Communication Officer

GIZ- Internal/External Vacancy Announcement ‘#030/2022’

(Energy Programme Ethiopia) (EnDev) 

As an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations, the federally owned the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its development policy objectives. GIZ promotes complex reforms and change processes. GIZ is implementing various energy projects in Ethiopia with the aim towards strengthening the energy sector transformation in cooperation with private and public sector partners, collaborating support a sustainable supply of energy services. This is intended to contribute to Ethiopia’s national strategies (National Electrification Plan, Growth & Transformation Plan, Climate Resilient Green Economy). The energy projects under the Energy Programme Ethiopia (EPE) include: Energising Development (EnDev); Energy Solutions for Displacement Settings (ESDS), Green Peoples Energy (GBE) and the Ethiopian-German Energy Cooperation. GIZ Energy Programme Ethiopia works in close cooperation with the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy as its main political partner. GIZ Energy Programme in Ethiopia are responsible for the implementation of the projects. 

 Duration of contract:  30.06.2023

 Required Candidates: One 

General Tasks

1.   Strategic Tasks

• Supporting the programme’s/project’s objectives by developing and implementing communication measures in close cooperation with partners and projects
• Developing a concept for the project/programme internal and external communications including the systematic planning of communication measures with partners (incl. defining target groups, drafting key messages, budgeting)
• Coordinating, implementing and monitoring communications work (e.g. effectiveness, content quality and quantity)

2.   Cooperation with communication unit (GIZ Office Ethiopia)

• Following the guidelines and toolkits provided by the Communications Unit
• Adhering to contribute to the country-wide communication strategy
• Sending final version of communication products to the Communications Unit for quality check before mass production
• Addressing internal and external communication-related queries within the given deadlines
• Sending PR material samples (print/online) for GIZ Ethiopia archives and to GIZ Germany when necessary
• Participating and contributing to the Communications Network (Best practices, knowledge and information exchange, part of editorial team for country-providing information for internal media, etc)
• Preparing content for internal and external communication channels (websites, IDA, social media, etc)
• Providing material for the country photo archives
• Actively contributing to the project/communications folder on DMS 

3.   Coordination with external service providers at programme/ project level 

• Liaising and coordinating with communication related service providers, including providing technical inputs and dealing with any required administrative procedures (e.g. consultants, agencies, photographers, trainers, writers)
• Undertaking quality assurance of their services 

4.   Media work at programme/project level 

• Coordinating project’s/programme’s press activities on site in cooperation with local partners and under guidance of the Communications & PR Unit
• Addressing press queries in consultation with the project management and the Communication & PR Unit.
• Contribute to maintaining/updating a local press contact list, particularly for sector/regional contacts
• Drafting press releases (distribution via Communication & PR Unit)
• Collecting and preparing press kit for specific events
• Liaise with the national/regional partner’s press office for distribution of press releases via partners (incl. securing contact information of journalists GIZ press contact list)
• Coordinating/supporting press events/visits
• Press monitoring (collecting press clippings related to programme/project and compiling reports of event/news appearance) & submitting regularly to Comm Unit
• Providing support to the Communication Unit in drafting or preparing material for the Press Department in Headquarters/German Embassy
• Preparing content for external communication channels (websites, social media etc) and maintaining these channels 

5.   PR activities at programme/project level 

• Further developing appropriate communication instruments for PR work (e.g. brochure, flyers, factsheets, banners etc.) in line with the overall communication strategy and guidelines.
• Preparing/maintaining a standard presentation set for project/ programme
• Developing (if applicable) corporate design and corporate wording standards for programme/project
• Contributing to GIZ Ethiopia/Djibouti core communication products (e.g. factsheets, website, project location map, success stories, etc)
• Quality check of communication materials
• Coordinating/drafting the update of the project section on the GIZ website regularly or upon request
• Managing the stock of leftover promotional items (note that promotional items will be handled centrally by the GIZ Office)
• Managing project’s/program’s events
• Contribute to supporting for delegations and VIP visits
• Providing information/Supporting the update of partner-owned programme’s/project’s website
• Maintaining programme’s/project’s photo archives

 6.   Internal communication

• Actively contributing to generate content for internal communication channels or activities aiming to improve information exchange.
• Actively supporting information exchange and dialogue between different staff groups, including those outside the project team such as office staff, other projects, clusters etc
• Developing and implementing appropriate instruments for the programme’s/project’s internal communications (e.g. emails, internal events, meetings etc)
• Distributing key information and materials to programme/project staff

Job Requirements

Required Resources 

• Minimum 80 % of working time allocated to communication related tasks (desired: full-time professional)
• Participation in internal and external trainings and other capacity development activities
• Travel: may include duty trips and participation in events upon agreement with the respective line manager
• Equipment and financial resources to be provided by the projects 

Desired Expertise & Qualifications 

• Proven experience in strategic communication planning, implementation, budgeting and monitoring
• Proven experience in content development, writing and editorial work
• Experience in supervising production and quality of communication products and tools
• Experience in press management and monitoring
• Knowledge of event management
• Basic knowledge of design and video editing
• Knowledge of and interest in development policy issues
• Experience working in an international & intercultural context/organization
• Bachelor’s degree in communication, marketing, public relations, journalism or any related field
• Excellent command of English and Amharic language
• At least 5 years of working experience in a similar position

How to Apply

Application procedure: 

Interested and qualified candidates shall submit their motivation letter along with their recent CV via Email: hreth@giz.de or register using the following link CLICK HERE

Note: Make sure you mention the Vacancy Number ‘Communication Specialist #030/2022 in the subject line of your email application. Due to large number of applications, we categories applications with the vacancy numbers. Applications without vacancy numbers in subject lines might not be categorized in the appropriate folder and could be disqualified. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. We encourage persons with disabilities to apply for the position. In case of equal qualification, persons with disabilities will be given preference. Applications from qualified women are encouraged.