Communication and Media Officer

Location:                     ACORD Headquarter, Nairobi, Kenya

Some travelling within Africa and internationally. National position.

Background

ACORD (Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development) is a Pan African organisation working for social justice and development in Africa, through a combination of practical interventions on the ground, people-centred research and policy advocacy. ACORD has decentralised country offices in 17 African countries that work with communities on livelihoods and food sovereignty, HIV/AIDS and the right to health, peace building and women’s rights. ACORD also campaigns and engages in advocacy on these issues at Pan African and international level.

ACORD believes that people have a right to a just and equal society and is committed to making that right a reality for people on the margins of African societies. We work in common cause with people who are poor and those who have been denied their rights to obtain social justice and development and be part of locally rooted citizen movements.

Job Summary

ACORD is a registered charity no.283302 in the UK with its Secretariat split between Nairobi and London. ACORD is entirely grant funded with an average annual budget of GBP9 million per year. ACORD was created as a consortium of non-governmental development organisations in Europe and Canada and the founding member organisations remain strategic partners of ACORD. The large majority of ACORD funds are in the form of project restricted grants from institutional donors, which we aim to evolve into multi-country strategic grants. ACORD has an online donation facility on its website and aim to increase the number of individual supporters.  Work is also underway to explore fundraising from corporations.

Communications and dissemination lie at the heart of ACORD activities and Improving External Communication is one of the 4 pillars of the 2011-2015 ACORD strategic plan:ACORD will foster a robust communication strategy for ACORD’s impact and added value underpinning its advocacy work and supporting fundraising. More specific communication objectives is to: i) Enhance the efficiency of ACORD’s people-centred advocacy campaigns; ii) Increase traffic on ACORD’s website, one of our most important and cost effective communication tools; iii) Get our messages across on mass media such as newspapers, magazines, radio or television and new social media; iv) Enhance the visibility and image of ACORD, and help increase public awareness on the issues we are working on; v) Build consistent and powerful branding at local, national, regional, Pan African and international levels and increase ACORD brand awareness.

ACORD publishes a wide range of materials every year for which the Communication and Media Officer will be largely responsible. ACORD also relies on its website – www.acordinternational.org - and social media pages to help the organisation achieve its mission with 3 main objectives for our online communication: e-campaigning, e-fundraising and e-resource for civil society and development practitioners.

ACORD works with the media to disseminate information and contribute to changing attitudes and policies towards achieving social justice. The Communication and Media Officer is responsible for ensuring successful strategic media partnerships and for increasing visibility in the print and online media at national and Pan African levels.

He/she will collaborate extensively with colleagues across the organisation. The role of the Communication and Media Officer falls within ACORD’s Partnership Development team and the post is reporting to the Communication Coordinator.

The position is designed for an experienced and self-motivated person with a background in editing/ writing and production of communications materials for international development organisations, and experience of working with a corporate brand. Under the direct supervision of the Communication Coordinator:

- Assist ACORD with all its written (print and online) communications, including adaptation of style inorder to achieve maximum impact of messages

- Assist ACORD with developing and managing media relations and the organizational mediadatabase at country and Pan African levels

Specifically

ü  Edit, finalise, oversee production, and ensure overall quality and consistency of a range of publications including technical reports, annual reports, general and targeted audience articles, information sheets, posters, thematic brochures, presentations, and others, including rewriting and tailoring language for different users, and supervision of editing consultants.

ü  Edit/write press releases and media background material

ü  Support country media work and develop a national and Pan African media database

ü  Write/edit material to enrich and update the ACORD website – primary responsible for ACORD website updated content (news, country/thematic pages, blogs…)

ü  Write summaries and syntheses of ACORD countries and partners work for dissemination

ü  Help in evaluating material proposed for publication, and suggesting appropriate forms for dissemination

ü  Evaluate branded items and ensure consistency of brand application

ü  Offer training to ACORD staff – in particular country staff - to support development of writing and communication skills and in branding applications

ü  Support the development of new communications instruments

ü  Contribute to a culture of information sharing and organisational learning in partnership development and communication

ü  Any emerging tasks within the Funding and Partnership Unit

Because of the dynamic environment there might be a need to take on any emerging tasks in agreement with the supervisor and as ACORD’s work in relation to Partnership development, funding and communication keeps on evolving.

Required qualifications

ü  Master’s degree in journalism, mass communications or equivalent

ü  Excellent written and spoken English. French would be an advantage

ü  At least five years experience in editing and writing for development organisations for a variety of media

ü  Knowledge of African media houses and preferably strong networks among African and international press senior editors

ü  Familiarity with production and layout approaches

ü  Familiarity with the concept and application of a corporate design (brand) and of working with brand guidelines

ü  Excellent inter-personal skills, and ability to work as a team member with colleagues of different nationalities/cultural backgrounds

ü  Fully conversant with ICT and Microsoft or Mac applications

ü  Ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines

Relevant Knowledge and Skills

·         Excellent collaboration and team work

·         Excellent networking skills

·         Creativity, innovation and ability to take initiative

·         Ability to work well in a multicultural environment across different geographical locations

·         Ability to handle change and unpredictability

·         Ability to deliver under pressure and to multi-task

·         Attention to detail

·         Ability to conceptualize and present ideas in a clear and convincing manner

·         Good analytical and strategic skills

·         Good understanding of the development challenges in Africa and trends in communication, social media, advocacy and fundraising

Time Frame

·         The contract will be for two years with possibility for extension.

·         On the basis of this broad TORs an individual operating plan with specific deliverables within the team and organisational workplan will be agreed with the supervisor

Remuneration:

·         A competitive national package

How to apply

Are you the one for this job?

Submit your application by completing the application form available at www.acordinternational.org and e-mail it with a detailed Curriculum Vitae and cover letter to recruit@acordinternational.org with the Job Title in the Subject Box. A detailed Job Description is also available on the website.

Closing Date: 2^nd August 2013

Thank you for your interest in ACORD’s work!

ACORD. Defending rights. Promoting justice.

www.acordinternational.org