Program Assistant - Communications and Visibility at African Union - InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources

Main Functions

The position of the Program Assistant - Communications and Visibility will provide support to the Resilient Feed and Fodder Systems Project and work closely with the Senior Knowledge Management Officer AU-IBAR to undertake the following responsibilities:

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a Knowledge Management, Communications, Visibility and Advocacy Strategy and Plan for the RAFFS Project.
• Develop and roll-out mechanisms for dissemination of key messages, project activities and achievements.
• Contribute to content on feed and fodder on the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems Project Microsite, and Online Community platform.
• Develop and maintain Media relationships with relevant media organizations, journalists and science communicators at continental, regional and national levels.
• Facilitate the usage of communication platforms and tools and conducting training activities for various internal and external stakeholders.
• Work closely with Senior Knowledge Management Officer to capture and document information and knowledge, in the form of lessons learned and best practices, success stories, and data visualisation.
• Develop communication materials, newsletters, and key messages and manage their dissemination widely among target groups through a wide array of online platforms, social media channels, multimedia productions, knowledge fairs and exhibitions, radio, television and media networks.
• Provide support to stakeholders in advancing good communication practices to enhance the visibility of feed and fodder resources development activities across the continent.
• Promote the visibility of the RAFFS Project, the project donors and implementing partners on various communication outputs and platforms, working closely with the graphics designer.
• Submit a monthly progress report on the implementation of this contract.

Requirements

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• A minimum of a university degree in either Communications, Science or Development Communications, or Journalism.
• A relevant Master’s Degree will be considered as an added advantage.

Relevant Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience working in developmental projects, with in the public and private sector;
• Experience working in development agencies beyond national level, at regional and continental levels;
• Evidence of engagement and relationships with media associations, or science media supporting agricultural or animal resources or environment and relevant cross-cutting issues. Specific experience in feed and fodder programmes will be an added advantage;
• Demonstrated experience in knowledge synthesis; content management and communication packages for target audiences;
• Demonstrated experience in use of communication and knowledge management tools, and production of reports, newsletters, and multimedia products;
• Experience in generating advocacy messages tailored to persuade target audiences; and
• Proven sector-level engagement and understanding of feed and fodder, resilience, animal resources development would be an advantage.

Required Skills

• Good networking skills and ability to maintain positive and constructive dialogue and relationships with key institutions operating in different regions;
• Self-starter with the ability to strategically plan own work and follow-up on implementation;
• Sector related project development, management and implementation of communication strategies at national, regional and continental levels;
• Very strong writing, analytical and communication skills are necessary;
• Ability to complete assignments and tasks on time; and
• Demonstrated ability to provide strong leadership and foster team environment is required.

Competences

• Strategic Perspective
• Skills Development
• Change Management
• Managing Risk
• Building Relationships
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Impact

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Fosters Innovation