Regional Communications Officer, Africa at Equality Now

POSITION / ROLE SUMMARY

• Equality Now is offering a great opportunity for someone to take up a Regional Communications Officer role with our Communications Team in the Africa Regional Office.  The Regional Communications Officer, who should have all-around solid advocacy communication skills, will be able to write and converse fluently in English language skills and a can-do collaborative attitude to challenges and opportunities. This opportunity will require the person to have a flexible approach to working hours, connect with the broader global communications team, respond to reactive communications needs, and be available to travel.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reporting to the Regional Communications Manager for Africa & MENA, the Regional Communications Officer- Africa, as part of Equality Now’s Global Communication team and working directly with the Africa program teams, will undertake the following tasks:

Global Communications:

• Collaborate with program teams and partners on specific campaign initiatives at regional and global level.
• Amplify the work of national and international partners via Equality Now global channels.
• Identify and produce well-written, factually accurate, and risk-sensitive copy for use in multi-channel communications outputs globally.
• Respond to inbound international media or event requests relating to the EN’s role in various regionally focused campaigns.
• Lead in the development and dissemination of key messaging and calls to action into communications output and oversee appropriate sign-off.
• Spearhead brand visibility, placement and coordination in campaign focused events.
•  Report on impact, performance and milestones in relation to the communications objectives identified. 
• Ensure Africa campaign work is represented in Equality Now’s global editorial calendar by participating in regular meetings with the global team.

Regional Communications:

• As a communications resource, work collaboratively with the programs team to implement a work plan with KPIs that aligns with the regional communications strategy.
• Lead in the production of multi-channel communications strategies in relation to thematic campaigns in the region including Ending Harmful Practices, Ending Sexual Violence, Ending Sexual Exploitation and Legal Equality as assigned. 
• Identify and spearhead partnership opportunities with the media, influencers and other key players with a mission to advance communications objectives. 
• In conjunction with the Programs and the Communications team, lead in the creation and oversight of workplans for strategic communications activities that proactively raise awareness of the issues that profile our advocacy work in the region. 
• Gather engaging case studies for communications output; conduct interviews, including with those who are extremely vulnerable, employing the utmost professionalism and sensitivity; with informed consent. 
• Organize, create content for and support the delivery of identified initiatives targeting local CSOs partners and/or media practitioners.
• Create content/events for social media, presentations, print-based items, events, and press media.
• Support the production of publications, content, and design.
• Work together with the programs team in the population of reports in line with donor priorities.
• Regional travel may be required. 

Media Relations:

• Establish and manage media relations in the Africa region.
• Leverage media coverage and digital channels as advocacy tools to increase understanding of campaign issues; build brand awareness about EN work in Africa and generate positive media coverage featuring EN campaigns.
• Maximize media opportunities and secure positive media coverage for EN by working with the global media team to proactively pitching ideas to national, regional, and international media; respond in a timely and effective way to incoming media inquiries; work with communications and program teams to provide expert comment. Expand our network of media contacts, including journalists, news editors, and influencers reporting in and on the region.
• Write op-eds and press releases, and lead in placing them in the media- national, regional and international platforms. 
• Contribute to editorial planning in the medium and short term. 

Digital Communications:

• Creative development of high-impact social media strategies in line with various digital campaigns in the region.
• Work closely with the digital team in overseeing content production and representation in EN’s digital platforms including the website and social media channels.
• Plan virtual events including webinars, virtual launches, Twitter chats and Twitter spaces.
• Develop social media toolkits, social media planners, and design digital collateral for use by partner organizations and key stakeholders.
• Lead in online movement building for the region and curate participatory social media initiatives in line with programmatic objectives.

Event Planning:

• Support in organizing various thematic events, workshops, openings, presentations, seminars, conferences, hackathons, flash mobs and other events.
• Lead in media mobilization during these events and coordinate the development and dissemination of press packs.
• Develop and execute effective post-event engagement strategies with key stakeholders including highlight emails, newsletters, social media toolkits, and interactive photo galleries as required.
• Actively engage in extensive communication with stakeholders through online media, phone calls and face-to-face meetings. Prepare meeting highlights and keep track of program-related meeting lists.
• Assist in development of the Terms of References (ToRs) for outsourced services, as well as maintain regular communication with the relevant service provider companies, experts and other stakeholders.
• Handle content development, information dissemination and awareness raising activities through communication with mass media and social media channels on the scope and outcomes of key events (Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Website Blogs etc).
• Regularly update the EN photo gallery with corresponding materials in cooperation with regional communications officers and relevant program leads.

Day to day:

• Media monitoring and identification of opportunities for reactive media opportunities and social media postings relevant to our scope in the Africa region.
• Workplan monitoring.
• Development of key media assets such as photos, and graphics for social media, press releases, pitches, and blogs as needed.
• Sharing media invites and organizing media interviews with Equality Now staff in line with planned activities. This may include assisting with the development of briefing notes and quotes. 

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• They will work closely with the Africa Regional Director, Africa Regional Representative, Global Campaign Leads, the Regional Communications Manager for Africa and MENA, and other communication team members in other regional hubs to create impactful and compelling communications and advocacy communications interventions.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Ability to draft and implement effective and agile communications strategies
• Ability to identify opportunities and establish media relationships across the region
• Ability to develop high-quality assets that generate campaign outputs
• Ability to engage effectively with their teams/colleagues.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• At least 5 years of working experience in communications in regional or international organizations.
• A bachelor’s degree in communications, social studies, gender studies, or related field.
• Understanding/demonstrable experience of advocacy communications campaign strategy and project management.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• A good all-rounder in ideating and delivering communication tactics: events, PR; social media; press etc.
• High-quality writing skills - that extend to digital channels, particularly social.
• Comfortable in training others or learning how to train others
• IT literate, with experience using Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to undertake research tasks independently.
• Should be creative and innovative.
• Should be enterprising and solution driven.
• An understanding of and commitment to Equality Now’s work and objectives.
• Positive attitude, dependable and good sense of humor

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

• Organizational Agility, Innovativeness, Creativity, Problem-Solving, Teamwork 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: 26th FEBRUARY 2024