Communications Consultancy

Dec 12, 2019 | Global Witness
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Global Witness investigates and campaigns to stop human rights and environmental abuses caused by corruption and the exploitation of natural resources.

About the consultancy

We are looking for a consultant to develop and implement a strategy to support the priority communication needs of land and environmental defenders’ organisations.

You’ll have experience of working with in-country NGOs and grassroots groups in either Latin America or South East Asia, which would constitute 70% of the consultancy.

You’ll also provide broader reactive media and communications support to the Land and Environmental Defenders team, spending 30% of your time on this. 

The consultancy will involve:

  • An initial assessment of main communications needs of the Land and Environmental Defenders (LED) Campaign’s key partner organisations in Latin America and Asia (i.e. defenders’ groups and other civil society organisations supporting defenders).
  • Provision of communications support to partners, including pitching stories, developing social media materials, supporting launches of reports and helping partners develop longer term relationships with international and in-country media.
  • Work with Land and Environmental Defenders campaign staff to help partners gain access to relevant international policy for key international advocacy opportunities, and tailor communications products for advocacy targets.
  • Provision of tailored communications training (e.g. comms planning, development of effective social media content) to meet specific partner needs.
  • Maintain strong on-going communication with relevant partners, ensuring the communications support we provide meets the specific contextual and cultural needs of the different partners and countries.
  • As needed, identify, contract and manage local contractors (in countries where we are supporting partners) to provide agreed support to partner organisations (e.g. provide social media training in local languages, development of visual or audio-visual materials in local languages and tailored to specific cultural contexts, translations). Manage the budget for local contractors.
  • Work with the Global Witness Communications team to deliver reactive media work – including media monitoring, developing FAQs and responses for media on key issues and comms products, copywriting, responding to journalists’ approaches on FLAC issues and supporting on briefings.
  • Co-ordinate effectively with Land and Environmental Defenders Team staff who are also engaging directly with partner organisations, to ensure consistency in terms of how we engage with partners across the Campaign.

Key outputs

  • At the end of the consultancy, we will require a detailed handover including a progress report, detailed document of relevant contacts, media, status of any joint work with them and partners and their needs and expectations.
  • Development of a 10-month plan to meet priority communications needs of our key partner organisations, and a proposed longer-term strategy for how the LED Campaign can maintain communications support to partners after the end of this fixed-term post.
  • Maximise media/advocacy opportunities for our partners resulting from launch of Global Witness’ own Defenders’ annual report and other high profile LED comms products.

About you

  • Proven track record of working with national and/or local level civil society organisations in the Global South, including in a capacity-building role.
  • Solid experience of developing proactive packages for media and social media to promote campaigns, and strong experience of reactive media work around specific issues, including drafting media FAQs and press statements and handling press enquiries.
  • Strong copywriting experience, including blogs, op-eds and social media content.
  • Experience of designing and delivering communications-related training to civil society organisations in the Global South, ideally including grassroots organisations with limited capacity.
  • Familiarity and keen interest in the issues that Global Witness works on as an organisation, and specifically in issues facing Land and Environmental Defenders.
  • Experience of working with, and contacts within, media organisations in Latin America (ideally including in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and/or Peru) and/or Asia (ideally including India and/or Philippines).
  • Experience of conducting communications needs assessment and developing a communications plan based on this assessment.
  • Experience of contracting and managing consultants/contractors in the Global South
  • Fluency in Spanish (written and spoken).
  • Ability to work under pressure.

Highly desirable:

  • Working knowledge of Portuguese
  • Experience of advocacy and campaigning with national governments and international institutions.

Timeframe

The deadline for applications is 31st December 2019. Global Witness requires the evaluation to be completed by 20th January 2021.

Applying

For full terms of reference please contact hiqbal@globalwitness.org (subject line: LED Consultant). If you wish to be considered for this consultancy please provide the following details below. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Expressions of interest in this consultancy should:

  • Provide a summary CV (not exceeding three pages) of the consultant.
  • Cover letter
  • Outline a methodological approach to the work.

It is anticipated that a preferred candidate for the consultancy will be determined by Global Witness on the basis of these expressions of interest and a contract agreed with them by 20th January 2020.