Development Coordinator – Communication and Advocacy CARE

CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice. We seek a world of hope, tolerance, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security. We put women and girls at the center because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities.

CARE International in Zambia and its programme partners will implement a BMU-IKI funded project: Community-Based Adaptation: Scaling up Community Action for Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Southern Africa and Beyond (CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+) between 2023 and 2028. The overall objective of the intervention is to build climate resilience, including: the integration of adaptation (incl. disaster risk reduction) in policies, planning and budgets at different levels; promote actions to build climate resilience and address climate risks in key sectors such as water, agriculture, fisheries; strengthening climate information, early warning and disaster management systems; and ecosystem and biodiversity protection; among others. The expected outcome of the project is increased resilience to climate change, for all genders and social groups, in all the 12 wards of Zimba district. Inclusive, gender-responsive and nature-based planning and implementation of CBA actions will target all the 12 wards of Zimba district in managing climate-related risks to human security, livelihoods, and food security.

CARE Zambia an International Non-Governmental relief and development organization with various projects in Eastern, Muchinga, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, and Southern provinces of Zambia, has the following seven vacancies available at Head Office in Lusaka and Zimba District.

Job Title: Development Coordinator – Communication and Advocacy

Reports to: Program Manager-Agriculture and Climate

Location: Lusaka

Type of Contract: Fixed Term

Job Summary

The Development Coordinator – Communications and Advocacy, will push forward the design and implementation of the CBA SCALE project advocacy strategy and for further development of advocacy, policy, and communications work (both internal and external). The Development Coordinator – Communications and Advocacy will liaise with CARE International’s global and regional communications team to make sure that the materials developed are aligned with CARE branding requirements. The position will work closely with other members of the Senior Management Team, Technical Advisors, Program Managers for Quality and Learning, Project Managers and the Global Communications team. The role is based in Lusaka with travel to program sites across Zambia.

The Development Coordinator – Communications and Advocacy will increase community awareness and improve CARE’s internal and external communications. This position will be responsible for leading communications across the region in coordination with senior management. S/He will develop a communications strategy, oversee social media, coordinate responses and logistics of media requests as well as liaise with CARE International in Zambia headquarters on internal and external story requests. The position will also support state and local advocacy initiatives in the region.

Working with the consortium members, the Development Coordinator – Communications and Advocacy will design, manage, and implements the CBA-SCALE’s communications strategy with the objective of increasing the visibility and promoting the work of CARE in the country, as well as increasing awareness for CARE’s mandate and programs among its partners, the media and the general public. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting efforts to enhance the information flow and visibility of CARE’s programs in the country. S/He will work in close collaboration with the CARE’s Senior Management team, Program team, CBA-SCALE Communications team, Government officials and media representatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Under the guidance of the regional/global communications team and the CBA-SCALE consortium, define the intentional communications and advocacy strategy and policy priorities for CARE based on the CARE 2030 Vision and CARE Zambia Country Strategic Plan, lead strategy implementation in the field and advise and support colleagues in implementing the strategy.
2. Branding and marketing- ensure that all communication products and project deliverables for external audience are appropriately branded.
3. Design and drive an annual communications plan to implement CARE’s vision around advocacy, community engagement and fundraising.
4. Document best practices and human-interest stories to publicize project achievements.
5. Propose, develop, and support others developing content for dissemination including blogs, other social media, technical manuals, academic papers, policy briefs, etc.
6. Provide topic analysis to leadership, including inputs and talking points for meetings and interviews, as required.
7. Participate in the CARE-wide as well as sector-wide forums, to share experiences, learn and influence.
8. Produce high quality external policy, advocacy, and communication materials including talking points, letters, briefing notes, position papers, and advocacy reports.
9. Produce high quality internal communication materials, including regular updates, presentations, newsletters, one/two-pagers, brochures, and pamphlets, to increase collaborations across field sites, sectors, and functional departments.
10. Regularly liaise with relevant in-country stakeholders on issues of concern, including UN, donor representatives, diplomatic missions, local civil society, and peer agencies, and grow CARE’s bilateral relationships with government counterparts, such as line ministries in CARE sectors, including Agriculture and Climate, Health and Nutrition, Education and Empowerment and humanitarian response.
11. Conduct a robust stakeholder holder mapping and maintain an updated contact list of key targets in-country, including media and private sector.
12. Promote a principled approach to advocacy, policy, and communications on Zambia among relevant internal stakeholders and ensure that external messaging is evidence-based and driven by field realities.
13. In conjunction with country program staff and the global advocacy and communications teams, closely monitor agriculture and climate policy debates and media pertaining to Zambia, ensuring that relevant information is analyzed and disseminated in a timely and effective manner.
14. Respond to external inquiries on policy issues, including briefing policymakers and media.
15. Provide trainings on communications and advocacy to field staff and develop the capacity of country office staff to implement impactful advocacy and policy interventions.

Qualifications, experience, and personal attributes:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, policy, political science, or related field.
• 3 – 5 years of professional experience crafting and delivering policy and advocacy work responding to agriculture and climate. Experience should include working with media, communications/outreach, event planning and/or community organizing.
• Experience advocating on behalf of marginalized groups.
• Demonstrated creativity, ability to apply innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent analytical, presentation, communication, and representation skills.
• Ability to navigate interpersonal and inter-departmental organizational dynamics to keep focus on goals and products.
• Ability to work well under administrative and programmatic pressures.
• Flexible to adapt to changing requirements.
• Must be able to work independently while being a team player.
• Experience with training and staff capacity building.
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and eager to work as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.
• Exceptional advance planning and organizational skills. Able to effectively prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Skills and experience in developing manuals and training materials.
• Invests in self-development, willing to learn, and continuously improves.

Contacts/Key Relationships 

• This role is expected to establish and maintain open, professional, and cordial relations with the Country Office internal, and external customers. These include and not limited to.

Internal

• Program Manager – Resource Mobilisation, Strategic Program Area (SPA) Leads, MEAL unit, Technical Advisors, Project Managers, and within the consortium the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)

External

• populations of concern and their communities (including children, women, and girls); Civil Society Organisations; Departments and Agencies (MDAs); different levels of staff from partner and peer organisations.
• Local media; relevant Legislators; relevant donors