ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) Vacancy in Abuja for a Communications Consultant
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) is a not for profit, non-governmental entity
registered with the Nigeria Corporate Affairs Commission. It commenced
operations in Nigeria in 1999, while the programmatic operations
commenced in January 2000 through a Country Agreement signed with the
National Planning Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
ActionAid is an anti-poverty agency that prioritises works with the poor
and excluded; promoting values and commitment in civil society,
institutions and governments with the aim of achieving structural
changes in order to eradicate injustices and poverty in the world.
ActionAid Nigeria is an affiliate of ActionAid International, an
International Non-Governmental organisation registered in The
Netherlands with its headquarters in Johannesburg South Africa.
ActionAid International works in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia,
Europe and the Americas.
AAN is inviting applications from qualified candidates to fill the position of:
Job Title: Communications Consultant
Location: Abuja
Job Description
- ActionAid Nigeria is looking for a creative, energetic and
driven Communications Consultant to provide cover for the substantive
person for a period not longer than five months.
- The communications Consultant will be responsible for
implementing ActionAid Nigeria’s communication strategy; plan and carry
out public affairs, community relations and publicity in order to
influence and inform AAN’s Stakeholders, Staff, Partners and Donors in
the organisation’s thematic areas
Specific Responsibilities
- Manage and coordinate the documentation and publishing of all
AAN manuals and publications (reports, policy briefs, newsletters,
etc.); in terms of its design, editing, and service delivery
- Implementation of media strategy to improve the organisation’s
profile and promote changes to key political, economic and social
services issues identified by research works;
- Building the capacity of AAN Staff and its partners and support
them in the understanding, documentation and production of high
quality communication products to promote the work AAN does to donors
and other external audiences. Sharing of collaborative case-studies,
impact surveys and other researches that inform policy of critical
issues in AAN’s programme areas
- Lead in AAN’s Social Media activities, updates and manages the website of the organisation.
- Support and oversee the duties of Communications support officer and communications interns.
Responsibilities / Key Deliverables
The following are expectations from the Communications Consultant:
Oversee design and printing of pending ActionAid’s publications,
support advocacy and campaigns communications activities, and other
documentation works:
- The consultant shall meet with the Policy, Advocacy and
Campaigns Manager upon the award of contract to have better grasp of
expectation of AAN from the contract
- The Consultant in consultation with the Policy, Advocacy and
Campaigns Manager will identify relevant resource persons with relevant
skills and qualifications to carry out the tasks in (b) above and
other tasks that may be identified.
- The Consultant will liaise closely with external consultants to ensure the timely and accurate delivery of services rendered.
- The Consultant will be responsible for editorial works on all
materials provided. S/he will ensure clarity of structure and internal
consistency, both analytical and stylistic. S/he will also ensure
general readability and accessibility to a broad readership
irrespective of literacy level in English language.
- The Consultant will provide relevant technical support to the
Local Rights Programme (LRP) and programme units, especially in
documentation, skill enhancement, media relations and the social media.
Oversee technical editing and copy-editing of reports and other publications and materials for readability and consistency:
- The Consultant will oversee the technical editing and
copy-editing of materials before they are printed i.e. appropriate use
of boxes, graphics and tables; sequencing, consistency, especially
between text and tables and figures and integration of text and boxes;
ensure that statistical data used and referenced in the text are
consistent with the data in the respective tables, figures, charts and
maps, as well as with the indicator tables flow and clarity of
argument, content errors, style and punctuation, spelling and grammar.
- The Consultant shall be responsible for the sourcing of competent graphic designer to develop templates for AAN publication.
- The Consultant will provide relevant support to Policy,
Advocacy and Campaigns Manager in the unit’s liaisons with programmes
and projects in the development of relevant policy, advocacy and
campaigns materials and events.
- The Consultant shall examine all campaigns and advocacy
materials for articulation of AAN positions, appropriate use of
language, compliance with AAI branding and use of graphic words before
they go to press.
- Shall from time to time examine the need for relevant
communications intervention and introduction of new strategy and make
recommendation for such.
- The Consultant shall be responsible for the proof-reading or
procurement of competent proof reader (s) for all materials after the
layout/graphic works of the document(s) must have been concluded.
