Communications Advisor

There are also other communications volunteer positions available at the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada. For these opportunities, visit our website.

VOICE for Women and Girls
VOICE for Women and Girls (VOICE), funded by the Government of Canada, is a volunteer cooperation program (2020-2027) that aims to strengthen the performance of developing country partner organizations to advance gender equality and economic empowerment of 50,000 co-operative and credit union members from marginalized communities in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal.

The program, supported by volunteers, strives to address the challenges and barriers that adversely affect the economic and social well-being of vulnerable groups, with particular emphasis on women and girls. VOICE aims to respond to the needs identified by these groups and to increase the capacities of individual producers and primary co-operatives, to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Supporting institutions, such as apex co-operatives, co-operative colleges, and government/regulatory bodies, will also be engaged to increase the capacity and prioritization of vulnerable groups.

The Partner you will work with
Implemented by the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF Canada), the VOICE project in Ethiopia is working closely with government counterparts and different non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) is the project’s major Development Country Partner (DCP). The organization envisions being a leading home-grown NGO contributing to sustainable development and poverty reduction, resilience building and creating productive ecosystems in Ethiopia. In all its efforts, EWNRA values equity, equality, honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and sustainability. Moreover, EWNRA is devoted to doing better for humanity and the environment, and its motto is sustainable development.

What you will do – Activities and deliverables
This volunteer role will work to engage stakeholders, volunteers, project beneficiaries, audiences through various platforms to enhance public engagement. The volunteer is expected to support the VOICE project by leading the establishment and maintenance of an appropriate public engagement platform and developing content that applies to the platform. VOICE could benefit from expertise in setting up communication systems, which reach project partners, communities, stakeholders, and co-op groups.

As part of building the capacity of the DCP organizations, the VOICE project engaged consultants to measure the overall capacity of the organization. Through the assessment, EWNRA’s existing gaps were identified using relevant indicators at the intermediate, immediate, and output levels that track changes in existing capacities using various methods in a participatory approach. These terms of reference aim to build the capacity of the local partner to implement a vibrant communications strategy that would build and maintain presence in the country as well as across the region. The role will be based at the local partner office in Addis Abba with travel to rural communities where the project is based.

Objectives
This is a key role and will support the overall project communications strategy as well as support other Canadian volunteers to capture and tell their volunteer journey during their mandate in Ethiopia, which contributes towards increasing awareness of the volunteer program and international development among the Canadian population. The role will improve, create, and implement new communications activities to engage Canadians.

Furthermore, the VOICE for women and girls project is working to strengthen the capacity of EWNRA through various methods including providing a series of training sessions for its staff, partners, and stakeholders, and developing/updating the organization’s important strategic documents, enabling the organization to deal effectively with new changes, opportunities, threats, recent circumstances, and upcoming uncertainties. Reviewing/updating the partner organization’s communication strategy that can increase the communication efficiency of the organization’s workforce is part of the capacity development plan for the organization.

Deliverables

Develop /update a comprehensive five-year communication strategy for EWNRA.
Collect different feedback on the current communication bottlenecks of the organization form EWNRA staff, stakeholders, and partners as needed.
Collect different inputs from EWNRA staff, stakeholders, beneficiaries, and partners on the improvement of the organization’s communication strategy.
Conduct reviews/assessments on EWNRA’s existing communication strategy and major gaps as needed.
Periodically update the progress of the strategy development based on agreed schedules.
Collect, consider, and integrate different feedback and comments given by the VOICE country office and EWNRA staff on the draft communication strategy.
Lead the communication strategy workshop participants and train local partner staff and other volunteers on communications best practices.
Provide technical support on the implementation of the project communications strategy to other volunteers.
Work in collaboration with the CDF Canada Communications Officer to capture, collect and share volunteer stories for effective public engagement in Canada.
Participate in public engagement activities during and post mandate in Canada to increase awareness of the VCP and international development amongst the Canadian population.
Be willing to initiate and participate in fundraising activities in collaboration with CDF Canada.
Participate in knowledge management sessions with other volunteers across the VOICE implementing countries.
Submit activity, monthly and end-of-mandate reports in a timely manner.
Create and develop strategic innovation fund initiatives to support co-operatives and the local partner.

Qualifications

Degree in communication, journalism, media and development, media and communication, international relations, mass communication, public relations, or closely related disciplines.
Progressive work experience in the areas of communications, marketing promotion, public relations, international relations, mass communication, journalism, or related disciplines.
Experience working in public engagement platforms and networks in Canada.
Good understanding of the Ethiopia Civil Societies Proclamation Proc. No. 1113-2019; and contexts of developing countries.
Knowledge and experience in the development of communication strategies specifically in developing countries.
Experience in conducting communications needs analysis and developing strategic plans for similar organizations.
Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills to engage varied stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to consult with high level and range of stakeholders.
Strong oral and written communication skills in the English language.
Should be a proactive self-starter with the ability to work independently; need strong ability to set priorities, solve problems, and be resourceful under pressure.
Strong interest to communicate with various stakeholders and partners virtually.