Regional Civil Society Communications Officer

Save the Children Sweden fights for children’s rights. We influence public opinion and support children at risk. Our vision is a world in which all children’s rights are fulfilled – a world that respects and values each child, a world where all children participate and have influence, a world where all children have hope and opportunity.

Since 1960 Save the Children Sweden has been operational in the Middle East North Africa region. Our main focus of work is on children’s rights to education and protection. We give direct support to more than 60,000 children and many more through advocacy and policy initiatives.

We are now seeking a

Duty station: Save the Children Sweden oPt office, based either in Ramallah or Jerusalem
Duration: 12 months (with possible extension)
Probation period: 3 months
Line manager: Regional Civil Society Program Advisor
Application deadline: Sunday 12 December 2010

Background
Communication is an integral element of Save the Children Sweden’s (SCS) program in general and the Civil Society Thematic Area in particular. Communication and advocacy constitute a key working method in the implementation of MENA regional projects.

Main objectives
To plan and implement the communication component and part of the advocacy component of the “Civil Society for Child Rights” regional project, by developing and implementing the following parts: visibility of project, audio-visual and printed material, advocacy and awareness raising activities and knowledge dissemination.

The main focus of the job is
-to strengthen the external communication in order to promote the objectives of the regional project, the rights of the child in general, child rights issues pursued by the Regional Child Rights Network in particular, the partners to the project and SCS
-to strengthen internal communications within the partners to the regional project and between the Regional Child Rights Network and external stakeholders and duty bearers
-to strengthen the competence and capacity in advocacy and awareness raising of the regional project and to facilitate the support to partner organisations within communications in general and animation in particular as a tool for advocacy and awareness raising.

In co-operation with
MENA regional civil society program advisor and Regional Office team, the Head-Office (HO) and, staff at SCS’s country offices and other alliance members, authorities, organizations and international entities in the region.

Areas of responsibilities
Core responsibilities:
-Communications support to regional civil society programme in general and regional civil society project in particular,
-Communications support to advocacy, awareness raising and knowledge dissemination

Communication
Develop, implement, and evaluate the communications strategy, Plan of Action, and communications budget for the regional project in order to strengthen the advocacy and communication components.
Advice and support partner organisations on communication guidelines to maximise pro impact, minimise brand risk, and support the project’s and partners’ advocacy objectives.
Work with project staff and partner staff to plan and develop communications and campaigns’ materials in print, audio visual, and electronic to achieve advocacy and awareness raising objectives of advocacy plans of partners.
Liaise with Alliance led communications campaigns in the MENA region and communications campaigns initiated by HO and CRIN (Child Rights Information
Network).
Collect stories and document impact of regional project’s work to increase visibility, support fundraising, awareness-raising, and advocacy plans’ objectives of network and partners.

Advocacy
Responsible for the animation component of the project. Responsible for capacity building of partners on the animation tool and for finalisation of high quality end product of advocacy and awareness raising animation short movies produced by partners.

Responsible for advocacy component run by children. Responsible for capacity building and support to partners and planning and implementation of activities by partners on the child led advocacy component.
Responsible for liaising with SC advocacy offices and other stakeholders to promote child rights issues presented by the Regional Child Rights Network and partners to the project.

Web
Responsible for updating and promoting the Regional Child Rights Network’s portal and website and also that of Save the Children Sweden’s regional website to raise awareness on children’s rights to general public and about project’s activity.
Responsible for continuously updating the project’s portal with documentation and materials related to project and regional network’s objectives and activities.

Branding – Audiovisual and printed materials
Responsible for planning and production of new audio-visual and printed publications (including content) and ensure that the materials follow Save the Children Sweden’s brand guidelines, sign-off procedures and checklists for publications, including publishing agreements.
Review proposed and ongoing communication activities, publications, and relationships related to the project to assess potential brand and organizational risks and alert line manager of these.

Internal communications
Liaise and coordinate work, information sharing, and exchange of best practice and learning with the Regional and Country Communication Officers, the Regional Project’s Advocacy Coordinator, Project Officer and regional team.

Media
Develop and maintain relationships with media based in the region, pitch stories as appropriate, write press releases, and respond to (refer) media requests as needed, alternatively encourage and support partner organisations to facilitate media related
activities.
Monitor coverage of key child related issues in local media, if possible.

Capacity Building
Strengthen the capacity of Save the Children and partner staff on advocacy media and communication, including regular media training of relevant spokespersons in the country.

Networking
-Contribute to developing communications and networking within the Regional Child Rights Network and between network and other stakeholders
-Provide the Save the Children Alliance and external stakeholders with communication materials on the regional project upon request by line management
-Contribute to promoting and actively supporting collaboration within the Save the Children Alliance whenever it is anticipated that joint efforts may lead to increased benefit for and a bigger impact on children.

Other
-To follow up on other project issues and tasks as requested by line manager

Qualifications
-Communication work experience.
-Advocacy work experience
-Working with children’s rights in developing countries.
-Training on children’s rights and communications.
-University degree and working experience in journalism or information/communications, including strategic communications planning, or related field in social sciences.
-Experience with handling communication budgets and procurement
-Advanced English and Arabic written and spoken language skills are essential (and other relevant language).
-Ability to work in a team, both as leader and participant.
-Ability to manage different and multiple tasks and to deliver in a short period of time.
-Sound knowledge of publishing, design and printing process and related information and communications technologies including budget follow up
-Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
-Experience in website development and maintenance is an asset.

To apply:
Kindly send a CV and a letter of intent to [email protected] no later than December 12, 2010, clearly marked with Regional Civil Society Communications Officer. Applications are accepted no later than the set deadline.
Kindly do not send supporting certificates and documents at this stage. Please note that salary requests will not be discussed prior to interviews. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Short-listed candidates only will be contacted for interviews.