Communication Officer at West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP)

WANEP-Nigeria is the Nigerian Country Office of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), a Sub-regional NGO with regional secretariat based in Accra, Ghana, whose mission is to enable and facilitate the development of mechanisms for cooperation among civil society-based peacebuilding practitioners and organizations in West Africa by promoting cooperative responses to violent conflicts; providing the structure through which these practitioners and institutions will regularly exchange experience and information on issues of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, social, religious and political reconciliation; and promoting West Africa’s social and cultural values as resources for peacebuilding.

General Position Summary

• The Communication Officer will support the development and implementation of an effective communication strategy for WANEP-Nigeria aimed at promoting the organization’s work in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. This role will involve the development of timely, well-crafted content, including articles, success stories, fact sheets, and other relevant materials. The Communication Officer will work closely with program teams, partners, and stakeholders to capture, document, and share impactful insights that align with WANEP’s mission and strategic objectives.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Country Communication Strategy Support:

• Assist in the development and execution of a comprehensive communication strategy that aligns with WANEP-Nigeria’s goals and supports donor requirements.
• Document and implement activities in accordance with WANEP’s standards, ensuring consistency and quality.
• Contribute to team-building efforts and provide cross-functional communication support to enhance internal learning.
• Develop and coordinate new communication initiatives, such as internal knowledge-sharing sessions, and facilitate their implementation.

Communication and Capacity Building:

• Ensure compliance with communication and visibility guidelines set by donors and WANEP’s protocols.
• Support field teams in gathering and curating compelling stories, photographs, and content that highlight program successes and staff experiences.
• Create and disseminate project materials to key stakeholders in a structured and impactful manner.
• Maintain a contact database for key communication stakeholders, supporting effective information sharing.
• Foster partnerships with communication professionals across local and international NGOs to enhance the sharing of best practices and resources.
• Identify and address communication training needs among team members and lead targeted capacity-building initiatives.
• Facilitate cross-learning and knowledge-sharing sessions, such as lunch-and-learn events, to enhance internal communication.
• Provide administrative support for communication-related meetings and working groups, ensuring productive outcomes.

Content Development and Dissemination:

• Monitor internal communications and updates to gather content for a monthly WANEP-Nigeria newsletter.
• Maintain a digital resource library, ensuring easy access to fact sheets, success stories, lessons learned, communiqués, and other materials.
• Draft and publish content for WANEP’s internal and external platforms, including websites and social media pages, to promote the organization’s work and initiatives.
• Support the development and rollout of the WANEP-Nigeria website and keep it regularly updated with relevant content.

Event Coordination and Support:

• Lead the planning and coordination of communication aspects for workshops, training, and other events.
• Actively contribute to the facilitation of communications training sessions for WANEP staff and partners.
• Participate in meetings, workshops, and discussions to enhance WANEP’s communication practices and align with organizational goals.

Organizational Learning:

• Dedicate 5% of work time to learning activities that improve personal skills and contribute to WANEP’s organizational learning culture.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:

• Ensure that all communication practices are inclusive and reflective of the needs and voices of the communities WANEP-Nigeria serves.

Accountability:

• Reports Directly To: Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP, PARTNER program)
• Works Directly With: WANEP’s Programs Staff, and consortium partners.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by WANEP-Nigeria.
• Coordinate with WANEP Security/Safety Officer and State Manager on any threats to WANEP staff and activities; follow up on incidents/security threats in areas of operation.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• As an equal-opportunity employer does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. We do not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status, or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• WANEP-Nigeria is committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC.
• As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the Code of Conduct Policies, and values at all times.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in communications, public relations, or a related role.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in design and publishing software.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing communication strategies.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with media outlets and other stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Experience in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, or related fields is an advantage.

Method of Application

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