Field Communications & Advocacy Coordinator

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Field Communications & Advocacy Coordinator

Code: SR-28-2578

Duty station: Kabul, Afghanistan with frequent travel

Starting date: 15/10/2022

Contract duration: 4 months

Reporting to: Country Director

Supervision of: //

Dependents: Non-family duty station

General context of the project

Over 40 years of conflicts and political turmoil have taken a massive cumulative toll on the people of Afghanistan. A total of 18.4 million people, almost half of the total population, have been estimated by the UN to need humanitarian assistance prior to recent events. Severe droughts are recurring in Afghanistan, currently resulting in nearly 14 million people in acute food insecurity, with over 3 million children facing severe malnourishment. The recent displacement of 550,000 people is adding to an estimated 2.9 million people who remain internally displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance, while winter months are around the corner.

INTERSOS has been working in Afghanistan since 2001, with a country office in Kabul, and field bases in Kandahar and Zabul provinces. In recent years INTERSOS has been focusing its assistance based on integrated community-based approach that includes primary health care (including sexual and reproductive health care), nutrition and protection programmes serving conflict-affected populations, particularly in hard to reach areas, with a special focus on socially excluded individuals, including women, children and persons living with disabilities.

With its operational approach and active engagement with the communities, INTERSOS has been enjoying strong community acceptance and operational access. All INTERSOS activities continue to be implemented in Afghanistan at present time, with no operational restrictions and with full inclusion of female staff.

It is widely anticipated that Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation may deteriorate further, given that the international support to key essential and social services – food aid, health, education, and other essential services, is currently frozen. Although humanitarian aid can not replace this gap, the international assistance that prioritises urgent humanitarian needs will be essential.

Recognising that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan will require a more intensified international humanitarian assistance, INTERSOS remains in Afghanistan to deliver its ongoing activities, and potentially scale up its response.

General purpose of the position

Faced with the rapid evolution of the situation in Afghanistan, INTERSOS will deploy a Field Communications Manager to the mission in order to design and implement the communication strategy of Afghanistan mission; ensure the production of quality multimedia materials and reports, with the objective of strengthening both external and internal communications; establish, train and coordinate Intersos communications team in Afghanistan.

To assist with the implementation of the Advocacy policy, to represent Intersos Afghanistan at Advocacy forums at the request of the CD. To review/write/lead Advocacy messaging for the approval of the CD and Geneva representative. All

Advocacy messaging in country must remain impartial and without political or rights bias.

Main responsibilities and tasks

Internal Communications and Accountability:

• Monitor the international and national media and social media highlighting any content that may be relevant for the humanitarian response in the country and for INTERSOS’ programmes
• Implement an ‘early warning system’ on national/regional issues and news
• Ensure in coordination with Project/ Programme Managers, the respect of visibility guidelines and donors’ compliance.
• Ensure the compliance to INTERSOS’ protection, communications, and privacy policies and guidelines.
• Ensure the proper allocation and management of the communication budget at country level, in coordination with the Finance Coordinator / Officer
• Create and train a Communications Team in the mission staff, including the possibility of identifying additional national communications officers
• Participate in communication data-collection and reporting as required.

External Communications:

• Identify opportunities to communicate based on INTERSOS operations and context news (humanitarian, social and security updates), supporting the definition of a dissemination strategy for each identified topic;
• Manage the production of multimedia materials for INTERSOS external communications, as well as the materials requested by Donors for their internal and external communications. The Field Communications Manager will be directly involved in collecting stories, aggregating data, pitching news, taking pictures, filming and editing videos thorough the mission, with frequent field visits, to be planned accordingly with security and mission’s priorities;
• Produce written contents such as press releases, reactive lines, Q&As, op-eds, updates on Intersos’s activities;
• Advise on public positioning related to key issues;
• Organize and facilitate interviews with INTERSOS spokespeople, providing advice and training (the Field Communications Manager may directly act as a spokesperson when necessary);
• Support operational communications by providing tools and directly engaging in the production of specific materials;
• Manage the production of institutional communications and visibility materials at mission level;
• Keep a list of local, national and international media contacts, managing, when necessary, direct contact with them;
• Support managing the relations with international and national journalists who approach INTERSOS;
• Supporting the organization of Media Field Visits coordinated with the HQ.

Advocacy:

• At the request of the CD and with the support from Geneva Representative & Policy Advisor, and in line with INTERSOS operational evidence, strategy, policies and values, lead on INTEROS advocacy messages and efforts regarding humanitarian situation, access, response and challenges, and other issues of pertinence, aimed towards positively influencing in-country stakeholders (state and non-state actors, national and international humanitarian community), and internationally (UN, donors, and other stakeholders).
• Contribute with INTERSOS policy and operational perspectives to in-country Advocacy Working Group and support advocacy initiatives through existing coordination fora in Afghanistan (ACBAR, OCHA), especially at provincial levels.

Required profile and experience

Education

• Bachelor or Master Degree in related field

Professional Experience

• Previous relevant journalistic / press office experience
• Previous experience with INGOs in the communications sector and particularly previous field experience in communications management
• Previous experience working in Afghanistan (preferable)
• At least 5 years of work experience

Professional Requirements

• Video/Photo shooting and editing
• Excellent Writing skills
• Proficient use of Social Media (FaceBook and Instagram), WordPress and the Office Suite Programmes.

Languages

• Fluent English
• Working knowledge of Dari, and/or Pashto (preferable)

Personal Requirements

• Strong motivation and adherence to the humanitarian principles and the mission of INTERSOS
• Flexibility in working hours, week end / holidays when required by the situation/ context
• Strong attitude for teamwork and collaboration within a complex organization.
• Ability to adapt to unexpected events.

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to apply following the link below: https://www.intersos.org/en/work-with-us/field/#intersosorg-vacancies/vacancy-details/6296124e5986f400214dbc47/

Please note that our application process is made of 3 quick steps: register (including your name, email, password, citizenship and Skype address), sign-up and apply by attaching your CV and motivation letter in PDF format. Through the platform, candidates will be able to track their applications’ history with INTERSOS. In case you encounter severe difficulties applying through the platform, you can send an email attaching your CV and motivation letter (both in PDF version) via email to [email protected], with subject line: “Platform issue – SR-28-2578-Position”.

Please also mention the name, position and contact details of at least two references, including the line manager during your last job. Family members are to be excluded.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.