Communication and Publicity Specialist

  • Volunteer, Long-term consulting assignment
  • Posted on 20 May 2025

Job Description

Role Title: Communication and Publicity Specialist – National Volunteer

Country/Project: Kampala, Uganda, Moroto with regular travel to the other project locations.. Karamoja region (Moroto, Napak, Nabilatuk, Amudat, Nakapiripit, Kotido, Karenga, Kaabong, Abim districts)

Duration: 12 – 18 months

Role purpose: The Communication and Publicity Specialist will be responsible for maintaining internal & external communications strategies to keep project beneficiaries and partners informed of project activities, presence, information, and events. To lead on the production of quality communication materials across a range of media and social media, in close collaboration with project managers and partners improving access to inclusive, quality, and equitable basic education for 3–19-year-old children.

Project Background and contextual Information

The Integrated Program to Improve Access and Learning Achievements in a Safe environment (IPALSE) is supported by UNICEF and implemented by VSO. The Project covers 16 districts in Karamoja and Southwestern regions and aims to increase learning achievement among girls and boys in literacy and numeracy through increased access to inclusive, equitable and relevant quality education. The program entails an integrated component of inclusion, catch -up learning, child protection, mental health and psychosocial support and climate change, social behaviour change, and resilience programs. The districts include: Moroto, Napak, Abim, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Amudat, Kotido, Kaabong and Karenga in Karamoja sub region and Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kikuube, Kasese, Kamwenge, Isingiro and Ntungamo districts in Central, South-Western Uganda.

The overarching objective of the education project is to enhance education governance, elevate the effectiveness of teachers in delivering quality teaching and learning experiences, and fortify primary schools’ capacity to establish child-friendly learning environments within targeted districts.

The theoretical framework (Theory of Change) guiding education programming envisions that through the equipped capabilities of school leaders, teachers, inspectors, district education CCTs in employing effective and inclusive child-centred and child-friendly teaching and learning methodologies, and the active engagement of targeted communities in education governance through functional CMCs/SMCs and supportive PTAs with heightened awareness of critical issues, such as Violence against Children, coupled with robust support for effective planning, coordination, and monitoring by District and Municipal Education Departments, an accessible, inclusive, and relevant quality of education will be attainable in these regions.

Role Responsibilities

The Communication and Publicity Specialist will:

  • Lead on the planning, development and deployment of strategic communication strategies and materials related to the project for both internal and external audiences.
  • Stay abreast with preferred communication channels for different target groups and deliver content accordingly.
  • Research and write stories that capture the impact of the project on different targeted groups and disseminate as appropriate.
  • Respond flexibly to demands for content from the donor, partner or internal VSO stakeholders.
  • Ensure compliance to donor and VSO brand guidelines and other communication policies and procedures.
  • Work with and coordinate both local and international media to relay the work being done in the project. Manage freelance professionals to deliver on specific pieces of work.
  • Work with the project team to support project monitoring, review, evaluation, and dissemination of learning.
  • Support the project team in the development of project quarterly work plans, reports, and documentation of learnings.
  • Participate in VSO coordinated activities with other partners and other stakeholders.
  • Work with the global communications team to implement VSO’s communications strategy/plan by contributing to newsletters, databases, marketing materials etc
  • Take the initiative in developing an evidence -base, documenting lessons learnt, best practices and case studies to shape in-country strategies and programme approaches and contribute to broader learning.

Other Duties

  • Fulfil other appropriate level responsibilities as defined by the line manager from time to time.
  • Abide by VSO core values and other VSO policies regarding, Safeguarding, Gender Sensitivity, Child Protection, Data Protection Act, Anti-Bribery, Confidentiality and Security.

Skills, knowledge, and experience.

Knowledge/qualifications:

  • Relevant bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or a similar discipline.
  • Master’s degree in any of the above related fields will be an added advantage.
  • A post graduate qualification in education in emergencies or related field will be and added advantage.

