Consultant - Strategic Communication Officer PSD, Erbil

Context:

Since the 1980s, Iraq has been engulfed in multiple cycles of destruction and recovery, with the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, 1990-91 Gulf War, and 2003-11 Iraq War causing extensive loss of life and property and far-reaching consequences for stability and development. Now, once again, Iraq is emerging from a brutal conflict – this time with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Between 2014 and 2017, ISIL’s reign of terror in Iraq had a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities across the country, especially ethno-religious minorities. Thousands of people were killed or remain missing, and survivors of ISIL violence continue to grapple with the physical and/or psychological consequences of conflict. War victims have seen their lives turned upside down, having lost their homes, businesses, loved ones, health and/or mobility. Many can no longer see a future in Iraq. Half a decade after the military defeat of ISIL, many of Iraq’s victims of war still require tailored individual services to support their recovery and the resumption of normal life.

IOM Iraq’s Peacebuilding and Stabilization Division (PSD) aims to address the drivers of conflict and displacement through contextualized, community-driven social cohesion, livelihoods, protection/mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), community infrastructure, and Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) programming. PSD seeks to support IDPs and returnees to regain a sense of safety and dignity, while developing tools to deal with the past and restore hope and agency. IOM recognizes that restoring economic opportunities is not a panacea to prevent future violence, and that broader bottom-up efforts should continue to strengthen relations between citizens and the state.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission in Iraq, the general technical supervision of the Head of PSD and the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator of PSD and in close coordination with the Head of IOM Iraq’s Public Information Unit (PIU) the successful candidate will be responsible for contributing to the formulation and implementation of the PSD’s strategic communications plan, working closely with the various programme teams and USAID to coordinate and plan both stand-alone activities and those integrated into broader programme activities. Further, the candidate will also focus specifically on the outputs framed under the USAID-funded BAA project “Facilitating Sustainable Return to Ninewa” and the targets attributed to the Marla Ruzicka Fund supporting victims of war and survivors. S/he will guide the communication unit as it relates to all internal and external communication strategies to promote the BAA programme and all partner strategic communication activities designed to promote stabilization in Iraq.



Core Functions / Responsibilities

1- Develop, implement and monitor a strategic communications plan to meet objectives of the USAID/BAA-funded stabilization project, increase partner/government/community information about stabilization activities, and promote the transparency of USAID-funded activities attributed to the “Marla Ruzicka Fund”, in close coordination with IOM Iraq’s PIU.

2- Establish Strategic Communications training programmes for PSD colleagues, USAID-funded Implementing Partners (IPs), Iraqi Government officials, local government and other partners. Include methodologies to cover trust-building in media, event planning, and others.

3- Design, implement and coordinate all strategic communication, public outreach and media grants.

4- Provide technical oversight for the programmatic implementation and monitoring of strategic communication and media activities in coordination with service providers, programme staff, and in coordination with PIU and the relevant PSD project officers.

5- Ensure that all strategic communication deliverables are synchronized with on-time delivery of project outputs and in line with the USAID branding criteria outlined in the Award.

6- Provide technical information and support PSD field staff in planning and developing relevant information and communications products.

7- Use innovative communications tools to collect stories and demonstrate the impact of USAID-funded interventions across IOM projects as appropriate.

8- Support the development and dissemination of appropriate communications and resources for target communities in the specific country context.

9- Proactively identify media opportunities, in close liaison with PIU and other partners, including press releases, event launches and press conferences.

10- Design and organise regular trainings for programme staff and partners to: a) train IOM-staff and USAID-funded IPs on the strategic communications plan; b) promote adherence to agreed branding and marketing standards for implementation; and c) and demonstrate appropriate gender awareness in strategic communications, public outreach, and media processes, in alignment with PSD programming.

11- Encourage the appropriate promotion of programme successes attributed to USAID-funded projects among Iraqi government, private sector and civil society audiences.

12- Identify/document lessons learned and implications for programme design and implementation, to encourage greater programme responsiveness and accountability to beneficiaries.

13- Support the PSD Reporting team in the preparation and review of weekly, quarterly and annual reports in collaboration with the M&E teams. 14- Undertake duty travel across the different locations where PSD is implementing operations funded by USAID and elsewhere as required, to support implementation of communication activities and to identify where adaptations might be needed. 15- Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education & Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Social Science, International Studies, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience;

• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Experience in Media and Communications

• Experience in preparing clear and concise reports;

• Minimum of one-year experience on USAID Stabilization Programmes will be a distinct advantage;

• Good level of computer literacy.

Technical

• Delivers on set objectives in hardship situations;

• Effectively coordinates actions with other implementing partners;

• Excellent writing and communication skills.

• Experience working in media

Languages

• Fluency in English language is required.

• Working knowledge in Arabic language is an advantage.