Summary: Social Accountability, Community & Conflict-Sensitivity Specialist at IRES: Facilitates community engagement, designs accountability frameworks, and mitigates project conflict risks. Requires a Master’s in Sociology or Development Studies and 8+ years of conflict-sensitive programming experience. Full-time/Consultancy.
Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Social Development professional to deliver practical training and facilitation in community engagement, social accountability, inclusion, conflict sensitivity, and stakeholder participation.
The consultant will support participants to design and implement socially responsive programmes, particularly in water and infrastructure development contexts.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and facilitate practical training on community engagement,
social accountability and conflict-sensitive programming.
- Lead stakeholder and community engagement sessions, including
ownership and partnership analysis.
- Integrate inclusion, conflict sensitivity and participatory
approaches into programme design.
- Facilitate dialogues and workshops with communities, government and
development stakeholders.
- Apply practical tools for community participation, grievance
engagement and social accountability.
- Support data collection and analysis related to sexual exploitation,
abuse and harassment (SEAH) where relevant to programme requirements.
- Develop practical case studies and learning materials for complex
community and development contexts.
Minimum Qualifications and
Professional Experience:
Academic
Qualifications
- Degree in Social Sciences, including Sociology, Community
Development, Anthropology, Social Work, Governance, Peace and Conflict or
another related field.
Professional
Experience
- At least 10 years of experience in community engagement, training,
facilitation of dialogues and research related to domestic water-supply
infrastructure projects.
- Experience with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework
(ESF).
- Experience working in ASAL areas of Kenya, including resilience,
conflict resolution and pastoralist communities.
- Operational experience implementing programmes in areas with high
prevalence of sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment and violence.
- Experience in data collection and analysis on SEAH and knowledge of
relevant SEAH legislation/legal frameworks.
Technical
Competencies
- Community engagement; social accountability; conflict sensitivity;
inclusion; stakeholder analysis; participatory approaches; ESF; SEAH
safeguards.
Key
Skills and Attributes
- Excellent facilitation and dialogue-management skills.
- Strong community engagement and interpersonal skills.
- Cultural sensitivity and inclusive communication.
- Strong conflict-sensitive problem-solving ability.
- Ability to handle sensitive stakeholder issues professionally.
- Strong research, documentation, and analytical skills.
Training
& Facilitation Experience
- Proven experience as a consultant trainer, facilitator, technical
adviser, or subject-matter expert.
- Demonstrated ability to translate technical and professional
concepts into practical, participant-centred learning.
- Training of Trainers (ToT) certification is an added advantage.
- Strong understanding of adult learning methodologies and
competency-based facilitation.
Consultancy
Role Focus:
- Lead practical training and advisory support on community
participation, social accountability, inclusion and conflict-sensitive
design and implementation.
Mode of Engagement:
- Successful candidates will be engaged as external consultant
trainers on a need basis.
- Assignments may involve training delivery, technical advisory
support, curriculum/content development, workshops, facilitation, and
related consultancy services.
- Further details, including assignment scope, duration, and
professional fees, will be provided during the initial engagement meeting.
How to Apply
Interested
candidates are invited to submit their CV, cover letter, and copies of all
required certifications to trainingjobs@indepthresearch.co.ke by 26th August 2026.
Please include the title of the position in the subject line.
All
documents must be in PDF format.
Note: Only
shortlisted candidates will be contacted