Experience

  • At least three (3) years demonstratable experience in a similar role
  • Sound working knowledge of digital and social media platforms.
  • Demonstrable experience in developing compelling and high quality documentation
  • Previous NGO /development experience particularly supporting education projects is an added advantage.

Skills/Abilities:

  • Able to develop clear and realistic plans to deliver agreed objectives within deadlines, involving key individuals in the process.
  • Strong verbal and written communications skills
  • Presentation and influencing skills.
  • Video content and editing experience.
  • IT (MS office) proficiency
  • Flexibility to undertake national and international travel away from home base (up to 50% of the time in peak periods) and to work the occasional weekend and evening.
  • Ability to work with minimum supervision.

Desirable

  • Proven experience in developing and implementing communication strategies.
  • Proven ability in delivering relevant content to digital and social media.
  • Strong in expressing creativity in all different channels and ability to quickly change between them.
  • Practical experience within a volunteering INGO context and volunteering for development approach at grass root level (in the field).
  • Commitment to VSO’s vision, mission, values and people first principle and core approaches (social inclusion and gender, social accountability and resilience).

VSO has zero tolerance of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people, we expect all our volunteers and employees to commit to protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm and abide by our safeguarding policy.

Additional Information

All volunteers have an allowance paid in local currency. The allowance meets reasonable living expenses in country.

VSO works with some of the poorest communities in the world which means accommodation varies and will be basic.

Equal Opportunities: VSO promotes equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce.

VSO reserves the right to close this job early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Deadline for Applications: May 30, 2025 00:00:00

“While we try our best to keep our information updated, the closing date of the actual job source may be changed by the recruiter without prior notice. With this, please make sure to check the official job link when submitting your application. Thank you.”

About the Organization

VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers. Our vision is a world without poverty in which people work together to fulfil their potential. We bring people together to share skills, creativity and learning to build a fairer world. VSO welcomes volunteers from an ever increasing range of countries, backgrounds and ages. National agencies in Canada, Kenya, the Netherlands and the Philippines recruit volunteers from many different countries worldwide and this international approach allows us to combine and learn from a rich variety of perspectives. Tackling Disadvantage at "Grass Roots" Level Ours is a very individual "people to people" approach to development. Instead of sending food or money, we send women and men from a wide range of professions who want the chance to make a real difference in the fight against poverty. These volunteers work in partnership with colleagues and communities to share skills and learning and jointly achieve change. But we have to be realistic in our expectations. We commit to long-term development goals and long-term partnerships and focus on sustainable development rather than the short-term relief of certain problems. VSO also works to address the structural inequalities and barriers that prevent people from exercising their rights. We use our experience and our supporter networks to work for changes in policy and practice - rich and poor countries - that reduce disadvantage. VSO is by far the largest independent volunteer-sending agency in the world. Since 1958, we have sent out more than 29,000 volunteers to work in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific region and, more latterly, Eastern Europe in response to requests from our overseas partners. At the moment we have around 1,500 people working in placements in these regions. Shared Partnerships, Shared Benefits You only have to talk to VSO volunteers to realise that they gain from their experience, personally or professionally, as much as they contribute. Many will enthuse how fascinating it was to explore a different culture at first hand. Others will point to the friendships they have made. But many will also tell you how their professional talents have been stretched, and how they have learnt new skills that will significantly enhance their career prospects on their return home. If ever it was true that "you get out what you put in", VSO is proof positive. This experience makes volunteers passionate in challenging misconceptions about developing countries. In the current climate, it is more urgent than ever that we work to achieve a global community where people of all cultures are seen as equal, learn from each other and share a common sense of rights and responsibilities as global citizens. VSO builds on this experience and passion to support a range of global education activity. To find out more about volunteering with or supporting VSO visit our website at www.vso.org.uk

More information

VSOJD_ Communications & Publicity Specialist NV_IPALSE--20250520150858.pdf
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