COUNTRY PROGRAM MISSION:

Alight Rwanda, formerly known as the American Refugee Committee, has been a key player in delivering impactful humanitarian programs since 1994. Operating in all six refugee camps in Rwanda, Alight provides integrated services in protection, health, livelihoods, and community development. The organization has pioneered initiatives like the SASA! methodology to promote gender equality, reduce GBV, and empower vulnerable populations. By fostering resilience and innovation, Alight Rwanda continues to make meaningful and sustainable contributions to refugee and host communities.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

The Protection Community Engagement Officer is responsible for implementing community-based protection prevention interventions for both Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Child Protection (CP) in the Camp.

The role focuses on SASA! methodology implementation, community activism strengthening, behavior change, and prevention of violence against women, girls, boys, and vulnerable children.

The position ensures strong community engagement systems that support prevention, early identification of risks, safe referral awareness, and protection norm change, in line with UNHCR protection frameworks and child safeguarding standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. SASA! Implementation (GBV & CP Prevention)

• Lead implementation of the SASA! methodology (Start, Awareness, Support, Action) in the community.
• Facilitate structured community dialogues on power, gender, violence, and child protection risks.
• Promote social norms change that reduces GBV and violence against children.
• Monitor and document community-level changes in attitudes and behaviors.

2. Community Activism (CA) Strengthening

• Support recruitment, training, and supervision of Community Activists (CAs).
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and technical support to activists.
• Ensure CAs conduct: Community dialogues Household outreach Awareness and mobilization activities
• Strengthen activist networks for both GBV and CP prevention messaging.

3. GBV and Child Protection Prevention

• Conduct community engagement on: GBV prevention and response awareness Child protection risks (child abuse, neglect, exploitation, early marriage, etc.) Positive parenting and child safeguarding practices
• Promote safe behaviors, protective environments, and community responsibility for children’s wellbeing.
• Engage men, boys, women, caregivers, and leaders in prevention efforts.

4. Community Mobilization and Social Norms Change

• Facilitate community dialogues, campaigns, and awareness sessions on GBV and CP.
• Promote positive masculinities, non-violent relationships, and child safeguarding norms.
• Engage religious leaders, refugee committees, and youth groups in prevention messaging.

5. Identification of Risks and Referral Awareness (Non-Case Management)

• Identify community-level protection risks and vulnerabilities related to GBV and CP.
• Promote awareness of available GBV and CP services and referral pathways.
• Refer identified cases immediately to GBV and CP Caseworkers without handling case management.

6. Community Protection Monitoring and Feedback

• Collect community feedback on: GBV risks and trends Child protection concerns Barriers to accessing services
• Support early warning of protection risks at community level.
• Contribute to community-based protection monitoring systems.

7. Coordination and Reporting

• Work closely with: GBV Caseworkers, Child Protection Caseworkers, Community-Based Protection Officers SASA! focal points
• Participate in protection coordination meetings and field reviews.
• Submit regular reports on: SASA! implementation progress: Community activism activities GBV and CP prevention trends

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, Gender Studies, Psychology, Development Studies, or related field
• 2–4 years of experience in: GBV prevention programming Child protection community work Behavior change communication or community mobilization
• Strong knowledge of: SASA! methodology (highly desirable) GBV prevention frameworks Child protection principles and safeguarding systems
• Experience working with community volunteers or activist networks in humanitarian settings is an asset
• Experience in refugee settings is highly desirable

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong facilitation and community dialogue skills
• Strong understanding of GBV and CP prevention frameworks
• Ability to drive behavior and social norms change
• Strong mentoring and coaching skills
• High integrity and safeguarding awareness (PSEA)
• Strong teamwork and coordination abilities

LANGUAGES

• Fluency in English required
• Knowledge of Kinyarwanda and/or refugee community languages is an asset

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Field based Position
• Extensive field presence and community engagement work
• Close interaction with community structures and activists
• Strict adherence to child safeguarding and PSEA standards

CORE VALUES AND COMMITMENT

The successful candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to Alight’s mission and values, including respect, accountability, compassion, integrity, and inclusion. The Protection Community Engagement Officer is expected to actively promote safeguarding, gender equality, and ethical programming in all aspects of their work.

• Lead implementation of the SASA! methodology (Start, Awareness, Support, Action) in the community.
• Facilitate structured community dialogues on power, gender, violence, and child protection risks.
• Promote social norms change that reduces GBV and violence against children.
• Monitor and document community-level changes in attitudes and behaviors.
• Support recruitment, training, and supervision of Community Activists (CAs).
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and technical support to activists.
• Ensure CAs conduct: Community dialogues Household outreach Awareness and mobilization activities
• Strengthen activist networks for both GBV and CP prevention messaging.
• Conduct community engagement on: GBV prevention and response awareness Child protection risks (child abuse, neglect, exploitation, early marriage, etc.) Positive parenting and child safeguarding practices
• Promote safe behaviors, protective environments, and community responsibility for children’s wellbeing.
• Engage men, boys, women, caregivers, and leaders in prevention efforts.
• Facilitate community dialogues, campaigns, and awareness sessions on GBV and CP.
• Promote positive masculinities, non-violent relationships, and child safeguarding norms.
• Engage religious leaders, refugee committees, and youth groups in prevention messaging.
• Identify community-level protection risks and vulnerabilities related to GBV and CP.
• Promote awareness of available GBV and CP services and referral pathways.
• Refer identified cases immediately to GBV and CP Caseworkers without handling case management.
• Collect community feedback on: GBV risks and trends Child protection concerns Barriers to accessing services
• Support early warning of protection risks at community level.
• Contribute to community-based protection monitoring systems.
• Work closely with: GBV Caseworkers, Child Protection Caseworkers, Community-Based Protection Officers SASA! focal points
• Participate in protection coordination meetings and field reviews.
• Submit regular reports on: SASA! implementation progress: Community activism activities GBV and CP prevention trends

• Strong facilitation and community dialogue skills
• Strong understanding of GBV and CP prevention frameworks
• Ability to drive behavior and social norms change
• Strong mentoring and coaching skills
• High integrity and safeguarding awareness (PSEA)
• Strong teamwork and coordination abilities
• Fluency in English required
• Knowledge of Kinyarwanda and/or refugee community languages is an asset

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, Gender Studies, Psychology, Development Studies, or related field
• 2–4 years of experience in: GBV prevention programming Child protection community work Behavior change communication or community mobilization
• Strong knowledge of: SASA! methodology (highly desirable) GBV prevention frameworks Child protection principles and safeguarding systems
• Experience working with community volunteers or activist networks in humanitarian settings is an asset
• Experience in refugee settings is highly desirable