CARE is an international NGO with local staff and community partners in more than 90 countries. We create local solutions to poverty and inequality, and we seek dignity for everyone every day and during times of crisis.  These solutions have a broad range, from clean water to access to education; from microfinance to ensuring that everyone has nutritious food; from agriculture and climate change to disaster response. CARE puts women and girls at the center of everything we do because they have proven to be the best hope for creating lasting change in the world.  Our staff live where they work, which makes us effective at understanding the challenges they face. We’ve been doing this for over 70 years, since World War II. It started with the world’s first CARE Package® of food for the post-war hungry in Europe.  Our work today is as important as ever, we believe that poverty and inequality are historic injustices that we can end within a generation, for good. If you share our core beliefs: poverty is an injustice; poverty is solvable; and together, we have the power to end it, join us.

I.  JOB SUMMARY:

The communication and Advocacy advisor has a main purpose to drive media and communications activities as a component of the WEJ unit influencing and advocacy work. This involves all traditional sources as well as more creative and innovative digital communication platforms with a higher impact on the civil societies, communities, and other stakeholders. Also, to produce briefings and knowledge management to be sued for advocacy at policy level.

II.  Responsibilities and Tasks:

Job Responsibilities #1: Media and communication Strategy

• Collaborate with the head of the Unit and other technical team members to develop and implement an effective communication strategy.

• Develop and execute the communication plans at the unit level in line with CARE principles.

• Develop and maintain communication processes and internal systems for CARE, partners and pertinent government bodies.

• Designing and managing communication platforms and dissemination channels

• Share information about the unit and on-the-ground- efforts with the public and lead the projects’ exploration of targeted campaigns.

• Periodically updates the Units’ program implementation, progress and achievements through quality communication materials.

• Documents and maintains activities using video, photo, and electronic presentations.

• Provides technical support to different project employees in the production of advocacy/visibility works and PR related activities.

• Manage Networking, relationship building, information gathering and dissemination of information with all relevant actors.

• Produce high level communication and advocacy materials.

• Share knowledge management materials produced at organization level and different platforms. 

Job Responsibilities #2: Responsible for designing and Implementing advocacy strategy

• Design and implement the Unit policy advocacy strategy.

• Develop and implement a yearly action plan for advocacy activities.

• Engage in high level of advocacy work to facilitate and work with government bodies, CSO and private sectors.

• Represent CARE and Unit in particular on various Networks, Coalitions and other platforms.

• Share CARE best practices and effective approaches and key findings of the Unit level

• Responsible for advancing the advocacy agenda through various Mainstream and digital media platforms.

• Responsible for producing quality Advocacy materials.

Job Responsibilities #3: Responsible for conceptualization and implementation of aspects of CARE Ethiopia’s Public Relations to the WEJ unit Activities -

• Responsible to work with government ministries and partners on communication issues of the Unit and CARE

• Responsible for Capacity Building of the pertinent Unit’s staffs and government staff on communication.

• Responsible for media relations and issuing of information packs for all public relations activities.

• Develop strategic guidance for CO public relations (PR) activities and provide systematic support to projects and programs.

• Responsible for developing and implementing a yearly action plan for public relations activities.

• Provide proactive recommendations as to appropriate advocacy messaging; provide leadership in putting forth ideas and recommendations; information monitoring.

• Take the lead in familiarizing stakeholders with new strategies and plans of the country office, using a variety of media:

• Produce and disseminate CARE’s stories in relation to the Unit and beyond demonstrating strategic plan and programmatic profiles.

• Participate and lead the organization in relevant national and international events that contribute to build organizational image and goodwill.

• Provide technical advice support to the team and stakeholder in the production of programmatic visibility works and PR-related activities.

• Document and maintain the Unit’s activities at CARE and stakeholder organizations using video, photo, and electronic presentations.

• Plan and concept development of PR activities related to specific project initiatives.

Job Responsibilities #4: Design, Coordinate and manage CARE Ethiopia’s Press and Media Relations

• Provide advice to the CARE projects, staffs, and stakeholders on PR related issues.

