Communication & Programme Funding Officer

Job Description

Role & Responsibilities

Work to actively support Marketing and Relationships (M&R) at the Headquarters (HQ) by providing and facilitating relevant and timely information for Medair’s communication and fundraising activities. The Communication & Programme Funding Officer also leads and advises the field teams in dealing with external communication, monitors visibility in the field, and supports the internal communications of the country programme.

Project Overview

Emergency health projects targeting displaced, war affected and vulnerable populations in Eastern Congo. WASH interventions in health centres and as part of a health emergency response. Opening humanitarian access to remote areas.

Medair

Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired and motivated by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition; safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; shelter and infrastructure. Internationally recruited field and headquarters staff lead the organisation, supported by nationally recruited staff to implement programmes locally.

Workplace

Field based position in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Starting Date

As soon as possible

Initial Contract Details

Full time, 24 months

Key Activity Areas

Marketing & Relationships Resources

• Travel frequently to field projects to pro-actively and re-actively gather and pitch resources (testimonies, interviews, quotes, photos and video footage) and updates on programmes and projects.
• Brief all staff during in-country briefing about their role in communicating about the organisation and its work privately, but also to support the public communication and fundraising activities of Medair.
• Support the HQ Communications Resources Officer by gathering and adapting material for input into HQ databases (photos, testimonies, facts, stories, quotes, reports, etc.).
• Provide update reports on programmes and projects previously communicated about in campaigns, stories, fund appeals or private major donor proposals.
• Coordinate at a field level the necessary information to give a “birds-eye view” of the programmes for the website and the Annual Report.
• Manage swift approval at field level of marketing and relationships material before publication.
• Prepare, facilitate and accompany field visits of photographers, journalists, or media crews accredited by HQ M&R department.
• Draft and implement the annual programme communications work plan, based on the HQ Marketing & Relationships department’s strategy, activities and plans. Report monthly to HQ M&R.
• Once a year, be available for training organised by HQ M&R (one week) and possibly extra weeks to meet and share information in person with the M&R teams.

Media & Public Relations

• Be aware of and get information about local emergencies, surveys or topics of interest to the media.
• Act as an expert to the programme leadership and team in regard to media and communication.
• Proactively liaise with local, regional, national and international media in the field. Work closely with the Press Relations Officer to engage media in talking about Medair activities in the field.
• Train and advise field staff in contributing to the communication and media activities of Medair.

Digital Social Media

• Actively facilitate, produce and promote short content updates on Facebook and other social media.
• Support HQ M&R in maintaining relations with online social media users and fans in answering fans’ questions and comments or in communicating from a Medair field perspective.
• Train and encourage field staff on the appropriate use of online social media. Actively monitor communications initiated by field staff (e.g. social media posts, personal websites, blogs, newsletters, etc.) and if necessary propose corrective actions to ensure strong brand reputation.

Institutional Donors Relations

• Review proposals and reports to insure compliance on communication agreements and opportunities.
• Regularly provide stories, photos, and communication reports as required by Medair’s donors.
• Assist in the drafting and presentation of proposals, operational and financial reports related to the country programme, enabling all donor requirements and deadlines to be met.
• Maintain analysis of institutional donor humanitarian policy, trends and funding opportunities.
• Develop, network and maintain good relations with the in-country representatives of relevant funding partners (e.g. institutional donors or private donor organisations).
• Coordinate and consolidate the preparation of timely narrative and financial reports for donors.
• Establish and maintain appropriate systems and procedures to ensure the compliance with donor contracts and other requirements.
• Represent Medair at country-level meetings with donors, as required.

Brand & Co-Branding Coordination

• Promote, review and audit the design and application of Medair and institutional donor branding in all marking, visibility and field communication.
• Advise Programme Managers upon institutional donor marking visibility budgets and conditions.
• Advise logistics staff on the correct design of field visibility items.
• Incorporate an emphasis on appropriate branding in team trainings and meetings; ensure that Medair staff who are interviewed or photographed have access to appropriate Medair branded clothing, and that appropriate signage is visible on programme vehicles, buildings, and items to be distributed.

Internal & External Communication

• Assist field leadership team in developing tools and structures to pro-actively support the team in improving internal communication within the programme.
• Distribute the Annual Report, newsletters and other communication material among staff and external contacts in the field as appropriate.
• Develop a community contact strategy for each Medair area of intervention. The plan will include all projects in the same geographical area, to ensure more consistent contact with the local community.

Financial Management

• In collaboration with the relevant project manager, ensure prudent use of financial resources and that all communications activities are conducted in line with the available budget.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international programmes and HQ prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Communications / Fundraising / Public Relations / Media or a related field.
• Strong working knowledge of English and French (spoken and written).

Experience / Competencies

• Professional experience in media / communications or private fundraising.
• Experience of proposal-writing.
• Strong grasp of online social media tools and techniques.
• Highly organised with a creative flair and a good attention to detail.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to target different audiences and to tailor output accordingly.
• Able to develop and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, beneficiaries and local authorities.
• Good communicator, able to pass on information efficiently, good listener.
• Keen to share information internally and provide training.
• Ability to relate well with many kinds of people, and to establish rapport and trust with people who may be nervous or suspicious to share their story or have their photo taken.

Working Conditions

• This is a field-based position and working and living conditions may be very different to that previously experienced.

Application Process

Before you apply, please ensure you are fully aware of the:

1. Medair organisational values.
2. Profiles sought for Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS).
3. Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC) (which forms part of the recruitment selection process for field positions).
4. Benefits Package provided for Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS)

About the Organization

Medair

Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition; safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; shelter and infrastructure.