Job Overview/Summary

The Advocacy and Community Liaison Officer will support the design and implementation of advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and community liaison strategies aimed at strengthening programme visibility, government engagement, community participation, and policy influence. The position will serve as a critical link between IRC, communities, government stakeholders, partners, and other relevant actors to ensure effective coordination, representation, and community-centred programming.

The role will support advocacy initiatives through evidence generation, stakeholder mapping, policy engagement, community feedback mechanisms, and strategic relationship management. The Officer will also contribute to accountability to affected populations, positive community relations, and IRC’s positioning with key external stakeholders.

The position will work closely with programming, MEAL, protection, communications, and field teams to ensure that community voices, field realities, and programme evidence inform advocacy priorities and external engagement strategies.

About IRC

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people affected by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, IRC works in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities.

IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012. It currently operates from Abuja and field locations including Mubi, Yola, Maiduguri, Monguno, and Damaturu, implementing programmes in primary healthcare, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security, and livelihoods.

Major Responsibilities

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy
• Implement advocacy and community engagement strategies aligned with country programme priorities.
• Engage government ministries, community leaders, civil society organisations, and humanitarian actors.
• Support coordination between IRC field teams and external stakeholders.
• Document humanitarian needs, community concerns, and programme impact.
• Support community consultations, stakeholder meetings, and engagement forums.
• Strengthen community feedback and accountability mechanisms.
• Monitor humanitarian, political, and community developments relevant to IRC programming.
• Support protection mainstreaming, accountability, and community participation.
• Represent IRC in coordination meetings and external engagements as assigned.

Program Development
• Contribute context analysis, stakeholder mapping, and advocacy inputs to proposal development.
• Support advocacy briefs, talking points, donor materials, and external communications.
• Identify partnership and collaboration opportunities.
• Develop visibility and engagement materials highlighting programme impact and community voices.
• Contribute to donor visits, high-level field visits, and stakeholder engagement planning.

Staff Performance, Learning, and Development
• Strengthen staff and community structures on advocacy, stakeholder engagement, accountability, and liaison approaches.
• Provide technical support to field teams.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Support understanding of IRC policies, safeguarding principles, and accountability standards.
• Document learning, best practices, and lessons learned.

Research, Learning, and Analysis
• Conduct stakeholder analysis and mapping.
• Document client stories, community feedback, and programme outcomes.
• Analyse contextual developments, policy trends, and humanitarian issues.
• Contribute to reports, briefing notes, situation analyses, and advocacy products.
• Coordinate with MEAL and technical teams to support evidence-based advocacy.

Coordination and Representation
• Maintain relationships with government agencies, community leaders, civil society, donors, UN agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Represent IRC in coordination platforms, community meetings, and stakeholder forums.
• Support advocacy events, campaigns, policy dialogues, and community engagement activities.
• Strengthen IRC’s visibility and reputation through professional engagement.
• Facilitate communication between IRC and community structures to support acceptance and access.

Reporting and Working Relationships

Reports to: Advocacy and Communications Coordinator.
Technical collaboration: Field Coordinator, Programme Coordinators, MEAL, Protection, and Field Management teams.
Direct supervision: None, or Community Volunteers/Assistants where applicable.

Internal contacts include Programmes, MEAL, Protection, Health and Nutrition, Communications, Grants, Supply Chain and Operations, and Field Management teams. Regional and global contacts include the Regional Advocacy Team and Global Communications and Advocacy Units.

External contacts include government ministries and agencies, community leaders and structures, civil society organisations, UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs, donors, development partners, media representatives, and community-based organisations.

Job Requirements

Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Mass Communication, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Law, or a related field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.

Work Experience
• Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in advocacy, community engagement, stakeholder coordination, humanitarian programming, or a related field.
• Experience working with NGOs, INGOs, government institutions, or humanitarian organisations.
• Experience in the Northeast or Northwest Nigeria humanitarian context is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience engaging government stakeholders, communities, and partners.

Technical Skills
• Strong advocacy and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent report writing, presentation, and communication skills.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles, accountability frameworks, and protection mainstreaming.
• Strong community engagement and facilitation skills.
• Experience in coordination, representation, and partnership management.
• Ability to analyse contextual and policy developments.
• Strong documentation and storytelling abilities.

Managerial and Leadership Competencies
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multicultural environments.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Professionalism, integrity, and diplomacy.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Languages and Technology
• Fluency in English is required.
• Hausa, Kanuri, or other local languages are an added advantage.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and online collaboration platforms.
• Strong digital documentation and reporting skills.
• Social media and digital engagement experience is an advantage.

Professional Standards

IRC workers must follow the IRC Way and its standards of Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability. IRC enforces safeguarding, conflicts-of-interest, fiscal-integrity, reporting-wrongdoing, and protection-from-retaliation policies.

Location and Contract

Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Work arrangement: In person.
Employment type: Full time.
Posted: 10 September.
Deadline: 18 September 2026.
Requisition ID: JR00003701.

Application

Applicants should review the full official advert and apply through the IRC recruitment portal: https://theirc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External_Careers/job/Maiduguri-Nigeria/Advocacy-and-Community-Liaison-Officer_JR00003701?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=impactpool