• Responsible for decision making, recommendations related to how CARE and stakeholders can more strategically use information and the media both inside and outside of the organization

• Responsible for preparing guidance (FAQs, talking points, etc.) in anticipation of inquiries from the news media regarding the project activities, especially in the event of an emergency response.

• Responsible for the establishment and maintenance of good press and media relations.

• Responsible for the identification of topics for, and development of, press releases

• Liaise with Ethiopian and International media and CARE international press officers and participate in different platforms.

• Manage press visits and information dissemination.

• Issue crisis management in cases of trends of media controverses, especially in relation to CARE.

• Cultivate relations with and maintain a database of local, national, and international correspondence and Media persons.

Job Responsibilities #5: Prepare all aspects (Coordination with stakeholders and contributors, as well as production, layout, publication and working with vendors) Off quality periodic in-house newsletters.

• Gather information/input from projects, employees, or other sources.

• Responsible for follow-up and recording of events related to CARE’s and stakeholders’ activities.

•  Organize, prepare, design, and distribute the internal regular newsletter.

Job Responsibilities #6: Responsible for assessing training needs on communication and PR issues.

• Responsible for conducting PR training based on the needs assessment.

• Responsible for undertaking research on communities and preparing or outsourcing the development of training materials.

• Organize and facilitate training on communication and advocacy whenever necessary.

III Problem Solving (Thinking Environment)

• Levels one, two and three of problem solving apply to the incumbent. The Advisor requires a high level of technical independence as well as political acumen in understanding the complexity of media vis-à-vis many different stakeholders. S/he is required to use interpolative skills to pick and choose the right strategy to address given problems, and to determine how and whether to communicate with various audiences in a way that ensures the promotion and protection of CARE’s image. 

GENDER EQUALITY

• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.

• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and PSEAH (safeguarding), as evidenced in previous positions / programming.

Job Requirements

III. Qualification (KNOW HOW)

A)     Education

Required

• BA Degree/master’s degree in public or International Relations, or other relevant discipline.

Desired

• Master’s degree in journalism. 

B) Experience

Required:

• 5 years of relevant work experience with first degree and 4 years of relevant work experience plus post graduate degree and at least 1 year of management experience in communications work especially in producing materials for high level advocacy. Proven experience developing and implementing communications strategies through variety of means, such as traditional, digital and social media, and/or storytelling.

• Ability to develop communications strategies using behavioral and social change communication, including audience segmentation and social mobilization.

• Knowledge of adolescence girls’ and women economic challenges, gender mainstreaming, and labor issues is preferred.

• Must devote project to project activities to achieve expected outcomes.

Desired

• International NGO experience

C) Technical Skills

Required

• Knowledge of adolescent girls’ and women economic challenges, gender mainstreaming, and labor issues is preferred.

• Excellent written and verbal English and Amharic Skills.

• Computer Proficiency including desktop publishing.

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Willingness to travel, often under difficult conditions

• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, sensitivity to HIV/AIDS and Participatory approach. 

How to Apply

If you are interested to be part of our dynamic team, exciting work environment and contribute to CARE Ethiopia’s mission and vision, please send your CV (not more than 3 pages) and cover letter (not more than one page) through CLICK HERE

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Passionate and dedicated candidates who meet the requirement are strongly encouraged to apply, especially women!

CARE seeks to improve the lives of the most marginalized, particularly women and girls. Our diversity is our strength. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.

CARE Ethiopia is committed to preventing all unwanted behavior at work. This includes sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, and child abuse. We expect everyone who works for us to share this commitment by understanding and working within the CARE Safeguarding Policy and related framework. CARE Ethiopia has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives, or partners.

CARE Ethiopia reserves the right to seek information from job applicants’ current and/or previous employers about incidents of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment the applicant may have been found guilty to have committed or about which an investigation was in the process of being carried out at the time of the termination of the applicant’s employment with that employer.

By submitting the application, the job applicant confirms that s/he has no objection to CARE Ethiopia requesting the information specified above. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.