Afghanistan: Communication Specialist for AEITI Secretariat

Sep 6, 2016 | Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, Afghanistan
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The Communication Specialist would manage the communications team; and would remain responsible in developing, managing, co-coordinating, networking, implementing, monitoring, reporting and advocating the AEITI communication strategy associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding and support of the AEITI secretariat and the Multi-sectoral Group (MSG).

 

Project Summary:

 The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received a grant from the World Bank toward the cost of achieving Sustainable Development of Natural Resources in Afghanistan.  The Project is being implemented through a Program Management Unit (PMU) within the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum. The PMU is now seeking a well qualified individual consultant for the position of Communication Specialist for AEITI secretariat based in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is the global standard for promoting greater accountability in developing countries, which are rich in oil, gas, or mineral resources.  Studies have shown that when governance is good these resources can be an important engine for growth and sustainable development.  Correspondingly, when governance is poor, countries dependent on these resources are disproportionately susceptible to poverty, corruption, and conflict – the so-called “resource curse”.  The EITI aims to mitigate this risk by promoting greater transparency over payments made by companies to government, and revenues received by governments; and by improving the accountability of governments and companies to local civil society groups. More information on the Initiative can be found at www.eitransparency.org.

On March 16 2009 the Government of Afghanistan (GoA) announced its endorsement of the principles of EITI, after which all remaining EITI sign-up indicators were entirely implemented to become EITI candidate country that was officially endorsed by the International EITI Board at its meeting in Oslo in February 2010. The GoA has requested that the donor community provide immediate technical and financial support to develop good governance and accountability mechanisms in extractive industries sector via effective EITI implementation processes in Afghanistan.  These terms of reference outline the work required. 

The major responsibility of the Communication Specialist is to develop AEITI communication strategy, frequently up-date the strategy, and prepare action plans according to the approved strategy, timely executing the action plan activities. The Communication Specialist is responsible for preparing periodic AEITI progress reports and will report directly to the AEITI National Coordinator. The specific responsibilities of the Communication Specialist contains but not limited to the followings: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (AEITI), reporting to the National Coordinator.

Job Summary:

The Communication Specialist would manage the communications team; and would remain responsible in developing, managing, co-coordinating, networking, implementing, monitoring, reporting and advocating the AEITI communication strategy associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding and support of the AEITI secretariat and the Multi-sectoral Group (MSG).

The major responsibility of the Communication Specialist is to develop AEITI communication strategy, frequently up-date the strategy, and prepare action plans according to the approved strategy, timely executing the action plan activities. The Communication Specialist is responsible for preparing periodic AEITI progress reports and will report directly to the AEITI National Coordinator. The specific responsibilities of the Communication Specialist contains but not limited to the followings: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (AEITI), reporting to the National Coordinator.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develop, maintain and update the communication strategy and associated work plan. Strategy and work plan includes: stakeholder assessment and provide trainings based on that; objectives; target audiences; events; trainings; broadcast AEITI messages and media mix; resources; specific actions, activities and monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy.
  • Maintain close collaboration with EITI International Secretariat for effective overall ll coordination.
  • Ensure that the AEITI office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the message of AEITI's cooperation to a wider audience.
  • Identify, develop, distribute and evaluate variety of AEITI public outreach materials in multiple, appropriate formats (Press releases, Brushers, Flyers, Reconciliation Reports and feature stories etc). Ensure or enhance the quality, appropriateness of AEITI specific communication materials, activities, processes and messages transmitted to the press, MSG and public.
  • Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials and share results and findings.
  • Develop and deploy AEITI office communication capacity to gather/facilitate the content and coverage of relevant AEITI efforts. Use the opportunity to identify/highlight effective programme activities and results.
  • Develop an action plan for communication activities, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met.
  • Support communication activities through knowledge management, information exchange and capacity building of the AEITI communications team. Enable appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, and developing training and orientation material.
  • Responsible to present AEITI to the relevant meetings and while bringing new stakeholders onboard.
  • Sharing collaborative case studies, audit findings, issues, policy analysis results and other research that informs policy of critical issues in AEITI’s thematic areas in terms of transparency, accountability and service delivery
  • Act as media spokesperson in line with the aims and objectives of AEITI; and the developed communication plans to ensure optimal media exposure and proper information dissemination.
  • Productive interaction with CSOs, Private Sector and Government and other relevant stakeholders to deliver compelling messages and provide a mechanism for feedback to AEITI
  • Design/prepare professional communications materials, including press releases, information kits, workshop materials, talking points, speeches, brochures, scripts, and other related materials with the aim of achieving the set objectives of AEITI
  • Ensure the quality of the communication material; and make sure that the AEITI website and other Social Media activities are always up to date.
  • Conduct media campaigns on the AEITI to the public
  • Guide all 3rd party consultants (and donor organization) assigned to AEITI on communications/stakeholder management matter
  • Any other job related tasked assigned by the direct supervisor.

 

Qualifications:

 

  • At least Master’s Degree in Journalism, Social Sciences or any other relevant field
  • Minimum of 5 years working experience in the field of public awareness, management, project implementation, monitoring and reporting;
  • At least 3 years working experience in the areas of transparency, extractive industries and relevant areas
  • Extensive knowledge of mining law, regulations on revenue, environment and other relevant lows and policies
  • High levels of personal initiative, motivation, honesty and integrity
  • Familiarity with AEITI mandate and working experiences in the areas of Extractive Industries of the requirements
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Should be fluent in spoken and written of local languages and English.

The consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Section V of Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (revised Jan 2011).

Expressions of interest (including CV and three referees) should be sent to the email address below by no later than 17th September 2016 at 15:00 hrs Reference # MoMP/PMU/CT-II-12-3d must be quoted on all correspondence and the Expression of interest.