Communications Advisor at Catholic Relief

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Deputy Project Director, CTWWC, the Communications Advisor will ensure that promotional, influence, learning and behaviour change objectives are achieved for the initiative. S/he will aid on communication to the team across technical thematic areas and be able to support external care reform programming actors including government, faith-based actors and other technical audiences. The Communications Advisor will have a thorough understanding of CTWWC’s disability inclusion, gender consideration and principles of participation. S/he will ensure safeguarding and follow the initiative’s ethical storytelling guidance. 

The Communications Advisor will ensure communications excellence through contributions made to the initiative’s new strategic focus by strengthening the knowledge base of external actors around communications. S/he will support the implementation of learning agendas, develop, edit and design learning products, including case studies, learning briefs, videos, and photos, document project achievement and progress by producing quarterly newsletters, packaging (design and editing) learning products, presentations and reports for a variety of audiences. S/he will work closely with the CRS Country Communication Manager and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Influence, Learning and Engagement (ILE) Regional Advisor, learning platform leads (ESA RLP and our partners at Better Care Network (BCN)) and CRS Marketing and Communications (MarCom) and the CTWWC HQ Communications Manager.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Provide communications expertise and advice, communication for behavior change and influence, product development, knowledge management and media engagement.
• Promote CTWWC objectives by ensuring high visibility and communication of care reform at the highest political level, contributing communications to a movement to strengthen national care reform efforts towards a sustained family care system.
• In coordination with the CRS Country Communications Manager and Regional ILE and CTWWC Team, the CTWWC Communications manager will implement a robust communications strategy that supports the learning and influence agenda for care reform .
• Promote CTWWC MEAL results and visibility that aligns with the country, regional and global influencing and learning agenda and variety of audiences. 
• Write, design and manage the production of creative and compelling communications by developing materials for learning and influencing – success stories, photos, videos, fact sheets, brochures, articles etc. – for various audiences, including public and private donors, local and national governments, the local Church, partners, media and others as needed that promote care reform.
• In coordination with the CRS HQ Communications team, review, edit, design, and ensure publication of learning products for a variety of audiences, and contribute to the development and regular revisions of the learning agenda, including practitioner videos and recording e-learning webinars, etc.
• Identify and serve as the main contact for local media engagement and help identify relevant spokespeople, providing coaching as needed. 
• Train and coach relevant country program staff, partners and others on best practices in communications in line with the CTWWC branding guidelines and ethical storytelling. 
• In collaboration with the CTWWC teams, help develop specific messages tailored for each audience and identify and utilize effective distribution channels to disseminate communications materials to key audiences.
• In collaboration with CTWWC team, package and share learning agenda, to support influence and scaling in Kenya, the region and globally
• As appropriate, manage social media channels like Facebook or Twitter with guidance and support from the HQ CTWWC communications department. 
• Provide support for, and help to procure, marketing and communications support for events, including signage, handouts, talking points, photos, liaising with media, etc. 
• Support program managers to create innovative and creative project branding and learning products, while ensuring compliance with donor requirements and CTWWC branding protocols and learning agenda.
• Create and publish a regular newsletter to provide recent and relevant updates on CTWWC initiative.
• Work with CTWWC Kenya and HQ to organize and offer at least two CTWWC Learning Webinars (internal)
• Participate with any initiative-wide communications team meetings or cross learning.
• Actively participate in reviewing the CTWWC project report before submission to the Deputy Project Director.
• Collaborate with Technical Advisors and MEAL unit to ensure relevant lessons learned and outcomes harvested related to influence and behavior change are documented and disseminated internally/externally as required.
• Support sectoral technical leads/partners in designing and using tailored information, education and communication (IEC) materials as needed. 
• Keep a watch on policy makers and other key players in relation to care reform issues and identify opportunities to use communications to raise awareness and influence policy review in care reform.
• Take the lead in organizing media outreach; arrange all media contacts, press briefings, and interviews; respond to media inquiries quickly and effectively; and coordinate production of a diverse range of information (including audio/visual communications).
• Seek the appropriate approvals from USAID before any event/activity where the media will be present.
• Support Program teams in the process of publishing various materials, such as: reports, training and methodological and communication materials, etc.; to provide talking points, presentations and other materials, as needed.
• Provide capacity strengthening to Partners and staff to appropriately package promising practices, develop and submit conference abstracts and prepare quality posters and oral presentations based on conference guidelines.
• Support persons with lived experience (PWLE) participation in the project by involving children in different communication/advocacy activities and events, enhancing their self-advocacy capacity, as well as by promoting child/youth messages and advocating for their rights.
• In collaboration with MEAL staff, organize periodic learning and reflection events that ensure staff reflect on learning and other implementation results and adapt their interventions and behaviors considering learning.
• Ensure that disability inclusion, gender equity and meaningful participation of PWLE are considered in all communications work.
• Participate in bi-monthly CTWWC Global Communications Team meetings and share learnings from CTWWC Kenya.
• Oversee photo and video shoots for the initiative, including working with professional videography/photography vendors and scheduling shoots and interviews. 
• Input information into regular donor reports.
• Support fundraising and proposal development for CTWWC
• This position will require upto 40% field travel

Skills and Abilities

• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong writing and editing skills in professional English, level of proficiency should allow the candidate to serve as primary author of high-quality written reports to donors with minimal revision. 
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Experience in Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign, is strongly desired.
• Strong photography, videography, artwork and design skills. Experience with Canva a plus. 
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  None

Required Travel:

• The Communications Advisor will be expected to travel up to 50% within CTWWC initiative areas of operation.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: 

• CTWWC Director, CTWWC team, Head of Programming, Country Communications Manager, and other Units.

External: 

• Government of Kenya (GOK), implementing partners (Ips), faith-based actors, PWLE, and other stakeholders. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and experience

• Master’s degree in communications – writing, photography, video production, artwork and design. 
• At least 5 years’ professional experience with 3 years of experience in progressive marketing and communications experience, ideally for an NGO or another organization in development work, preferably in care reform.
• Excellent English language oral and written communication skills.
• Must possess ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully disseminating information to a variety of target audiences.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and desktop publishing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain positive relationships with and accountability towards diverse actors.
• Demonstrated ability to influence decisions and social behavior change through advocacy.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire teamwork among diverse partners.
• Ability to develop practical solutions within set deadlines.    
• Experience of working in child protection, social affairs, human rights, international development
• Knowledge of safeguarding and ethical storytelling principles in communications.
• Prior management of social media platforms such, especially Facebook and Twitter.