Communication Specialist

Communication Specialist – USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education

Functional Area: Communications

Reports to: Chief of Party

Location: Kathmandu

Travel required: 30%

Grade: D1

Type: Open to all applicants, Fixed term employment until Dec 2025; based in Country Office.

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International works in over 75 countries with its partners, programme participants young people, supporter to advance children’s rights and equality for girls with an ambition to see All Girls Standing Strong Creating Global Change. Plan’s programmes are supported by a core of defined values, including transparency and accountability, team collaboration, inclusion and integration, as well as, the overall desire to empower girls and young women as legacy.

Plan International has been working in 50 districts in Nepal since its inception in 1978.It has played an important role in advocating for children’s rights and gender equality in Nepal. Through its various initiatives, it empowers marginalized children, their families and communities to access their rights to health, education, economic security and protection. By addressing the unique challenges faced by girls and working towards their advancement, Plan International Nepal contributes to building a more equitable and inclusive society for all.

Plan international Nepal seeks candidates who practice feminist leadership, promote diversity, actively seek innovative solutions for problems, courageously and respectfully share their opinions and ideas, break down barriers and engender cross-department collaboration, practice active listening, maintain confidentiality, build trust and are passionate about children’s rights and equality for girls.

ROLE PURPOSE

USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education is a five-year project being implemented in Karnali and Madhesh Provinces with the objective of contributing to reduce barriers to access and retention in grade 6-10; improve quality education for marginalized children; and ensure quality implementation of disbursement linked indicators related to equity and inclusion activities under School Education Sector Plan (SESP). The project is being implemented in approximately 1800 schools spanning 215 Local Governments across 18 districts of Karnali and Lumbini Province.

The Communication Specialist will be responsible for creating, implementing, and overseeing communication programs that effectively describe and promote the organization and its activities. This role includes creating both external and internal communication content, managing public relations efforts, and ensuring consistent messaging across all platforms. S/He will be responsible for providing overall technical assistance for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SBCC strategies as well as building the capacity of partners and their frontline staff in SBCC. S/he will work toward influencing children, communities, and duty bearers to adopt and sustain positive behaviours that promote education. outcomes. S/He will ensure the utilization of best practices and learning to inform the development of effective SBCC strategies, frameworks, tools, materials to address a wide range of issues in education.

Description
DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

Reports to: Chief of Party

Budget Accountability: None

Number of direct reports: None

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Provide advice to senior management, key stakeholders and partners on SBCC, risk communication, social mobilization and community engagement interventions in line with the USAID and Plan International’s organizational priorities and approaches.
Provide technical support to project staff in formulating, implementing and evaluating quality and appropriate SBCC initiatives by facilitating efficient programme delivery, guiding on quality of materials/ activities and supporting appropriate research and implementation.
Bring insights from the latest developments and best practices in the social and behavioural change and participatory approaches to community engagement to improve SBCC program outcomes.
Support operational decisions on appropriate materials and media to reach target audiences, technical resources required, allocation of financial resources, as well as the time frame for various activities in support of the achievement of project goals and deliverables.
Develop tools, guidelines and training materials and facilitate capacity building on SBCC, risk communication, community engagement and other related topics for staff and partners involved in planning, implementation and evaluation of SBCC interventions.
Draft and develop plans to sensitize media on the areas that the project is working so that it is highlighted in the broader media.
Maintain and nurture relations with media (print and electronic including social and online), influential people, stakeholders and establish an excellent network with varieties of media at district and national level.
Rewrite and produce content such as articles, reports, stories, blogs, photo stories and use them in as communications and media tool.
Deliver quality translation of key policies, guidelines, reports and strategies as and when required.
Assist the project management in managing media relations during crisis situations, providing accurate and timely information to the public and media. Generate positive news coverage and refute the negative ones with hard evidence.
Prepare and distribute press briefs and media pitches to generate media interest and coverage.
Keep up to date media contact information and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, bloggers, and influencers to secure media coverage for Plan International’s activities.
Work closely with Influencing, Campaigns and Communication Team ‘s so that the work of the project is reflected in Plan International Nepal’s social media accounts, website content, and other digital platforms to ensure consistency and engagement.
Monitor media coverage and trends, analyse data, and provide regular reports on media impact and reach.
Support programme partners in media and communications related capacity building and ensuring that this is integrated within programmes.
Design and produce training and educational materials on media and communication for marketing the Plan International programmes and campaign.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 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.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Education Qualification and Experience

• Master’s degree in social and behavioral science, communication studies communications, mass communication, public policy or any relevant social science field with 4-5 years of experience in the related field specifically on communications, external engagement or media relations OR, Bachelor’s Degree in related field with experience of 7 years in the relevant sector.
• Demonstrated expertise in the application of social and behavior change science, theories, research, and analysis, to all stages of the program cycle.

Knowledge

• Ability to manage social research, including quantitative, qualitative, and participatory methods for formative assessments, identifying behavioural drivers and tracking, measurement and evaluation of social change.
• Good knowledge on writing, drafting and reviewing of materials in both English and Nepali for various media content not limited to print.
• Public relation and public information systems.
• Handling media queries and appropriate response.
• Right based approach to development.
• Child development, child rights and child labour issues and existing child labour acts.

Skills

• Listening: Ability to listen to program staff, partners, programme participants in a sensitive and participatory to bring out compelling communications products.
• People Skills: Ability to provide strategic guidance to program teams and partners in Media and Communication related areas.
• Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills in English and Nepali. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Plan International’s core values.
• Excellent writing and editing skills in both English and Nepali. Writing of media materials in a creative and contextual way.
• Have an eye for taking photos, and video clips required for donors, developing communication materials and for media coverage.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas in simple language that attracts youths and stakeholders.

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

This position is based in Country Office, with travel to regional offices and field as necessary.

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

Medium Level: Medium interaction with children

“Say Yes ! To Keeping Children and Young people safe and Protected”

Application Deadline: 11 December, 2024

Source: Kantipur Dainik, 27 November, 2024