Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada

Ethiopia - Communications Advisor

3-6 months (In-country support)

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Overseas Volunteer Opportunity: Ethiopia

Volunteer Mandate Title: Communications Advisor

Location: Addis Ababa

Start Date: As soon as possible.

Duration: Six months to One Year

Language Requirement: English (Mandatory)

Reporting to: Country Program Officer

The Project

The VOICE for Women and Girls project is a seven-year initiative (2020 – 2027) aimed at strengthening the performance of developing country partner (DCP) organizations to advance gender equality and economic empowerment of 50,000 women and men from marginalised communities, in particular young women (target: 60% women and girls), in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and Malawi with a focus on action areas of the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), namely:

Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, and

The growth that Works for Everyone.

The Project responds to the needs identified by women and men of cooperatives and the entire members in the countries of operation and is designed to increase the capacities of individual producers and primary co-operatives to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Supporting institutions, including apex co-operatives, co-operative colleges, and government/regulatory institutions will also be engaged to increase the capacity and prioritization of vulnerable groups.

Our Partner

Implemented by the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) of Canada, the VOICE project in Ethiopia is working closely with government counterparts and different nongovernmental organizations. Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) is the major Development Country Partner (DCP) of the project. The organization envisions being a leading home-grown NGO contributing to sustainable development in Ethiopia. Whilst it exists to contribute to poverty reduction, resilience building and creation of productive ecosystems. In all its efforts, EWNRA gives great values to equity, equality, honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and sustainability. Moreover, EWNRA is devoted to do better for humanity and the environment, and its motto is sustainable development.

Your Assignment

This volunteer role will work to engage stakeholders, audience, the various platforms through which VOICE project could reach out to the public and enhance visibility. The volunteer is expected to support the VOICE project establish and maintain an appropriate platform and developing the needed content in a format that applies to the platform. VOICE could benefit from expertise in setting up communication systems which allows to reach the project partners, communities, stakeholders, and co-ops groups

As a 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 identify using relevant indicators at the intermediate, immediate, and output levels that track changes in existing capacities using various methods in a participatory approach. This term of reference aims 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

The VOICE for women and girls project is thoroughly working to strengthen the capacity of EWNRA through various methods including providing series of trainings in the identified gaps for its staff, partners and stakeholders; and developing/updating important strategic documents of the organization to enable the organization deal effectively with new changes, opportunities, threats, recent circumstances, and upcoming uncertainties. Reviewing/updating the partner organization’s communication strategy in such a way that can increase the communication efficiency of the organization’s workforce is among the identified areas of capacity development plan for the organization.

Furthermore, the role will support the project overall communications as well as support other North South volunteers to capture and tell their volunteer journey during their mandate in Ethiopia to contribute towards increasing awareness of the volunteer program and international development among Canadian population.

Deliverables

Collect different inputs form EWNRA staff, stakeholders, beneficiaries and partners on the improvement of the organization’s communication strategy,

Periodically update the progress of the strategy development based on agreed schedules,

Collect, consider and integrate different feedbacks and comments given on the validation workshop,

Support other volunteers in capturing and sharing success stories

Participate in knowledge management sessions with other volunteers across the VOICE implementing countries

Publish and/or disseminate comms materials in alignment with the comms plan and strategy

Build Local Capacity: Mentor local partners in utilizing digital and social media tools for ongoing advocacy.

Updated Country Communication Plan: A comprehensive review and update of the existing country communication strategy to ensure alignment with current project goals.

Communication & Impact Tool Suite: Development of specialized digital and social media tools, including a structured guide for documenting and sharing project impact stories.

Institutionalized Communication Framework: A finalized framework that ensures the long-term, practical application and institutionalization of project communication toolkits across all project levels.

Submit activity, monthly and end of mandate reports in a timely manner

participate in recognized international and national days that raise awareness of gender equality and the economic and social empowerment of marginalized and vulnerable populations, with an emphasis on women and girls.

Exit-Strategy Communication Roadmap: A communication timeline specifically designed to report final project achievements, lessons learned, and sustainable pathways to stakeholders.

Catch-up Activity Documentation: Feature articles and photo-stories showcasing the final phase of coffee value-chain training and leadership development for the 700 cooperative leaders.

Qualifications

Advanced university degree in communication, journalism, media and development, media and communication, international relations, mass communication, public relation, or closely-related disciplines.

3-5 years progressive work experience in areas of communications, marketing promotion, public relation, international relations, mass communication, journalism or related disciplines.

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.

Terms and Conditions

This is a voluntary assignment. CDF Canada supports volunteers through the provision of a comprehensive package designed to cover a modest and healthy lifestyle, while allowing for effectiveness in the placement:

Return international and domestic airfare.

Ground transportation.

Accommodation.

Meal and incidental allowance.

Visa-related costs (if needed).

Travel insurance.

Vaccination-related costs (if needed).

Dedicated interpreter/translator (if needed and depending on the position and duration of the assignment).

Pre-departure support and orientation.

Support and orientation during the assignment.

Debriefing upon completion of the assignment.

E-volunteering

Depending on the nature of the placement, volunteers are encouraged to provide e-volunteering support to our local partners or CDF Canada before or after their placement. Volunteers also have the option of requesting support from an e-volunteer to help them with their work while they are in placement.

Engaging Canadians

CDF Canada provides technical and logistical support to young and experienced professional through volunteer assignments to apply and gain new skills and knowledge in international co-operative development. We ask each volunteer, regardless of placement duration, to share her/his experience during and/or upon completion of their assignment either in the country of assignment and in Canada. Experience may be shared through providing human interest stories and photographs that can be used for social media outreach; participating in organized talks at universities or other public engagement activities to share and tell their experiences to motivate others.

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