Consultancy Regional Communications (Humanitarian Relief)

Save the Children Sweden

Eastern and Central Africa Office

Consultancy

Regional Communications (Humanitarian Relief)

Save the Children Sweden started working in Eastern and Central Africa in 1965. Today, we have offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nairobi, Kenya; and Khartoum, Sudan.

Through long-term child-rights based development programs, we focus on building the capacity of local people, community-based structures and organizations by working with local partners. In Eastern and Central Africa, we work with more than forty different non-governmental organizations and government bodies.

All of the work in the region focuses on children’s rights, and tackles issues that affect marginalized children. The core of the work focuses on children affected by conflict, education, discrimination, abuse, exploitation, and HIV/AIDS. Our focus also includes child participation and good governance in the best interest of the child.

The Nairobi Regional Office is offering a Regional Communications Consultancy

Due to tremendous growth of the Sudan programme since 2009, the Sudan office has little capacity to manage external communications regarding our programmes in the country, and has no coherent communications strategy.

Communication needs have intensified with the recent emergency situation in the Abyei locality and South Kordofan State, and now Blue Nile State, all bordering South Sudan.

Utilizing opportunities to raise the visibility and profile of SCS work in country has been limited.

In addition, SCS is currently collaborating with and supporting other Save the Children Members who are implementing a unified emergency response to the drought situation in Kenya and Somalia, and a coordinated response in Ethiopia, and as part of this are required to report to member partners and stakeholders.

The Regional Communications Consultant will be primarily focused on strengthening the SCS Sudan Programmes external communications in order to promote the SCS as a Child Rights organization to stakeholders in Sudan, Sweden and internationally.

In addition, the consultant will be responsible for monitoring local and international media relating to the emergency response in order to strengthen the regional teams coordination and daily information flow regarding the drought crisis in the Horn of Africa.

This is a contract position starting as soon as possible for a minimum of 6 months, with possibility of extension. The Consultant will work on a 70/30 ration on the Sudan and Horn of Africa emergencies respectively.

Based in Nairobi, the Consultant will be required to make at least one field trip to Sudan during the consultancy period.

The Consultant will report to the Retgional Donor Relations and Grants Manager at SCS ECAf in liaison with the Senior Communications Advisor in the SCS Head Office.

Tasks

Implement the Emergency Communications Strategy, including, but not limited to:

• Coordinate with SCS Sudan, HO, and other members as appropriate in preparing periodic situation reports
• Assist the Sudan office in managing media relations as needed
• Assist in providing updates to members and to ACE/SCI
• Assist as needed with communications to donors, including providing them with both formal and informal updatesAssist in preparing updates to NGOs, civil society, and communities in Sudan
• Assist as needed in coordinating with and providing updates to relevant UN agencies
• Manage internal communications to staff at SCS ECAf office and SCS Head Office as needed.
• Train country/regional staff to implement Sudan Communications Strategies, HO communication guidelines and SCI communication guidelines on an ongoing basis
• Liaise with East African Regional Media on behalf of SCS ECAf

Key deliverables and expected timeframe

• Consolidated report on the previous 6 months work in Sudan based on situation reports to be provided to external stakeholders
• Monthly Fact Sheets for SCS Field Offices in Sudan
• One Fact Sheet each for Child Protection, Violence against Children in Armed Conflict, Education, Child Rights Governance, Health & Wash, Nutrition, and Livelihoods programmes in Sudan, highlighting the emergency situation
• One Fact Sheet from a children’s perspective related to SCS Sudan
• One Fact Sheet from a children’s perspective related to the emergency in theHorn of Africa
• Coordinate the production of six case studies related to the emergency and selected programmes with SCS Sudan staff
• Deliver monthly internal presentations to SCS ECAf staff regarding the emergency situation in Sudan and in the Horn of Africa

Required qualifications

• University degree in related field (communications/journalism or appropriate alternative)
• Minimum of five years of documented experience of related work in a multicultural contexts
• Experience of producing message points, press releases, media advisories and other media materials
• Excellent writing and verbal skills in English.
• Basic photography skills

Desirable

• Emergency communication experience
• Network of journalist, photographers and videographers in Sudan and the region
• Working knowledge of Arabic

The successful candidate should also possess the following personal qualities, in line with the values of Save the Children.

• Commitment to Save the Children’s mission and values
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment
• Excellent organisational skills and attentive to detail
• Works well under pressure, ensuring smooth and efficient running of duties
• Ability to quickly build strong working relationships and build trust with local staff

Send your application, clearly marked Consultancy – Communications by Friday 21st October, 2011 to the HR Advisor, Kristy McLean on kristim@ecaf.savethechildren.se.