Communications Specialist (Grade 9) at DAI Kenya - Development Alternatives, Inc.

Project Background:

• The USAID People-Centered Governance (PCG) Activity is supporting local governments in southern Somalia to improve their effectiveness and legitimacy. To accomplish this objective, the project implements activities aligned with two mutually interrelated and reinforcing immediate results, IR1) that District Councils (DCs) are fairer and more inclusive and IR2) that DCs improve their performance. PCG will engage at the Federal, State and local levels and will eventually work in several districts within the three (i.e., Hirshabelle, Jubaland, and Southwest) federal member states of Somalia.

Role ’s Purpose:

• The Communications Specialist will work with the Project Team to design and manage all aspects of internal and external project communications.
• S/he will support the assessment of appropriate communications channels and media through which to reach key audiences and help refine audience segmentation by identifying critical differentiators across gender, ages, literacy levels, etc. in order to better target communications and ensure broad accessibility and transparency of PCG Activity announcements and information.
• The Communications Specialist will contribute to the development of high-quality knowledge and learning content including data visualizations, success stories, case studies, and other reporting that informs learning activities and support adaptive management decisions, contributing to the overall success and impact of the project.
• S/he will also support the promotion of project activities through key communication channels and will engage critical partners and communities of practice through strategic outreach and innovative multicultural communication practices.
• The Communications Specialist will be instrumental in maintaining a strong and positive project image and effectively capturing and disseminating the project's achievements and lessons to support ongoing learning and improvement.
• The Communications Specialist will be based in Mogadishu, Somalia or Nairobi, Kenya with extensive travel to Somalia.

Key Duties and Responsibilities :

• Identify key audiences for project communications; design and carry out rapid assessment of communication channels most utilized by key audiences to inform communications strategy, including audience segmentation and communication approaches for reaching target audiences.
• Collaborate with the project technical team to ensure integration of communications and knowledge management activities that complement and report on national, state and district -level program activities.
• Work with the MEL/CLA Director to develop and execute the project’s overall communications strategy, catering for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Facilitate communication, knowledge management, and visibility of the project's activities, achievements, and lessons learned, ensuring that project outcomes are effectively shared with relevant stakeholders and contribute to the project's overall success and impact.
• Deliver high-quality writing and communications support. Develop communications materials including weekly talking points and presentations, website content, fact sheets, presentations, reports, photo-reporting and other collateral materials that effectively showcase the project's impact, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Support PCG’s reporting to USAID, including Monthly Updates, Quarterly Progress Reports, Annual Reports and the Final Report.
• Working closely with PCG technical staff and subcontractors to identify and craft stories that showcase impact, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists and communication officers within the government, civil society, and implementing partners, thus managing media inquiries and coordinating press conferences, interviews, and events to further enhance the project's public presence and impact.
• Work with technical and security team to ensure communications are nuanced for the local context, ensuring the promotion of local ownership and managing the identification of USAID in a way that does not overshadow the role of local government or negatively impact the perception of the activity.
• Work with the DCOP and COP to determine appropriate branding and marking approaches for each activity in each district, identifying opportunities where it is appropriate to identify and promote USAID support, and those where the identification of USAID would be detrimental to the success of the activity and an exception to USAID branding should be requested.
• Identify key events and other opportunities to connect with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Liaise with USAID/Somalia’s Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) team to ensure Activity is aligned with USAID communication priorities and the Branding Implementation and Marking Plan is current and up to date with any required changes.
• Other duties assigned by the MEL/CLA Director, Deputy Chief of Party, and/or Chief of Party that are consistent with the overall focus of the assignment.
• Travel to the field and satellite office as required.
• Understand DAI and USAID rules, regulations, processes and systems for compliant project implementation
• Ensure safeguarding of staff and a strict zero tolerance policy towards corruption and unethical behavior
• Uphold DAI ethics and values in all aspects of the job

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as communications, journalism, political science and international relations is required. An advanced degree or equivalent is preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant professional experience in communications, including drafting outreach materials, developing and implementing communications plans, and managing communication events.
• The ability to absorb technical information quickly and present it in an interesting and digestible.
• Proven experience engaging diverse audiences through communications functions.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and deliver necessary inputs on time.
• Relevant experience working in Somalia on USAID-funded programs in a related role preferred but not required.
• Technical experience exposure in governance programs is highly desired.
• Strong computer skills (MS Office Suite) required.
• Familiarity with social media and website content management a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Fluency in both English and Somali is required.

Skills

• An articulate individual with excellent communication and personnel management skills, capable of relating to people at all levels of an organization.
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• An energetic, forward-thinking, and creative individual with high ethical standards and a professional image.
• A highly organized and self-directed individual with strong technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and a focus on operational excellence.
• Demonstrated initiative and self-motivation in handling all assigned tasks with minimal supervision.
• Honesty, trustworthiness, initiative and self-motivation demonstrated in handling all assigned tasks.
• Attention to detail, the ability to manage one’s work, take initiative, set schedules and meet deadlines without close supervision.
• A strong team player with a positive attitude.
• Flexible under pressure and in response to changing needs.