Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, September 27 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Advocacy Campaigns Communication and Media (ACCM) Manager is responsible for providing leadership to ensure excellence in our public and private facing advocacy, campaigning, media and communications on the country programmes and situation of children in Zambia as well as our longer-term development work.

The purpose of the role is to lead and manage the external and internal Advocacy Campaigns Communications and Media work for the Zambia country office including the advocacy strategy development and implementation, supporting the priority programmatic areas, such as Child Rights Governance, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, Education, Food Security and humanitarian space/operational space issues. The role will support the country office in risk mapping, mitigation and management of issues identified as most relevant for the CO and develop policy analysis and strategic planning in response to those issues.

The ACCM manager ensures effective documentation of evidence and good practice. S/he leads gathering and developing engaging visual and written material that voices the gaps in fulfilling children’s rights, effectively explains our work and engages a wide range of external audiences in our work. S/he succeeds in establishing strong and strategic partnerships with like-minded organisations in advancing the rights of children. The ACCM Manager oversees all media and related external communications activities and leads in developing effective online social media strategies to engage the wider public. In addition, the ACCM Manager builds capacity of Technical Specialists and Programme Managers in undertaking advocacy activities in line with the Country Strategic Plan and Advocacy Strategy.

Budget responsibilities: The role holder has no direct budget holder responsibility but oversees budget lines for all advocacy, campaigns, communications and media activities across projects.

Role Dimensions: Save the Children works throughout the country and our ACCM work covers both development and humanitarian activities. The ACCM Coordinator oversees all SCI ACCM work, both through direct and remote management of staff and activity implementation. The role holder oversees appropriate and effective use of the SCI brand and is accountable to the PDQ Director for strategic leadership of the ACCM work.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Strategic leadership
• Lead the development/revision and implementation of the Country programme ACCM strategy (and operational plan) that aligns directly with the Country Strategic Plan and the SCI global advocacy agenda.
• Work closely with Program Development and technical specialists to develop new projects and ensure that ACCM interventions are strategically incorporated and adequately resourced and budgeted for in new proposals.
• Ensure strong linkages between Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media function, managers and SMT so that advocacy is well resourced, evidence based, and program driven and that programs are enhanced through advocacy.

Advocacy Strategy Development and Implementation
• Lead Zambia’s Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media work with a clear vision and integrated workplan and objectives, including setting SMART goals for the wider team on ACCM and securing buy-in from key internal stakeholders.
• Revise, strengthen and implement the Country Office’s overall advocacy strategy, identify policy and practice change, on the basis of Save the Children’s experience, that would promote and protect the rights of children in Zambia.
• Based on Save the Children (SC) program priorities, and identified priority issues for children, develop key advocacy messages and identify targets from lessons learned, assessments, research and evidence gained through project implementation.
• Develop and implement advocacy objectives and initiatives, both short and long term, encompassing a wide range of issues and audiences.
• Develop and implement a plan for national level advocacy and influencing as part of the overall advocacy strategy, involving partners, technical experts and national actors where appropriate.
• Work with the Regional Office to develop and implement and plan for international advocacy, identifying key strands of work to be collectively taken forward by the CO, RO, Members and Advocacy Offices.
• Ensure that voices of children are integral to SC’s advocacy, campaigning and media.
• Lead the Country Office’s campaigns strategy, ensuring coordination and engagement across all departments to deliver on the strategic objectives.
• Maintain a strategic overview of issues effecting children’s rights in Zambia, monitoring trends in the external environment and inputting and/or leading as required to organizational strategy and planning processes, in coordination with other team members.
• Ensure a robust overview, ongoing analysis, and development of key messages around protecting children and issues affecting Save the Children’s ability to deliver quality programs for children. Work proactively with Save the Children Zambia’s partners on joint advocacy, media and communications objectives and support partners to identify and address capacity strengthening opportunities, both for partners and wider civil society in Zambia.

Situation and advocacy analysis
• Working closely with the PDQ and OPS teams to provide analysis of various issues affecting children in Zambia, policy responses, policy frameworks, donor coordination, available funding and other current and future challenges that have an impact on children and their access to health, education, humanitarian assistance and protection services.
• Define key advocacy opportunities and targets at national and regional levels, if relevant, and if needed mobilize international advocacy support for these.
• Ensure a strong power analysis of the relevant actors and where opportunities for influence and leverage lie to inform the advocacy strategy.
Producing advocacy products
• Draft and otherwise support the production of advocacy products as outlined in the advocacy strategy for use at the country, regional and international levels, supporting participation in country.
• Ensure that all advocacy messages, documents and strategies are evidence-based, drawn from field experience and assessments, of high quality and effective, and are approved by the PDQ Director or Country Director and relevant Technical Experts. When necessary, ensure advocacy products are signed-off according to the SCI sign-off procedures.
• Support global and regional advocacy initiatives that include Zambia (internally and, where relevant, externally) by ensuring requests for input, feedback or sign-off are responded to in a timely manner and expectations are managed accordingly.
• Lead SC’s media and comms work to highlight humanitarian needs by developing products for social and traditional media. Advise on media lines and media strategy, ensuring potential risks associated with SC’s positions are assessed and sign-off procedures are adhered to.
• Policy
• Keep a watch on policy makers and other key players in relation to children’s rights issues and identify opportunities to raise awareness and influence policy change.
• Lead and coordinate Save the Children’s engagement with policy issues and related advocacy, including by developing briefing papers, engaging with the Advocacy and Campaigns Technical Working Group, as well as supporting the in-country operations and technical teams.

