About CARE

CARE International is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice. We put women and girls in the centre of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. CARE has been working in Uganda since 1969 and we work across all the regions of Uganda. The goal of our 2021-2025 business plan is to reach 10 million people, through our lifesaving and gender transformative humanitarian, development, and nexus programs. We are committed to working with government, private sector, and local civil society, especially women-led and women’s rights organisations.  Our annual portfolio is $15 million, funded through a diverse range of donors.

Project SUMMARY

The CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE (CASCADE) is a EURO 60 million project funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented across six countries: Uganda, Nigeria, Benin, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. The overall goal of CASCADE is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under five years.  In Uganda, the project is implemented across four regions (Karamoja, Lango, Acholi, Tooro and Kamuli) through a CARE-led consortium including GAIN, Food Rights Alliance, Africa Innovations Institute and Kyambogo University.  These districts were chosen due to their high levels of malnutrition, poverty, and displaced populations. The project aligns with the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) commitments and Uganda’s UNFSS pathway for transforming food systems. Its aim is to operationalize actions that will reduce malnutrition among women and children, as outlined in the Uganda Nutrition Action Plan II (UNAP II).

 

Job SUMMARY

The Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist is responsible for the overall intra and inter country project communication-across CASCADE implementing countries, knowledge creation and management. She/he is the project liaison with the project stakeholders, to ensure that the project brand and CARE as consortium lead remains top of mind in the country and across CASCADE implementing countries.  The Job holder is expected to implement the project communication and knowledge management strategy and framework, linking knowledge management to the project learning agenda and bringing to fruition the project advocacy aspirations. She/he will develop & disseminate varied knowledge products including project stories comprising change stories for different target audiences, multimedia engagements, project content generation, editing, and formatting reports, briefs/fact sheets/ and abstracts. She/he will work closely with the wider project and learning team including technical leads & wider consortia both internally (within Uganda) and externally (other CASCADE country teams).

 

Summary of Responsibilities

Strategic Communication:

a)     Develop and execute the project communication strategy that resonates with Ugandan context but also making relevancy and in alignment with all CASCADE implementing countries.

b)     Serve as the primary liaison for project stakeholders maintaining a strong and consistent project image and brand presence.

c)     Collaborate with the CARE Uganda wider team, consortium members and implementing partners to ensure strategic alignment with Uganda's context while maintaining a cohesive narrative across all project locations.

Tailored Knowledge Management Strategy:

a)     Lead the implementation of the project's knowledge management strategy and framework, customizing approaches to fit Uganda's unique challenges and opportunities.

b)     Forge strong connections between knowledge management initiatives and the specific learning agenda of the project in Uganda.

c)     Actively contribute to advocacy goals by tailoring knowledge management practices to align with the local context and priorities.

Context-Specific Content Development:

a)     Develop and disseminate knowledge products that address the distinct needs of various target audiences within Uganda.

b)     Craft compelling change stories rooted in the local context, utilizing multimedia engagements to effectively communicate project impacts.

c)     Generate, edit, and format reports, briefs, fact sheets, and abstracts that caters for the distinct Uganda’s sociocultural and economic landscape.

Collaboration within Uganda and CASCADE Network:

a)     Foster communication and knowledge exchange within consortium members, implementing partner ensuring a collaborative and integrated communication and knowledge management agenda.

b)     Engage closely with technical leads and consortia within the country to leverage collective expertise and insights.

c)     Extend collaboration beyond Uganda to other CASCADE country teams, promoting cross-country learning and coordination.

Integration of Advocacy into Knowledge Management:

a)     Infuse advocacy aspirations into knowledge management practices, ensuring that knowledge products align with local and national advocacy messaging.

b)     Contribute to the achievement of project advocacy goals by tailoring communication strategies to address specific project advocacy objectives.

