Dimensions of the Role: Budget/ Asset Management The position holder will manage the annual communications budget of approximately BDT... only.

Transcription

1 Job Description Position Communications Specialist-Aparajita Project Grade D1 Department & Location Reports to (position): Purpose: How does this post support Plan s strategy and mission? Bangladesh Country Office Date February 2018 Senior Project Manager- Aparajita Project Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-profit organization that advances children s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this potential is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for and respond to crisis and adversity. We drive changes in practices and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and we are now active in more than 70 countries. We have had a presence in Bangladesh from Plan International s Global Strategy aims to transform the lives of 100 million girls worldwide over the next decade. In Bangladesh we aim to transform the lives of 12 million girls by ensuring that they remain in school, develop high aspirations, voice their opinions and views, take decisions on matters that affect their bodies and their lives including whom, if and when to marry and have children. Achieving the LEARN, LEAD, DECIDE and THRIVE agenda will mean using the totality of our advocacy, lobbying and communication skills and tools to influence key stakeholders from local to national levels. We, together with girls and young men and women, must be able to influence policies, programmes and planning in favour of girls and gender equality. Gender transformative approaches will therefore be at the heart of our programming as we address the worst form of discrimination child marriage. The goal of the Aparajita project will be to reduce the vulnerability of adolescents, particularly girls, to Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM). In order to influence effectively, we must bring together the growing body of evidence from our child marriage prevention work under the right to education, health, protection and youth programmes and draw upon the cumulative experience of Plan International Bangladesh. JOB PURPOSE: The Senior Specialist Communications will be responsible for facilitating the development and leading the implementation of the communication strategy for CEFM and girls rights for the project. The post holder, in collaboration with others, will identify key areas from existing research and programming, our roles in networks, our engagement with young people to strengthen Aparajita project s advocacy and campaigning techniques in the rapidly changing national political and social environment and changing preferences for media consumption. The post holder will be responsible for positioning Aparajita as the leading CEFM intervention of Plan International in Bangladesh by a civil society organization. Dimensions of the Role: Budget/ Asset Management The position holder will manage the annual communications budget of approximately BDT... only.

2 Direct in Indirect reports The position holder will not have any direct or indirect reports. Communications requirements Continuous communications internally with project technical team at country office, implementation team at divisional office of Barisal. Externally with print, electronic and broadcast media as well as implementing partners. The incumbent also needs to communicate with the communications focal persons at National Office of Plan and sometimes with the in-country counterpart of donor and ensure compliances in communications. Risk management The position holder manages risks related to all forms of Aparajita communications that may affect the organization negatively and strictly enforces the protocol for safeguarding children and young people. External representation Builds relations with print, electronic and broadcast media to influence news and programming on CEFM and girls rights and represents Plan International in forums related to the Aparajita project communications. Reach/breadth of the post/ or area of responsibilities: Makes strategic links between key national issues and regional and global trends to understand relevance of the project for the country programme work on girls rights and child marriage. Shapes and delivers work that has significant impact on Plan International Bangladesh s public image with government, media, young people, CSOs, academia and development partners. At times of humanitarian crisis, with support from national, regional and global communications teams, develops and delivers Plan s humanitarian response with a focus on CEFM and girls rights. Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position: What is done and why, but not how ; include indicators for success Advocacy and Communication Leads Aparajita s communications and media work to support advocacy on issues related to Child Early and Forced marriage arising from its implementation. Develops an integrated communications strategy for the Aparajita based on best practices and learnings from Plan s CEFM projects. Implements communications plans to position Plan International Bangladesh as the leading organization for child marriage prevention through the Aparajita project. Authors strategic pieces (stories and op-eds) for the leading English and Bangla dailies and weeklies in print and digital forms. Writes press releases, statements, briefs for the local and national press. Adapts Bangladesh CEFM and girls rights stories for international media. Monitors leading media to ensure that negative stories are countered and positive ones reinforced. Develops key CEFM and girls rights messages with others and ensure consistency in communicating them internally and externally.

