Job Title: Advocacy & Communications Manager
Organisation: Agricultural
Business Initiative (aBi)
Business Initiative (aBi)
Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda
Uganda
Reports to: Group Chief
Executive (GCEO)
Executive (GCEO)
Job Ref No: CM001
About Us:
The Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi), a group of registered
companies namely aBi Trust and aBi Finance Ltd, is a multi-stakeholder entity
co-founded in July 2010 by the Governments of Uganda and Denmark through DANIDA
and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development respectively,
with the objective to promote “Private sector agribusiness development to
enhance wealth creation.” The development objective of the aBi Trust is
building a self-sustaining export-led economy in which the benefits are shared
by all Ugandans, and its immediate objective is to strengthen the
competitiveness of Uganda’s agricultural and agro-processing sector. It does
this through Value Chain Development (VCD) of six value chains (Coffee,
Cereals, Pulses, Horticulture, Dairy and Oil Seeds) and Financial Services
Development (FSD).
companies namely aBi Trust and aBi Finance Ltd, is a multi-stakeholder entity
co-founded in July 2010 by the Governments of Uganda and Denmark through DANIDA
and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development respectively,
with the objective to promote “Private sector agribusiness development to
enhance wealth creation.” The development objective of the aBi Trust is
building a self-sustaining export-led economy in which the benefits are shared
by all Ugandans, and its immediate objective is to strengthen the
competitiveness of Uganda’s agricultural and agro-processing sector. It does
this through Value Chain Development (VCD) of six value chains (Coffee,
Cereals, Pulses, Horticulture, Dairy and Oil Seeds) and Financial Services
Development (FSD).
Job Summary: The Advocacy
& Communications Manager leads the aBi team in developing and implementing
a communication strategy that Is effective in influencing key stakeholders to
support the development of agribusiness in Uganda; this includes managing
Relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and supporting aBi’s role as a
“knowledge centre” for agribusiness excellence in Uganda/EA region. The
Advocacy & Communications Manager is primarily responsible for achieving
the goal of aBi’s communications plan: To position Agricultural Business
Initiative as a leader in the provision of financial solutions to value chain
actors in Uganda. By consistently engaging stakeholders and the media with
content that informs, influences and shapes public discourse.
& Communications Manager leads the aBi team in developing and implementing
a communication strategy that Is effective in influencing key stakeholders to
support the development of agribusiness in Uganda; this includes managing
Relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and supporting aBi’s role as a
“knowledge centre” for agribusiness excellence in Uganda/EA region. The
Advocacy & Communications Manager is primarily responsible for achieving
the goal of aBi’s communications plan: To position Agricultural Business
Initiative as a leader in the provision of financial solutions to value chain
actors in Uganda. By consistently engaging stakeholders and the media with
content that informs, influences and shapes public discourse.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
Develop and manage aBi’s agricultural sector and stakeholder research
activities; ensuring that the results are suitable to inform the development of
program strategy and the communications plan:
activities; ensuring that the results are suitable to inform the development of
program strategy and the communications plan:
·
Take charge of the developing and agreeing aBi’s
‘market’ research agenda.
Take charge of the developing and agreeing aBi’s
‘market’ research agenda.
·
Conduct market analysis and other research
projects aimed at ensuring full understanding of the agribusiness sector and
the enabling environment.
Conduct market analysis and other research
projects aimed at ensuring full understanding of the agribusiness sector and
the enabling environment.
·
Carry out stakeholder analysis to determine the
institutions and key influencers who control / are most impactful in the
agribusiness sector and identify levers for change.
Carry out stakeholder analysis to determine the
institutions and key influencers who control / are most impactful in the
agribusiness sector and identify levers for change.
·
Evaluate the effectiveness of communication
strategies in driving achievement of the organisation strategy.
Evaluate the effectiveness of communication
strategies in driving achievement of the organisation strategy.
Take lead of the ongoing development and implementation of aBi’s
Advocacy and Communication plan, ensuring it serves the purpose of supporting
aBi to achieve its objectives.
Advocacy and Communication plan, ensuring it serves the purpose of supporting
aBi to achieve its objectives.
·
Work closely with aBi colleagues so as to ensure
the communication plan supports their needs for influencing.
Work closely with aBi colleagues so as to ensure
the communication plan supports their needs for influencing.
·
Build and sustain a strong brand and profile for
aBi aimed at generating buy-in for the organization’s business models and
approaches among its key stakeholders.
Build and sustain a strong brand and profile for
aBi aimed at generating buy-in for the organization’s business models and
approaches among its key stakeholders.
·
Commission consultants and suppliers in the roll
out of communication activities that result in effective implementation.
Commission consultants and suppliers in the roll
out of communication activities that result in effective implementation.
·
Regularly monitor the implementation of the
communication plan against communication strategy performance indicators (at
organisation level).
Regularly monitor the implementation of the
communication plan against communication strategy performance indicators (at
organisation level).
·
Oversee the budget and financial management of
the Communications Department; ensuring compliance with aBi’s policies and
procedures.
Oversee the budget and financial management of
the Communications Department; ensuring compliance with aBi’s policies and
procedures.
