KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Developing and implementing an effective communications strategy for the PCU, including Media and communications training and workshops for partners, taking into account the in-country strategies already developed and under the guidance of the Alliance’s Media and Communications Team.
• Supporting implementing partners to implement effective country-specific communication strategies and plans appropriate to their context in alignment with the jointly developed Media and Communications Strategy for the Restore Africa Program
• Providing high-level media advice to implementing partners in consultation with the Alliance’s Media and Communications Team on effective coordination and collaboration for the delivery of compelling, evidence-based content.
• Supporting the Alliance’s Media and Communications Team with the development of compelling stories and content for all media channels
• Working with implementing partners to collate media resources for communication, marketing and advocacy while ensuring compliance with the branding guidelines and safeguarding policy regarding communications contents.
• Producing PCU newsletters periodically, featuring the Restore Africa Program for an internal and external audience.
• Working with the Alliance's Media and Communication’s Team and coordinating the collection of social media content and assets for the Alliance’s social media platforms
• Organising public engagement activities and other events to grow and develop the Alliance’s visibility externally and internally in the region, liaising with internal and external stakeholders and media outlets accordingly.
• Developing and implementing an integrated regional capacity-building plan that leverages existing capacities, strengths, and synergies in and among implementing partners, such as storytelling, photography, and video.
• Facilitating the process of continuous learning on appropriate Media and Communication systems, tools and best practices relevant to the context of the Restore Africa Programme and encouraging mutual learning among implementing partners.
• Developing and maintaining a repository for media resources and facilitating access to the resources and appropriate materials.
• Facilitating access for implementing partners to communications resources and learning opportunities. These may include active involvement in training, engagement of trainers, establishing institutional linkages, and identifying opportunities for staff exchange or mentoring across the Restore Africa Program.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications or Marketing; Master’s degree an added advantage.
• At least five years of professional experience in communications management, media, or public relations.
• At least 1-2 years of work experience in the East Africa Region.
• Skills in photography and graphic and website design with knowledge of desktop publishing software (InDesign/Photoshop/Adobe), an added advantage.
• Awareness of global and regional socio-economic, political, and environmental issues.
• Demonstrated experience working closely within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams at national, regional, and international levels in Africa.
• Experience in high-level networking and strengthening relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong independent thinking skills with the ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Strong organisational skills, including strategic and operational planning, with the ability to work on several projects simultaneously.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Liaising with implementing partners to source information needed to support the carbon consultants to develop Project Descriptions on time while ensuring their work is integrated with livelihood programming processes with the least disruptions. This will include collating PD-related data from literature and project assessment exercises.
• Supporting implementing partners with carbon-related activities, including capacity needs assessments and development.
• Documenting lessons learned on integrating carbon components in holistic livelihood interventions and relaying the same to the Alliance’s teams for improved project development processes.
• Resolving issues related to carbon activities at the regional and country-level promptly.
• Researching the most appropriate carbon development methodology in specific contexts in liaison with the internal Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (RMEL) team and carbon consultants.
• Developing specific training manuals to ensure program-level understanding of the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) methodologies and adapting them for context in liaison with the agroforestry specialist and carbon consultants.
• Ensuring the integration of carbon MRV data in the program (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plans and associated assessments in close collaboration with the MEL and Knowledge Management Officer.
• Ensuring a repository for MRV-specific data is in place and kept updated in collaboration with the MEL and Knowledge Management Officer.
• Coordinating carbon-specific activities by external players, such as community engagements to ensure Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) for carbon contract signing as well as validations and verification missions by external auditors
• Studying, proposing and documenting options for establishing a mechanism for carbon permanence support beyond livelihood activities and agreeing with implementing partners in the context.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

• Master’s Degree in environmental sciences, ecology, biology, remote sensing, biogeochemistry, or related social sciences.
• A minimum of seven years of relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of standards, especially the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standards.
• Understanding of methodologies for quantifying the GHG emission reductions, especially those associated with Agriculture Forest and Other Land Uses (AFOLU)
• Experience in field data collection (e.g. biomass and soil carbon, carbon flux); bonus for experience collecting biodiversity or other biological/biophysical data.
• Experience in using and processing field data to estimate rates of carbon emissions and sequestration, including allometric models and inventory techniques
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing monitoring plans for carbon projects
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Demonstrated experience in the areas of project planning, stakeholder analysis and engagement
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to work on several projects simultaneously.