Communications Officer - Africa Team

INTRODUCTION TO GIRLS NOT BRIDES

Girls Not Brides is the only global organisation uniquely focused on creating and sustaining a worldwide movement to end child marriage and ensuring that this movement leads to tangible change for the girls at risk or affected by the practice. We are a network of over 1,600 civil society organisations in over 100 countries working in partnership to end child marriage.

Our vision is a world without child marriage where girls and women enjoy equal status with boys and men and are able to achieve their full potential in all aspects of their lives. Our vision challenges deeply embedded social norms that harm the lives of girls, women and their communities.

INTRODUCTION TO THE ROLE

Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage is seeking a Communications Officer to join its team based in Africa. The successful individual will work closely with the Africa Team and Communications Team to ensure regional work is represented across our global channels. This position reports directly to the Senior Regional Engagement and Advocacy Officer based in the Africa Team. They will have varied responsibilities, including playing a key role in the implementation of a regional communications strategy that positions and accelerates action to address child early and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU) at the regional and country level.

We are looking for a passionate and talented bilingual (French and English) communications professional, who is good at networking with experience in developing and implementing both media and communication strategies on social issues and ideally with previous work experience related to girls, adolescents and women’s rights, employing a feminist approach.

As Communications Officer supporting the Africa Team, you will work closely with the Africa and Communications Teams to strengthen our work and influence in the region and ensure it is represented across our global channels. You will work closely with member organisations in Africa to support their work and representation at the regional and global level and to contribute to further positioning ending child marriage as a key issue at regional and national levels in the Africa region.

You will support and engage in strategic planning, contributing your knowledge of the Africa context and member organisations’ work to our regional and global communications strategies. You will also play a supportive role in ensuring the delivery and implementation of communications strategies and plans.

You will work with the Africa Team and Communications Team to implement a communications strategy in Africa to support and highlight the work of Girls Not Brides member organisations in the region and beyond. You will work closely with the Communications Team to identify regional content and stories to feature on our social media accounts and provide content and stories for the organisation’s channels, newsletters, donor, and Board updates.

Job location

Dakar, Senegal. The successful candidate must already have the right to work in Senegal at the time of applying and for a minimum of two years.

Working as a global team, all Girls Not Brides team members may from time to time be expected to work outside normal working hours (e.g., early morning or early evening) this is not a regular occurrence and is only to accommodate collaboration of teams across different time zones. The role may require regular international travel, as necessary.

Accountable to

Senior Officer for Regional Engagement and Advocacy with a dotted line to the Communications Manager.

Salary range

Market competitive based on a detailed survey by the Birches Group of comparable national NGO salaries in selected location. Payments will be made in local currency of where it is located.

Contract

2-year fixed term contract. The successful candidate will predominantly work from home, with IT and communication equipment and support provided by Girls Not Brides. They must have the right to work in Senegal.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Regional communications work

• In close collaboration with the Girls Not Brides Communications and Africa Teams, support the development and implementation of a regional communications strategy for the region – including digital, media, publications etc and support to members – with the objective of positioning child marriage in the region and highlight the work of Girls Not Brides and its member organisations.
• In collaboration with the Africa Team, support the production of regional communications materials, including but not limited to, newsletters, mail-outs, infographics, fact-sheets etc.
• Identify key moments throughout the year to highlight on our digital communications channels and drive external awareness of key campaigning opportunities such as international days.
• Work with the Girls Not Brides Communications and Africa Teams to identify and contribute stories from the region – including through engagement with member organisations – that can be used across digital channels and support organisational storytelling.
• Work closely with the Girls Not Brides Communications and Africa Teams to ensure the region is represented in a context-specific way across our global communications channels, including the update and translation of key documents in English and French.
• Provide technical support to Girls Not Brides members, National Partnerships and coalitions as needed in their communications as well as support any communications training and capacity building sessions, if needed.
• Contribute to campaigns and other influencing and advocacy initiatives in the region and prioritised countries.
• Lead on communications roles within the Africa Team as required, including drafting copy for Girls Not Brides’ channels. Some translation and proof-reading support may be required.