3 Coordinates the production of briefs, policy positions, newsletters, project and public communication materials. Manages the communications budget and ensure value for money in production of materials. Policy Analysis Together with the Child Rights and Protection Team undertakes strategic analysis of CEFM issues and prioritization of policy advocacy for influencing purposes. Keeps the Deputy Country Director Programmes and Senior Project Manager informed of policy changes in the Bangladesh context and analyse their effects on Plan s strategy in Bangladesh Partnerships Ensure close collaboration with CSOs, partners and young people s groups with high strategic relevance for common advocacy positions across all of programmes. Campaigns Support programme teams in planning and delivering campaigning and advocacy work on CEFM. Ensure that all policy analysis, advocacy and campaigning work actively contributes to the realization of the rights of children and young people Provide leadership to ensure alignment of country programmes with Plan International s corporate priority campaigns Lead local delivery of relevant global priority campaigns in collaboration with programme teams. Media Develops and maintain relationships with key print, broadcast and electronic media to ensure growing coverage of Plan International Bangladesh s CEFM work. Regularly provides content on child marriage to the Plan Communications team to build a strong online and social media profile and leadership on girls rights. Coordinate and support the communication and media activities of the Child Rights and Protection portfolio. Child protection, Gender Inclusion and SRHR Ensures that Plan International s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People, Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) and SRHR Position Statement are fully embedded in accordance with the principles AND REQUIREMENTS of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures. Communications and Working Relationships: Internal contact: Position Reasons for contact Level (high, medium, low)

4 Head of Child Rights and Protection Head of Communications Project Manager, Aparajita project Child Protection Advisor Gender and SRHR Advisers M&E and GEE Specialists for the Aparajita project Admin team at BCO Technical support in developing and implementing the project communications strategy, production of quality products for internal and external audiences and approval for all external communications related to the project. Technical inputs on alignment of Aparajita communications with the overall communications strategy and with Plan s branding. Budgets, work-plans and communication products for the Bhola and Jhalokathi interventions of Aparajita For technical inputs on project events (CP risk assessments) and communications products on children and young people. For technical inputs on communications products (highlighting gender and SRHR dimensions) and messaging on SRHR and girls rights for children and youth To obtain insights on learnings for communications purposes Support for logistics for projects events, admin support for procurement of communications materials, travel arrangements High High Low External contact: Position Reasons for contact Level (high, medium, low) Communications Focal Point at Plan International Canada National Office (CNO) Project communications point person of partner organizations Supporting CNO with communications products for reporting to GAC and fundraising (documentation, stories, AVs, etc) To support and provide technical guidance for developing/ implementing project materials Low Media houses and journalists To position Aparajita and CEFM stories -High Knowledge, skills and behaviours required to achieve the role s objectives Knowledge An advanced degree (Master s) in Communications, English or Advertising, or similar area of study, from any of the top universities in Bangladesh or from overseas. Previous experience (five to seven years ) in Communications positions, preferably in INGOs. Essential Must have developed and delivered communication strategies in development and / or humanitarian contexts. Essential. Strong knowledge of human rights and gender justice. Essential Experience of working with coalitions and networks. Essential Good understanding of the development issues and the role of the NGO sector. Essential Skills Excellent ability to write clearly, concisely and persuasively in English translating complex issues for a variety of audiences (e.g. policy-makers, general population, young people). Essential

5 Strong public speaking skills in English and Bangla. Essential Able to analyse an issue, identify strategic and gender aspects, formulate key messages for relevant audiences and deliver through various mediums. Essential Strong presentation skills able to tell stories. Essential Very good comprehension and listening skills essential for drawing out information from people. Ability to build effective internal and external relationships and work in teams. Essential Must be able to respond rapidly to developing situations. Essential Photography and graphic arts (especially infographic) skills would be an added bonus. Behaviours Strives for quality, meets deadlines, works continuously to improve performance Listens to and understand views of colleagues, partners, children and young people. Draws on their experience to ensure high quality products. Is able to work comfortably, sensitively and respectfully with children, young and old people in rural and urban communities. Takes responsibility for own actions, and learns from behaviour, successes and failures. Supports gender equality and diversity, and challenges forms of inequality or harassment Calm under competing pressures. PLAN INTERNATIONAL S VALUES IN PRACTICE We are open and accountable Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people We strive for lasting impact Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness. We work well together Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals. Develops trusting and win-win relationships with funders, partners and communities. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children. We are inclusive and empowering We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. Physical Environment and Demands:

6 Based in the Bangladesh Country Office (Dhaka) with regular travel to project locations. Level of Contact with Children: Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children High level: Frequent interaction with children Organizational chart: Position title: Communications Specialist- Aparajita Project DCD-Programme Sr. Prj. Manager- Combating CM in BD (for full Project Period) Communication Specialist- Aparajita Project Read and accepted by: (Signature and Name of the employee with date)