Junior Communication Consultant

Description

Location: Remote Base

Application Deadline: 31 May 2021 or until filled

Type of contract: Junior Consultant

Language(s) required: English (native/fluent writing and oral skills)

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

WorldFish is an international, non-for-profit research organization that works to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty by improving fisheries and aquaculture. With a 45-years track record of leading-edge science, WorldFish generates research evidence and innovations to inform sustainable practices and inclusive policies that enable better livelihoods and healthier diets for millions of poor people, particularly women, who depend on fish for food, nutrition and income. WorldFish is a member of CGIAR , the world’s largest global partnership on agriculture research and innovation for a food secure future. Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia and with regional offices across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, WorldFish leads the cross-disciplinary CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH).

Small-scale fisheries provide livelihoods for millions of people, essential nutrition to billions and contribute substantially to household, local and national economies and economic growth. Yet, many small-scale fishery activities are informal and not counted. And because small-scale fisheries are diverse and dispersed, fully measuring their contributions is difficult. As a result, they are often marginalized in policy-making processes and overlooked in policy.

The Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH) study is due out in late 2021 and is led by the Food and Agriculture Organization, Duke University and WorldFish, the study will assess the diverse contributions of small-scale fisheries globally.

We are looking for a junior communication consultant to join WorldFish, to deliver up to 108 days over the next 9 months, to drive and support strategic communication efforts that lead to the greater recognition of the multiple values of small-scale fisheries to inform policy and investment decisions. The focus of this consultancy is to package and disseminate research-backed messages about small-scale fisheries to target audiences, and support efforts to empower small-scale fisheries advocates to advance their goals at local, regional and government levels. This role is remotely-based and requires regular meetings with the Illuminating Hidden Harvests team at 11am UTC.

Responsibilities include:

Take a leading role in implementing the communication strategy for the Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH) research report due out in late 2021 and support ongoing communication activities to drive uptake of the IHH findings in 2022 and beyond:

• Support development of IHH webpage and digital report.
• In line with IHH social media campaign plan, develop social media content, including posts, visuals and videos.
• Provide advice and support to IHH authors around graphics for their IHH chapter/sub-chapter and related communication products.
• Create a series of country and territory case study author profiles.
• Create and distribute IHH news updates.
• Support development of IHH key messages, IHH key message infographic, flyer on SSF & SDGs.
• Attend and contribute to bi-weekly IHH team meetings.
• Provide support and help to coordinate any IHH-related events (e.g. launch event, webinars, national/regional rollout events, etc).
• Collaborate and coordinate with IHH partners in the development and dissemination of all IHH communication messages, products and activities.
• Develop communication products to promote the diverse contributions of small-scale fisheries in support of and for use during the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (IYAFA). Products may include but are not limited to human interest stories, blog posts, infographics media releases, brochures, social media posts, videos, policy briefs, etc.
• Work in collaboration and coordination with WorldFish, FAO and other SSF advocates to deliver messages, activities and communication products in support of the IYAFA communication strategy and in line with the Small-scale Fisheries Guidelines.

The position is being recruited as part of the Building capacity, coordination and communication for collective action on small scale fisheries project (‘Oak SSF project’; 2018-2022) funded by the Oak Foundation and led by international research center WorldFish.

Requirements

Essential Skills and Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Understanding of communications as a strategic tool to drive change.
• Portfolio of communication outputs that demonstrate dynamism and creativity.
• Experience developing a diverse range of communication products, including blogposts, infographics, media releases, social media content, videos, newsletters, policy briefs and human interest stories.
• Ability to interact effectively with people in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing demands.
• Ability to learn quickly, be creative and flexible, with a strong personal drive and integrity.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with ability to build productive working relationships and networks.

Desirable qualifications and competencies

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism or a relevant field.
• Knowledge of small-scale fisheries and using strategic communications to raise awareness of their role, importance, challenges and opportunities.
• Knowledge of other UN languages, in particular, French or Spanish.
• Experience in implementing communication strategies and campaigns.
• Experience developing webpages/websites.
• Experience communicating research results to non-technical audiences.

Terms of Appointment

This position is an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and experience with an international research and development organization. The consultancy will be carried out remotely and is home-based. The successful candidate should be available to commence as soon as possible under a 9 months consultancy contract. This position is open to international applicants.

How to Apply

The application process is rolling. Interested applicants are invited to submit the following information online by 31 May 2021:

• A cover letter stating why you are interested in and well-suited to the position. Your cover letter should also demonstrate your fee and availability for 2021.
• A current curriculum vitae and 2-3 brief writing samples that you have led.
• Names and contacts (telephone and e-mail addresses) of one professional referee who are familiar with your qualifications and work experience. Your nominated referee ideally should have persons from each of the following category: direct supervisor, internal peer and/or direct report.

The screening will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Our Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

WorldFish has seven offices across Asia, Africa and the Pacific, with more than 400 staff and 27 nationalities who contribute to a dynamic multicultural work environment.

WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity and inclusion is valued and we seek to have gender balance in the organization. We aim to also seek balance across other diversity dimensions.

People in WorldFish are treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity/race, national or social origin, disability, religion, political affiliation, age, family size, marital status or any other form of personal identity.

We are an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourage qualified women and men from developing nations to apply.