and application of conflict prevention and peace building approaches by Swiss Church Aid HEKS team, partners, and community stakeholders.
- Supervise accomplishment of activities agreed in the project proposal and subsequently communicate with field office coordinator and project team on progress and potential challenges.
- Undertake timely submission of regular reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual and final) as deemed necessary by the project management team.
- Enhance the capacity of local women leaders to enable them to actively participate in the cross-border initiatives such as peace building and conflict transformation interventions
- Ensure meaningful and equal participation of women, girls, men, boys, and other vulnerable community members in project activities.
- Provide technical inputs to the development of peaceful co-existence and women led peace building concept notes / project proposal.
- Carry out any additional duty as requested by the line manager.
Contract: fixed basis for 25 months
Education, Qualifications & other knowledge
- BSc degree or master’s degree in social science, peace building, conflict transformation or other related fields
- 5-6 years of work experience in social work with focus on conflict transformation
- Experience and understanding of pastoral areas, context, livelihoods and culture
- Demonstrable experience in working in Borana Zone
- Strong expertise in conflict sensitive programme management
- Motivating character with good facilitation skills working with diverse and inclusive target groups
- Strong commitment towards enhancing peace and justice
- Strong analytical skills.
- High social competence and empathy as well as sensitivity in working in a conflict affected context.
- Good knowledge on rights-based and conflict sensitive programming.
- Experience in organizing and facilitating peace building and conflict transformation training.
- Willingness to work in remote areas, ability to work with minimum supervision
- Very good English, Amharic and Afan Oromo languages and/or multi-linguistic skills (written and spoken)
- Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of Swiss Church Aid/HEKS
