Communications Assistant - COSME Project

THE ORGANISATION
Founded in 1937, Plan International, Inc. ("PII") is a globally recognized non-profit dedicated to advancing children's rights and gender equality in both humanitarian and development contexts. With over 80 years of experience, Plan International addresses the root causes of challenges faced by girls and vulnerable children, working in 70+ countries. The organization collaborates with children, young people, supporters, and partners to create a just world, acknowledging that the potential of every child is often hindered by poverty, violence, exclusion, disasters, and discrimination.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL KENYA
Plan International Kenya (PIK), operational since 1982, focuses on long-term development. Collaborating closely with local communities and governments, with a work force of 250 staffs and annual budget of $ 16 million, PIK implements programs to enhance the well-being of children, girls and young people in geographic focus of Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka-Nithi, Siaya, Kwale, Kilifi, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Tana River, Turkana, and Marsabit.

Under the current Country Strategy (July 2021 – June 2026), PIK aims to end teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence against girls. This goal will be achieved through the following thematic pillars. strategic objectives:
1.    Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR): Improve access to SRHR services and information to reduce teenage pregnancies and harmful practices in Kenya.
2.    Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence: Ensure functional child and girls' rights protection mechanisms to prevent and respond to all forms of violence and abuse.
3.    Protecting Girls and Young Women in Crisis and Climate Change Adaptation: Minimize the impact of disasters on girls, young women, families, and communities.
4.    Youth-led and Innovative Partnerships for Job Creation: Build a stronger ecosystem for youth employment and entrepreneurship, particularly for vulnerable young women, fostering job seekers and creators.

ABOUT COSME PROJECT
Plan International's Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (COSME) project aims to significantly scale up Plan International Kenya’s current women-led, climate-resilient livelihoods and coastal management project in Kwale and Kilifi counties. It takes an ecosystems-based approach in partnership with Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) Canada. COSME will also capitalize on opportunities for South-South learning by working between Kenya/Tanzania cross-border communities within the same marine coastal and coastal forest eco-regions. The project will be instrumental in driving Nature Based Solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation in the selected eco-regions: i) mangrove restoration and conservation; ii) sustainable seaweed farming; and iii) locally-led forest management and conservation. Small-scale conservation agriculture practices will also be deployed to build the resilience of women in selected communities.  The ultimate project outcome is improved climate-resilient, equitable economies within communities relying on coastal and marine ecosystems.
 

THE ROLE
The Communications Assistant will provide support to the COSME project team mainly through designing and implementation of the project communication plan, support COSME SBCC strategy, collecting and documenting significant change stories, events, taking impact photographs and supporting with content for digital media and external engagement.  
 

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Documentation 35%

●    Documenting stories of change and case studies for the COSME project and related programs that impact on the project work in both Kwale and Kilifi Program Units. (PU’s).
●    Coordinating with Project staff to ensure that stories for the weekly highlight are submitted and shared with the country communications team every week for internal circulation.
●    Coordinating with project staff to document quarterly stories of change to be shared externally to the donors
●    Ensuring that child protection and safeguarding standards are adhered to during all communications related work from content development to dissemination

Photography and Videography 30%

●    Taking high resolution photos and short videos for use on different platforms including the website, publications and on social media
●    Editing photos (when there is a need to) and short videos to ensure good quality of work
●    You will be the COSME project focal point working closely with Plan Canada Marketing, Philanthropy and Communications (MPC) team in taking high resolution photos and uploading them and developing project stories for sharing with external audience.

Events and Supporting Project Activities 15%

●    Supporting ongoing project and corporate events and activities through photography, story collection and media engagement in consultation with Influencing, advocacy and Communications Manager
●    Supporting in organising events selected calendar days related to the project that Plan International commemorates   

Custodian of Departmental Equipment 10%

●    Ensuring that the cameras, recorders and accompanying accessories assigned to the project at the PU are taken care of by keeping an inventory list to keep track.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 5%
●    Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
●    Leads the orientation of programme staff to ensure that they are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
●    Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team; 
●    Ensures that Plan Kenya contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.  
 

Other Duties (5%)
●    Any other assignment within the scope of work.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

●    Courageous in taking a lead, focussed on Plan International's purpose and making the most effective contribution within my own work context;
●    Behaves in line with our values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work;
●    Challenges own attitudes, unconscious bias and behaviour and speaks up when they see wrong doing, especially by those who use their power over others to create fear or abuse;
●    Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps their knowledge and skills up to date;
●    Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting; seeking and listening to feedback; learning from mistakes; finding people or resources to help them learn;
●    Constructive and optimistic in facing setbacks, challenges and change, using own initiative to analyse issues and improve things.
 

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

●    Understands relevant sectoral context including how the sector operates in terms of funding and governance and awareness of Plan International’s purpose, values and global strategy;
●    Manages legal and reputational risk including risk assessment, communication, risk management and reporting in full compliance with risk-related standards, including in areas such as Child and. Youth Safeguarding and Protection, Gender Equality and Inclusion, counter fraud, safety and security;
●    Managing activities and resources including skills in planning and organising, financial and project management;
●    Managing people and information including skills in communication, both speaking and writing, digital working including personal digital skills.
 

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications/ experience essential: 

●    Degree in Communications - Public Relations, Journalism or related field.
●    1-year experience in the communications field.
●    Writing and oral communication skills
●    Microsoft Office Suite (Adobe suite/ Microsoft Publisher)
●    Desktop Publishing
●    Photography, basic videography and interviewing skills
●    Basic skills in website content management and social media

 
Desirable
●    Ability to respond to internal & external communication needs and prioritise tasks accordingly.
●    Exhibit creativity in their work.
●    Demonstrate enthusiasm and positive attitude.
●    Ability to plan and follow on tasks with minimal supervision. 
●    Take initiative to identify and solve problems.

Languages required
●    Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
●    Working knowledge of Swahili is desirable;
 

Click on the below link to access the full Job Description:

JD Communications Assistant- COSME - May 2024.pdf

Location: Kwale, Kenya 

Reports to: Senior Project Manager

Contract end date: December 2025

Vacancy Advert Closing Date: 27th May 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Applications will be reviewed on rolling basis.

Disclaimer: Plan International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate applicants on any basis. We also do not charge Job seekers any fees at any point of the recruitment process.