External Engagement and Influencing
• Develop good knowledge of local and national government structures (in Zambia and in key Member capitals), parliamentary and political processes and key decision-making structures and how to influence them.
• Undertake a range of lobbying, communications and other activities to inform and persuade policy makers, including donors and politicians, of the value of SC’s policy recommendations.
• Build systems for research, analysis and documentation that underpin evidence-based advocacy and influencing at national and international levels.
• Develop dissemination and communication strategies for key advocacy messages, together with technical colleagues.
• Produce or manage the production of reports, briefing papers and presentations for internal and external audiences, as outlined in the advocacy strategy.

Coordination & Representation
• Develop and cultivate strategic relationships with other agencies engaged in advocacy and policy work in Zambia.
• Develop and maintain a network of external contacts with key individuals in the government, donors, NGO sector, civil society and the media.
• Represent SC at various policy forums and advocacy opportunities at national and international levels, as directed.
• Act as a spokesperson for SC to a variety of external audiences including policy makers and the media if required, as directed.
• Liaise closely with staff in the Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns units within the Members, the Regional Office, and at the Center, and other fora to integrate and coordinate policy change initiatives throughout SCI members.
• Develop strong links with the Members programmes for advocacy / awareness raising globally.
Campaigns Planning and Delivery
• Lead the development of an integrated campaigns plan aligned with the country strategic plan.
• Lead the implementation of Save the Children global campaigns in Zambia.
• Develop policy briefing papers, policy statements and public communication materials related to national, regional and international advocacy issues and priorities.
• In coordination with the programmes team, commission and/or conduct strategic research development to support campaigning efforts including evidence-based, timely data and content.
• Oversee the delivery of planned campaigns including the development of campaign materials and all aspects of implementation, including public mobilization, community engagement, and child and youth engagement.
• Ensure that all advocacy and campaign messages, documents and strategies are evidence-based, drawn from field experience and assessments, of high quality and effective.
• Ensure that children are engaged in child-led and collaborative messaging development where relevant.
• Establish and strengthen partnership efforts around campaigning for child rights.

Integrated Policy Programming Support
• Support programme leadership to articulate their top priority advocacy or communications objectives in line with the Country Office Strategic Plan.
• Manage the communications staff/team, ensure delivery of high-quality communications and documentation support to the CO and programs.
• Ensure development of the CO communications strategy, towards donors and other external stakeholders.
• Ensure proper planning and engagement in program proposals around communications, branding and visibility.
• Support the specialists and implementation team/s in defining and articulating thematic policy change objectives.
• Ensure clear links and mutual reinforcement between programmatic approaches and CO communications, and links external advocacy strategies where appropriate.
• Write regular progress reports as needed, to keep the CO and regional team updated, and contribute to the regional advocacy updates. Ensure that SC responds appropriately to emergencies, providing policy analysis and support around humanitarian space issues, and support the Comms focal point to meet emergency comms requirements, including sitreps, fact sheets, updates and other required products.
• In relation to specific opportunities, contribute where possible to the country leadership decision making to form partnerships which strengthen both programming and resource mobilization outcomes.
• Perform other tasks as required to ensure the smooth running of the country programme.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:
• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS
• Minimum of bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant subject such as social science, human rights, development, international relations, journalism/mass communication.
• Master’s or post graduate degree will be an added advantage.
• A minimum of 5 years demonstrated relevant experience in progressively responsible positions.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
• Significant prior experience working in advocacy issues, child rights, human rights, and/or development issues.
• Experience of influencing and advocacy work including lobbying, policy development and information provision.
• Excellent skills in advocating towards government officials.
• Experience of and strong skills in developing and implementing advocacy strategies.
• Proven skills in media and communication work, including interviews on Radio and TV.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead research, surveys and other activities oriented towards developing positions and evidence base.
• Highly developed communication skills both written and verbal in order to establish effective relationships with a wide variety of internal and external audiences including at a geographical distance.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Fluency in Writing and Presentation skills in English required.
• Good attention to detail
• Extensive knowledge of child rights and international law
• Understanding of government and donor operations at country level
• High level analytical and strategic thinking skills
• Cultural awareness and ability to build relationships quickly with a wide variety of people.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with experience in managing multicultural teams.
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies.
• Commitment to Save the Children values.
• Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure.
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organize a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities.
• Experience in coaching, capacity-building and supporting the development of a team, including supporting junior members of staff to deliver high-quality output.
• Experience in managing risks associated with advocacy and communications, including in developing risk management plans and mitigation measures.

Desirable
• Experience with programs, program development, proposal writing, or implementation a plus.
• Experience with graphic design software is an added advantage.
• Good photography or video skills is an added advantage.
• Experience in coordination of various stakeholders a plus
• Experience solving complex issues through analysis.
• Has a strong national and international network within advocacy and policy settings
• Understanding of the issues concerning the INGO sector with an in-depth knowledge in communications, marketing and/or fundraising
• Demonstrable track record of leading change, resulting in significant results for the organization and their stakeholders.
• Strong results orientation.


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure

Interested and qualified click here to apply


All Jobs

QUICK ALERT SUBSCRIPTION