Local Stakeholder Engagement Expert - Sierra Leone

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Local Stakeholder Engagement Expert - Sierra Leone for a water sanitation consultancy assignment financed by UNCDF in Sierra Leone.

Aninver Development Partners SL is seeking a qualified Local Stakeholder Engagement Expert for an upcoming proposal in Sierra Leone. The project, supported by the UNCDF, focuses on the water-sanitation sector and aims to foster social cohesion, improve water governance, and empower women in underserved informal settlements.

The expert will play a critical role in bridging community engagement efforts, facilitating dialogue with local groups, and ensuring culturally sensitive stakeholder interaction throughout the implementation of the assignment. This position requires a professional with a strong background in community mobilization, local governance, and participatory research methodologies within the country.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Facilitate inclusive community engagement and stakeholder dialogues across all target and comparison sites.
• Ensure adherence to Do No Harm principles and conflict-sensitive approaches during all field activities.
• Support community mobilization and entry strategies to foster local ownership and transparency.
• Assist in building trust between community members, local authorities, and project implementers.

Scope of work

• Conduct initial consultations and stakeholder mapping across target informal communities.
• Support community entry and sensitization activities to inform local leaders and residents about survey objectives and methodology.
• Assist in identifying and engaging comparison groups in non-intervention areas for comparative analysis.
• Facilitate communication between enumerator teams, local stakeholders, and community guides.
• Monitor field dynamics and promptly communicate any sensitivities or tensions to the team.
• Support the organization of community briefings and feedback sessions to share results with participating residents.

Your role as Local Stakeholder Engagement Expert - Sierra Leone

• Lead local stakeholder outreach and coordinate community-level logistics for fieldwork.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local governance structures, community leaders, and women-led groups.
• Assist in translating and adapting questionnaires and engagement protocols to local cultural contexts and languages.
• Guide enumerators on local protocols, community entry norms, and conflict-sensitive interaction.
• Help organize and facilitate qualitative discussions, focus groups, or community feedback forums.
• Contribute local insights and context to the interpretation of survey findings and reporting.

Requirements

• University degree in social sciences, community development, international relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated professional experience in local stakeholder engagement, community mobilization, or participatory research in Sierra Leone.
• Strong knowledge of local governance structures, community dynamics, and water-sanitation or peacebuilding contexts in informal settlements.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills with the ability to engage diverse local actors.
• Fluency in English and local languages spoken in the target communities, particularly Krio.
• National of, or based in, the project country

Desirable

• Prior experience working on UN or international donor-funded projects in the water and sanitation sector.
• Experience in gender-sensitive programming and conflict resolution initiatives.

An experienced community engagement professional with deep local knowledge of Sierra Leone's informal settlements, excellent communication skills in Krio and English, and a proven track record in fostering inclusive stakeholder dialogues.

Assignment details

• Location: Sierra Leone
• Financed by: UNCDF
• Sector: Water sanitation
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNCDF-financed project in Sierra Leone.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? This position requires a national of, or a professional based in, the project country.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.