About Us
Melese Duressa Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering communities through education and training, entrepreneurship, health advancement, youth leadership and development, and women’s empowerment. We work to unlock opportunities for underserved populations by strengthening skills, expanding access to information, and mobilizing local and diaspora resources for sustainable community development. Through our integrated programs, we support individuals and communities to build resilience, achieve economic independence, and realize their full potential.
Job Title: Outreach Officer
📍 Location: Finfinnee (Onsite)
🕓 Type: Full-time, renewable every 12 months based on performance.
Role Summary
The Outreach Officer is responsible for building strong relationships with communities and institutions to ensure program accessibility and participation in MDI’s youth, women, health, and entrepreneurship initiatives. The role focuses on field outreach, beneficiary mobilization, government coordination, and community-based fundraising support to enhance program impact and sustainability of the programs.
The Officer acts as a bridge between MDI and local stakeholders including schools, youth groups, women networks, universities, and woreda/kebele administrations.
Key Responsibilities
1️⃣ Community Outreach & Mobilization
- Conduct school, university, and community visits to promote MDI programs
- Mobilize youth, women, and community members to participate in activities
- Support field presentations, orientations, and local engagement activities
- Promote community participation
2️⃣ Local Government & Stakeholder Coordination
- Coordinate outreach permissions and collaboration with local officials
- Align program implementation with regional needs and development priorities
- Represent MDI in woreda/kebele meetings and stakeholder discussions
- Build trust and institutional support for MDI initiatives
3️⃣ Event Coordination & Public Visibility
- Assist in organizing workshops, public campaigns, and community events
- Support Communications Team in capturing media, field stories & outreach data
- Distribute promotional materials and enhance field branding visibility
- Represent MDI at exhibitions, fairs, or student/community assemblies
4️⃣Beneficiary Enrollment & Support
- Manage registration, attendance, and beneficiary tracking
- Provide follow-up support to ensure engagement & retention
- Document participation information and ensure data accuracy
5️⃣ Volunteer Engagement & Support
- Assist in recruiting and coordinating volunteers
- Maintain communication with volunteers & diaspora supporters
- Ensure positive volunteer experience in community activities
6️⃣ Field Data Collection & Reporting
- Conduct field surveys and maintain beneficiary mapping
- Track outreach metrics and partnerships established
- Prepare weekly/monthly field reports for leadership
- Collect community feedback to inform improvement
7️⃣ Community-Based Fundraising & Resource Mobilization
- Support grassroots fundraising initiatives such as local contributions & sponsorships
- Identify and secure in-kind support from local institutions (venues, materials, services)
- Encourage local ownership and community support for MDI sustainability
- Assist Resource Mobilization team in donor engagement and stewardship
- Track fundraising participation and resource contributions
8️⃣Other Duties
- Support multi-pillar MDI programs as assigned
- Uphold high ethical standards and community professionalism
Preferred Qualifications
- High school/technical Diploma/Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Social Work, Sociology, Development Studies, Communications, business, Marketing or a related field
- Demonstrated skill or Experience in community outreach or civic engagement preferred
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills in Afaan Oromo and Amharic; English is a plus
- Ability to conduct frequent field travel and grassroots engagement
- Genuine passion for youth and women empowerment
Core Competencies
- Community organizing and stakeholder coordination
- Effective communication and presentation skills
- Cultural sensitivity and conflict-sensitive engagement
- Digital literacy for communication and reporting
- Accountability and strong work ethics
- Basic knowledge of local fundraising practices
- Accurate recordkeeping and MEL awareness
How to Apply
Applicants may apply using one of the following:
📧 Email us your resume/CV to: jobs@duressa.org
📲 For questions, you contact us directly via telegram: @mdi2026
🌐 Online Form: https://forms.gle/SuJfY9iu2bmWK3rs8
📌 Application Deadline: June 26, 2026
⚠️ Note
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled before the application deadline once the right candidate is selected.