Project Officer, Seashore Project

Brief description of JAAGO Foundation Trust

JAAGO Foundation Trust is a non-profit development organization with a mission to eradicate poverty in Bangladesh through education and positive change. JAAGO focuses on various sectors, including education, youth development, women empowerment, climate change, and governance. JAAGO provides free, high-quality education to children through conventional and digital schooling programs, serving 4500 students currently. Our Youth Development Program empowers 50,000 young citizens with skills and resources for national development. JAAGO addresses challenges faced by women and girls, offering alternative learning opportunities in underrepresented communities. JAAGO actively collaborates with local communities, women, youth, and marginalized groups to develop climate resilience and sustainable livelihood options. JAAGO promotes civic education to enhance youth civic participation, collective action, and leadership for effective societal change.

Position Summary

The Project Officer for the Seashore Girls Empowerment project will play a pivotal role in implementing activities aimed at empowering adolescent girls in Cox’s Bazar through sports, life skills development, and gender-based violence prevention. The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating program activities, liaising with local schools, community leaders, and service providers, and ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes. This role requires a proactive approach to community engagement, capacity building, and partnership management to create inclusive and gender-sensitive environments for girls.

Job Responsibilities

1. Program Coordination and Implementation:
   • Plan, organize, and oversee project activities, including swimming, surfing, lifeguard training, and life skills development sessions.
   • Ensure activities are conducted in a safe and supportive environment in collaboration with local schools and community stakeholders.
   • Coordinate awareness campaigns focused on gender-based violence prevention and youth-friendly services.
2. Community Engagement and Capacity Building:
   • Engage with community leaders, teachers, local businesses, and parents to build a supportive network for girls’ empowerment.
   • Organize workshops and community dialogues addressing gender norms, safety, and climate change awareness.
   • Facilitate training sessions for 150 service providers to promote inclusive and gender-sensitive environments.
3. Partnership and Collaboration:
   • Collaborate with local stakeholders, including NGOs, government bodies, and private sector partners, to enhance program outreach and impact.
   • Maintain regular communication with partners to ensure alignment with project goals and sustainability plans.
4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:
   • Monitor project activities and ensure that project targets are met on time and within budget.
   • Collect data and compile progress reports to assess the effectiveness of activities and campaigns.
   • Identify challenges, risks, and opportunities for improvement and provide strategic recommendations.
5. Advocacy and Communication:
   • Promote the project’s mission and objectives through effective communication strategies.
   • Develop informational materials to raise awareness about gender-based violence prevention and youth-friendly services.
   • Represent the project in meetings, conferences, and community events as required.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Education, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of experience in project implementation, preferably in empowerment, youth development, or community engagement programs.
• Demonstrated experience in working with adolescents, particularly girls, in a community setting.
• Prior experience in organizing life skills development, sports activities, or campaigns on gender-based violence prevention is highly desirable.
• Experience in the Cox’s Bazar context or other disaster-prone, coastal communities is preferred.

Skills and other competencies

• Strong leadership and coordination skills with the ability to engage multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with community members, partners, and beneficiaries.
• Proven ability to design and implement awareness campaigns and training programs.
• Knowledge of gender-based violence prevention, youth-friendly services, and gender-sensitive programming.
• Strong monitoring and evaluation skills, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to work in a multicultural and challenging environment with sensitivity to cultural and community norms.
• Fluency in Bangla and proficiency in English (both written and verbal). Knowledge of the local language of Cox’s Bazar is an advantage.