Senior  Communication  Specialist    JOB  DESCRIPTION  

 Position  Title:  Senior  Communication  Specialist    Status:  Full  Time  Reports  directly  to:  Director  of  the  WA  BiCC  Collaborating,  Learning  and  Adapting  (CLA)  Unit  on  Technical  implementation  issues  and  Director  of  Global  Programs  (PCI-­‐Media  Impact,  NY)  for  strategic  communications  guidance  and  administrative  matters.  Office:    Accra,  Ghana    Project  Background:  

USAID/West  Africa’s  Biodiversity  and  Climate  Change  (WA-­‐BiCC)  program  aims  to  build  regional  and  national  institutional  capacity  to  strengthen  the  enabling  environment  throughout  West  Africa  to  combat  wildlife  trafficking;  improve  coastal  resilience;  and  reduce  deforestation,  degradation,  and  biodiversity  loss  in  key  forests.  

Tetra  Tech  ARD  is  the  lead  implementer  responsible  for  delivery  of  the  technical  requirements  of  WA-­‐BiCC.  ARD  is  partnering  with  PCI  Media  Impact  and  other  technical  partners  to  enhance  incentives  for  behavior  change.  In  order  to  achieve  this,  PCI  Media  Impact  has  been  contracted  to  provide  technical  expertise  to  the  WA  BiCC  Program  to  develop  an  innovative  Communication  for  Development  (C4D)  strategy,  which  employs  strategic  program  communications  and  Education-­‐Entertainment  (Behavior  Change  Communications)  delivered  to  target  audiences  across  the  region.  The  overall  C4D  strategy  will  be  developed  with  the  WA  BiCC  team  and  in  close  consultation  with  core  regional  partners  ECOWAS,  the  Mano  River  Union,  and  the  Abidjan  Convention,  other  implementing  partners  (in  addition  to  PCI  this  includes  Pact,  dTS  and  Wetlands  International  Africa).  The  C4D  strategy  will  be  adaptable  in  scale  and  reach,  ranging  from  local  communications  on  the  landscape  (particularly  those  receiving  direct  WA  BiCC  support)  and  community  levels,  to  government  agencies,  civil  society  institutions  and  NGOs  on  the  national  and  sub-­‐regional  level,  regional  organizations,  USAID,  donors  and  global  audiences  in  order  to  ensure  that  the  WA  BiCC  C4D  approach  helps  those  organizations  effectively  execute  their  mandates  and  reach  the  diverse  audiences  critical  to  the  successful  achievement  of  WA  BiCC  outcomes.    

In  addition,  PCI  Media  Impact  will  provide  assistance  to  WA  BiCC  for  its  internal  and  external  program  communications  such  as  production  and  dissemination  of:  technical  reports,  progress  reports,  technical  briefs,  social  media,  development  of  the  program  website,  etc.  

   

PCI  Media  Impact  (www.mediaimpact.org)  

PCI  Media  Impact  has  been  sub-­‐contracted  to  Tetra  Tech  as  an  implementing  partner  for  WA  BiCC.  PCI  Media  Impact  has  empowered  communities  worldwide  to  inspire  positive  social  and  environmental  change  through  storytelling  and  creative  communications.  We  are  a  leader  in  the  communication  for  development  field,  with  a  particular  expertise  in  Entertainment-­‐Education.    

For  30  years,  PCI  Media  Impact  has  worked  with  a  range  of  partners  to  advance  the  well-­‐being  of  vulnerable  populations  by  improving  knowledge,  shifting  attitudes,  and  changing  behaviors  with  regards  to  critical  social  and  environmental  issues.  PCI  Media  Impact  is  committed  to  three  interconnected  themes  –  Health,  Empowerment  and  Environment  –  addressing  a  wide  variety  of  issues  including:  natural  resource  management,  sustainable  development,  women’s  and  youth  empowerment  and  education  family  planning,  human  trafficking  and  others.  Together  with  partners  around  the  world,  we  have  produced  more  than  5,000  episodes  of  100  television  and  radio  productions,  reaching  more  than  one  billion  people  in  over  45  countries.  

The  Senior  Communication  Specialist  

 The  Senior  Communications  Specialist  is  part  of  the  CLA  team  (Accra  and  Freetown)  and  will  work  with  the  technical  thematic  teams  based  in  Accra  and  Freetown  in  the  implementation.  S/he  will  supervise  the  Accra-­‐base  Communications  Officer  and  the  Freetown-­‐based  Communications  Specialist  based  on  agreed  priorities  established  with  the  Director  of  the  Collaborating,  Learning  and  Adaptation  Unit  and  the  Chief  of  Party  as  needed.        The  Senior  Communication  Specialist  will  be  responsible  to  lead  the  design,  management  and  implementation  of  the  two  pillars  of  the  communication  strategy  -­‐  C4D  (behavior  change  communications  such  as  radio  dramas)  and  Strategic  Program  Communications  (quarterly  reporting,  success  stories,  web  presence,  standard  branding  and  communication  tools,  etc.)  for  the  WA  BiCC  program.  The  Senior  Communictions  Specialist  will  work  with  the  Communications  Team  to  foster  partnerships  with  a  broad  spectrum  of  partners  and  stakeholders  from  the  grassroots  community  level,  governmental,  inter-­‐governmental  institutions  and  private  sector  entities  such  as  radio  and  television  stations.  The  Senior  Communication  Specialist  will  play  a  key  role  in  working  with  the  Capacity  Building  team  to  increase  the  effective  capacity  of  core  regional  partner  and  others  to  more  effectively  communicate  with  their  constituencies,  and  with  WA  BiCC  to  effectively  communicate  the  knowledge  generated  during  implementation.  Examples  of  this  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,    leading  media  relationships,  developing  PR  activities,  producing  external  and  internal  communication  materials  and  writing  for  internal  and  programmatic  purposes.    

