Community Engagement Officer

About Rungano-Ndota Initiative (RNI)

Ngira nkugire, Mfasha ngufashe

Rungano-Ndota Initiative (RNI) is a Rwandan youth organisation based in Ruhango District, Southern Province. We build communities of trust where young people aged 16–26 from the poorest households break out of poverty and become entrepreneurs and leaders. They are proof for the next generation, and for the world, that it can be done. Rungano-Ndota means “a dream generation”, and that is what our youth are becoming.

RNI was founded by nine young leaders from Ruhango District and officially began its work there in 2017. Led by young Rwandans who know poverty and hardship from their own lives, RNI is shaped by a simple idea: trust and belonging come first, then self-leadership, then capital. Youth join RNI from local government lists of the poorest households, on need alone, with no screening. They include young single mothers, youth returning from rehabilitation and youth with disabilities.

Each young person walks a two-year Core Program journey and then joins Inyenyeri, RNI's lifelong community of graduates who give back. The journey rests on four foundations: Personal Wellness, Leadership Development, Entrepreneurship Development and Ecosystem Connection.

In 10 years, 550 youth have walked this journey with RNI. RNI's data shows:

427 businesses created by our first 450 youth, with 143 full-time and 218 part-time jobs for others

82% of graduates are elected leaders in their communities, up from 9% before joining

0 further unplanned pregnancies among the 98 young single mothers in the program over the past five years

44 of 45 youth returning from rehabilitation have not gone back

In 2026, RNI walks alongside 300 youth in the Core Program and 250 Inyenyeri members.

Our principles

Trust · Patience · Youth in the driver's seat · Communal role modelling · Co-creation · Holistic & experiential learning

Join us. At RNI, you won't just fill a post. You'll walk alongside young people that others wrote off as they become the people their communities count on.

Learn more: www.runganondota.org

Job Description

Community Engagement Officer

Position Title

Community Engagement Officer

Based in

Kigali Office

Supervised by

Grants and Communications Manager

The Community Engagement Officer will be based in Kigali Office and will operate under the supervision of the Grants and Communications Manager.

About Twese for Rungano

Twese for Rungano (“all of us for Rungano”) is RNI's network of Rwandan supporters and volunteers. They are professionals, businesspeople, leaders and friends of RNI who give their time, skills, networks and resources to support RNI and help young people succeed.

Members of Twese for Rungano:

speak at and support Business Idea Generation (BIG) Days, the Business Bootcamp and Rungano Days

network with youth and open doors to business, jobs and opportunities

join RNI's major events, including the Inkera y'Urungano business expo, the Leadership Exchange and graduation

support youth through giving, for example by funding internships for trade school graduates

support RNI through donations, either for general operations or for specific projects

connect RNI's leaders with funding and visibility opportunities

build the capacity of RNI staff by sharing their professional skills and experience, for example through training and mentoring

come together through a WhatsApp community, monthly updates and an annual fundraising event in Kigali

The Community Engagement Officer is the main link between RNI and Twese members. The officer welcomes new members, keeps them informed and involved, and connects their skills to what RNI and its youth need.

1. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL RUNGANO-NDOTA PROGRAM STAFF

Cultivate constructive engagement within the Rungano-Ndota (RNI) community, fostering positive relationships with youth participants.

Contribute to the execution of Rungano Program Days, Alumni Forums, RNI Business Bootcamp, Business Idea Generation Day and virtual events in collaboration with Rwanda Youth Partnership, ensuring seamless coordination and facilitation.

Serve as a mentor/Advisor to individual youth, offering guidance and support, including an annual home visit.

Actively engage in Monitoring and Evaluation processes, providing valuable insights and feedback to enhance program effectiveness.

Participate in Staff Development Retreats, and be available for weekend or overnight commitments away from home during the Annual RNI&RYP Leadership Exchange, as required.

Collaborate with colleagues, offering support through constructive feedback and mutual assistance in fulfilling individual responsibilities.

2. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

Twese member relations

Serve as the main liaison for all Twese for Rungano members.

Actively work to recruit new Twese members, and ensure new members have a smooth and welcoming experience.

Encouraging relationship building within the Twese Community.

Identifying needs from the staff team and connecting them with Twese members who can help.

Communication and events

Work with the communications team to develop monthly updates and communications.

Identify and invite relevant Twese members to relevant Rungano events.

Work with Rungano-Ndota leadership to plan annual fundraising event in Kigali.

Records and tracking

Manage the Twese for Rungano member database, and WhatsApp Community.

Track all Twese contributions and ensure proper thank yous and reporting.

Develop and update the Twese digital sign-up form.

Kigali office

Assist with the logistics and daily activities of the Kigali office.

3. ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS

All Rungano-Ndota staff:

Possess a reliable and clear teamwork communication style with colleagues, youth, and external partners.

Demonstrate a strong understanding of the barriers faced by youth who are not in formal education and employment, combined with a genuine belief in their potential to succeed.

Show the ability to build positive, trusting, and empowering relationships with vulnerable youth.

Demonstrate high integrity and ethical behavior in all professional responsibilities.

Be Rwandan by nationality with a strong understanding of the Rwandan social and community context.

Be young themselves, because the work requires flexibility, travel, and working with youth.

Have good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Be fluent in spoken and written Kinyarwanda and English.

Specifically for this position:

Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Sciences, Psychology, Social Work, or another relevant field.

Candidates with degrees in other disciplines who demonstrate strong experience working with vulnerable youth are encouraged to apply.

Experience in community engagement, mobilization and outreach would be an asset.

Strong interpersonal skills, empathy, teamwork, flexibility, and the ability to adapt in dynamic community settings.

An added advantage:

Experience building supportive relationships with young people and creating safe, positive environments for their growth is an added advantage.

4. BENEFITS

In compensation for service rendered, RUNGANO-NDOTA INITIATIVE will offer a monthly salary, health & maternity insurance and pension savings insurance.

All staff benefit from different training organized by the project

All staff also benefit from collaboration and coaching discussions with international colleagues whom we meet through our US-based partners

5. JOB APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Interested candidates should submit their application through info@runganondota.org. Include a cover letter and CV, along with a one-page handwritten sketch discussing the scenario below. In your cover letter, you are welcome to explain any parts of your professional, academic, or personal life experience that truly motivate you to pursue this job.

Deadline: November 16th, 2026 at 5:00 pm.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview!

6. SCENARIO FOR YOUR ONE-PAGE HANDWRITTEN SKETCH

IMPORTANT: The sketch must be written in your own handwriting. Scan it or take a clear photo and attach it to your application email. Applications with a typed sketch, or a sketch that is not written in the applicant's own handwriting, will not be selected.

Imagine it is your first month as Community Engagement Officer. The Twese for Rungano WhatsApp community has many members, but only a few take part in conversations. The member database is out of date: some phone numbers are missing, and there is no record of members' skills or professions. A member who funded internships for trade school graduates last year tells you they never received a thank-you or any update on the youth they supported. At the same time, the coaching team asks you to find Twese members with farming and livestock business experience to speak at Business Idea Generation (BIG) Day in March, and planning for the annual fundraising event in Kigali needs to start.

In one page, describe how you would handle your first three months. Please cover:

Your priorities for the first month, and why.

How you would respond to the member who did not receive a thank-you or update.

How you would update the database and re-engage members who have gone quiet.

How you would find and prepare the right Twese speakers for BIG Day.

How you would recruit new Active Twese members and make sure they feel welcome.

RUNGANO-NDOTA INITIATIVE is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to the equal treatment of all employees without regard to race, religion, gender, physical disability, or any other basis protected by Rwandan law.

Apply

How to apply

Apply on Job in Rwanda with the Apply button on the advert: https://www.jobinrwanda.com/job/community-engagement-officer-1

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