Advocacy and Communications Coordinator at Save the… · Sierra…

Advocacy and Communications Coordinator

Location: Sierra Leone

JOB TITLE: Advocacy and Communication Coordinator

PROJECT: Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project (SLCRP)

LOCATION: Freetown Sierra Leone (with frequent travel to project implementation Districts )

GRADE: 3

Type of Contract: Fixed Term

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children International works to ensure that children survive, learn, and are protected, particularly in the most vulnerable and climate affected contexts.

In Sierra Leone, Save the Children is implementing the Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project, a five-year climate adaptation initiative aimed at strengthening the resilience of coastal communities, especially women, children, and youth through locally led adaptation, improved livelihoods, climate resilient services, and ecosystem restoration.

The project integrates advocacy, communication, and Social and Behaviour Change approaches to promote climate resilient practices, strengthen community engagement, and document evidence and learning.

The Advocacy and Communication Coordinator will support implementation of advocacy, communication, and SBC activities at field level. The post holder will work closely with the Chief of Party, District Project Managers, MEAL team, and the ACCM unit.

The role focuses on supporting implementation of communication, advocacy, and SBC activities, strengthening project visibility at community, national, and global levels, coordinating documentation including case stories, photos, videos, baselines, and learning products, and ensuring consistent messaging and high-quality documentation of results and impact.

The role is coordination and implementation focused and serves as the project communications focal point, including engagement with partners.

The position is based in Freetown and requires frequent travel to project implementation districts and coastal communities to support advocacy, communication, documentation, stakeholder engagement, and learning activities.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Chief of Party – SLCRP

Matrix Reporting: Director of Advocacy, campaign, Communication and Media

Number of Positions: One (1)

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Budget Responsibilities: Supports activity-level budget implementation

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

The Advocacy and Communication coordinator will be responsible for the following:

Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement

• Support implementation of the project advocacy strategy in line with Save the Children priorities.
• Coordinate advocacy initiatives on climate resilience and policy influence at national and district levels.
• Organize stakeholder consultations, policy dialogues, advocacy meetings, community engagement events, and campaigns.
• Build and maintain relationships with government institutions, partners, civil society organizations, media, and communities.
• Develop advocacy inputs including policy briefs, talking points, position papers, and campaign materials.
• Document advocacy processes, stakeholder commitments, and influencing outcomes.

Communication, Visibility and Media

• Implement the communication and visibility plan in line with donor and Save the Children branding requirements.
• Develop communication products including newsletters, briefs, blogs, reports, case studies, and stories of change.
• Coordinate production of multimedia content including photos, videos, testimonials, and human-interest stories.
• Ensure dissemination of project results to communities, donors, partners, media, and internal audiences.
• Support media engagement including interviews, press visits, briefings, and field visits with the ACCM team.
• Provide regular communication and visibility updates

Documentation, Knowledge Management and Learning

• Support documentation of project achievements, lessons learned, innovations, and best practices.
• Maintain an organized repository of communication and knowledge management products.
• Support baseline, progress, and endline visual documentation.
• Identify and document emerging evidence and innovations.
• Contribute to donor reports, learning products, and knowledge outputs.

Social and Behaviour Change (SBC)

• Support the implementation and documentation of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) interventions and campaigns that promote climate resilience, community participation and adoption of positive behaviours.
• Work closely with technical teams and implementing partners to develop communication materials and messaging that reinforce SBC objectives.

Coordination

• Work closely with district teams, partners, and communities to ensure consistent messaging.
• Collaborate with the MEAL team to generate and communicate evidence and results.
• Provide technical guidance on communication, storytelling, branding, and documentation.
• Participate in learning events, trainings, and coordination meetings
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor in support of the successful implementation of the Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project.

Other Duties

• Prepare and submit regular weekly/monthly plans and reports of activities
• Participate in and represent Save the Children in external events/meetings as requested.
• Undertake any training required to meet the objectives of the post or as relevant to SCI.
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures, including, but not limited to: fraud and anti-bribery, child safeguarding and code of conduct, sexual harassment and gender equality, safety and security, finance, procurement, and human resources.
• Ensure all project activities are implemented in line with safe programming procedures/protocols.
• Other significant duties as may be assigned by his/her line manager.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SCI Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mass communication, Development Communication, International Relations, or related field.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in advocacy and communication work for children or youth programmes.
• At least two years’ experience working with an international organization.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Experience in writing blogs, articles, short stories etc.
• Experience in using digital camera or smart phone technology for productions of B-rolls, short videos, films high quality still photographs.
• Experience working with networks and cultivating partnership with various stakeholders.
• Experience in report writing
• Experience in policy analysis and development of communication messages and materials
• Experience in coordination of advocacy and communication related activities/events
• Experience in mobilising and working with comm unity structures in an inclusive, child-sensitive, and gender-sensitive manner.
• Proven experience in organising and facilitating trainings, especially on child protection issues.
• Experience in using participatory methodologies in programme implementation, preferably involving children and adolescents.
• Experience working with local partners and providing technical support to them.
• Excellent facilitation, communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as a team member within a collaborative framework.
• The ability to work independently and use own initiative; strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to plan and organise work, cope with pressure and prioritise competing demands on time.
• The ability to represent the organisation and advocate with a wide range of partners, including government, NGO’s and community representatives.
• Ability to write clear and well-structured reports in English.
• Strong computer skills, especially in word, excel, PowerPoint, internet.
• Commitment to Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.
• Training in content gathering, including:
  • How to stage a video
    • Lighting
    • Background noise
    • Microphones (or ability to hear speakers clearly)
    • Background visuals
    • Aspect ratios (for social media)
  • How to conduct an interview (what makes compelling storytelling, how to avoid sounding scripted in responses, etc.)
  • How to stage photos
    • Lighting
    • Background visuals
    • Aspect ratios
    • Action shots versus posed portraits

Storytelling (what makes a good story, how to balance data with creative details, and how to craft a story when most details must be omitted).

Equal Opportunities

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures, and all other relevant policies, procedures, and protocols

Additional job responsibilities

The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the Post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.