Integrated Seed and Sector Development Uganda (ISSD Uganda) is an independent local NGO in Uganda, which aims to be a leading agricultural development organization in fostering resilient seed and food systems for sustainable agricultural production. ISSD Uganda builds on the impactful outcomes and experiences of the successfully implemented seed projects that focused on; seed sector transformation; capacity building and knowledge transfer; partnerships and sector coordination, as well as supporting fragile communities including refugees.
Project Overview
Restoring Resilience of highland farmer communities and watersheds in Uganda project is a 4-year project funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kampala. The project is a land restoration and farming systems project in the Western and South Western Highlands of Uganda, implemented in a collaborative partnership between Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) as lead partner, and ISSD Uganda, as the local implementing partner. The project works through three pathways to achieve its goal to build resilient farmer communities and watersheds in the highlands of Uganda. In Pathway 1 “resilient farming systems” the project focuses on empowerment and motivation of farmer households to work towards establishing resilient farming systems through the PIP approach; Pathway 2 “watershed restoration” focusses on restoring natural resources and ecosystem functioning to enable restored watershed resilience; and Pathway 3 “improved marketing” focusses on improved marketing opportunities for all farmers directly engaged in the project, and the wider community. The project headquarters will be in Fortportal.
Position overview
The Communications Officer is responsible for communication of project news through newsletters, the project’s website, social media and mass media; project events coordination; liaison with relevant media houses to showcase project progress and achievements, coordinating photography and audio- visual production; coordinating project branding etc. The position works closely with the monitoring and evaluation team and project thematic experts to collect and write project success stories.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The Communications officer has the following specific tasks and responsibilities;
• Develop a communication strategy for the project based on audience analysis in Uganda and for the Dutch public.
• Delivery of the planned project communication strategies and ensure they are kept up to date.
• Maintaining regular social media presence for the project
• Supporting technical staff in designing and producing audio, video, and visually oriented training materials for respective project thematic areas.
• Preparing articles and success stories illustrating project approaches and achievements.
• Liaison with media houses by promoting and maintaining contacts with local, regional and national media actors.
• Assisting in editing, formatting, illustration and graphics of all reports and other promotion
• documents such as project news briefs.
• Organizing the project photo and video library.
• Preparing quarterly newsletters for the project and keeping the website up to date with new stories/information
• Collecting feedback on, and evaluating the impact of, communications activities.
• Developing and coordinating the production of radio and video infomercials.
• Organizing promotional events, media campaigns and press releases to promote project themes, messages, and achievements.
Qualifications and Experience
• University degree in public and media relations or other relevant qualification.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in mass media and public relations.
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft office packages (Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint), internet use; and knowledge in website content management systems, image editors, desktop publishing and other graphic software.
• Proven skills in video and audio program making; digital storytelling is an added advantage.
• Skills in event management, and strong interpersonal relations.
• Working proficiency in English including excellent writing skills, and a good knowledge of one or
• more local languages in Uganda is advantageous.
• Good knowledge and/or experience of the Uganda agricultural sector is an added advantage.
• Ability to meet agreed work-related deadlines is essential
• Ability to work well in a multi-disciplinary team, excellent interpersonal skills, and willingness to travel extensively in Uganda
Key Competencies
• Personal integrity
• Adaptability to unanticipated circumstances
• Team player and good communicator
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Planning, prioritizing, and organizing
To apply for a position of your interest, please find the respective detailed job description on the ISSD Uganda website via: www.issduganda.org . Then email your application (Cover Letter and CV maximum 4 pages) to hr@issduganda.org while indicating the job title and desired location in the email subject, not later than 4th December 2022 at 5:00pm EAT. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.