GESI and Communication Advisor

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: A world where across every society all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.
Building on 60 years of experience we support our partners with our technical and process expertise and methodological rigour. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all.

For more information on our operations in Zambia visit our website: www.snv.org/zambia

SNV is implementing the second phase of Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (YEE) portfolio of projects that continues to transform communities and the lives of 15,000 young people including young women and men. By providing the necessary tools, networks, and linkages between skilled youth and private sector players, SNV supports youth with access to market-based opportunities such as wage employment, internships and apprenticeships, access to markets. This is done through continued collaboration with national governments, the private sector and related agencies ensuring sustainability and scale. YEE also addresses young people’s access to finance and other non-financial services like insurance, to expand economic opportunities and ensure inclusivity.  

The Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Communications Advisor plays a core technical advisory role in the delivery of the 4-year Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (YEE) project. The role is responsible for ensuring GESI strategic and technical considerations are mainstreamed into planning, implementation, monitoring and learning across the entire project, and helping ensure the project adequately targets women and vulnerable youth.

The GESI and Communication Advisor will act as technical expert together with the project team and relevant stakeholders to create an enabling environment (by sharing knowledge, understanding and engagement of relevant stakeholders) for the implementation of a project, for the project to meet its objectives.

The successful candidate will have a track record in successful advisory and GESI and or project management involving aspects of planning, stakeholder coordinator, activity implementation, team collaboration, budget management, monitoring and reporting. She/he will have implementing project experience on gender, communications, rural development/agriculture workstreams, enterprise development, skills development, The candidate will have relevant in-depth knowledge on gender and socio-economic dynamics across different parts of Zambia and practical experience gained from working within either private sector, public sector or a development organisation.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy to support outcome achievement, enhance visibility, and foster partnerships. The GESI and Communications Advisor will coordinate, lead and support where necessary, the capturing and sharing of progress, successes, and lessons with different stakeholders, and assist the project leadership with public relations and raising the profile of the YEE project with key audiences. Internally, the role will provide strategic communications advisory and challenge function to support reflective ways of working and will evaluate the effectiveness of project communications for continual improvement. The candidate will ensure disseminated materials align and comply with legal requirements, and donors and SNV communication policies and procedures.

Key responsibilities:

• Assist in the development and implementation of youth skills development plans, ensuring they are inclusive of gender and social considerations. Conduct gender analysis to identify skills gaps and opportunities for young women and marginalized groups. Collaborate with national and local institutions to promote gender-responsive and socially inclusive training curricula and methodologies, ensuring quality and targeted outcomes for all participants.
• Provide technical assistance in reviewing and developing gender-sensitive and socially inclusive curricula (e.g., YEE curriculum) by working closely with TEVET institutions.
• Engage with stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society, and community organizations to promote gender equality and social inclusion in youth employment initiatives. Foster partnerships that prioritize the inclusion of women, girls, and vulnerable youth in skills training programs and job placements. Advocate for GESI considerations in all stakeholder engagements, ensuring alignment with market demand and youth-led enterprise development.
• Lead communication efforts to promote GESI-focused success stories and narratives of transformative change in youth employment and skills development. Develop communication strategies and materials that highlight the impact of GESI initiatives, targeting different audiences through various platforms (e.g., digital, publications, workshops). Ensure that best practices and lessons learned in GESI are disseminated effectively to foster collaboration and learning among stakeholders.
• Provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to Local Service Providers (LSPs), government agencies, and other partners to strengthen their understanding and application of GESI principles. Train staff and partners on gender-sensitive communication approaches and ensure that GESI considerations are integrated into all communication materials and strategies.
• Collaborate with MEL teams to develop and implement tools that capture GESI-related outcomes and impacts. Track progress in achieving gender equality and social inclusion objectives in youth skills development and employment. Use data-driven insights to refine GESI strategies and communicate successes and challenges to stakeholders.
• Advocate for policies and practices that promote gender equality and social inclusion in the broader youth employment and skills development agenda. Work with key stakeholders, including government ministries, private sector, and civil society, to influence policy reforms and programmatic approaches that address the needs of young women, girls, and marginalized youth.
• Facilitate open and effective communication channels among stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging and alignment on the project priorities. Use regular updates, meetings, and reports to keep stakeholders informed about progress, challenges, and opportunities in advancing the project results with GESI lens
• Develop tailored communication materials and campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences, including young women, marginalized groups, and the broader community. Ensure that messaging is culturally appropriate and accessible to all, utilizing multiple formats such as visual content, social media, and community outreach to engage a wide range of stakeholders.
• Lead the documentation of success stories and case studies in programs, ensuring diverse voices are captured and challenges related to gender and social inclusion are addressed. Utilize various formats such as written content, visuals, and multimedia to engage different audiences.
• Share and disseminate key insights and lessons learned from these documented successes to stakeholders and partners, using them to inform future strategies and improve the effectiveness of the program.

• Minimum Bachelor in areas such as Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Communications, or related field. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. 5+ years of demonstratable relevant experience.
• In-depth understanding of gender equity, social inclusion, and Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principles
• Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming GESI into existing projects, designing GESI-specific projects, or other technically relevant work experience

• Proficiency in developing communication strategies that promote GESI outcomes across diverse platforms, including digital media and public relations.
• Understanding of advocacy strategies for influencing policy-making processes, with knowledge of national policies related to GESI.
• Expertise in designing MEL systems to track GESI outcomes, including the use of GESI-sensitive indicators and data collection tools.
• Experience in mainstreaming GESI principles into programs and building staff capacity through training and workshops.
• Skilled in tailoring communication messages to ensure youth employment entrepreneurship and GESI related content is accessible, inclusive, and culturally relevant across various stakeholder groups.
• Experience in leveraging storytelling and media campaigns to amplify the voices of marginalized groups and raise awareness about youth employment with issues with GESI lens.
• Proficient in using participatory communication approaches that foster community engagement and ownership of youth employment initiatives, ensuring inclusive feedback mechanisms.

Desired attributes

• Passion for working with youth and rural communities
• Able to strategically influence, inspire and energise programme teams in a collegiate manner.

• Self-aware, possessing high levels of emotional intelligence and respect for staff, colleagues, and partners.

• Highly motivated self-starter, with strong organisational skills, who takes individual accountability seriously.
• Adaptive yet result-oriented with strong planning, analytic and decisive mindset.
• Excellent social and communication skills (written and oral), as well as reporting and presentation skills.
• Commitment to continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of SNV
• Ability to undertake unaccompanied travel and operate in the field

This is a full-time national position with the successful candidate being contracted on a   2  year basis with the possibility of renewal.

Application Closing Date 16th October 2024

Interested candidates with the required qualifications may apply by submitting a Cover Letter, CV and Bio data form on or before 16th October 2024.

download Bio data form: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Iz7qlJUQHB6ISn-DGhqDngxZfzGSbxGA/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103167951601550017484&rtpof=true&sd=true

Working at SNV

SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal and global network of experts.

Vetting

SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for national determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, sexual harassment as well as Fraud), the “Statement of Conduct". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme. 

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Any form of solicitation by phone or other means will be treated as disqualification of the candidate. SNV is an equal employment provider.