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Media and Communications Officer Oxfam International Afghanistan

Oxfam Novib is committed to ridding the world of poverty. We have a conviction that people are well capable of building a livelihood without poverty on their own, once given the chance to do so. Which is why we support local projects in developing countries, why we lobby governments and companies to take into account the interests of the poorest people, and why we campaign to involve Dutch men and women also in our work. We work together with other Oxfam affiliates to increase our impact on development issues.

For the Oxfam Novib Office in Kabul we are currently looking for a

Media and Communications Officer,
Oxfam International in Afghanistan
Fulltime 36 hours contract for one year (with possibility of extension)
Start date: As soon as possible

Context
Oxfam has had programmes in Afghanistan since the early 1990s. We now support Afghan civil society organizations who engage in a range of rural development, education, peace building and humanitarian activities (Oxfam Novib - ON) throughout the country and supports rural livelihoods and humanitarian work in the center and north of the country (Oxfam Great Britain - OGB).

In 2005 OGB, ON and Oxfam America (OA) jointly established an Oxfam International policy and advocacy programme in Afghanistan. It is regarded as one of the leading policy and advocacy organizations in Afghanistan. We have sought to achieve policy change in a range of areas in order to reduce poverty, promote rural development, reconstruction and stability. OI has produced comprehensive briefing papers advocating for: greater resources for and reform of the education system; trade policies which support poverty reduction; greater support for community peace building; action on key priorities, including sub-national governance reform and agriculture; and increased and more effective international assistance to the country. OI has also pressed for greater protection for civilians in the course of military operations, improved civil-military coordination, and for greater support for the poor and vulnerable, including those suffering as a result of humanitarian crises.

The framework for current work is the OI advocacy campaign, Rights in Crisis (RiC), through which we will draw international attention to the right to protection and the right to assistance of people in humanitarian need, as well as calling for policy change and action on the longer-term issues of peace and development. Media and popular communications is an important dimension of the campaign.

Purpose of the job
Oxfam Novib has the role of leading Oxfam's Rights in Crisis (RiC) Campaign in Afghanistan, which carries out advocacy and media work. In collaboration with other Oxfam affiliates and partners, you will lead and coordinate Oxfam's humanitarian media and communication RiC work related to Afghanistan. You will work closely with the national and international media to influence decision makers, opinion formers and supporters in order to advance Oxfam's campaigning and programming on Afghanistan which is the organisation's priority humanitarian campaign.

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Main task and responsibilities

  • The media and communications officer will coordinate closely on the following tasks with Oxfam Novib's Country Representative, the policy lead for RiC, the RiC campaign lead for Afghanistan and other relevant Oxfam staff.
  • To develop and implement a media and communications strategy for Afghanistan, taking into account relevant local, regional and international trends and developments as well as potential Oxfam brand risks.
  • To generate regular, high quality media coverage in Afghanistan and internationally of Oxfam's concerns through proactive and reactive media work.
  • Carry out Oxfam media & communication activities related to humanitarian program and advocacy, spotting media opportunities, drafting press releases and identifying new media angles as well as managing media response to crises.
  • Building and maintaining excellent working knowledge of the national and international media in Kabul, and act as a public spokesperson for Oxfam.
  • Seeking and researching stories from staff within Oxfam and its partners that are aligned with key advocacy priorities and raise the concerns of Afghan civilians.
  • Facilitating journalists' visits to Afghanistan and Oxfam programmes.
  • Working with partner organizations to strengthen their capacity to work effectively with the media.
  • To keep updated on the latest developments in the country related to the humanitarian and development context and provide brief bi-weekly progress reports of the international and national media and advocacy work and others as required.
  • Support effective information management and documentation in relation to Oxfam's media work, ensuring in particular that humanitarian data and media documents are archived appropriately in an easily retrievable electronic based filing system.

Required skills and experience

  • Five years of work experience as a press officer or journalist in the media in relation to development cooperation
  • Broad knowledge of relevant thematic areas (human rights/protection, rural livelihoods, health & education, gender, lobby and advocacy, among others).
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • You have demonstrated ability or experience in finding new creative media angles.
  • You have a good understanding of the Afghanistan context and political sensitivities of various parties in relation to the conflict.
  • You work well in a team and have outstanding diplomatic, social and intercultural skills.
  • You are able to negotiate effectively among diverging viewpoints; you have demonstrated leadership skills and experience with coordinating various actors based in different places around the world.
  • Knowledge of the NGO sector is an asset; a natural networker with substantial experience of building relationships.
  • Experience in working with or developing capacity of grassroots and national NGOs in advocacy and campaigning.
  • You will be expected to regularly travel within Afghanistan.
  • Relevant educational background on higher educational level or proven experience at this level.
  • English fluency; Dari and Pashtu are assets.

We offer
A competitive, fair and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. In the second quarter of 2011 the scaling will be set according to our system. Till that time we offer a salary in the range from € 2.562,-- to € 3.941,--.This is excl. 8% holiday fee, additional expat allowances will be offered.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this position?
Send your application in writing, including a motivation letter and curriculum vitae and mentioning reference number 5-025 to jobs@oxfamnovib.nl to the attention of Stijn Sas, HR Consultant, before June 13th, 2011.
Information on position is available with Coen van Kessel, +31 70 342817.

Contact
Contact persoon: Melissa Hempelmann
Telefoonnummer: 070-3421 621/713
E-mailadres: jobs@oxfamnovib.nl
website: http://www.oxfamnovib.nl