Primary  Responsibilities  

• In  coordination  with  the  WA  BiCC  team:  o Produce  a  cohesive  and  comprehensive  communications  strategy  that  supports  the  

goals  and  objectives  of  the  WA  BiCC  program  and  its  partners  

o Identify  and/or  develop  and/or  manage  partnerships  with  public  or  private  entities  to  assist  WA  BiCC  effectively  communicate  and  disseminate  core  messages  and  lessons  learned  as  articulated  in  the    communication  strategy  

o Ensure  the  overall  delivery,  design,  management  and  ongoing  adaptation  of  the  2  pillars  of  the  regional  communications  strategy  (C4D  and  strategic  program  communications)  by  maximizing  the  comparative  skill  areas  of  the  Communications  Officers,  ensuring  that  the  appropriate  messages  and  media  reach  each  target  audience  across  multiple  platforms  

o Ensure  the  timely  delivery  of  all  communication  assets,  including  new  and  traditional  media  targeting  multiple  audiences  and  across  multiple  platforms  as  identified  with  activity  focal  points  

o Undertake  communication/outreach  activities  as  needed,  including  event  planning  and  management,  publicity,  engaging  with  stakeholders  on  traditional  and  social  media      

o Assume  leadership  in  dealing  with  programmatic  (contractual)  reporting  requirements  in  close  coordination  with  the  CLA  Unit,  M&E  Specialist,  technical  leads,  DCOP  and  COP    

o work  with  the  M&E  Specialist  and  Accra  and  Freetown-­‐based  teams  to  clearly  identify  and  support  delivery  of  the  specific  contributions  that  the  Communications  Team  will  provide  to  ensure  the  requirements  of  the  WA  BiCC  Monitoring  and  Evaluation  Plan.  

• Attend  weekly  meetings  of  the  WA  BiCC  teams  in  Accra  and  Freetown  and  Skype  meetings  with  the  PCI  Media  Impact  team  as  needed  

• Participate  in  weekly  check-­‐ins  with  the  PCI  Media  Impact  Director  of  Global  Programs  • Undertake  regional  West  Arica  travel  as  required  to  fulfil  the  needs  of  this  position  in  

coordination  with  the  technical  line  supervisor  and  COP  • Provide  quarterly  report  updates  to  PCI  Media  Impact  NY  team  that  conform  to  the  reporting  

requirements  of  WA  BiCC  • Track  budget  flows  and  ensure  fiscal  responsibility  and  accountability  against  PCI  Media  Impact  

budget  lines  • Additional  tasks  may  be  assigned  from  time  to  time.    

 

 

Qualifications,  Skills  and  Knowledge  Requirements    

• Fluency  in  spoken  and  written  English  and  French.    • Education  and/or  experience  equivalent  to  a  Master’s  Degree  in  communication  for  

development  (C4D),  international  development,  journalism,  Entertainment-­‐Education,  social  marketing  or  a  field  relevant  to  media/communication  and  development.  

• Strong  understanding  of  issues  impacting  developing  countries,  particularly  around,  biodiversity  conservation,  climate  change,  natural  resource  management,  sustainable  livelihoods,  water  and  sanitation,  and  sustainable  development.  

• Minimum  of  5  years  of  work  experience  in  international  development  or  conservation,  communication  for  social  change,  journalism,  public  relations,  with  at  least  2  years  project  management  experience.  

• Experience  using  communication  strategies  and  tools  to  advance  local,  regional  and  international  program  objectives,  including  media  relations,  web/mobile/social  media,  print  and  events.  

• Experience  developing  and  successfully  implementing  a  complex  communication  strategy,  particularly  for  a  new  or  growing  program.  

• Experience  implementing  international/multi-­‐country  communication  efforts  and  adapting  communication  strategies  for  a  variety  of  international  audiences  and  media  markets.  

• Ability  to  work  and  communicate  with  a  range  of  stakeholders  including  policymakers  and  government  officials,  NGOs,  the  media,  community  representatives.  

• Exceptional  writing,  editing,  and  communication  skills  in  English  and  French  and  in  a  variety  of  formats  (i.e.  web,  print  publications,  briefing  papers,  press  releases).  

• Ability  to  thrive  in  team  environments,  with  a  strong  understanding  of  diversity  and  other  cultures.  

• Immediately  available  to  work  in  Ghana;  able  to  travel  without  restrictions  to  other  countries  part  of  the  program  across  West  Africa.  

 

To  Apply      

-­‐ Please  email  your  detailed  resume  and  cover  letter  in  one  document  to:  mbrown@mediaimpact.org    

-­‐ Please  include  “Accra  Senior  Communication  Specialist”  in  the  subject  of  your  email.