Communications and Influencing Specialist

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.

ROLE PROFILE

role PURPOSE

The primary role of the Communications and Influencing Specialist is to facilitate communication flow to ensure that Plan International Cameroon’s leadership team and key external stakeholders (including Plan International implementing partners and communities) receive the information they need. The holder of the position supports accountability to key stakeholders by communicating the humanitarian situation and Plan International Cameroon‘s operations in a timely manner in a format that is adapted to the target audience.

Dimensions of the Role

• The post holder will report to the Head of Programs and is a member of the Extended Country Leadership Team. S/he directly supervises one staff.
• The incumbent will be responsible for producing and/or updating materials and disseminating information throughout Plan International e.g. situation reports, annual reports, programme strategy, fact sheets, briefing notes, etc.
• The post holder will monitor external information sources and high-level reports, synthesize and share main points/outcomes, and will act as a reference/contact point for general information requests related to Plan International Cameroon’s program activities.
• In all activities, the post holder will use participatory training and coaching approaches with teams to progressively build capacity in the relevant skill areas.

Accountabilities

Influencing

• Design and implement Plan International’s influencing strategy for its work in Cameroon;
• Conduct regular analysis of power dynamics in projects and programs to support our gender transformative solutions;
• Design comprehensive mapping of initiatives/opportunities for Plan CMR to lobby or advocate on key aspects of its current influencing plan at local, national and international levels
• Act as point person for engaging Plan Liaison Offices;
• Lead periodic reports for advancing children rights in collaboration with Child Protection Lead;
• Monitor partner’s strategies to insert Plan International’s agenda in favor of girls.

External Liaison and Communications

• Conduct periodic assessments (including field visits) to determine current and anticipated priority information needs of key target groups (Plan International Cameroon decision-makers, media/communications, fundraising, implementing partners, donors, government and UN agencies, etc.);
• Support the communication and dissemination of research outputs from the programs, and provide editing support and identify formats and methodologies appropriate to effective sharing of findings;
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with GH Communications Officers, and with communication officers of other NGOs, etc.
• Act as the main point of contact for media and respond to requests for information from journalists, NOs, and donors, including arranging interviews and field visits;
• Act as spokesperson for the organization when appropriate and with approval of the Country Director;
• Prepare, distribute and log press releases;
• Conduct regular field visits to interview staff and beneficiaries, write human interest stories and take photos and videos;
• Build and maintain local media and information contacts, supporting journalists, researchers and others in awareness raising on Plan International Cameroon’s program activities.
• Promote and coordinate social media communications through approved protocols.

Internal Communications

• Work with GH Communications Officers to coordinate media and celebrities’ visits to Cameroon
• Establish a steady flow of information (updates, human interest stories, talking points and Q&As, blogs etc.) to the GH Communications Officers for internal and external dissemination;
• Regularly provide high-resolution, good quality digital images on Plan International Cameroon’s work;
• Monitor print and social media for mentions of Plan International Cameroon and other topics of interest to the organization, and inform the Country Director, Taskforce and GH Communications Officers of anything important.
• Identify and create talking points/Q&As for potential sensitive issues and inform the Country Director, WACA and GH Communications Officers.

Information and Data Collection and Coordination

• Attend internal briefings, external meetings (e.g. cluster meetings), collect and (where appropriate) synthesize relevant documents, meet with Plan International Cameroon staff and undertake field visits as appropriate to remain up to date on the unfolding situations;
• Share information throughout Plan International and develop materials situation reports, annual reports, programme strategy, fact sheets, briefing notes, etc. requested by NOs
• Act as a reference/contact point for NOs on general information requests related to Plan International’s work in Cameroon;
• Through desk and field research identify, collate and store effectively, materials relevant to program activities and influencing priorities;
• Daily monitor news, trends, and events with potential humanitarian consequences and flag for attention when necessary to the senior management team;
• Monitor external information sources and high-level reports (from other NGOs, UN agencies, Humanitarian Fora/Initiatives, etc.) and synthesize and share main points/outcomes with key staff in the CO, WACAH, GH, etc;
• Contribute updated material for Plan International websites and other electronic information sharing forums;
• Support the Country Office (CO) in acting as a reference/contact point for general information requests related to Plan International Cameroon’s program activities;
• Link with CO knowledge management staff to better understand KM approaches.

Training

• Provide relevant training to staff and partners in using information management systems, report drafting, media interventions, etc.
• Provide awareness raising and training to Plan International Cameroon staff on Plan International’s communications approaches and principles.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Ensure staff understand Plan International’s commitment to driving a feminist agenda within the organisation, and the ambition for gender equality and gender transformative leadership is embedded in our value- based leadership framework.

Key relationships

[This section refers to people inside and/or outside of the organisation that the post-holder needs to have contact with, and why. This should include virtual presence.]

Internal:

• Country Director
• Head of Programmes
• Technical Specialists
• Project Managers
• WACA/GH Media and Communications Officers

External:

• Journalists
• Photographers
• Media/communications officers from other NGOs, government, etc.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

[Education/Professional Background

• B.A/Sc. degree in Mass Communication or related field of studies
• At least 5 years work experience

Core Competencies

• Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train local and international staff;
• Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of Plan International Cameroon. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills;
• Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions;
• Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity;
• Has experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner;
• Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high security contexts;
• Is well planned and organized even within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills.

Technical Competencies

• Fluent written and spoken English
• Proficiency in French as primary or secondary language
• Experience as a spokesperson
• Experience working in journalism, communications, media, or PR
• Strong understanding of print, radio, television and social media
• Intermediate photography and/or filming skills
• Ability to work independently and as a team player
• Ability to operate effectively in stressful situations, including working overtime
• Gender awareness and cultural sensitivity
• Good time management and problem solving skills
• Additional technical skills are desirable, including proficiency in Adobe Photoshop or photo-editing software and movie-editing software such as Adobe Premier.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

1. Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors
2. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity
3. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people
4. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them
5. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people.

We strive for lasting impact

1. Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations
2. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
3. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive

to changed priorities or crises

4. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

1. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate
2. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals
3. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities
4. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls

and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Location: Yaounde

Closing Date: 20th October 2022

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.