Senior Communications Specialist (Kabul, Afghanistan) | Afghan Job Center

Job Description

Position Summary: The Senior Communications Specialist will support promotion of AMP’s activities and achievements through domestic outreach, and Roots of Peace and USAID media channels. S/he will participate in, photograph/video and report on market linkage activities, grant and incentive implementation, business and technical training, and other project-related activities. S/he will support both external and internal (contractually-required) communications. S/he will be required to travel frequently throughout Afghanistan, to AMP’s 12 target provinces. S/he will report directly to the Business Development Director but will coordinate closely with personnel throughout the organization. Specific Tasks: Visit the locations of grant and incentive activities, photograph activities under implementation (such as training, input distribution, farmer field days, equipment delivery and installation, third party processing, product transportation, cold storage use) or activities completed (equipment operation, use of improved packaging technologies, cold storage repairs, infrastructure improvements, solar power systems, promotions through billboards), interview grantees/incentive awardees on the implementation and impact of the grant/incentive, and interview beneficiaries on the impact of support provided Participate in other AMP activities (business and technical training, market linkage events, farmer field days, site visits, etc.), take photographs, interview participants/beneficiaries and provide written communications pieces (snapshots, success stories, tweets, etc.). Relaunch the AMP monthly electronic newsletter (in Dari and Pashto) reporting on project activities, upcoming events, industry information and project accomplishments Provide information, reports and photographs on a regular basis to AMP’s Communications Director for use in ROP and USAID communications activities Develop USAID Success Stories and Snapshots reporting on project accomplishments according to pre-defined templates Assist in development of AMP weekly and quarterly reports, including gathering and editing inputs from other colleagues. Provide data and information to the AMP M&E personnel, as required. Any other tasks of a similar nature as requested by the AMP Business Development Director

Background

Roots of Peace is a humanitarian organization whose mission is to rid the world of landmines and other remnants of war by transforming toxic minefields into thriving farmland and communities, through a focus on sustainable, organic farming practices. Roots of Peace is implementing the 3-year, USAID-funded Agriculture Marketing Program.

AMP Project Description:

The Agriculture Marketing Program (AMP) is a three-year USAID-funded program that follows on the successes of the ten-year USAID Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Program (CHAMP). The program works in 12 provinces of Afghanistan, focusing on increasing farm production and domestic sales through interventions aimed at farmers and agribusinesses. During the first two years of the program, AMP worked with leading Afghan processing and export firms to increase export volumes and values, introduce new agricultural products to the market, diversify export markets and increase value-added processing. The program’s market-based, demand-driven approach focused on supporting private sector growth and sustainability, thereby creating demand for agricultural products that drive job growth in rural areas. Women are incorporated into all areas of program implementation.

In its final fiscal year of implementation, AMP has pivoted to an approach that addresses food security challenges precipitated by the emerging economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. This approach comprises three key strategies:

Connecting Farmers to Domestic Markets Increasing Value-Add of Agriculture Products, Extending Shelf Life of Products Support for Remote Rural Areas

Activities include:

Increasing farm productivity and food security through Farmer Field Schools and other activities aimed at building farm capacity.
Expanding the number of agricultural products through value addition and product diversification, such as processed jams and sulfur dried apricots.
Linking farmers with traders, and traders with buyers in domestic markets, such as through domestic food expos and B2B meetings.
Building the capacity of agribusinesses to maximize output and quality for domestic markets.
Supporting initiatives such as improved post-harvest handling infrastructure for traders, including packing houses, cold storage, and improved packaging.
Addressing important supply chain and trade impediments that restrict the sale of high value agriculture products.

AMP works primarily with private sector agribusinesses, farm producers and other USAID-funded agricultural programs. Specific attention is given to support the participation of women and youth in AMP activities.

Job Requirements

Education: Master’s degree in journalism, communications, English language or public relations field. English language certificate preferred, but not required. Knowledge & Experience: At least five years of work experience with masters and seven years with bachelors in donor reporting, communications, journalism, social media (portfolio necessary) Demonstrable experience in taking photographs of events, people and landscapes (portfolio necessary) Experience of developing/creating articles, reports, and other communications documentation, in English (and also Dari and/or Pashto) International travel and/or education preferred, but not required. Skills & Competencies: English language fluency (reading, writing & speaking) essential. Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto (preferably both) Excellent photography skills Excellent interpersonal skills Attention to detail; ability to prepare accurate, well-formatted and professionally looking documents. High degree of computer literacy Strong analytical skills and business acumen preferred Ability to manage a large and complex workload, with limited supervision Motivation, flexibility, and capacity to work under pressure to short deadlines, and strong sense of personal initiative. Application Requirements: Applications should submit a resume in English, together with a portfolio of written articles and photographs.

Vacancy Number

141

No. Of Jobs

Nationality

National

Gender

Any

Years of Experience

At least five years of work experience in donor reporting, communications, journalism, social media

Duration

January 2023 (with possible extension extension

Salary

As per Organization Salary Scale (Grade B)

Submission Guideline

Qualified applicants are encouraged to send their applications with clearly mentioning the job title and duty station of the vacancy in the subject line.

All applicants should submit a resume in English, together with a portfolio of written articles and photographs. Applications without submitting the portfolio will not be considered.

Submission Email
ROPHR@rootsofpeace.org