Communications Advisor

Assignment Type:

Canadian International Volunteer

Eligibility Requirements:

Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada only

Assignment ID:

VA-106338

Assignment Title:

Communications Advisor

Partner:

Foundation for Civic Education and Social Empowerment

Country:

Malawi

Duration:

4 to 12 months (flexible)

Time Commitment:

Full-time

Assignment Context

Are you passionate about improving economic and education opportunities for youth? Do you have communication skills to share?

As the Communications Advisor with Foundation for Civic Education & Social Empowerment (FOCESE) in Blantyre, Malawi, you will support the development of communications and marketing strategies and tools to increase FOCESE’s visibility and share success stories with its partners and stakeholders. 

Apply today and contribute to refugee empowerment in Malawi!

Roles and Responsibilities

• Support the development, design, coordination, and implementation of a communication and marketing strategy and work plan to attract new funding partners
• Collaborate with staff to develop, produce and package communications pieces that highlight the many successes, lessons learned and best practices 
• Support in coordinating and implementing communications activities to create more awareness and visibility of the work of the organization in new and innovative sectors
• Collect and document Gender Equality lessons learned, good practices and stories of change from projects, particularly from FOCESE programs’ female participants
• Support the team to offset the environmental footprint of the planned assignment activities
• Support the team to consider meaningful inclusion of program participation
• Participate in pre-assignment training
• Participate in at least 3 public engagement initiatives before, during, or after the assignment. Volunteers will be equipped with the tools, training, and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers will also have one virtual check-in with the Public Engagement Officer throughout the course of their assignment
• Set up a personalized volunteer fundraising page on the WUSC fundraising platform and share it in your networks
• Volunteers will be supported with the tools, training and support to achieve the fundraising goal
• Submit reports as required by the partner organization and by WUSC.

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or other related fields
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing communications strategies and work plans
• Experience in marketing and targeting international communities
• Knowledge of digital communications marketing, social media tools, trends, and best practices
• Minimum two (2) years relevant professional experience in your field of expertise
• A commitment to gender equality, youth inclusion, and international volunteering
• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Experience with group facilitation and trainings, including content development considered an asset
• Experience living and working internationally considered an asset
• Written and oral fluency in English.

Project Description

Volunteering for development is one of the important ways in which WUSC pursues its mission. The IGNI+E project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, supports over 70 partner organizations to advance gender equality and the economic empowerment of 1.2 million youth around the world. IGNI+E harnesses the knowledge, capacity and expertise of skilled Canadians through volunteer assignments and public engagement activities to assist partners in improving their performance, advocating for gender equality, and implementing more sustainable, innovative and inclusive initiatives and services for poor and marginalised youth, particularly young women. Overseas, our volunteers collaborate with a wide variety of partners, including enterprise and social enterprise development incubators, skills training centres, women's organizations, and youth groups. In Canada, WUSC works with institutions and individuals to identify, prepare, and support volunteers who travel overseas to support our partners. Our network in Canada also works with WUSC to raise awareness among Canadians to inspire greater action on global development issues. Our collective focus is on sustainable and inclusive changes to create a better world for youth.

Partner Description

FOCESE is a young women-led advocacy and service delivery youth organization promotingrights of young people particularly the most vulnerable adolescent girls and young women,Gender based survivors, people living with HIV and AIDS and disabilities and rights holders.Our programs include advocacy on women health issues including sexual reproductive healthand rights (SRHR), sexual and gender based violence, women economic justice, girl childeducation sponsorship, active participation and human rights, humanitarian response,livelihoods, networking and collaboration. These programs aim at strengthening women and girl’s agency, voice and participation in theareas of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) including HIV/AIDS and safeabortion, Education, Sexual and Gender and Based Violence (SGBV), ensuring genderequitable social norms, attitudes, and behavioral change at community and individual levels,promoting a culture of self- reliance among young people through sustainable livelihoodactivities that generate income and social capital leading to attainment of better livingstandards among the young people, supporting the active participation of the young people indecision making positions and popularize the principles of democratic practices and goodgovernance and building young women and girls’ leadership skills through empowerment andbuilding of socio-economic capabilities. Basically our programs target the young women, adolescent girls as primary target while theyouth and women remain secondary target.

Support Package

• Support and guidance from the WUSC Volunteer Mobilization Team prior to departure and from WUSC Country Team while on assignment
• Pre-departure training to learn about the volunteering for development program, gain practical skills for living and working in an intercultural context and network with other volunteers
• In-country orientation upon arrival in country of assignment
• Language training in country of assignment, where required
• Modest monthly living and accommodation allowance
• Airfare to and from the assignment country
• Visa/work permit
• Pre-departure medical exam
• Health insurance
• Vaccinations and antimalarial medication
• COVID-19 PCR testing
• Criminal record verification
• Vacation leave entitlement
• Debriefing after completion of assignment
• An incredible opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to global development, enhance your professional skills and participate in an experience of a lifetime!

WUSC’s Safeguarding Policy

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion and sexual exploitation and abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to sign off on the WUSC Code of Conduct and the Self-Disclosure Form. International and national volunteers will also be required to submit a criminal record verification.

WUSC is a signatory to the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct. The pledge represents the shared commitment as Canada’s global development and humanitarian leaders to ensure the full implementation of practices and policies that will protect and respond to our own staff, volunteers and the communities we serve. We are committed to creating safe and respectful workplaces and programs that promote gender equality and are free from gender-based violence, including by addressing and responding to all abuse of power, holding people to account, and protecting the vulnerable. Read the full pledge.