Communications Specialist at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)

Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) – We are Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture is an international agricultural development organization that specializes in the design and implementation of sustainable, enterprise-based agricultural initiatives. We work with businesses, foundations, governments, and communities to build customized local and global partnerships that meet the world’s growing demand for food. Since our inception in 1985, we have designed and implemented enterprise-based, agricultural development initiatives to facilitate market access, enhance agribusiness competitiveness, increase productivity, and improve access to inputs and financing in 47 countries around the world.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Communications Specialist

Job No.: 360
Location: Nigeria (Primary)
Job Type: Full-time
Category: International
Career Level: Staff
Travel: Up to 25%

Position Description

The Communications Specialist will oversee the Activity’s communications, including all client reporting and presentation requirements, and all external communications in Nigeria.
This includes ensuring effective and timely communications and coordination within the project team as well as promoting project objectives, achievements and activities to USAID, relevant public, private and non-profit actors and the Nigerian public at large.
S/he will lead local media outreach and take responsibility for delivery of project sponsored events including national and international conferences: organizing, branding, producing informational and promotional materials and facilitating stakeholder participation.
S/he will work collaboratively with the Activity’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team. S/he will also work closely with USAID Nigeria mission representatives, other USG organizations, and bilateral national partners and stakeholders to ensure coherent and purposeful messaging.
S/he will actively engage on a regular basis with the USA-based CNFA Communications team to amplify project impact through corporate channels.
This position works with all project components and stakeholders to optimize their media and public communications strategies including content development, client outreach, for web and mobile applications, and on social media.
The Communications Specialist will report directly to the Chief of Party and is based in Abuja.

Program Description

The Feed the Future Nigeria Agri business Investment Activity aims to strengthen the enabling environment for agribusiness finance and investment focusing on the following five key value chains: rice, cowpea, soy, maize and aquaculture.
The Activity seeks to viably and sustainably link thousands of MSMEs and producer organizations with high-performing commercial actors in the targeted value chain in 7 Nigerian states; namely, Benue, Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Delta, Ebonyi, and Cross River. The overall objective of the Activity is to measurably improve the agribusiness investment climate, which plays a pivotal role in attracting foreign direct and domestic investment, leading to food security and improved nutrition for all Nigerians.
To achieve this goal, the Activity focuses on four interrelated components: (i) improving the enabling environment for agricultural sector growth through legal and regulatory reform; (ii) broadening access to finance by mitigating the credit risks of agribusinesses; (iii) promoting and facilitating investment opportunities for agribusinesses to expand and scale up operations; and (iv) sustainably enhancing the performance of agribusiness micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs).
In line with the U.S. and Nigerian governments’ commitment to growing the non-oil-based economy, these efforts will increase the depth, breadth, dynamism, and competitiveness of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.
Beginning in December 2018 and closing in 2023, this $15.6 million project aims to upgrade and facilitate thousands of linkages between small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including producer organizations, and high-performing commercial actors in the target value chains.
As a result of streamlined regulations, more effective policies, improved production and processing practices, and significantly increased finance and investment flows, the Activity will increase the competitiveness and returns of both large and small sale agricultural enterprises. Employing a value chain approach, the Agribusiness Investment Activity aims to facilitate $100 million in new lending and $100 million in new investment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Execute the overall communications strategy (internally and externally) for all project outreach activities, to highlight achievements and to effectively communicate progress ensuring that strategy is aligned with the global CNFA approach.
In coordination with USAID, develop targeted messaging for the project to convey its impact and success, in keeping with USAID guidelines and priorities to internal and external stakeholders.
Initiate, plan, materially contribute to, and manage the full range of marketing and outreach activities of the project, with a strong focus on capturing and promoting the reach and impact of the project to a broad range of private sector (and other) stakeholders.
Closely and frequently communicate and collaborate with the Activity’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team and CNFA Home Office communications team to ensure information reported is accurate, timely, relevant, presented appropriately and reflects project realities and priorities.
Maintain the Activity’s social media channels (Facebook page and Twitter) and develop social media content for platforms such as Twitter and Facebook for CNFA’s home office Communications team, and the Development Outreach and Communications Specialist based in the USAID/Nigeria Mission to provide project updates and engage a network of stakeholders.
Develop outreach materials including quarterly newsletter, banners, brochures, reports, and other forms of internal and external communications, and manage clearance processes.
Maintain an up-to-date and comprehensive project contact database that can be searched by component, institution, geography, or name.
Follow communications protocols as agreed upon with USAID, the Chief of Party, and CNFA’s HQ Communications, including receiving approvals for outreach.
As appropriate, support or lead project technical teams to plan and deliver public and outreach activities, including all related communications and materials;
Support the technical teams where applicable in developing SOWs for STTAs to support the marketing requirements of the Activity’s intermediary organization beneficiaries.
Manage consultant labor for desktop publishing, graphic design, videography, technical writing/editing or similar, as required;
Work alongside all project components and cross cutting team members with communications support; helping project beneficiaries better understand and market their services to target audiences; and promoting the Activity and agribusinesses to private and other sector stakeholders.
Take responsibility for quality assurance of informational content and product development including PowerPoints, fact sheets, case studies, success stories, brochures, profiles, and the preparation of talking points.
Coordinate and support programmatic and high-profile events, delegations, and field visits by U.S. government agencies, international organizations and donors, regional economic communities (RECs), embassies, and local partners and stakeholders.
Represent the Activity (as needed) at events and meetings as required, and liaise with relevant stakeholders, including institutional and private sector partners, to increase visibility and maximize coordination.
Conduct interviews and capture quotes or stories as needed for reporting.
Support communications with the USAID Mission and other USG agencies regarding project implementation and information dissemination.
Collect content and develop drafts for weekly, quarterly and annual status reports;
Coordinate and collaborate with Cross-Cutting Technical Officer and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team to track reporting deadlines and ensure timely submission of all reports;
Ensure program materials are branded correctly and consistently in keeping with USAID standards and the Activity’s branding and marking plan.
Assist with the building of the capacity of project’s staff to develop reporting and promotional content from project activities; support staff with templates and reporting guidelines as needed.
Daily monitoring of local newspapers and other periodicals for material substantively affecting the work of the project;
Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements
Qualifications:

Must be legally allowed to work in Nigeria;
University graduate with a degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (Masters preferred);
4 years of experience in similar work;
Prior experience working with USAID projects strongly preferred;
Demonstrated ability to unpack and communicate complex concepts simply with a range of stakeholders and sectors;
Demonstrated experience in program and event management;
Demonstrated experience in designing communications plans, developing and implementing communications tools or systems, and developing content for social media platforms;
Sound knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
Proficiency with Prezi, Visio or other graphic arts and desktop publishing software a plus;
Excellent interpersonal skills and a strong team player;
Ability to travel to support project work;
Experience working collaboratively with institutional and private‐sector partners and stakeholders in Nigeria;
Ability to work productively and with minimal supervision both independently and as part of a diverse team;
Well organized, strong analytical skills, creative thinker, innovative, demonstrated personal initiative, stress tolerance, integrity and ethics;
Excellent written and oral communications skills in English; and
The ability to produce various informational products under tight deadlines.