Media Engagement

• Develop and maintain relationships with influential traditional and emerging media to raise awareness of child marriage, Girls Not Brides and member organisations in the Africa region.
• Work collaboratively with the Africa Regional Team and Communications Team to prepare all media outreach activities in support of Girls Not Brides initiatives such as supporting in the drafting of Op-Eds, quotes, press releases, media briefs, media pitches, and organising media engagement activities around events, country visits and/or member meetings.
• Brief and prepare the regional team and Girls Not Brides member organisations for media interviews and engagements, including supporting the development of talking points and advising on messaging, and arranging media training where necessary.

Wider Organisational Responsibilities

• Commit to the mission and vision of Girls Not Brides, putting them at the forefront of all planning, work and actions.
• Uphold the values of Girls Not Brides in all areas of work and interactions with colleagues, member organisations, partners and other stakeholders.
• Comply with Girls Not Brides policies and processes, with particular note for safeguarding, ethical communications, the code of conduct and data protection.
• Ensure that internal databases and monitoring information are kept fully up to date.
• Commit to ongoing personal development and learning.
• Fulfil any other reasonable requests for the advancement of the Girls Not Brides mission.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential experience

• Significant professional experience in a similar role in the not-for-profit sector, an international/intergovernmental organisation, a social movement or social enterprise.
• Experience in working on sensitive issues in a balanced way, rooted in strong safeguarding protocols and the ‘do no harm’ principle, with a focus on solutions-driven messaging rather than sensationalism.
• Experience in developing story ideas and creative communications concepts.
• Experience in supporting non-specialists to develop relevant communications technical skills and materials.
• Proven experience of applying human rights-based and feminist approaches and experience of working with young people and adults at risk through ethical communications.
• Experience in supporting the development and delivery of communications strategies.

Essential skills and knowledge

• A good understanding of civil society organisations and the regional context regarding gender equality in Africa.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and French.
• Good storytelling and media pitching skills.
• Proven ability to write for different audiences.
• A good eye for accuracy and detail and potential implementation challenges.
• Strong news sense and an ability to spot newsworthy opportunities to raise the profile of Girls Not Brides and its member organisations.
• Familiarity with creating quality media content including a demonstrated ability to write engaging, clear and concise copy.
• Basic knowledge of photography / film making.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage relationships with journalists, and consultants such as photographers.
• Ability to support the organisation and implementation of successful media visits and media-focused events.
• Highly reliable, organised, proactive and capable of independent judgement.
• Ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure, prioritise and juggle multiple tasks within tight deadlines, and to deliver time-sensitive high-quality work.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision to meet tight deadlines and juggle multiple priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an inquisitive and analytical mind.
• Outstanding written communication in English and French, creative thinker, and the ability to write for different audiences.
• Willingness to work in a collaborative team and with diverse stakeholders, including an ability to work in different cultural environments, and work sensitively with member organisations and young women from a wide range of backgrounds.

Essential values and attributes

• Strong commitment to the mission and values of Girls Not Brides and our vision in relation to addressing child marriage and the empowerment of girls and women.
• Proactive and able to confidently take initiative and make appropriate decisions.
• Willingness to work flexibly and regularly travel internationally, as necessary.

Desirable

• Relevant higher academic qualification/s or equivalent professional experience.
• Proficiency in other official languages as identified by the Africa Union is highly desirable (Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish or Kiswahili).

Safeguarding

Girls Not Brides is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk with whom our staff and representatives work and interface. Any employment with Girls Not Brides may be subject to the satisfactory completion of a background check and criminal records check which can include but is not limited to: an overseas police record check, a Disclosure and Barring Service Check (for those based in the UK) or an International Criminal Record Check (if applicable).

Diversity at Girls Not Brides

Girls Not Brides is an equal opportunities employer. We embrace diversity, equal opportunity, and inclusion in a serious way. We are committed to building a staff body that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

How to apply

The closing date for this role is 23:59 EAT on Friday 23 June 2023.

To apply, submit your CV and a brief cover letter clearly demonstrating how you meet the criteria via the online application portal. Please send your submissions in English.

We regret that due to the large number of applications anticipated, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.