The Hunger Project Malawi
Job Description
Communications Officer, Africa Region November 2022
The Hunger Project (THP) is a global non-profit organization whose mission is to end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies and
advocating for their widespread adoption in regions where hunger persists. We operate in 22
countries with 300+ staff and have mobilized 500,000 volunteer leaders worldwide. Our
programs throughout Africa, South Asia and Latin America are based on an innovative
approach that works with rural communities to become the agents of their own development
and make sustainable progress in overcoming hunger and poverty.
Current Hunger Project office locations include:
USA: Global Office in New York City and multiple home offices; 13 Program Countries:
Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Peru, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia;8 Partner Countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Position Summary
The Communications Officer’s primary function is to facilitate and develop communications
strategies in line with regional and global communications goals, with the ultimate intention
of significantly advancing public visibility, impact and influence of THP’s brand and agenda
throughout Africa. The role will sit within the Africa Programs team and will work closely on a daily basis with the Global Communications team. The position reports to the Global Vice
President and Director for Africa and Mexico, and it is technically supervised by the Associate
Director of Global Office Communications.
The ideal candidate for this full-time position is based in Accra, Ghana or Blantyre, Malawi.
This position is a local national contract and candidates must be authorized to work in the
country of assignment without visa or work permit sponsorship from the employer, now or in the future.
Essential Functions
Communications Management
● Facilitate the creation of a region-wide communications strategy, and work with program teams across the region to set communications priorities.
● Develop and roll out visibility, communications and influence strategies and
campaigns.
● Generate content that communicates programmatic work with dignity and integrity. Includes but is not limited to collecting and narrativizing program updates and images
to be used in public campaigns, such as media, website articles, social media and fundraising.
● Monitor and enforce responsible usage of information and images (photos/videos) in
communications incompliance with organizational ‘Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy’ and consent and usage protocols.
● Adhere to and enforce brand guidelines across programmatic communications.
Advocacy and Thought Leadership Communications
● Identify and support opportunities for internal subject matter experts to demonstrate
and enhance organizational reputation as a thought leader. Includes conference participation, public speaking and other advocacy campaign participation.
● Cultivate advocacy and thought leadership partnerships within the sector.
Press and Media Management
● Partner with communications teams worldwide in facilitating innovative opportunities to showcase THPs messages and work. Includes but not limited to generating op-eds, press and media content and developing PR strategy in regions where appropriate.
● Serve as a point of contact for press and media inquiries.
Digital Marketing
● As applicable, provide updates and support for program websites.
● As applicable, create, align and implement social media content in collaboration with
Global Communications team members.
● Ensure adherence to partnership communications requirements. Includes meeting
grant and implementation partnership standards.
● Identify and carry out innovative digital marketing campaigns to accelerate brand
awareness.
Qualifications
Education (Minimum and Type of Degree):
● Minimum Required: Bachelor’s degree in fields relating to communication or marketing, or international relations/development/gender studies complemented by work experience.
Work Experience (Minimum Needed)
● Minimum Required: 5 years in a similar role (non-profit setting with remote team structure).
● Preferred: previous work with an international nonprofit organization.
Specialized Knowledge Needed for Job Performance
● Conversational French language required; fluency preferred;
● Comfort with website content management preferred;
● Video and photo editing skills preferred;
● Graphic design program skills preferred;
● Proficiency in MS Office suite and Google Suite and tools.
Skills
● Able to troubleshoot problems, come up with creative solutions, while also identifying
issues which need to be escalated;
● Project management skills, ability to prioritize;
● Resourceful self-starter with ability to independently multitask and prioritize.
● Outstanding editing, proofreading and writing skills, with an unwavering attention to
detail, preferably with creative writing skills;
● Strong teamwork and collaboration skills; ability to work with colleagues and partners
nationally and internationally;
● Ability to adapt and work in a flexible and evolving environment;
● High level of comfort with new technologies, and able to quickly learn new tools
Additional Comments
● Strong interest in storytelling – both hearing stories and creatively telling them;
● Willingness to occasionally work in a varying schedule to accommodate global colleagues;
● Ability to travel domestically and internationally, work on multiple time zones as necessary;
● COVID-19 vaccination is required for this role;
● Commitment to THP’s values, including an understanding of and compatibility with our principles and philosophy. The successful candidate will be working with a team who loves what they are doing and feels it’s a privilege to be working in service of this mission.
Method Of Application
Please forward your letter of interest, resume, annualized gross salary expectations, writing
sample for immediate consideration to recruitment.comms@thp.org. Please include
“Communications Officer, Africa Region” in the subject line of your email.