Background

Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-Suisse) is a politically and religiously neutral humanitarian organization with its head office in Berne. VSF-Suisse fights hunger, poverty, destitution, and illness to benefit those populations who depend on livestock for their livelihood. VSF-Suisse works both in humanitarian aid and long-term development in seven West and East Africa countries.

Together with its partners, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Comitato Collaborazione Medica (CCM), VSF-Suisse will implement a regional One Health development project known as One Health Units for Humans, Environment, Animals, and Livelihoods (HEAL) in Oromia and Somali Regions of Ethiopia, Gedo Region of Somalia and Marsabit County of Kenya. The project aims to improve the well-being of pastoralist communities in arid and semi-arid areas of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya by ensuring healthy people derive their livelihoods from healthy livestock in a sustainably managed environment. The HEAL project Phase 1 will be implemented for four years (November 2020 to October 2024) and followed by a subsequent 8-year implementation phase. The project is co-funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation.

 VSF Suisse is thus seeking to fill a Regional Communication and Engagement Officer – Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia role. 

Responsible to: Regional Project Manager – HEAL Project, VSF Suisse Country Director

Key Relationships:     Project Management staff, Consortium partners, technical advisors, field office coordinators, government officials, ministries, and other stakeholders 

 Job responsibilities and essential tasks

VSF-Suisse seeks to hire a Regional Communications and Engagement Officer who will take the lead in building and promoting a solid public profile of the HEAL Project to a broad and diverse range of audiences, including donors, potential donors, national and local media, governments, academia, and the general public in the horn of Africa and globally. S/He will support the consortium partners (VSF-Suisse, CCM & ILRI) in developing and implementing the communication function and is responsible for designing, implementing, managing, and directing internal and external communication. The role holder is a key member of the senior management team and assists the HEAL Regional Project Manager in the overall management of the Consortium’s communication strategy. The position holder shall be responsible for the HEAL website management, publications production, media relations, social media engagement, public affairs management, and event management.

 Planning, Reporting, and Management

• Lead the development and implementation of HEAL’s communication and engagement strategy in close liaison with the project partners
• Develop comprehensive communication tools and SBCC campaign materials and activities, using evidence-based theories and methodologies, in close collaboration with project partner leads
• Ensures that reports on communications activities are provided to the Project Management Unit (PMU) and donors as required;
• Develop communication policies and procedures for the HEAL Project
• Updating the HEAL PMU on communications with the network, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Preparing the necessary donor and management reports.
• Regularly reviewing communication processes and tools for continuous improvement.
• Reviewing, editing, and formatting of the project Semi-annual and annual project reports and program technical reports and present to the project management team
• Document all communications and meeting notes with the donors, partnership board, and program implementation unit, and ensure that action plans are tracked.

Publications

• Overseeing the development, production, and distribution of HEAL promotional materials, including annual reports, brochures, and newsletters
• Gather successes from the field and showcase stories through various media, including stories, photographs, and videos, by working closely with the consortium partners.
• Work with regional team and consortium partners to prepare project technical and policy briefs.
• Reviewing all communications material to ensure that it is of the highest standards and enhancing the overall impact of the project’s communications
• Establishing clear guidelines for publishing in print form and on the website and ensuring that these are achieved within agreed performance standards.
• Overseeing the quality of the content that goes onto the HEAL website.

 Marketing, Branding, and Media Management 

• Overseeing the implementation of the brand strategy for HEAL that ensures marketing and branding of the project to donors and key stakeholders, ensuring constant visibility of the HEAL project at relevant major events and platforms
• Developing a system of targeted information packages for different stakeholder groups and audiences
• Liaise with the HEAL PMU in the development of the resource mobilization strategy;
• Actively seeking opportunities to partner with organizations that support the vision of the HEAL project.
• Overseeing the development of promotional material and the image and positioning of HEAL to existing and potential donors.
• Coordinating and organizing major HEAL events and conferences in collaboration with the project partners
• Overall management and maintenance of the HEAL website
• Review material submitted for publication to ensure quality and accurate content.
• Assess content for compatibility and consistency with the site and make recommendations for improvement.
• Ensuring HEAL reports and resources are readily accessible on the web; facilitate web-based networking such as social networks, blogs, etc.
• Overseeing the implementation of the social media strategy.
• Ensuring HEAL presence on relevant social media platforms;
• Leading in developing a vibrant and sustainable social media environment to drive conversations on HEAL programs with donors, researchers, and other key stakeholders.

Job Requirements

Essential Criteria

• MA degree in Communications or Public Affairs with relevant experience
• Relevant experience in media, publications, or (online) communications, ideally in an NGO or similar organization of at least five years
• Experience in developing and implementing communications strategies for NGOs
• Knowledgeable in publications, website development, information resources, or journalism
• Good knowledge of international development issues
• An excellent understanding of web-based communications, social networking, and social media and their 'marketing' potential
• Excellent knowledge of public outreach through online platforms and of Social media management tools
• Proven ability to work with communications and presentation software
• Writing skills with proven ability to produce concise, well-structured, and very high-quality written materials
• Excellent presentation, report-writing, and networking skills
• Expertise/experience in photography and videography
• Experience with graphic design in Photoshop is an asset
• The ability to tailor writing towards different audiences
• The ability to multi-task and manage a heavy workload
• Proven team skills, including flexibility and enthusiasm

Skills and Abilities

• Proficient knowledge of English and ideally knowledge of any of the languages spoken in the intervention countries
• Ability to work with tact and diplomacy with various stakeholders
• Willing and able to travel extensively in the region
• Ability to work independently and make rational strategic and routine decisions
• Performance management skills, including mentoring and capacity building of field staff in communication skills
• Ideally, a national or a resident of Ethiopia, Somalia, or Kenya

How to Apply

 What we offer

• A qualified, dynamic, and highly motivated team of colleagues;
• A unique and relevant project for pastoral communities in the Greater Horn of Africa;
• The opportunity to actively contribute to the future design of the project implementation;
• A job with responsibilities in a demanding and challenging environment;
• A competitive salary as well as a medical and social insurance scheme.

 Entry date and contract length

Immediately, with a fixed-term contract.

 Application procedure and deadline

Interested & Qualified applicants are invited to submit their applications written in English; a motivation letter (maximum 1 page) stating why you are the right person for this position, a recent CV of 4 pages maximum (Certificates and credentials are not required at this stage) and contact details of three referees through: heal@vsf-suisse.org by 10^th January 2022 (midnight).