 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Communication and media engagement (25%)

1. Collaborate with the CARE CO Communications Specialist to conceptualize, develop, and implement communication strategies tailored to distinct target audiences of the project.
2. Efficiently manage the CASCADE project's communication budget, ensuring optimal utilization of resources for impactful communication initiatives.
3. Work closely with the CO Communications Specialist to formulate strategies for establishing a sustained digital connection with stakeholders, emphasizing the maintenance of a comprehensive digital media archive featuring photos and videos.
4. Promote project communications and marketing materials through both traditional and social channels, aligning content with the unique sociocultural context of Uganda.
5. Develop escalation protocols for managing potential communication crises, proactively addressing challenges that may arise and safeguarding the project's reputation.
6. Collaborate with the CO Communications Specialist to ensure crisis communication strategies are well-integrated into the overall communication plan.
7. Support the identification of strategic stakeholders and partners, maintaining relevant information databases, and fostering continuous engagement with key stakeholders.
8. Actively participate in documenting internal and external project-related meetings and workshops, ensuring comprehensive records are maintained.
9. Identify and filter key messages and recommendations from technical project reports. And package and disseminate these messages effectively to various stakeholders, utilizing suitable communication channels and formats for maximum impact.

 

Knowledge management Learning and Dissemination (25%)

1. Collaborate with the CARE CO Communications Specialist, CASCADE consortium partners, and the Knowledge Management and Learning (KML) technical working group to pan and manage knowledge sharing events in a timely and periodic manner.
2. Coordinate and ensure the successful execution of knowledge-sharing events, workshops, conferences, and peer learning sessions, fostering active participation and meaningful knowledge exchange.
3. In collaboration with MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) teams and consortium partners, design and implement effective learning activities.
4. Implement knowledge capture and sharing activities, ensuring that enusre insights and lessons learned are systematically documented and disseminated.
5. Collaborate with the CASCADE Global Advocacy & Comms Coordinator, CO Communication Specialist, and consortium partners to identify and contribute to technical website content.
6. Implement project-wide content strategies, ensuring that relevant knowledge reaches the intended audience in a timely and effective manner.
7. Ensure clear documentation of requirements, lessons learned, and best practices from various knowledge management activities.
8. promote information sharing internally and externally to contribute to a culture of continuous learning within the project.
9. Identify and share creative, efficient, and effective ways to engage audiences and facilitate sharing and collaboration.
10. Collaborate with subject-matter experts (technical advisors) to develop, design, and publish knowledge products in both written and multimedia formats.
11. Contribute to the development of policy and issue briefs tailored for select target audiences.
12. Work closely with the CO Communications Specialist to design, develop, curate, maintain, and share communications products and materials that amplify CASCADE research awareness.
13. Develop, write, edit, and distribute content across various channels, including publications, press releases, website content, social media, annual reports, speeches, and marketing material.
14. Collect compelling field stories and testimonies for dissemination to diverse audiences, illustrating the impact and success of CASCADE interventions.
15. Prepare newsletters, communication reports, promotional emails, and organize their distribution through various channels, maximizing reach and impact

 

 

Multi country CASCADE project engagement & representation (20%)

1. Act as a key representative for CASCADE Uganda within select multi-country project technical working groups, particularly those focused on communications and knowledge management.
2. Contribute insights and perspectives from the Uganda context, ensuring the alignment of strategies with the specific needs and challenges of the country.
3. Engage in regular multi-country CASCADE communications meetings, actively sharing CASCADE Uganda's communication plans and updates.
4. Foster collaboration and information exchange among participating countries, promoting consistency and coherence in project communication strategies.
5. Liaison with Global Communication and Knowledge Technical Advisors (5%):
6. Establish effective communication channels with CASCADE global communication and knowledge technical advisors.
7. Provide timely and relevant information and materials to support the broader project objectives, ensuring coordinated collaboration at global, inter-country and local levels.
8. Collaborate with counterparts from other CASCADE countries to exchange information and best practices related to communication and knowledge management.
9. Ensure that lessons learned and successful strategies from other countries are considered and adapted appropriately within the Uganda context.

 

Events Management (20%)

1. Collaborate with the project team to plan and execute project-related events, ensuring alignment with project requirements, target audience expectations, and overarching objectives.
2. Oversee all aspects of event execution, from conception to completion, with a keen focus on delivering impactful and memorable experiences.
3. Ensure the execution of planned events by proactively identifying and addressing any challenges that may arise during the planning or execution stages.
4. Step in decisively to resolve issues and maintain the overall success of the events.
5. Analyse the success of events, gathering relevant data and insights to prepare comprehensive reports.
6. Use post-event evaluations to identify areas for improvement and implement enhancements in future events.
7. Seek opportunities to enhance and promote the CASCADE brand through strategically planned events.
8. Coordinate publicity events as required, ensuring maximum visibility and positive brand representation.
9. Oversee the production of project advertisements and promotional materials, ensuring they align with CARE and donor standards.
10. Maintain consistency in messaging and branding across various promotional materials.
11. Ensure compliance with CARE and donor standards regarding branding, marking, and accessibility across all events, messages, and products.
12. Implement and monitor consistency in branding elements to maintain a cohesive and professional project image.

