Communications and Influencing Specialist

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

The primary role of the Communication and Influencing Specialist is to facilitate communication flow to ensure that Plan International Sierra Leone leadership team and key external stakeholders (including Plan International implementing partners and communities) receive the information they need. The holder of the position supports accountability to key stakeholders by communicating the humanitarian situation and Plan International Sierra Leone operations in a timely manner in a format adapted to the target audience.

DIMENSIONS OF ROLE

• The post holder will report to the Head of Programs Development and Quality and is a member of the Extended Country Leadership Team. S/he directly supervises one staff.
• The incumbent will be responsible for producing and/or updating materials and disseminating information throughout Plan International e.g. situation reports, annual reports, programme strategy, fact sheets, briefing notes, etc.
• The post holder will monitor external information sources and high-level reports, synthesize and share main points/outcomes, and will act as a reference/contact point for general information requests related to Plan International Sierra Leone’s program activities.

• In all activities, the post holder will use participatory training and coaching approaches with teams to progressively build capacity in the relevant skill areas.

  Accountability

  External Liaison and Communications

  • Conduct periodic assessments (including field visits) to determine current and anticipated priority information needs of key target groups (Plan International Sierra Leone decision-makers, media/communications, fundraising, implementing partners, donors, government and UN agencies, etc.);
  • Support the communication and dissemination of research outputs from the programs, and provide editing support and identify formats and methodologies appropriate to effective sharing of findings;
  • Develop and maintain excellent relationships with GH Communications Officers, and with communication officers of other NGOs, etc.
  • Act as the main point of contact for media and respond to requests for information from journalists, NOs, and donors, including arranging interviews and field visits;
  • Prepare, distribute and log press releases;
  • Conduct regular field visits to interview staff and beneficiaries, write human interest stories and take photos and videos;
  • Build and maintain local media and information contacts, supporting journalists, researchers and others in awareness raising on Plan International Sierra Leone’s program activities.
  • Promote and coordinate social media communications through approved protocols.

    Internal Communications

    • Work with HoPDQ, CLT, PIIA Manager and communication focal points/interns/contractors to coordinate media and celebration’s visits to CO, PIIA’s and Districts
    • Work with CD, CLT, and GH Communications Officers to coordinate media and celebration’s visits to Sierra Leone
    • Establish a steady flow of information (updates, human interest stories, talking points and Q&As, blogs etc.) to the GH Communications Officers for internal and external dissemination;
    • Regularly provide high-resolution, good quality digital images on Plan International Sierra Leone’s work;
    • Monitor print and social media for mentions of Plan International Sierra Leone and other topics of interest to the organization, and inform the Country Director, CLT and GH Communications Officers of anything important.
    • Identify and create talking points/Q&As for potential sensitive issues and inform the Country Director, WACA and GH Communications Officers when needed.

      Information and Data Collection and Coordination

      • Attend internal briefings, external meetings (e.g. cluster meetings), collect and (where appropriate) synthesize relevant documents, meet with Plan International Sierra Leone staff and undertake field visits as appropriate to remain up to date on the unfolding situations;
      • Share information throughout Plan International and develop materials situation reports, annual reports, programme strategy, fact sheets, briefing notes, etc. requested by NOs
      • Support the BDM in needed response to NOs on general information requests related to Plan International’s work in Sierra Leone;
      • Through desk and field research identify, collate and store effectively, materials relevant to program activities and influencing priorities;
      • Daily monitor news, trends, and events with potential consequences and flag for attention when necessary to the CD and Country Leadership team;
      • Monitor external information sources and high-level reports (from other NGOs, UN agencies, Humanitarian Fora/Initiatives, etc.) and synthesize and share main points/outcomes with key staff in the CO, WACAH, GH, etc;
      • Contribute updated material for Plan International websites and other electronic information-sharing forums;
      • Support the Country Office (CO) in acting as a reference/contact point for general information requests related to Plan International Sierra Leone’s program activities;
      • Link with CO knowledge management staff to better understand KM approaches.

        Influencing

        • Design and implement Plan International’s Communication and influencing strategy for its work in Sierra Leone;
        • Conduct regular analysis of power dynamics in projects and programs to support our gender transformative solutions;
        • Design comprehensive mapping of initiatives/opportunities for Plan SL to lobby or advocate on key aspects of its current influencing plan at local, national and international levels
        • Act as point person for engaging Plan Liaison Offices;
        • Lead periodic reports for advancing children's rights in collaboration with Child Protection Lead;
        • Monitor partner’s strategies to insert Plan International’s agenda in favor of girls.

          Training

          • Provide relevant training to staff and partners in using information management systems, report drafting, media interventions, etc.
          • Provide awareness raising and training to Plan International Sierra Leone staff on Plan International’s communications approaches and principles.
          • Guide Communication interns/contractors and other colleagues on Photography, Graphic Design and others

            Link See full job Description of the role 15-01-25.docx

            📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

            ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

            Location: Country Office – with 30% travel to operational areas

            Type of Role: Communication and Influencing Specialist

            Reports to: Country Office – with 30% travel to operational areas

            Grade: Level 16

            Closing Date: 29th January, 2025

            Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

            We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

            Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

            We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

            Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

            A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.