Communication Officer (National volunteer)

Introduction to VSO

VSO is the world’s leading international non-governmental organisation that works through volunteers to create a fair world for everyone.

Our work centres on those who are left out by society – those living in extreme poverty or with disability and illness. Those who face discrimination and violence because of their gender, sexuality, or social status. Those who are at risk from disaster, disease, and conflict. But they are not passive beneficiaries of aid; they are the “primary actors” at the heart of our efforts. From their perspective, we define the issues, opportunities, and solutions that drive sustainable, local-led change. These individuals are the key agents of their own transformation.

Our Approach

Our Volunteering for Development (VfD) method supports the most vulnerable and marginalised to achieve their rights and bring about lasting change to create a fair world for everyone. Rooted in addressing the fundamental causes of - marginalisation and vulnerability, our three core approaches – social inclusion and gender, social accountability, and resilience – guide our work in inclusive education, health, and resilient livelihoods.

Our Volunteering for Development method recognises the importance of relationships in forging a shared understanding and commitment and building collective action to lasting change. With most of our volunteers being national, we build blended teams of community, national, and international volunteers, uniting diverse perspectives, and experiences to generate insight, innovation, and action that tackles the complex issues faced by our communities. This kindles the potential for active citizenship worldwide, encouraging people to step forward and lead the change that fosters a fair world for all.

• Project background and contextual information (Please change this information as per project detail and requirement)

Make Way Project

The Make Way Project is a five-year initiative on Intersectional Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Rwanda. Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) under the SDG5 Fund, the project seeks to break barriers to youth access to SRHR by adopting an intersectional approach. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) in intersectional lobbying and advocacy to promote the universal fulfilment of SRHR. Its key objectives include:

• Expanding young people's freedom of choice regarding their sexuality.
• Enhancing access to contraceptives and reproductive health services.
• Improving the quality of public and private SRHR care.
• Advancing respect for the sexual and reproductive rights of marginalized groups.

Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) Project The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) is a 7-year programme funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It started in October 2019 and is expected to run till December 2026. The Fund aims to create a prosperous future for 230,000 young women and men in the Middle East, North Africa, Sahel & West Africa, and Horn of Africa. This will be achieved by supporting the private sector to implement youth employment initiatives in these regions. Initiatives will offer youth, particularly young women, opportunities for decent work that delivers better prospects for personal development, is productive, and offers a stable income, social protection, and safe working conditions. The CFYE is managed by a consortium consisting of Palladium, Voluntary Service Overseas

Role outputs (no more than 5 bullet points)

The candidate will be required to:

• Support the development of a project advocacy and communication strategy towards SRHR and livelihoods.
• Create and design monthly content calendar and newsletters and manage the communication calendar.
• Work with the communications team to highlight project achievements for the Make Way and CFYE Projects.
• Develop social media content and produce monthly case studies and impact stories.
• Develop and edit communications and campaign materials, including press releases, newsletters, presentation, blog posts, infographics, brochures, social media content.
• Provide support in the development and editing of quarterly and annual reports, research reports and publications.
• Design graphics and visuals for reports and communication material.
• Coordinate activities and communication with external media agencies and stakeholders.
• Coordinate visibility and online campaigns of Make Way and CFYE projects and other VSO projects alongside other implementing partners.

Experience and skills required for this volunteer placement (no more than 8 bullet points)

Competence required.

The communications officer should possess and demonstrate the combined skills sets and experience detailed below:

• A master’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Languages and Literature or a related field of study with at least five (5) years proven work experience in conducting communication and public relations related work including writing and content creation, event organization and media mobilization; or,
• A bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Languages and Literature or a related field of study with at least five (8) years proven work experience in conducting communication and public relations related work including writing and content creation, event organization and media mobilization.
• Experience in updating websites and managing social media platforms.
• Some knowledge of graphic design and desktop publishing using software such as MS Publisher, Adobe or Corel suites.

Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills with good command of spoken and written English, and or any other local languages
• Ability to work in a team in a collaborative way
• Ability to build effective working relationships, inspiring confidence and credibility with communities, partners and stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to support delivery project activities in collaboration with implementing partner and stakeholders
• Able to work professionally with a high degree of confidentiality

Skills Required:

• Communication / Pr / Journalism
• Language / Literature / Arts