- The Consultant will oversee the graphic design of the final
document and ensure this is consistent with the ActionAid branding as
given by the international communications team and as modified by the
country programme.
- Support development of advocacy and campaigns materials
Lead in the organisation’s web activities:
- The Consultant will manage the organisation’s website and make recommendations or changes as appropriate.
- The Consultant will handle the production of the organisation’s newsletter.
- The Consultant will be responsible for sharing all relevant
material on ActionAid’s internal online information-sharing platforms
(HIVE and Storieshub) in a timely manner.
- The Consultant will be responsible for ensuring the website is regularly updated and new content is uploaded in a timely fashion
- The Consultant will take the lead on the organisation’s use of ICT and social media platforms (Twitter and Facebook)
Capturing and projection of success stories:
- The Consultant will work with the programmes and projects staffs
to ensure regular capture of stories of change and accompanying photos.
- The consultant will be responsible for ensuring appropriate use
of such stories of change and success stories in all available outlet
within and without ActionAid International.
- The Consultant will be responsible for the syndication of such stories in the mass media.
- The Consultant will support and provide appropriate guides to the the LRP partners to capture stories of change.
- The Consultant will provide editing support to ensure stories
of change are clear, readable and engaging, and of suitable length.
Reporting and Accountability:
- Develop concept note for each programme activity for approval by the line manager.
- Submit situational and any other non-routine reports when necessary or when asked to.
Others:
- Actively take part in the overall policy, programme, procedure and strategy development of AAN in general.
- Assumes any other responsibilities relevant to the position as
agreed with the Policy Advocacy and Campaigns Manager or assigned by
the Director of Programmes or Country Director.
Key Relationships:
- Internal Relationships: Policy, Advocacy, Campaigns and Communications (PACC), HROE & Finance Team.
- External Relationships: Media, Communications Consultants/service providers, CSOs, relevant government agencies and partners
Persons Specifications
Attributes/Skills Essential Desirable
Education/Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences or Arts/Humanities.
- Masters degree in a related field.
- Membership of relevant professional Institute.
Experience:
- A minimum of 5 years work experience.
- 3 years experience managing communication and advocacy projects and working with the media.
- Website development/management and digital communications
- Experience in organisational & individual capacity building
- Experience as a media focal person for an organisation/department
- Experience as a reporter, sub editor or proof reader
- Familiarity with popular media sector and previous relationship with same
- Evidence of active Personal Blog
- Capacity building experience including training, facilitating, coaching and mentoring
- Online i.e. website management and digital communications
- Understanding of the role of advocacy work and communication in development.
Skill Abilities:
- Strong communication and writing skills
- Ability to provide practical solutions within set deadlines.
- Excellent planning and prioritisation skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Highly numerate
- Excellent Skills in policy analysis and interpretation
- Good computer skills especially in the use of publishing tools
- Multi-tasking skills
- Public Speaking skills
Personal Qualities:
- A person of integrity
- Self motivated person able to work without close supervision
- Effectively promote the AAN’s mission, values and objectives
- Proven Leadership Qualities.
- Creative and takes initiative.
- Able to work effectively in a diverse team environment
- Willing to work additional hours at crucial times.
Person Specifications
Education/Qualifications:
- First Degree in Social Sciences, Arts/Humanities is essential.
- Masters Degree in a related field is desirable
- Membership of relevant professional Institute.
Experience:
- A minimum of 5 years work experience is essential
- Experience on website development/management and digital communications is essential
- Capacity building experience including training, facilitating, coaching and mentoring is essential
- 3 years’ experience managing communication, advocacy projects and working with the media is essential
Skill/Abilities:
- Strong communication and writing skills
- Excellent Skills in policy analysis and interpretation
- Good computer skills especially in the use of publishing tools
- Public Speaking skills
- Excellent planning, prioritisation skills and strong interpersonal skills.
Personal Qualities:
- A person of integrity
- Creative and takes initiative.
- Able to work effectively in a diverse team environment
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should kindly send their applications in MSWord attachment to:
[email protected] clearly stating position as the subject of the email.
Click Here to View Description
Note:
- Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- While we respect all applicants, interview date will be communicated only to shortlisted candidates.
Application Deadline 13th November, 2015.