senior Communication and Advocacy Officer – Concern Worldwide

Development and Project Management

Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Concern Worldwide was founded by John and Kay O’Loughlin-Kennedy in 1968, in response to the famine in the breakaway province of Biafra in Nigeria. The widespread conflict that followed Biafra’s attempt to secede from Nigeria caused the displacement of millions and a blockade of food, medicine, and basic necessities by the Nigerian authorities. At the height of the crisis in the summer of 1968, it was estimated that 6,000 children were dying every week.
 

Job Purpose:

• The Senior Communications and Advocacy Officer will be responsible for designing communication and advocacy strategy by identifying key messages, targets, and avenues for advocacy, and will work with Programme Quality Teams to push forward those efforts. S/he will be responsible for the development of quality communications products, including case studies, photo/video/audio stories, reports, social media posts and proposals. S/he will ensure adherence to Concern’s branding guideline and visibility through print and publication materials. Ensure the dissemination of communication materials through different internal and external media outlet.  S/he will contribute to evidence-based advocacy efforts at all level.

Main duties & Responsibilities:

Donor and Organizational Visibility (30%)

• Deliver and implement an advocacy and communications plan that promotes the dissemination of programme results and maximizes visibility for partners and donors;
•   Actively work with Grants Team to regularly update organizational profile of Concern with grant history, organizational capacity, achievements, improvements, changes, developments, practices, systems, etc., for use in grant applications as necessary;
•  Ensure donor and Concern visibility activities are planned annually for all projects, and follow up, review and support their implementation;
•  Work with programme teams to identify new project ideas, success stories, innovations and best practices, and plan and work to ensure that these are effectively communicated internally and externally with donors, stakeholders and partners to build organizational image and visibility.

Advocacy and Communications (30%)

•  Work with Programme Quality and Grants staffs to develop Communications and Advocacy Strategy and Plans, and work to produce communications and advocacy products as outlined in the communication and advocacy strategy for the Country Office;
•   Ensure that media and communication products reflect advocacy priorities of Concern and take into account the local context and sensitivities in the country and in operation areas, in close collaboration with the Head Office and Field Office Teams;
•  Support the publication and promotion of organizational materials, developing newsletters and other country specific  publications, monitor social and print media coverage, and participate in development of proposals;
•  Work with the Senior Grants and Communications Officer to maintain updated library of stories, videos, photographs and database for future learning and quick reference;
•  Ensure the proper use of communications plan and strategies for internal and external communications;
• In liaison with Programme Quality Team, develop clear and effective guidelines and protocols for sector-wide advocacy efforts in the country, and support development, dissemination and embedding of safeguarding strategy, language, procedures in all communication products at national and community level;
•  Be a focal point person for advocacy and campaigns championing gender equality, child rights and integration of relevant crosscutting issues in all Concern operation areas;
•  Be responsible for drafting advocacy products such as briefing notes, flayers, brochures (leaflet), talking points, reports and online issues
•  Oversee the quality and timeliness of the production of internal communications materials ·
•   Plan for editing and writing content for a variety of internal communications (including internal monthly update reports) mediums
•  Ensure that cross cutting themes like participation, gender, disability are mainstreamed in all internal communications work
• Marketing and Brand Management (15%)
•   Ensure Concern’s and donors’ branding guidelines and compliance is respected at all levels;
• Ensure that all Concern staff and partners understand and adhere to Concern’s and its donor’s branding guidelines;
•  Ensure that all communication products and project deliverables for external audience are appropriately branded;
•  Work closely with procurement and programme teams to coordinate with external suppliers on production of appropriately branded communication and advocacy materials.
• Grant Reporting, Documentation and Information Management (25%)
• Support Grants Team in ensuring compliant, timely and high-quality donor reporting and knowledge management;
• Organize and compile organizational information and develop communication materials like leaning brief and flyers;
• Work closely with the senior Grants and Communications Officer in facilitating the development of quality donor reports, ensuring knowledge management and learning and supporting new business development opportunities;
•  Responsible for gathering content from the field on project activities and achievements and creating compelling stories out of them in the form of case stories, short videos, project briefers and other communications materials;
• Mainstream communication in Concern programmes and support effective process documentation and technical monthly/quarterly and annual reporting;
•   Work with Grants Team to ensure that all grant and communications files and documents are stored in organized and accessible manner;
•  Play active role in writing, formatting, copyediting, proofreading, designing and producing routine products and deliverables (e.g. technical reports, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, invitations, flyers, newsletters, brochures);
• In liaison with Head Office and Field Office programme teams, lead development and dissemination of Concern newsletters and relevant reports and communications;
• Liaise with programme teams and Head Quarter advisors, manage active Concern website and social media presence;
•   Work with the Programme Quality Team and Programme Teams to develop social media guideline and support its implementation.

