Community Engagement Associate

RMI is a small island developing state in the Pacific.  The nation is a large-ocean state, with a total land area of only 182 km², spread across over 2 million km² of ocean.  There are 24 inhabited atolls and islands, which are mostly remote and lie merely 2 m above sea level on average.  There are no rivers, streams or lakes in RMI and the number of small surface ponds is very limited.

GoRMI, with the assistance of UNDP, has developed a project on adaptation to climate change impacts to water supply in RMI.  The project is co-financed by GoRMI and Green Climate Fund (GCF).  The project will build resilience to the impacts of climate change on water supply, particularly in 24 atolls and islands that are highly vulnerable to 

• Water Security – Improving household and community rainwater harvesting and storage structures to increase resilience of water supply in 77 rural communities in the outer islands and atolls accounting for approximately 28% of RMI’s population, including 7,630 (49%) women, currently at risk.
• Water Resilience – Securing groundwater resources from contamination due to inundation caused by wave overtopping of seawater.
• Water Governance – Strengthening the technical capacities of national and subnational institutions and key stakeholders to integrated climate change risks into water governance processes so that management of climate change risks are coordinated, effective, participatory, equitable, and sustained over the long-term when risks are expected to worsen.

The project aligns with GoRMI’s key climate change policies and strategies and has been developed through extensive consultation with government, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and beneficiary communities. The proposed project is aligned with RMI’s NDC and country work programme to the GCF.  The NDA has issued a letter of no-objection and the proposed project is aligned with the work programme of the AE (UNDP) selected by the NDA.

This GCF project will be executed by UNDP, in close partnership with the GoRMI, given UNDP’s extensive experience in implementing climate change adaptation projects globally. The project implementation will be led by a team based in Majuro, RMI and Suva, Fiji. 

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Community Engagement Associate will primarily focus on securing community support and engagement with ACWA project implementation activities but will also have involvement in other aspects of the project as described below.

The incumpents will work in tandem with the Area Coordinators and Site Coordinators in the implementation of project activities at the target communities and liaising with the Mayors, Members of Parliament, and community leaders. The Project will operate all outreach initiatives to the target communities based on the four Atoll and Island geographical areas that have been designated based on their geographical locations.  

Summary of Key Functions

• Oversee the implementation of project activities 
• Coordinate with various stakeholders at national and community level 
• Oversight Site Coordinators
• Strengthen community engagement
• Support Grievanec Redress Mechanism

Oversee the implementation of project activities

• Establish and maintain social rapport with communities in the 24 targeted Atolls and Islands. 
• Provide supports for Technical Design Survey disclosure meetings, delivery of material to Atolls and Islands, insltallation works for rainwater harevesting system, groundwater rehavilitation. 
• Conduct training for Site Coordinators and communities, Community-based Water Commmittees for water safety management, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and gender equality. 
• Compiles summary reports to the Project Manager and Area Coordinators following individual missions and be prepared to provide responses to queries.
• Contribute and participate in trainings, workshops, and other activities conducted by ACWA project to promote and maintain community engagement and participation.

Coordinate with various stakeholders at national and community level

• Establish and maintain social rapport with the Paramount Chiefs, ranking chiefs, and elders of the target  communities and ensuring they are kept abreast of project progress as it relates to their domains.
• Ensure close coordination with local leaderships for transparent and accountable communication

Oversight Site Coordinators

• Monitor, supervise and oversight Site Coordinator for their daily activity and compile bio-weekly report
• Guide and train Site Coordinator for monitoring and porting activities

Strengthen community engagement 

• Conduct visits to targeted communities in the 24 Atolls and Islands with the objective of informing the people about ACWA project and its overarching goals and methodology and receiving feedback.
• Closely work with ACWA Project Management Unit (PMU) team especially Area Coordinator, Water Governance Coordination Specialist, Field Engineers, and Chief Technical Advisor to ensure community support and engagement with ACWA project activities

Support Grievance Redress Mechanism

• Support Chief Technical Advisor and Site Coordinator to ensure proper handling community suggestion, concern or request to be accountable and complie report.
• Any other responsibilities that may be assigned by the Project Manager.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and Strategy     

• System Thinking. Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management    

• Communication. Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. .Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
• Partnership Management. Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

2030 Agenda- Peace    

• Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions. Community engagement for prevention, response, and social cohesion