Community Liaison Officer (CLO)

Community Liaison Officer (CLO)                    

Department: Operations          

Reports to: Community Liaison Team Leader

Direct Reports: None

Location: Tigray Region, Ethiopia (with deployment to other operational areas as required)

MAG’s Vision is a safe future for women, men and children affected by violence, conflict and insecurity. People will live in communities where their rights are upheld, with dignity and choice and free from fear from mines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and the impact of small arms and light weapons and ammunition.

MAG’s Mission is to save lives and build safer futures. We will use our core skills and distinctive competence to save lives through the removal of mines and ERW, and reduce the impact of small arms, light weapons and ammunition on people and communities. How we do this is as important as what we do – we work primarily with and for communities, for us ‘it’s all about people’.

MAG’s Values. Our values come to life through our actions, every day. How we act has an impact on others. As someone who works at MAG, you can help to create a positive culture by demonstrating our values through your own behaviour and actions. Everyone has a role to play in shaping our culture. Everyone should understand our values and is encouraged to think how they are relevant to their individual role.

DETERMINED - we work with purpose

EXPERT - through excellence and expertise we build trust

INTEGRITY - we strive to do the right thing

COMPASSION - people come first in everything we do

INCLUSIVE - we are inclusive, and we value diversity

Job Purpose

The Community Liaison Officer (CLO) is responsible for supporting the delivery of MAG Ethiopia's Community Liaison (CL) activities in accordance with MAG Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), Ethiopian National Mine Action Standards (NMAS), and donor requirements.

Working as part of a multi-skilled Community Liaison Team, the CLO contributes to the implementation of Community Liaison, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), Explosive Hazard Awareness Training (EHAT), Community Focal Point (CFP) development, Non-Technical Survey (NTS), field-based Explosive Ordnance Contamination Assessment, information management and community engagement activities.

The post holder plays a key role in improving community safety, strengthening humanitarian access, supporting evidence-based operational planning and ensuring that affected communities participate meaningfully in humanitarian mine action activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Community Liaison

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with conflict-affected communities.
• Liaise with community leaders, women, youth, persons with disabilities, IDPs, returnees, local authorities and humanitarian partners.
• Facilitate community meetings using participatory approaches.
• Support community mapping exercises.
• Identify community priorities relating to explosive ordnance contamination.
• Promote community acceptance of MAG activities.
• Maintain regular communication with Community Focal Points.

2. Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE)

• Deliver EORE sessions using approved MAG curricula.
• Adapt EORE messages to different target groups.
• Conduct pre- and post-session assessments.
• Support development and distribution of EORE materials.
• Promote safe behaviour relating to ERW and other explosive ordnance.
• Record participant data accurately.

3. Explosive Hazard Awareness Training (EHAT)

• Support preparation and delivery of EHAT.
• Assist with participant registration.
• Conduct assessments.
• Maintain attendance records.
• Support practical exercises.
• Assist with reporting.

4. Community Focal Point (CFP) Development

• Assist communities to identify suitable CFPs.
• Deliver CFP training.
• Mentor CFPs.
• Monitor CFP performance.
• Support distribution of approved EORE materials.
• Maintain communication with CFPs.

5. Non-Technical Survey (NTS)

• Conduct interviews with community members.
• Collect information on suspected hazardous areas.
• Complete NTS documentation.
• Record GPS coordinates.
• Produce sketch maps.
• Collect land-use information.
• Identify affected infrastructure.
• Maintain accurate survey records.

6. Explosive Ordnance Contamination Assessment

• Support field-based EO Contamination Assessments.
• Collect information on reported EO contamination.
• Identify evidence of previous conflict.
• Record contamination information using approved forms.
• Assist with temporary marking where authorised.
• Never enter hazardous areas.
• Never approach suspected explosive ordnance.
• Report all findings immediately.

7. Information Management

• Complete all operational forms accurately.
• Use Survey123, Kobo or other approved digital tools.
• Record GPS data.
• Submit daily reports.
• Assist with desktop assessment updates.
• Ensure data quality.
• Protect confidential information.

8. Coordination

• Coordinate with local authorities.
• Coordinate with humanitarian organisations.
• Support EMAO coordination where required.
• Represent MAG professionally.
• Attend operational meetings when requested.

9. Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation

• Maintain accurate records.
• Produce daily activity reports.
• Produce weekly summaries.
• Collect photographs following safeguarding guidance.
• Assist development of case studies.
• Report incidents immediately.

10. Safeguarding and Inclusion

• Promote safeguarding.
• Promote PSEA.
• Promote Accountability to Affected Populations.
• Promote Gender Equality.
• Promote Disability Inclusion.
• Ensure meaningful participation of women, men, boys, girls and persons with disabilities.

11. Health, Safety and Security

• Follow MAG Safety and Security procedures.
• Never touch explosive ordnance.
• Use PPE correctly.
• Report safety concerns immediately.
• Follow Journey Management procedures.
• Support safe field operations.