Vacancy Announcement No: 089

Programme

• On behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, the Deutsche Gesellschaft f?r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing the Market Oriented Value Chains for Job and Growth in ECOWAS MOVE. The aim of the project is to promote market-oriented and future-proof value chains that contribute to income and employment generation in the ECOWAS region.
• The focus will be put on the cashew and rice value chains and the project will build on the successes of Competitive Cashew Initiative (ComCashew) and Competitive Rice Initiative (CARI).
• MOVE project will be implemented in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. The overarching strategy of implementation is built on making value chains more resilient, collaborating with large companies and SMEs, integrating Gender Transformative Approaches (GTA), developing a more conducive local/regional business climate, and then scaling for achieving broad impact in ECOWAS. MOVE objectives and outputs focus on the following:
  • Increasing the share of value added in the ECOWAS region
  • Enhancing the viability of production systems
  • Increasing the demand for regional products
  • Scaling good practices in supply chain development
  • Strengthening policy advice and public-private cooperation
• In West Africa, the consumption of high-quality rice outstrips local supply due to the continued growth of imported rice from Asia.
• No country in West Africa has achieved rice self-sufficiency despite having the right agro-climatic conditions and water availability to meet regional demand.
• The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has therefore adopted a new strategic framework to accelerate the development of rice value chains with the goal of reaching regional self-sufficiency by 2030.
• To achieve this, ECOWAS has aligned and with several development partners including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GIZ/MOVE, the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, FCDO, AGRA, JICA/CARD, World Bank, and others.
• Based on field research and recommendations from public and private sector partners across ECOWAS member states, a regional ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) has been jointly created by stakeholders. ERO, housed at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, coordinates rice sector-related programs, public/private investments, and policy recommendations for key decision-makers. At the same time, national rice platforms are being established, comprised primarily of private sector stakeholders across the value chain, in addition to representation from research, government, and civil society to coordinate country-specific investments and policies.
• MOVE Is seeking a Regional – Communication, Event and Organizational Manager (CEOM) who will be based at the ERO Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria. He/she will report to directly to the ERO Executive Secretary and support the Board comprised of ECOWAS, Africa Rice, development agencies, national stakeholder platform representatives and others in the rice sector. Working in collaboration with our partners?including regional governments, researchers, development partners, the private sector and civil society?ERO will be focused on implementing the recommendations made by the Board, its technical committees, and by national stakeholder platforms. The vision of the ERO is fully aligned with the ECOWAS Rice Offensive as well as with MOVE.

Responsibilities & Tasks
Responsibilities:

• The Communication, Event and Organizational Management Advisor (CEOM) will bring experience in communications as well as in organizing events and trade shows.
• She/He will be responsible for supporting all ERO organizational structures, committees, and value chain partners working to advance joint objectives.
• And also responsible for developing and executing a multi-year communications plan as well as taking the lead on event planning in the sub region.

Board, technical committee, and general assembly support:

• Assist ERO staff to maintain a master calendar of all ERO meetings and events.
• Develop and maintain relationships with communications experts working with ERO partners.
• Assist ES in preparing materials for ERO Board meetings, as needed.
• Track key performance indicators related to ERO communications.
• Take detailed Board and technical committee meeting minutes, identifying action items and decision points, as needed.
• Organize semi-annual general assembly meetings and rice industry trade shows.

Communications:

• Develop a comprehensive communication strategy and plan to be reviewed and approved by the ERO board.
• Prepare and execute an ERO social media plan in collaboration with ERO partners.
• Prepare press releases.
• Design an ERO logo and branding plan.
• Develop and maintain a roster of reporters, influencers, etc. with interest in ERO objectives.
• Develop and maintain an ERO website and knowledge management system (with contractor support) of rice-related agronomic and market information, as well as best practices in rice sector development.
• Draft speeches and talking points, as needed for ERO leadership.
• For internal communications:
  • Ensure the management and proper flow of information within ERO’s Secretariat and other partners including the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Water Resources of ECOWAS.
  • Facilitate communication with all actors involved in the implementation of ERO.
  • Support integration of tools and processes and identify opportunities to make ERO’s work more efficient and effective.
  • Contribute to a positive, innovative, and supportive work environment.
• For external communications:
  • Consolidate a contact base for the dissemination of content produced by ERO.
  • Produce or revise communication media intended for beneficiaries and partners and ensure compliance of media with the established graphic charter.
  • Identify, meet, establish, and cultivate relationships with key national, regional and international media in order to increase ERO’s visibility, and ensuring the availability of media information required.
  • Design multimedia tools and computer graphics as desired.
  • Regularly report on the performance of ERO content.
  • Drive the development of ERO multilingual communications and content that translates complex concepts into compelling and engaging communications across various media, including print and digital, with an eye towards cutting-edge solutions and data integration to ensure stakeholder engagement.
  • Assists in preparing data from the project’s monitoring system and project planning tool, facts and figures for communication materials.
  • Provide photographic and audiovisual coverage of ERO’s events (with contractor support).
• For knowledge capitalization and management:
  • Develop and implement an effective knowledge management strategy, ensuring the capitalization and dissemination of achievements.
  • Develop the quarterly ERO’s newsletter, solicit content, compiles articles, coordinates with graphic designers, ensures the final editing of all articles and its wide dissemination.
  • Write press releases, analyses, blogs, stories/testimonials, success stories, etc.
  • Select information to be capitalized on (learning event, exchange networks, good practices on different media and communication channels, etc.) and seek approval for its dissemination.

Administrative-related support:

• Assist in developing and maintaining a work plan for the Secretariat, approved by ES.
• Edit the annual report.
• Work with ERO staff to organize for the Board any special assignments, travel, visitor travel, and events administration, including the semi-annual General Assembly meetings and rice industry trade shows in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission.
• Lead the preparation of the annual cycle of events, including but not limited to the ERO Structured Dialogue events, specialized workshops, and conferences at the regional level.
• Manage the organizational planning and implementation of events, including the coordination of inputs from relevant internal and external counterparts, invitation and registration processes, administrative and substantive support to the country and entity teams in developing the event agendas.
• Perform other initiatives as assigned by the ES.

Other duties/additional tasks:

• Performs other duties and tasks at the request of project management.

Required Qualifications, Competences, and Experience
Qualifications:

• A minimum of a University Degree in Communications, Political Science, Public Information, International Relations, Management, or a related field. A Master’s Degree will be an added advantage.
• Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Certification would be an asset.

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 4 years working in communications and event planning and management, ideally involving the private sector.
• Excellent communication/writing skills in English and French (writing samples requested with CV).
• Excellent website and computer skills using Microsoft office applications, Teams, etc, (including knowledge of graphic design software that might be considered an asset, e.g., InDesign, Photoshop).
• Experience in setting up and running conferences, public-private stakeholder events, and trade shows (this may include the knowledge of organizing and hosting virtual meetings on diverse platforms).
• Experience working in teams and managing processes dependent on cooperation with multiple actors.
• Excellent report/proposal writing skills and dependable in meeting all deadlines and deliverables.
• Proven track record in developing communication strategies, content, websites, and marketing.
• Knowledge of agricultural-related programs, specifically rice, is desirable.
• Ability and willingness to travel within the ECOWAS region as needed.
• Good knowledge and practical experience of print, oral, and online media.

Key Personnel Character:

• Detail-oriented and dependable with excellent organizational skills.
• Self-starter who is a highly motivated.
• Creative thinker with website design skills.
• Team player with a positive disposition.
• Ability to complete tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work as part of a multicultural team.
• Willingness to adhere to all principles of confidentiality.

Salary
According to GIZ salary scale for Band 4.