Communications Specialist

Project Background:

The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems for Resilient Communities Activity (FTF WFSRCA) is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to nomadic pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment. This Activity is aligned with the Water and Development II (WADI II) scope to access critical technical services in support of the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy, Global Food Security and Strategy Refresh, Agency Climate Strategy, and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience; and is a cornerstone of the USAID Uganda (2022) Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective (DO) 2, Resilient Growth Enhanced. The activity aims therefore aims to achieve results under the following development objectives:

1. Improve water supply and integrated water resource management.
2. Increase equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services for households and schools.
3. Improved agriculture-based livelihoods.
4. Increased consumption of nutritious foods among women and children.
5. Expanded access to financial resources for women, men, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups.
6. Improve local capacity to manage shocks and stressors.

FtF WFSRCA will enhance market systems, strengthen relevant institutions, expand access to climate-resilient services, and—in two of the most vulnerable of the 20 districts covered by the activity—employ “graduation” approaches to assist the ultra-poor. These initiatives will incorporate conflict sensitivity, local leadership, climate change adaptation, and approaches inclusive of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups.

Role’s Purpose:

The Communications Specialist will work with the Project Team to design and manage all aspects of internal and external project communications. S/he will support the assessment of appropriate communications channels and media through which to reach key audiences and help refine audience segmentation by identifying critical differentiators across gender, ages, literacy levels, etc. in order to better target communications and ensure broad accessibility and transparency of the FtF WFSRCA announcements and information. The Communications Specialist will contribute to the development of high-quality knowledge and learning content including data visualizations, success stories, case studies, and other reporting that informs learning activities and support adaptive management decisions, contributing to the overall success and impact of the project. S/he will also support the promotion of project activities through key communication channels and will engage critical partners and communities of practice through strategic outreach and innovative multicultural communication practices. The Communications Specialist will be instrumental in maintaining a strong and positive project image and effectively capturing and disseminating the project's achievements and lessons to support ongoing learning and improvement. The Communications Specialist will be based in Moroto, Uganda, with travel as required to report on key project activities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify key audiences for project communications; design and carry out rapid assessment of communication channels most utilized by key audiences to inform communications strategy, including audience segmentation and communication approaches for reaching target audiences.
• Collaborate with the project technical team to ensure integration of communications and knowledge management activities that complement and report on program activities.
• Work with the MEL Director to develop and execute the project’s overall communications strategy, catering for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Facilitate communication, knowledge management, and visibility of the project's activities, achievements, and lessons learned, ensuring that project outcomes are effectively shared with relevant stakeholders and contribute to the project's overall success and impact.
• Deliver high-quality writing and communications support. Develop communications materials including weekly talking points and presentations, website content, fact sheets, presentations, reports, photo-reporting and other collateral materials that effectively showcase the project's impact, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Support FtF WFSRCA’s reporting to USAID, including Biweekly Updates, Quarterly Progress Reports, Annual Reports and the Final Report.
• Working closely with FtF WFSRCA technical staff and subcontractors to identify and craft stories that showcase impact, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Work with technical and security team to ensure communications are nuanced for the local context, ensuring the promotion of local ownership and managing the identification of USAID in a way that does not overshadow the role of local government or negatively impact the perception of the activity.
• Work with the DCOP - T and COP to determine appropriate branding and marking approaches for each activity in each region, identifying opportunities where it is appropriate to identify and promote USAID support, and those where the identification of USAID would be detrimental to the success of the activity and an exception to USAID branding should be requested.
• Identify key events and other opportunities to connect with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Liaise with USAID/Uganda’s Communications team to ensure Activity is aligned with USAID communication priorities and the Branding Implementation and Marking Plan is current and up to date with any required changes.
• Other duties assigned by the MEL Director, Deputy Chief of Party Technical, and/or Chief of Party that are consistent with the overall focus of the assignment.
• Travel to the field and regional offices as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Advanced degree in statistics, sociology, demographics, or other field related to monitoring and evaluation.
• At least 7 years of experience in communications, including writing success stories, social media, report writing, and producing visual presentations.
• Experience conducting interviews and writing success stories that showcase project milestones.
• Experience creating and leading social media content and solid understanding of social media analytics (Twitter/X, Facebook).
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID Branding, Implementation and Marking requirements and reporting protocols preferred.
• Experience in development and implementation of communication plans and Branding Implementation and Marking Plans, preferred.
• Prior work experience in Uganda.
• Professional proficiency in English is required, and proficiency in local languages is preferred.

Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail, able to manage one’s work, take initiative, set schedules and meet deadlines without close supervision.
• Team player, who can coordinate across several teams within FtF WFSRCA.
• Ability to communicate project activities and impact to a range of external and internal stakeholders.

Reporting

The Communications Specialist will report to the MEL Director.

How to apply

To apply, please use the following link - https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/wjsm4vyrye/index