Communications & Advocacy Manager

Position description

As Adeso evolves from a traditional non-profit organisation into a social enterprise, our team is seeking a Communications Manager to lead our storytelling on this journey. Adeso needs strategic communications support as we endeavour to build a wider global presence. The successful candidate will have a drive for systems change and doing aid differently as well as an understanding of how to navigate the complexities of Adeso’s storytelling as a social enterprise, at the global level and with our locally-led initiatives in Somalia.

SPECIFIC SCOPE OF WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Communications:

• Storytelling: Adeso is a complex and multifaceted organisation shifting to become a social enterprise. We are doing big things within our initiatives in Somalia, but also at the global level in Systems Change work, doing Advocacy and Influencing as well as creating real solutions to the real barriers to providing more direct funds from donors directly to local organizations in the Global South. Degan Ali is Adeso’s Executive Director, and a thought leader in the Decolonising Aid and Philanthropy movements. We need to refine these stories and increase Adeso’s audience and presence on all Social Media platforms;
• Overall Communications Strategy Development: This means helping us come up with calendar, content and strategy for our new Website, Social Media, Email Messages, Marketing/Fundraising Ideas, Collateral (such as Annual Report), etc.:
  • Lead the production of Adeso’s Annual Report;
  • Growing social media followers for Adeso;
  • Assist with content creation for Adeso’s new website;
  • Message Development: A thorough look into all the projects and thematic areas that Adeso works in and help us tell our story from all avenues and to different audiences and stakeholders;
  • Edit and create content for all the programs and projects that Adeso is currently working on;
  • Create a content calendar for our team to use on social media;
  • Help the team develop fundraising materials and distribution strategy through website, social media and email listservs;
  • Monthly internal newsletter publication.
• Access and Engagement with local and major media outlets: We feel that there is a major gap in the general public’s knowledge on how broken the current aid system is:
  • We see Adeso and Degan Ali, in particular, as a fundamental voice in a myriad of target audiences ranging from philanthropy, international development, aid, decolonization, locally led development, African leaders, Climate Justice, Racial Equity, and more;
  • Major media exposure and placement that position Adeso and its Executive Director as thought leaders including:
    • article quotes and mentions;
    • feature articles;
    • Podcast interviews.
  • Strategy to help Adeso to reach a more general audience, on the continent of Africa, in North America as well as Europe.

Advocacy in Communications:

• Identify and articulate annual advocacy platform priorities and coordinate strategy of support and implementation across teams and business units;
• Monitor and pursue speaking opportunities at national and global levels to raise awareness about Adeso’s thematic priorities while reinforcing Adeso’s thought leadership in the decolonization and community-led development space. Help Adeso and its leadership continue to strategically set the tone for global dialogue and action;
• Support Adeso leadership by writing/creating and publishing key advocacy materials such as policy briefs, case studies, news articles, OpEds and blogs in support of Adeso’s strategic goals on various platforms;
• Assist with thoughtful responses to key policy changes, such as USAID’s pledge to grant 25% of funds directly to local organizations, that advance Adeso’s goals for decolonization and its role as an influencer towards bi-lateral donors in collaboration with Adeso’s Senior Leadership and partners.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• As a prerequisite, the successful candidate must believe in the core values of Adeso and be driven by the mission. The candidate should demonstrate a passion for breaking new ground to lead change;
• Degree in journalism, public relations, communications, marketing, advertising;
• Experience dealing with media outlets an added advantage;
• Proven success of written thought leadership, such as blogs, etc.;
• Experience living and/or working in East Africa and/or the Horn of Africa;
• A willingness to travel to Puntland, Somalia;
• Experience working remotely and coordinating activities across multiples time zones;
• Background in support-related field such as Communications, PR, social media with the ability to interact with people online and understand how online trust works;
• Extremely strong written communication skills and ability to communicate ideas and concepts digitally. Ability to create content and work with others to create content;
• Comfortable using a wide range of digital platforms (email, Microsoft 365, MailChimp, LinkedIn, X, WhatsApp, Zoom, WordPress);
• Flexible and adaptable with a high level of empathy and the ability to connect with people at all levels of the organisation;
• Knowledge of the Somali language is a plus.

Application instructions

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