Job Description for Advocacy and Communications Officer

Hiring Institution International Community of Women living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA)
Job Title Advocacy and Communications Officer
Location Wakiso – ICWEA Secretariat
Job Category Programmes and Advocacy
Reporting line Advocacy Manager
Number of positions to be filled One
Application Deadline 15th October 2021

 

The International Community of Women of living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA) is seeking to recruit One (1) Advocacy and Communications Officer who will be stationed at ICWEA’s Secretariat in Wakiso District.

 

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BACKGROUND:

The International Community of Women living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA) together with HEPS Uganda and Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has received funding from President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Uganda to scale up the Community Led Monitoring (CLM) Project in Uganda through Country Operational Plan (COP) 2020/2021.

 

Community-led monitoring is an approach to assessing the quality of health services (HIV/TB services). It is initiated and implemented by networks and organisations of people living with HIV, key populations and other priority affected populations. It involves use of a structured tool with a set of questions for gathering quantitative and qualitative data and observations about components of HIV/TB services. The aim is getting input from recipients of these services on quality, accessibility and availability. The data generated is then used by service recipients and other advocates (PLHIV, key populations, CSO, CBOs) to design community actions for change in the status of HIV/TB and other related services.

 

JOB SUMMARY

The Advocacy and Communication Officer will lead the development and implementation of an integrated advocacy and communications strategy/plan aligned to organizational and project priorities.

Key responsibilities

  1. Identify key issues, messaging, appropriate communications channels for public advocacy initiatives;
  2. Work with all relevant and diverse partners to foster and build support for relevant advocacy aims, create and maintain a media contacts database of key journalists, columnists and editors, and take responsibility for building and maintaining strategic relationships;
  3. Build partnerships and coordinate work with other networks and allies in the HIV/TB response and beyond to maximise and secure advocacy wins;
  4. Identify and keep record of upcoming and existing advocacy events and plan for participation of CLM project stakeholders and or allies;
  5. Undertake quarterly digital advocacy initiatives on pertinent advocacy issues related to the quality of HIV/TB care;
  6. Develop policy briefs and position papers, press releases, statements, advisories, talking points, briefings, message guidance, fact sheets, blog posts, remarks, roundups, reports and other useful resources in relation to the CLM advocacy objectives;
  7. Proactively identify and deploy ways to disseminate key messages and build awareness of CLM’s activities to a diverse group of audiences;
  8. Work with the PLHIV and KP networks at national and sub-national levels, community monitors and regional coordinators to maximise their engagement in CLM advocacy and communication activities and campaigns;
  9. Generate CLM specific social media and website content
  10. Keeping records of meetings, correspondence with target audiences and the responses elicited;
  11. Tracking when key messages or briefing notes are used by elected officials, key influencers and the media;
  12. Carrying out surveys and interviews to determine the impact actions have had and the recognition they have received;
  13. Monitoring the media and keeping track of coverage in the media.

Qualifications

The applicant should hold any of these: Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication, Media Studies, Journalism, Health Communications, Social Work & Social Administration, Social Sciences/Arts; Development Studies; obtained from a recognized University/institution and any related studies.

 

 

Core Competencies and Skills

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  1. At least 3 years proven knowledge and experience of development and delivery of advocacy and campaigning strategies;
  2. Proven knowledge and experience of HIV/TB program;
  3. Knowledge of resilient community systems for health and or global/regional/national health issues;
  4. The person should demonstrate experience in coordination, communication and advocacy activities in NGO related contexts. The person should have a results-oriented approach and proposes ways to innovate and continuously improve our communications products, practices, channels, and messaging.

 

Desirable

  1. Understanding of, or experience communicating on current global health priorities, including: universal health coverage, health systems strengthening, human resources for health, global health issues;
  2. Knowledge of and experience of government departments and donor communities;
  3. Proven experience of working with members of a network and knowledge of how it is different to working in one single organisation;
  4. Experience of effectively using the media to build awareness around campaigns;
  5. Understanding of human rights and people centered approaches;
  6. Experience in advocacy.

Skills and Abilities

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • Proven ability to develop consensus policy positions and write high-quality policy papers;
  • Proven ability to develop and implement advocacy strategies;
  • Proven ability to support local, national and international advocacy initiatives of others;
  • Able to motivate/inspire others with ideas;
  • Innovative, energetic, solution-orientated approach to work;
  • Ability to represent the organisation in a variety of platforms;
  • Strong project planning skills with proven ability to organise and prioritise tasks and to manage own time efficiently
  • Computer literate (Word, Excel, Internet, Outlook, PowerPoint).

 

Application Procedure

People living with HIV in all their diversity, Key Populations in all their diversity, Women and girls, women living with HIV, people with disability and living with HIV, and young people living with HIV who meet the required skills and experience are encouraged to apply and will be given first priority.

 

Interested candidates should submit their resumes, motivation letter to: hr@icwea.org and a copy to admin@icwea.org not later than Wednesday 15th October 2021 .  Hand-written applications can also be delivered to:

 

International Community of women living with HIV Eastern Africa

Plot 1106, Ssenge – Kawanda Road, Off Kayunga, Kampala – Hoima Road,

 

Or through: P.O.Box 32252, Kampala, Uganda

 

The subject of application should include; Last name of applicant and the title of the position.

 

Application Feedback

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified of the outcome of the application.

 

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