Background
The USAID-funded Building Capacity for African Agricultural Transformation (Africa Lead II) Project is a five-year effort to support and advance agricultural transformation in Africa as proposed by the African Union Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP), while working in concert to help realize the Feed the Future goal of reduced hunger and poverty. The project aims to realize this goal by continuing to build the capacity of men and women African leaders, institutions and stakeholders to develop, lead and manage the structures needed for the transformation process. This project will build on the success of the predecessor Africa Lead Project and work across three components:
- Establishment of institutional/organizational architecture to lead African agriculture transformation at the national and regional levels;
- Operationalization of capacity to manage the policy change and alignment process; and;
- Effective participation of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the CAADP process.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Communications Specialist will be responsible for coordinating with the Africa Lead regional program team, key stakeholders, and partners to develop, publish, and disseminate knowledge products and learning experiences using various communications technologies and mediums. He/She will coordinate communications-driven activities across the 7 buy-in countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea and the West Africa Regional Program ensuring the regular production of communications and knowledge products in order to showcase results from the Africa Lead project. This may include, but is not limited to, writing and managing the production of communications materials; developing and implementing strategic communications plans alongside stakeholders and in coordination with communications and the Knowledge Learning and Communications team in various strategic communications projects.
The Communications Specialist will work closely with the regional teams and the Communications Manager, based in Washington, DC, to promote Africa Lead II activities to a broad external audience. Communication efforts will include a focus on external outreach to ensure public awareness of project activities and facilitate information access and sharing to strengthen reporting functions.
The Communications Specialist will:
- Support the design, creation and implementation of a strategic communications plan
- Support the development of communication ideas, vehicles and mechanisms to showcase results/outcomes from the implementation of project Work with the Knowledge Learning and Communications (KLC) team to manage media efforts
- Develop project marketing materials such as newsletters, fact sheets, fliers, brochures, success stories, presentations and audio/visual promotional material, in collaboration with Regional Offices, Home Office and technical staff, and facilitate their strategic distribution in compliance with the USAID branding guidelines.
- Organize media and video coverage and design of promotional materials for events, meetings, workshops like invitations, fliers, banners, pull-ups, brochures, agendas, press releases, fact sheets etc.
- Develop and maintain the management of the project’s social media pages including Facebook and Flickr and manage photography and video archives, among others.
- Conduct regular follow-up by outreaching target beneficiaries which will include performing site visits to beneficiaries, reporting on results/successes from the field at the individual and/or organizational level
- Draft and finalize impact stories on as needed
- Contribute to the preparation and presentation of newsletter and reports on the progress and results of program activities (including quarterly and annual program reports);
- Organize data and information to upload on Africa Lead II new website and manage content for the WA region
- Advise on locally appropriate systems for networking and knowledge sharing for Champions of Change and other project beneficiaries
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Regional Director and/or Knowledge Management Manager that are consistent with the overall focus of the assignment and the implementation of the project’s Communications Strategy.
Qualifications, Background and Experience:
Specific qualifications include:
- 5+ years of work experience in the field of communications and/or agriculture sector advocacy
- Demonstrated experience in project and/or communications campaign management
- Proven ability to manage the development of high quality publications (both print and web), including reports, presentations, and other materials
- Experience in impact story development, social media writing, and campaign management
- Computer literate in Microsoft Office mandatory
- Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills, creative problem solving, conflict and ethical management skills
- Preferred education: Bachelor’s degree or higher – areas of study preferred for position: journalism, communications, or related field. Commensurate work experience will be considered in lieu of degree.
- Knowledge of and experience using graphic/editorial design programs (Adobe Creative Suite, MS Office) a plus
- Strong written and oral communication skills in French/ and English language required
- Local and West Africa regional travel will be required as necessary
- Prior experience working with USAID or other donors preferable
- Experience in reporting on high profile events preferable
Reporting:
The Communications Specialist will report to the Knowledge Management Manager with close engagement with the Regional Director.
This is an Accra-based position with potential travel within the region. Qualified Ghanaians, ECOWAS nationals and expatriates based in Ghana are encouraged to apply.
If you have the qualifications and skills listed above, please send the following to [email protected]:
- CV
- Salary history
- Three professional references
- Unedited writing samples (include design work if available)
Please title the subject of your email as: “Communications Specialist” Application by March 1, 2017.