Communication Officer

We are currently looking for a Communications Officer to support our activities for the Sudan mission.

Position: Communications Officer

Contract duration: 6 months

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Starting date: 13 January 2025

Deadline to apply: 20 December 2024

COUNTRY PROFILE

Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in Khartoum on 15 April 2023 and spread quickly across the country. Civilians have fled areas affected by fighting in large numbers, including to Chad, Egypt and South Sudan. Prices of food, fuel and other basic goods have skyrocketed skyrocketing, making critical goods unaffordable for many people. Half of Sudan’s population need humanitarian assistance, and the country is on the verge of a catastrophic hunger crisis. Humanitarian organizations are racing to respond to the most pressing needs wherever and whenever feasible, with access issues complicating the ability of actors to respond. In this fast-evolving context, IMPACT Initiatives is working to inform the emergency response to enable effective prioritization with scarce resources.

POSITION PROFILE

The Communications Officer will report to the Country Representative and assist with a wide variety of tasks related to the overall communications of the Sudan mission.

REACH Sudan is seeking to strengthen and innovate existing external communications and engagement tools, approaches, and content, with the ultimate aim of enhancing the reach and impact of our research programmes. In doing so, we seek to improve how aid actors integrate data, evidence, and analysis into their planning, programme implementation, and strategic decision-making processes.

This role will work at the country level, but in coordination with the “Translating Data to Action” Community of Practice at the global IMPACT level.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the management of the Country Representative (CR), the Communications Officer will:

1.      External Communications and Dissemination

• Lead in the drafting and dissemination of high-level key strategic outputs, notably stakeholder-targeted briefs across various research workstreams, to enhance access to REACH data and analysis, inform and influence strategic and programmatic humanitarian decision-making in Sudan.

• Documenting, editing, and contribution to the dissemination of success stories and human-interest stories in written, audio and video formats which are related to the specific interventions and results of the IMPACT. Support measures to promote visibility of IMPACT’s work to achieve multiplier effects through communication.

• Manage the Arabic/English translation workstream by coordinating with HQ and Acted the tasks required from the translation service providers, consolidating the translation portfolio, prioritizing select thematic outputs for translation, and ensuring targeted dissemination to Sudan stakeholders in line with the REACH Sudan localization agenda.

• Engage in cross-organizational conversations through regular exchanges and meetings with staff in HQ and other IMPACT missions, as well as through the Communications and Advocacy Community of Practice at the global IMPACT level to exchange best practices, consolidate knowledge, and foster sustainable peer-to-peer learning.

• Under the direction of the CR, engage in the dissemination of research products (including through articles, IMPACT social media contents, targeted e-mails, etc…) in line with IMPACT Dissemination and External Communication Guidelines and Research ToRs

• Stays informed on IMPACT activities and programming and maintains the dissemination/subscription lists

• Manage mass dissemination channels and tools at the level of the mission and streamline dissemination processes according to specific audiences.

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2. Internal Communications

• Coordination and collaboration with field teams to gather local inputs and feedback, contextualize communications and increase dissemination on the ground.

• Provide support to assessment staff on output design and review for specific communications-style products developed within the research units.

• Organisation of internal meetings / information-sharing (i.e. external communication update, internal newsletter).

• Collaborates with IMPACT Assessment Officers and Research Managers to collect information for internal newsletter on monthly basis.

• Support the definition and implementation of internal dissemination processes and tools, such as the communication and dissemination strategy for the country, unit guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Contribute to country team learning processes through evaluation of the success of the dissemination and communications activities and implement improvements if needed

• Support the Grants officer in keeping the dissemination tracker functional.

REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent academic qualifications, preferably including a master’s degree in a relevant discipline such as communications, journalism, marketing, humanitarian action, development studies, or international relations

• At least 2 years of relevant work experience in a communications or advocacy-related role

• Exposure to the humanitarian, development, or international relations sectors, including field-based roles or deployments

  o   Preferably, direct experience in a communications, advocacy, or external engagement role within the humanitarian, development, or international relations sectors

  o   Experience communicating on/disseminating research products or findings an asset

  o   Experience in project management or innovation an asset

  o   Prior knowledge of the Sudanese context an asset

• Solid understanding of writing fundamentals and demonstrated experience in producing clear, concise, and persuasive written content

• Demonstrated experience working with communications technology, digital communications tools, and social media platforms

  o   InDesign, Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress an asset

  o   Video / Photography an asset

• Fluency in English (oral and written)

  o   Fluency in written/oral Arabic is an asset

• Ability to work independently, with initiative, while taking a proactive, solutions-oriented approach

• Ability to function effectively within a team in dynamic, multi-cultural settings

• Attention to detail and commitment to producing high quality work

• Openness to feedback and willingness to learn

• Ability to manage time effectively

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• For this position, salary between 1’960 CHF and 2’160 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 300 USD.

  o   NB - IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere. 

• Accommodation and food provided in the guesthouse. 

• Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance. 

• Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered). 

• Contribution to the luggage transportation 50 kgs, (+ luggage and personal property insurance).

• Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable. 

• Predeparture induction - 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’s HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training.

• Enrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months from the start of contract.

• IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees.