Advocacy & Communications Assistant at Danish Refugee Council

Overall purpose of the role:  

• The position holder will support DRC Urban Area Program Advocacy and Communication efforts to effect positive change for refugees and host communities through influencing decision-makers and individuals to change their policies and practices, attitudes or behaviour to address their needs as well as strategically amplify DRC’s work in line with respective donor projects and the organizational advocacy, visibility & communications strategy/guidelines.  

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Support to develop and implement urban program’s communication plans (internal and external) and activities according to DRC’s policy and guidelines, to promote urban program’s work.
• Work closely with the Advocacy and Communication Officer to provide support to project leads on the development, implementation and review of urban advocacy strategy and ensure high quality communication products that speak to DRC’s urban program work.
• Provide technical support and advice to project staff and partners on advocacy and communication deliverables.
• Assist and support in communication of visits by the donor and other stakeholders to the Urban program area so as to highlight work being done on the ground.
• Support to maintain a repository of high-quality photos of DRC’s work within the Urban program that can be used for amplifying the organization’s efforts to impact the lives of marginalized communities.
• Assist and support in developing social media content and support the Advocacy and Communication Officer in administering DRC’s social media platforms.
• Conduct regular field visit to areas of operation to document human interest stories, successes and impact of DRC’s work.
• Contribute to developing project information sheets, donor briefs, key messaging and other relevant material for use at strategic events, to promote and showcase impact of DRC’s work.
• Support to conduct advocacy & communication capacity development or training for Urban program staff and partners and come up with an action plan for follow up.
• Assist to ensure that DRC’s brand guidelines and donor branding guidelines are adhered to during project implementation, procurement and external communication.
• Support DRC Urban Project Managers and the Advocacy and Communications Manager during external representation when required to do so, budget management and donor reporting aligned to advocacy and communication deliverables.
• Support in fundraising efforts by contributing in concept notes and proposal development in advocacy and communication framework & designs, including budgetary requirement elements.

Experience and technical competencies:  

• Minimum 1 -2 years working in advocacy, campaigning or communications field. 
• Evidence of successful advocacy campaign preferably in issues around documentation of refugees.
• Experience in building constructive working relationships with diverse stakeholders or working with networks or coalitions (work in urban refugee and host community context desirable).  
• Demonstrable understanding of how change occurs and of effective advocacy and campaigning strategies including familiarity with online and social media campaigning.
• Sound understanding on the urban refugee context as well as willing and ability to adapt priorities in response to dynamic work demands.
• Strong planning, organization and problem-solving skills with ability to work both independently and within a team in a demanding working environment.
• Good analytical and strategic planning skills.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas simply; both verbally and through writing.
• Excellent computer skills with MS applications- Word, Excel & PowerPoint. 

Education

• Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, development studies or social science. Masters in a similar field is an added advantage

Language: 
Excellent/fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili.