Communications Officer – NOURISH Project (Part-time role, envisaged to be 50% FTE)

SNV is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Building on 60 years of experience and together with our team of over 1,600 people, we strengthen capacities and catalyze partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems, which enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all. Grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we work on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance.

Background: NOURISH Tanzania

‘Empowering Smallholder Farmers for Food Security and Climate Resilience’ (NOURISH Tanzania) aims to achieve resilient food security for smallholder farmer households in key regions of Tanzania.
Tanzanian SHF households heavily dependent on agriculture face significant food insecurity and nutrition challenges. SHFs have low productivity due to poor quality seed, limited and variable rainfall, poor extension services, and limited access to markets. Lack of knowledge of nutritional requirements and how to meet them, exacerbated by gender inequalities, affects household nutrition.

• The project focuses on two geographic areas, both of which experience food insecurity and malnutrition, but which are distinctly different: the central-northern zone (Singida, Dodoma, Manyara) which suffers from acute food insecurity, and the Southern Highlands (Songwe, Rukwa) which faces chronic malnutrition. The project targets 168,000 SHFs and 100 MSMEs and farm organizations, with special emphasis on vulnerable SHFs. With a focus on four high-potential value chains (sorghum, sunflower, common bean, and vegetables), the project will tackle barriers to SHF food security through three interconnected outcome pathways:

1. Increased productivity: strengthening SHF climate-smart agricultural knowledge, skills, and access to inputs and finance.
2. Increased and diversified food supply to local markets: fostering collaborations among market actors, promoting digital solutions, and empowering SHFs and MSMEs.
3. Improved utilization of household resources to provide nutritious and diverse food: promoting nutritious diets, household food budgeting, and enabling women to have greater influence in HH decisions.

SNV is leading a consortium together with Farm Africa, and partners with five local organizations including two local CSOs. The partners have significant experience in climate-resilient agriculture, nutrition, digital technology applications, and GESI. The project’s total budget is NOK 200 million over five years and is funded by Norad.

Purpose of the role

The NOURISH Communications Officer is responsible for ensuring the Nourish project is adequately supported with communications functions. She/he will play a crucial role in disseminating information, building awareness, and engaging stakeholders to promote the Nourish project’s objectives. The Communications Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy to support outcome achievement, enhance visibility, and foster partnerships. The role will coordinate, lead, and support where necessary, the capturing and sharing of progress, successes, and lessons with different stakeholders, and assist the project leadership with public relations and raising the profile of the Nourish project with key audiences. Internally, the role will provide strategic communications advisory and challenge function to support reflective ways of working and will evaluate the effectiveness of project communications for continual improvement. The candidate will ensure disseminated materials align and comply with legal requirements, and donor and SNV communication policies and procedures.

The successful candidate will have a track record in strategic communications in a development program context, including multimedia content creation, public relations, media, and knowledge-sharing events. Also required is excellent written and spoken English and Swahili, and familiarity with agriculture and food security issues in Tanzania.

Key Responsibilities

Communications strategy and teamwork:

• Develop and implement a strategic communications plan aligned with the project’s goals and objectives, including target audiences, communications channels, key messages, and communications activities to facilitate change in key stakeholder behavior, action, and practices that contribute to project outcomes.
• Collaboratively provide strategic communications advisory and challenge function to project team to ensure appropriate communications focus is mainstreamed within all activities.
• Provide support to the implementation of interventions linked to Behaviour Change Communication.
• Conduct training sessions for project staff and partners on effective communication techniques.

Content Creation:

• Design, produce, and edit engaging and informative content for various platforms, including websites, social media, newsletters, and press releases.
• Produce multimedia materials such as videos, infographics, and photo stories to illustrate project impact.
• Undertake field visits and participate in planning, writing, and managing information updates, activity briefs, and other information products for partners and stakeholders as needed.
• Provide editorial support to project team members.

Public relations, media, and digital presence:

• Assist the project leadership with public relations and to raise the profile of the Nourish project among project stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
• Cultivate relationships with media outlets to secure coverage for project activities and milestones.
• Prepare and distribute press releases and organize press conferences when necessary.
• Manage and update the project’s website and social media channels regularly.
• Monitor online conversations, respond to inquiries, and actively participate in relevant online communities.
• Maintain records of media coverage and collate analytics and metrics.

Knowledge and sharing:

• Lead the convening of actors to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking in support of project outcomes.
• Support team to plan and deliver communication campaigns and high-profile events, such as key meetings, workshops and seminars aimed at stakeholder engagement and boosting the visibility of Nourish project.

Reporting, learning and evaluation:

• Support the MEL Coordinator in the story-telling documentation of findings and lessons learned.
• Track and evaluate the impact of communication activities.

• Use data and feedback to adjust strategies and improve communication effectiveness.

• University degree in communications, public relations, journalism or relevant field; a Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of experience in designing, implementing, and overseeing communications in a development programme context, preferably in the agriculture or development sector.
• Media and communications experience is required, including engagement with media stations (radio, TV) and print media outlets, the use and production of IEC materials, audio-visual materials and documents (photos, videos, social media content, posters, infographics etc)
• Strong writing (e.g. blog/articles), document review, and editorial skills.
• Proficiency in multimedia content creation tools, social media management and website management.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Swahili, with exemplary communication style.
• Experience in presenting data and findings in various formats and to a variety of audiences.
• Good photography skills.
• Familiarity with the agricultural landscape and food security issues in Tanzania.
• Experience in behavior change and communication an added advantage.

Desired attributes:

• Strong team player with facilitation, moderation, and capacity-building skills.
• Self-awareness, possessing high levels of emotional intelligence and respect for staff, colleagues, and partners.
• Sets high-quality standards and strives for continuous improvement and quality assurance.
• Ability to liaise, negotiate and build positive working relationships with implementing partners.
• Highly motivated self-starter, able to work under pressure, multi-task and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent social and communication skills (written and oral), as well as reporting and presentation skills.
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of SNV and Farm Africa.
• Ability to undertake unaccompanied travel and operate in the field.

• Location: Preferably Dodoma or Sumbawanga (but will consider Dar es Salaam for exceptional candidates) with regular field travel (30-40%)
• Reports to: Team Leader, NOURISH Project
• Staff reporting to post-holder N/A
• Contract duration: 2 years, with possibility of extension

How to Apply

Submit your application on or before 5 pm EAT on Friday, 20th February 2024, if you wish to be considered for this position. All information will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.  We will revert to you as soon as feasible when we have reviewed your application, though due to the expected high number of applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Submit a CV (no more than 3 pages); a motivation letter detailing your interest, suitability, current/previous & expected salary for the role (no more than 1 page);

Working at SNV

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts across sectors. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org

SNV is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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