 

Gender Equity and Diversity & Safeguarding Practices (5%)

         i.          Practice a behaviour that is consistent with CARE’s core values, and promotion of gender equity and diversity goals.

       ii.          Identifies and implements initiatives that enhance CARE’s commitment to gender and diversity.

      iii.          Ensure that CARE Safeguarding policies and procedures are adhered to by all and the staff that S/he supervisors both directly and indirectly.

 

Any other duties assigned from time to time (5%)

This may include but not limited to the following activities.

·       Representation at different networking events in the CASCADE regions.

·       Take on stretch assignments assigned by CARE management.

 

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

Education

·       Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or related field and or in PR, or related field with 6 years’ experience. A post graduate Diploma in a related field is a MUST.

 

Desirable skills

Communication Skills:

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

·       Ability to tailor communication for different audiences and contexts.

·       Strong storytelling skills to convey project impact and outcomes effectively.

·       Proficiency in drafting press releases, reports, and other communication materials.

Strategic Communication:

·       Experience in developing and implementing communication strategies.

·       Understanding of strategic communication planning for international development projects.

·       Ability to collaborate with different stakeholders to ensure a cohesive communication approach.

Knowledge Management:

·       Knowledge of knowledge management principles and practices.

·       Experience in managing knowledge-sharing events and platforms.

·       Ability to capture, document, and disseminate lessons learned and best practices effectively.

Event Management:

·       Proven experience in planning and executing events, workshops, and conferences.

·       Problem-solving skills to address challenges during event planning and execution.

·       Ability to analyze the success of events and prepare comprehensive reports.

Digital and Multimedia Skills:

·       Proficiency in using digital communication tools and platforms.

·       Familiarity with multimedia content creation for diverse channels (social media, websites, etc.).

·       Understanding of digital media archiving and management.

Collaboration and Relationship Building:

·       Strong interpersonal skills for effective collaboration within the project team and with external partners.

·       Ability to represent the organization and engage with stakeholders in a professional manner.

·       Experience in working with diverse and cross-functional teams.

Project Branding and Marketing:

·       Experience in promoting and enhancing project brands.

·       Knowledge of branding, marketing, and publicity strategies.

·       Ability to coordinate promotional events and oversee the production of marketing materials.

Analytical and Reporting Skills:

·       Analytical skills to assess the success of communication and knowledge management initiatives.

·       Reporting skills to prepare comprehensive reports on events, communication efforts, and knowledge management activities.

Adaptability and Creativity:

·       Ability to adapt communication strategies to different cultural contexts and project requirements.

·       Creative thinking to develop engaging content and innovative approaches for knowledge sharing.

Time Management and Organization:

·       Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities.

·       Time management skills to meet deadlines and ensure timely delivery of communication and event-related activities.

Technical Proficiency:

·       Proficiency in relevant software and tools for communication, knowledge management, and event planning.

Familiarity with website content management systems and social media platforms.

• Must possess exceptional writing skills and be able to compose engaging and accurate content.
• Strong communicator who works well independently and with a team.
• A knack for problem solving.
• A team player with leadership skills

·       Excellent verbal, and interpersonal skills.

·       Good time management and organizational skills.

• Superior negotiation and assertiveness skills with the ability to interact with and influence high level decision makers and staff.

 

Core competences.

·       A minimum of six (6) years’ experience in a communications & Knowledge Management role.

·       Proven experience in developing and implementing communication strategies for international development projects.

·       Strong knowledge management skills, including experience with knowledge-sharing platforms.

·       Event management experience, with a track record of successful planning and execution.

·       Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to tailor content for various audiences.

·       Familiarity with nutrition, food security, or related sectors is an advantage.

·       Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural and interdisciplinary team.

·       Understanding of communications, public relations, and marketing best practices.

·       Ability to think strategically and identify ways to improve communication efforts.

·       Proficient in Microsoft Office, content management systems, and social media platforms.

·       Maintains social, ethical, and organizational norms; firmly adheres to codes of conduct.

·       Promoting, valuing, respecting and fully benefiting from everyone’s unique qualities, background, race, culture, age, gender, disability, values, lifestyle, perspectives, or interests.