Gender             

• Ensure that all HR policies and procedures relating to Concern Ethiopia’s gender equality strategy are implemented
• Ensure that all gender sensitive policies and procedures are fully adhered to during recruitment processes and targeting of beneficiaries
• Contribute to promoting a gender sensitive working environment within Concern Ethiopia

Emergency      

• Concern is committed to responding to emergencies efficiently and effectively in order to help affected people meet their basic needs, alleviate suffering and maintain their dignity. To this end, when emergencies strike and the Ethiopia Programme is to respond, all staff are required to actively participate in the response, regardless of location and contribute to the efforts aimed at achieving the humanitarian objective of the organization.

Accountability             

• In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS):
• Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E);
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed;
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme participants and communities. 

Personal specification

Essential

•  Bachelor (BA) Degree (MA preferred) in Communications, Project Management, Development Studies, Rural Development or relevant Social Science fields that can bring an added value to the post from a recognized University/College
•  Relevant experience of minimum 5 years for BA and 3 years for MA working in the areas of communications and/advocacy  in an International NGO
• Proven skills in story writing, report writing, and communications material development;
•  Advanced interpersonal skills and good pedagogy – ability to support staffs in ensuring compliance with organizational and donor requirements
•  Ability to thrive and act independently in a high-pressured, results-focused, dynamic environment.
•  Creative communicator, able to develop inspiring and engaging communication products.
•   Highly developed cultural awareness and able to work well in a diverse environment.
•   Good proficiency in Microsoft Office – significant experience with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Familiarity with and ability to use Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, or other graphic design software is an added advantage.

Desirable

• Good knowledge/understanding of branding, development communication, BCC, advocacy, and humanitarian and development programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to learning and using learning to strengthen practice.
• Willing to take on new responsibilities, within reason and if needed, especially in emergency scale-up.

Competencies:

Managing yourself – Holds an awareness of own abilities and areas for development; adapts and uses abilities to work well with others and to help achieve Concern’s objectives.

 Leadership – Acts to inspire others by clearly articulating and demonstrating the values and principles that underpin Concern’s work. Holds a sense of pride in Concern and loyalty to the organisation. Supports others to achieve excellent results.

Communicating and working with others – Uses the most appropriate channel to share information with others both inside and outside Concern; adapts the message to meet the communication needs of the audience.

Delivering results – Systematically develops plans towards achieving Concern’s objectives and delivers on commitments; uses appropriate techniques to help achieve agreed objectives

Planning and decision-making – Systematically develops plans towards achieving Concern’s objectives and delivers on commitments; makes clear, informed and timely decisions appropriate to role, in the interests of Concern and those we work with

Creativity and innovation – Seeks out, develops and successfully implements new ideas that further the needs of Concern and those we work with; builds on proven approaches and learns from ongoing work to improve it

Influence, advocacy and networking – Engages with others inside and outside the organisation to promote the interests of Concern and those we work with; gathers and shares a wider knowledge of issues relevant to Concern’s work

Change – Responds positively and constructively to change; manages or takes part in change processes in a way that is appropriate to role in the organisation

What we offer

• A competitive salary and benefit package
• Excellent medical benefits (100% cover including dependents)
•  20 days annual leave
•  26 weeks (paid) maternity leave, 18 weeks (unpaid) parental leave

ETB 35775-42789

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