Communications Officer 2

About the job

What We Do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and, at the same time, promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations. 

Purpose 

Communication Officer 2 contributes to designing, planning and implementing communication projects and activities in coordination with the management of the field sub-structure and the Communication Manager. S/he contributes to representing the ICRC externally and building the necessary understanding and acceptance of and support for the ICRC among key stakeholders. 

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with the head of sub-delegation, the head of office and the communication focal point in Hawassa, the field team leaders, field officers and program heads in the sub-structure, and with the communication manager and other staff involved in communication activities.
• Externally, interacts with conflict-affected population groups, armed actors, local authorities, village elders, representatives of displaced communities, religious leaders, media, NGOs, advocacy groups and academic circles.

Accountabilities & Functional Responsibilities

• Contributes to defining communication and, where relevant, prevention objectives, strategies and plans of action for the geographic area or programme covered, in line with the field sub-structure's priorities, the delegation’s communication and prevention strategies and the ICRC’s overall communication guidelines.
• With minimum supervision, implements relevant activities and develops tools for: operational communication, community engagement, promoting international humanitarian law (IHL), building National Red Cross/Red Crescent Society communication capacity, public and digital communication, information analysis/environment scanning, interaction with religious circles, public affairs and resource mobilization.
• Contributes to networking with relevant stakeholders and represents the ICRC to various audiences.
• Follows political, security, military and humanitarian developments, as well as other issues relevant to the ICRC's reputation/perception and capacity to operate in the geographic area covered, contributing to their analysis.
• Interprets and translates from and into the local language to support communication programmes when required.
• Provides technical and administrative support for communication activities, in coordination with the communication team (e.g. filing, stock management event organization when required).
• Supports communication-related training and coaching for field-structure staff and/or other departments when needed.

Delegation Specific Tasks

• With minimum supervision, in coordination with all colleagues concerned, develops and implements relevant activities in four areas:
• Operational communication, community engagement and promotion of international humanitarian law (IHL)
• Communication support and coordination with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) and – as relevant – other components of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• Public and digital communication, audio-visual content gathering, including for resource mobilization
• Local information analysis and environmental scanning

Certifications / Education Required

• University degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as communications, political science, international relations or journalism.
• Excellent command of English and Oromifa (spoken and written) is required; proficiency in Amharic (spoken and written) will be an asset.
• Computer skills (proficiency in MS Office)
• Familiarity with digital communication tools.

Professional Experience Required

• Minimum 3 years’ work experience in a field relevant to communication and/or prevention preferably with the ICRC.
• Experience in an ICRC operation an asset.
• IHL knowledge an asset.
• Sound knowledge of the political, social and media environment in the country/region covered.

Language

• English
• Afan Oromo (Oromifa )
• Amharic

Our values

At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values.