Adeso Communications Officer

Communications Officer
Adeso : African Development Solutions www.adesoafrica.org

Position Title Communications Officer
Reporting to Program Director
Working with Project team, working in close collaboration with the Regional Communications and Advocacy Manager
Program/ Duty station Garowe, Somalia, with frequent field visits to other offices within Somalia and to project sites
Duration 1 year with possibility of renewal
Starting date 1st February, 2013

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Adeso, formerly known as Horn Relief, is an expanding and vibrant African based international development and humanitarian organization. At Adeso, we work with African communities who are yet to realize their full potential; working inside these communities to create environments in which Africans can thrive. Our belief that economic, social and environmental security is the bedrock of a healthy community drives the nature and intent of our programming. We work to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: reinvigorating the economy, developing skills for life and work, providing humanitarian aid, and influencing policy.

For the past 20 years we have strengthened rural livelihoods through environmental awareness, training, technology transfer and innovative humanitarian projects in pursuit of a peaceful, self-reliant, and greener future. Currently, Adeso has programs in Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan. Our current donor portfolio includes the European Commission, USAID, SIDA, CIDA, UNICEF, and the Government of Netherlands, among others. Adeso is an exciting and dynamic organization experiencing managed rapid growth. It offers sound employment conditions with opportunities for personal growth and development.

POSITION SUMMARY
Adeso is seeking to fill the following position for a European Union (EU) funded project starting on 1st February 2013. The MDG Initiative for Somalia: Reducing Hunger and Food Insecurity in Puntland Region through Improved and Sustainable Use of Rangeland Resources. The proposed action seeks to reduce hunger and food insecurity by improving rangeland conditions in Puntland regions of Somalia. The program will improve the state of natural resources management through implementation of land rehabilitation and restoration work on degraded rangelands, improving sustainable use of natural resources through community based range management programs. The program will integrate environmental consideration into all economic planning and programming activities in the region and galvanize community support for environmental protection and sustainable use of resources. The action will also improve the capacity of the communities to avert resource-based conflicts and to protect the rangeland resources through implementation of local customary laws, establishment of community based environmental courts and by strengthening communities to prevent misuse of natural resources at local level. Furthermore, the action will support development of alternative source of energy that can create jobs and reduce current dependency on firewood and charcoal. Awareness raising campaign branded as “stewardship Puntland” will also be launched to sensitize both rural and urban communities on environmental issues and to instill general public sense of ownership and stewardship of the environment.

POSITION PURPOSE
Adeso is seeking a qualified and committed individual to join its team as Communications Officer for the MDG Initiative for Somalia project. The primary role of the Communications Officer is to facilitate communication flows to ensure that key external stakeholders and Adeso decision-makers receive the information they need regarding the project in a timely way and format that is adapted to the target audience. As such, the position holder will manage the day-to-day communications needs of the project and oversee the implementation of the project’s communication strategy, which includes a wide-range of public-information and outreach activities in support of project goals.

SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Public information and publicity materials
• Support the draft, editing, and dissemination of timely and accurate information, fact sheets, for requests for information, and other public-information materials relating to project activities. These documents must be written in clear, concise language, both in English and Somali;
• Undertake field visits as appropriate to collect and produce human interest stories from the field, carry out interviews with staff and beneficiaries in the field and remain up to date on the unfolding context;
• Provide guidance to project team on EU visibility requirements and ensure regulations are implemented;
• Manage, prepare and maintain an updated standard information package on the project;
• Oversee procurement of public communication materials;
• Manage the project website social media presence;
• Work with external consultants for website development, photography, video production and translation;
• Act as a reference/contact point for Adeso staff in Somalia on general information requests related to the project.

2. Media Relations and Press
• In consultation with the Regional Communications and Advocacy Manager, carry out targeted information and media outreach activities. These activities are designed to push accurate information about the project to local, regional and national markets in Kenya, the United States, and elsewhere, through magazines, newspapers, radio, television, public service announcements, and other outlets;
• Coordinate with relevant counterparts within Adeso to produce and release accurate, timely, useful and well-written information to local and international news outlets;
• Write and distribute press releases and follow up to encourage and support news coverage;
• Monitor the project’s news coverage;
• In close coordination with the Regional Communications and Advocacy Manager, expand opportunities for coverage by arranging briefings, interviews, and tours for journalists.

3. Community outreach/Awareness campaigns
• Work with radio producers/stations to develop and implement an awareness raising campaign branded as “stewardship Puntland” to sensitize both rural and urban communities on environmental issues and to instill general public sense of ownership and stewardship of the environment;
• Work with partners to develop themes and messages for radio programs, and identify relevant resource people for these programs;
• Oversee implementation of the awareness raising caravans across 4 regions of Puntland.

4. Advocacy
• Build relationships with stakeholders in the field i.e. staff and beneficiaries.
• Collaborate with the Regional Communications and Advocacy Manager to identify and respond to key advocacy issues.
• Build and maintain local media contacts

Other
• Any other duty as may be assigned

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Degree in Communications, Social Sciences, Information Management or similar;
• At least 3 years experience in communications and information dissemination within a humanitarian or development context;
• Proven experience of communicating information to a wide range of different audiences;
• Ability to review and edit reports and other written documentation for dissemination and publication;
• Ability to collect information and undertake research under potentially difficult and constraining conditions;
• Ability to develop and present information and communication products for a range of different audiences;
• Experience overseeing the design of radio programs and campaigns;
• Experience of media liaison and media tools e.g. photography, video etc;
• Awareness of potential sensitivity of information in the context of Adeso’s work and development programming and ability to differentiate between information for internal versus external audiences;
• Willingness to work and travel in difficult circumstances and adhere to agreed security procedures;
• Written and spoken fluency in English and Somali.

How to apply:

This is a challenging opportunity for a dedicated and highly motivated professional. If you would like to join this dynamic team and be part of building resilience and economic growth in Africa, please submit your application to jobs.somalia@adesoafrica.org, quoting the position in the email subject matter, by DATE 10th January 2013.

Each application should be addressed to the Human Resources Manager and include the following:
• An updated CV; and • An application letter which should include remuneration requirements and contact information for three work-related referees.

Applications not including all of the above information will not be reviewed.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Adeso is an equal opportunity employer