Actively promote policy and practice reforms and become the leading
voice in championing for evidence-based, business-driven, agribusiness-led
development in Uganda
voice in championing for evidence-based, business-driven, agribusiness-led
development in Uganda
·
Steer the identification of relevant advocacy
platforms at the national level to position the achievement and resourcefulness
(capacity, capability) of aBi.
Steer the identification of relevant advocacy
platforms at the national level to position the achievement and resourcefulness
(capacity, capability) of aBi.
·
Formulate action plans for specific initiatives
that would generate stakeholders’ participation, aiming at building relevant
platforms and channels for their voices to be heard and for policy influencing.
Formulate action plans for specific initiatives
that would generate stakeholders’ participation, aiming at building relevant
platforms and channels for their voices to be heard and for policy influencing.
·
Build and manage strategic relationships and
partnerships with major key stakeholders (government officials, partners,
professional associations, media, etc.)
Build and manage strategic relationships and
partnerships with major key stakeholders (government officials, partners,
professional associations, media, etc.)
·
Represent aBi and advocate with policy makers
and decision takers at national level
Represent aBi and advocate with policy makers
and decision takers at national level
Take lead in the development and dissemination of communication
materials and media platforms; ensuring that they communicate and influence
effectively
materials and media platforms; ensuring that they communicate and influence
effectively
·
Commission the production of aBi Publications,
case studies, ensuring content reflects work accomplished by aBi
Commission the production of aBi Publications,
case studies, ensuring content reflects work accomplished by aBi
·
Steer the preparation and writing of
communication literature and other influencing / program related materials
Steer the preparation and writing of
communication literature and other influencing / program related materials
·
Commission suppliers/ 3rd parties to support in
research, interview, write, edit, proofread and distribute content for
electronic and print communication.
Commission suppliers/ 3rd parties to support in
research, interview, write, edit, proofread and distribute content for
electronic and print communication.
·
Facilitate knowledge and information sharing/
dissemination of aBi’s work, using the recognised global knowledge network to
strengthen capacities of the technical team and implementing partnerships.
Facilitate knowledge and information sharing/
dissemination of aBi’s work, using the recognised global knowledge network to
strengthen capacities of the technical team and implementing partnerships.
·
Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation
unit to communicate aBi performance results, lessons learned.
Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation
unit to communicate aBi performance results, lessons learned.
·
Identifying conference opportunities ensuring a
way that achieves strategic objectives and is impactful
Identifying conference opportunities ensuring a
way that achieves strategic objectives and is impactful
Take lead and manage the Communications team, including consultants, in
a manner that empowers them to deliver aBi’s goals and objectives
a manner that empowers them to deliver aBi’s goals and objectives
·
Communicate to the Communications Team a clear
and exciting vision for the work of the organisation
Communicate to the Communications Team a clear
and exciting vision for the work of the organisation
·
For each aspect of the advocacy &
communications work plans, ensure that appropriate staff and/or consultants are
deployed and given clear expectations.
For each aspect of the advocacy &
communications work plans, ensure that appropriate staff and/or consultants are
deployed and given clear expectations.
·
Support and build the capacity of team members
to enable them to give of their best e.g. by encouraging and praising good
performance, coaching, training, assisting staff to prevent or resolve
problems, providing resources, tools and equipment.
Support and build the capacity of team members
to enable them to give of their best e.g. by encouraging and praising good
performance, coaching, training, assisting staff to prevent or resolve
problems, providing resources, tools and equipment.
·
Monitor and review performance and, in
particular, hold staff accountable for achieving results, meeting standards of
excellence and delivering any improvement goals which have been identified;
taking decisive action in the case of poor performance
Monitor and review performance and, in
particular, hold staff accountable for achieving results, meeting standards of
excellence and delivering any improvement goals which have been identified;
taking decisive action in the case of poor performance
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience:
Experience:
·
The ideal candidate should preferably hold a
bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or Development Studies
The ideal candidate should preferably hold a
bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or Development Studies
·
Possession of Post Graduate Diploma in
Development Economics (added advantage)
Possession of Post Graduate Diploma in
Development Economics (added advantage)
·
At least six to ten years’ post-graduation
experience in a Technical Communication Specialist or similar role
At least six to ten years’ post-graduation
experience in a Technical Communication Specialist or similar role
·
Broad knowledge and understanding of
agribusiness management
Broad knowledge and understanding of
agribusiness management
·
Demonstrated strong and relevant experience in
communications skills ( strong writing skills)
Demonstrated strong and relevant experience in
communications skills ( strong writing skills)
·
Proven track record in developing and
implementing Communication and Advocacy strategies including developing key
messages for advocacy and lobbying
Proven track record in developing and
implementing Communication and Advocacy strategies including developing key
messages for advocacy and lobbying
·
Demonstrable skills and experience in using new
media (social media) to cause mind-set change
Demonstrable skills and experience in using new
media (social media) to cause mind-set change
·
Significant exposure and experience in the
application of knowledge management techniques in both managing and
disseminating information
Significant exposure and experience in the
application of knowledge management techniques in both managing and
disseminating information
·
Ability to effectively manage the production of
report and publication
Ability to effectively manage the production of
report and publication
·
Proven track record in managing teams and
consultants / service providers, including development of terms of reference
where required
Proven track record in managing teams and
consultants / service providers, including development of terms of reference
where required
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online by
clicking on link below and following the instructions.
clicking on link below and following the instructions.
Deadline: 25th November 2016
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