Advocacy and Communication Specialist at Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI)

Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) is an international development company. For more than 45 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 80 countries.

Our development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Advocacy and Communication Specialist

Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time
Programme: Africa Human Capital Development Plus (HCD+)
Duration:  Full Time

Job Summary

• The Advocacy and Communications Specialist will be responsible for providing technical support and management of HCD+’s evidence-based advocacy on the five thematic areas, implementing advocacy plans and awareness-raising initiatives, driving forward impacts on HCD+’s priority issues, and positioning the organization with partners and target audiences.
• He/She will network and collaborate with relevant stakeholders and advocacy groups/alliances/working groups at local, national, regional, and continental levels and ensure external communication and visibility of advocacy successes as well as wider project outcomes.
• The Specialist will work with the HCD+ Team to design and manage all aspects of internal and external communications.
• S/he will support the assessment of appropriate communications channels and media through which to reach key audiences.
• The Specialist will contribute to the development of high-quality knowledge and learning content including data visualizations, success stories, case studies, and other reporting that informs learning activities and supports adaptive management decisions, contributing to the overall success and impact of the HCD+.
• The Specialist will produce high-impact deliverables - such as newsletters, case studies, discourse events, websites, knowledge-sharing events, social media, online resource platforms, and media campaigns as required.

Specific Responsibilities & Duties
Advocacy Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategy for the Advocacy interventions.
• Engage key HCD+ stakeholders—partners, and decision-makers—in high-level policy and advocacy forums, meetings, and events.
• Provide strategic advocacy resources, including training, production, and dissemination of tools and guidelines.
• Support HCD+ in building and nurturing advocacy-oriented strategic partnerships at country and regional levels.
• Identify and implement creative, efficient, and effective ways to engage HCD+ audiences and stakeholders including through organizing events such as field trips, missions, seminars, workshops, forums, and guest lectures and seize conference participation opportunities in different thematic areas.
• Develop and produce advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and articles, and coordinate it’s dissemination through effective channels.
• Engage in capacity building for partners and stakeholders, HCD focal points, and champions focusing on knowledge and skills required for effective advocacy to effectively perform their role, and monitor and advocate for implementation of key policies.
• Lead the formulation and implementation of project publications documents by ensuring timely and high-quality publications both in terms of contents and layout for which the specialist will work closely with graphic artists, designers, printers, and other experts.
• Provide support in the preparation of speeches, opinion pieces, press releases, and advocacy advisories in support of advocacy priorities.

Communication & Knowledge Management  Responsibilities:

• Conceptualise, plan, manage, and execute successful knowledge-sharing events, including roundtables, seminars/webinars, workshops, conferences, and peer learning sessions.
• Identify key audiences for project communications; design and carry out a rapid assessment of communication channels most utilized by key audiences to inform communications strategy, including audience segmentation and communication approaches for reaching target audiences.
• Lead and manage the creation of knowledge products that showcase results and impact, to effectively profile HCD+ with donors, partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders. This includes case studies, stories, reports, briefing notes, etc.
• Collaborate with the technical team to ensure integration of communications and knowledge management activities that complement and report on national, state, and district-level program activities.
• Provide analytical reviews, evidence-based opinion pieces, success stories, case studies, resources, guides, and toolkits.
• Facilitate communication, knowledge management, and visibility of the project's activities, achievements, and lessons learned, ensuring that project outcomes are effectively shared with relevant stakeholders and contribute to the project's overall success and impact.
• Deliver high-quality writing and communications support including developing communications materials such as talking points and presentations, website content, fact sheets, presentations, reports, photo-reporting, and other materials that effectively showcase the project's impact, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Manage HCD+ brand and visual elements.
• Develop and manage the internal & and external newsletter.
• Identify and curate technical content for the HCD+ website in collaboration with the HCD+ IT team.
• Develop communications products for both internal and external audiences, and implement strategies to increase visibility and brand credibility among target audiences.
• Support the M &  E team in reporting to donors, including Monthly progress reports, quarterly progress reports, and Annual reports.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists and communication officers within government, civil society, and other stakeholders, thus managing media inquiries and coordinating press conferences, interviews, and events to further enhance the project's public presence and impact.

Qualifications and Competencies Required

• Master's Degree in Research / Social Sciences, Mass Communications, Public Relations, Law, Knowledge Management, or a related field.
• Over 6-8 years of work experience in a similar role with steadily increasing responsibility, with at least 5 years in international development in research and analysis, communications, media, advocacy, or knowledge management roles.
• Good qualitative and quantitative research skills and the ability to deliver technically rigorous documents.
• Demonstrated ability to influence policy decisions and build consensus across an extensive range of stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including synthesizing large amounts of information and repurposing messages for different audiences.
• High attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work.
• Experience using technology as a medium for knowledge sharing and capacity building.
• Experience in capacity building on advocacy processes and tools.
• Excellent teamwork, networking, communication, and collaboration skills with a wide range of actors.
• Knowledge of Monitoring and Evaluation for advocacy interventions plus strong skills in report writing, documentation, and presentation.
• Language: Fluency in English language is required and French language is desirable.

Application Closing Date
8th September, 2023.