Communications Specialist

Job Description

Country: Federal Government of Somalia (FGS)

Name of the Project: Horn of Africa – Ground Water for Resilience Project (GW4R)

Project ID: P174867 Grant No.: IDA – D9310

Consulting Service: Communications Specialist

Individual/Firm: Individual

Deadline: July 15th, 2024, at 12.00pm

Duty station: Mogadishu, Somalia

Reference No.: SO-MOEWR-426659-CS-INDV

Background
The Groundwater for Resilience project (GW4R) is a component of the World Bank financed Horn of Africa (HoA) initiative. The project is intended to increase sustainable access and management of groundwater as a key contributing factor to enhanced climate resilience of targeted communities. The project will strengthen the foundations for regional approaches to resilience building through an improvement of the knowledge base and institutional capacity related to climate shocks, and investments in enhanced groundwater supply and improved utilization.

GW4R addresses groundwater development in order to enhance living conditions and reduce and control the impacts of climate change. Strengthening the region’s capacity to assess, develop, monitor, and manage groundwater resources play a vital role in the ability of vulnerable communities to cope with and adapt to the effects of climate shocks. The GW4R is framed around four components: (i) Institutions and Information, (ii) Infrastructure and Investment, (iii) Inclusive Innovation, and (iv) project management, knowledge, and operation. The project initially focuses on three countries -Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia – and Somaliland and IGAD for the regional integration.

The Somalia component of the GW4R project is titled Abaar-Tir, a US$30 million equivalent operation that will support the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), specifically engaging the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR), and the Federal Member States of Galmudug, Hirshabele, Jubaland, Puntland and South-West States, and Somaliland. Abaar-Tir is intended to strengthen sustainable management of groundwater and to ensure that the resource is available to people and communities, sustainably used, and fostering economic growth over time, also long after the project is concluded. Abaar-Tir consists of three main components. These are (1) build and rehabilitate infrastructure to improve groundwater supply and use; (2) building the institutional capacity and knowledge system of federal and member states to implement the project; and (3) project management and to arrange internal knowledge management and learning. Each component is subdivided into several sub-components and linked activities.

The NPCU will be headed by a Project Coordinator. In each Federal Member State, a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will be established to implement investments in enhanced groundwater supply and community services.

2. SCOPE OF WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The MoEWR intends to engage an experienced Communication Specialist professional the Communications Specialist is expected to work with the Project Coordinator, Project Implementation Unit and all the stakeholders of this project to design, produce and promote communication strategy and materials to raise awareness on and increase access to relevant information on the Groundwater for Resilience Project.

This includes:

Communication Strategy
Knowledge products (such as reports and infographics)
Public communications (such as media releases, social media updates and web stories)
Citizen engagement and key stakeholder engagement to ensure that households and communities understand the benefits of the project and have a buy in to the success of the project.
Adequate messaging to ensure that any potential risks are adequately addressed before they evolve into a crisis.
Lead in the development and implementation of a communication strategy for the GW4R project;
Provide technical advice to MOEWR and the NPCU team on communication issues to enhance effectiveness in the communication of project’s activities;
Establish and manage GW4R information sharing system including social media channels;
Conduct a stakeholder analysis to map the key stakeholders required to drive the success of the project.
Develop content including success and impact stories on GW4R project for uploading on MOEWR website;
Establish an effective system to develop messaging so as to respond to enquiries from the stakeholders in a timely manner;
Guide NPCU technical team and MOEWR staff on information collection, processing, and dissemination methods;
Play a leading role in external relations, building relations with media personnel, liaison and public relations;
Support capacity building of federal member states focal staff on report writing, editing, and presentation skills;
Keep track and effectively communicate the project implementation status, results and its impacts;
Monitor and collate media content that (including social media) mentions of the project and share.
Communications Specialist to work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team to ensure that project achievements and impacts are effectively communicated to stakeholders.
Enhance the capacity of the NPCU team and other relevant stakeholders in effective communication strategies and techniques to ensure sustainability beyond the project duration.
Collaborate with other specialists in the project, such as the Social Development Specialist, Environmental Specialist, and Gender Specialist, to ensure that cross-cutting issues are effectively integrated into all communication efforts.
Any other duties assigned by the Project Coordinator.

Detailed Terms of Reference can be found in the following link: https://moewr.gov.so/jobs www.somalijobs.com

Skills and Qualifications
The candidate should have the following desired qualifications and experience:

· Master’s degree in communications, in particular development communications, Public Relations, Journalism or any other relevant qualification

· Minimum of 5 years hands-on experience in Development Communications, Corporate Communications, Public Relations, Business Communications or Journalism; preferably with experience on donor funded projects.

· Experience in development and implementation of project or institutional branding and messaging in both English and Somali;

· Experience working in Fragile States and working on communication with the government, international organizations or other projects funded by the international community

· Excellent written and spoken command of English and the ability to convey complex ideas in a creative, clear, direct, and lively style.

· Fluency in Somali language (oral and written) will be an added advantage.

· An understanding of working with stakeholders and community level outreach

· Proven knowledge of visual communications principles and fluency with design software.

· Understands project management concepts sufficiently to propose and develop drafts of online communications plans and strategies with minimal supervision; can apply standard project management tools, methodologies, and processes; is able to identify and mitigate project risks as well as manage project issues.

· Knowledge and experience of ICT-based Office applications and tools (word processing, spreadsheets, and data processing, PowerPoint)

· Strong inter-personal skills and ability to work effectively with teams of various levels.

· Evidence of excellent communication and negotiation skills, ability to work effectively and harmoniously within a diverse work environment.

· Proven experience in digital marketing, social media management, and website content management.

· Strong writing and editing skills in both English and Somali, ensuring clear and effective communication with diverse audiences.

3. REPORTING

The position will report to the GW4R NPCU Project Coordinator.

4. DURATION:

The duration for the assignment is initially for a one (1) year period with an extension based on project duration, availability of budget and satisfactory performance.

5. The Ministry of Energy and Water Resources now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide the following (i) Curriculum Vitae (CV) with 3 reference persons; (ii) copies of certificates of academic qualifications; and (iii) cover letter indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.

Attachments
Communication_Specialist _TOR_NPCU-03.06.2024_NPCU 20.06.2024.docx
How to apply
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers: Procurement in Investment Financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services dated November 2020 and September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

The Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultants Selection method set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations.

3. MODE OF SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS AND DEADLINE:

Interested Consultants may obtain further information including a detailed Terms of Reference from www.somalijobs.com

Expressions of interest (EOI) and CV must be delivered by email to the address below on or before July 15th, 2024, at 12:00 PM (East African Time) – Subject marked clearly as Communications Specialist

National Project Coordination Unit (NPCU),

Ministry of Energy and Water Resources,

Federal Government of Somalia,

Email: procurement.gw4r@gmail.com