Context

Over the past five years, complex and rapidly escalating crises have caused an unprecedented need for humanitarian assistance in Niger. Attacks, kidnapping by terrorists and other armed groups coupled with internal conflicts along the frontiers with Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria have led to the death of hundreds of civilians and paramilitary and over 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDP). Since 2017 the same attacks in neighboring Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria have caused an influx of refugees as well as Niger national returnees from the countries. According to the UNHCR, in August 2020 there were over 227,816 refugees; 265,522 IDPs: 34,300 returned Niger nationals from Nigeria and 3,637 asylum seekers in Niger. Human rights violations are rampant, especially gender-based abuse of girls and young women. A Food insecurity and malnutrition crisis is gathering momentum in the communities, followed by the impact on COVID-19 from March 2020 on the economy and on access to basic services. As if that was not enough, during the months of August and early September 2020, heavy rains and floods have swept across many parts of these Regions, destroying fields, washing away livestock, damaging houses and killing people. According to OCHA Niger, by 30th August 2020 over 280,000 people (32,450 households) were affected by the floods (Evidence makes us believe that the number has doubled since then). Niger has thus become a melting pot of complex and multidimensional crises. The regions of Diffa, Tillaberi, Maradi and Tahoua are the hardest hit by all these crises except the floods which had a more devastating effect on Niamey the capital city with children, girls and women taking most of the punch.

Almost all the UN agencies involved in humanitarian or development work are represented in Niger with WFP, UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR, OCHA. Plan International is a member of a network of over 60 International NGOs. The government has put in place many politico-military measures to increase security and protection of civilians but this remains an increasing uphill task. In fact, some of the measures drastically thwart humanitarian action (ex the mandatory use of military escorts).

Plan International has been providing humanitarian assistance in Diffa and Tillaberi since 2017. The lack of experienced DRM personnel and the difficulty to hire from outside has however affected both the quality and the timeliness of the interventions. Diffa, at the border with Niger 1,300 km away from Niamey, is part of the Lake Chad Program with a full-time ERM and over 50 staff engaged 100% on Emergency Response. Tillaberi, two hours away from Niamey, as well as Tahoua and Maradi (700 km away) are part of the Sahel Program, with mainly development programs but increasing humanitarian projects. There are no dedicated Response staff. The Niger Country Office has one dedicated DRM Manager whose capacity needs to be strengthened. With the advent of COVID-19 an ERT was set-up but composed only of staff experienced on development work.

Purpose

The present request is for a highly experienced Infocoms Coord. As the crises multiply and escalate, it has become important and urgent to have high-level Infocoms experts who will:

a. Work in close collaboration with the CO Coms Specialist and contribute to the implementation of the communication and influence initiatives of the Plan International Niger country strategy.

b. Ensure the relevance and quality of actions planned and implemented in the context of the humanitarian and development - Nexus.

c. Ensure the integration of the advocacy, lobbying and communication dimension in the design of projects and programs of Plan International Niger.

d. Ensure the quality control of communication and influence strategies and actions initiated in all of Plan International Niger's projects and programs.

e. Ensure the production of high quality communication and advocacy resources that cover the actions of Plan International Niger.

f. Make sure to strengthen the visibility of Plan International Niger at the national and international level through the available means of communication, working groups, consultation framework, meetings (national, international ...) and to exercise the necessary influence to the achievement of Plan International Niger's ambition.

Responsibilities

a. Design a mapping of national events related to the areas of interest of Plan International Niger

b. Develop and manage relations with the media, networks of journalists as well as NGOs and government authorities and agencies of the United Nations System;

c. Introduce innovations aimed at reinforcing the capacities of staff to communicate

d. Promote capacity building of key personnel and partners on communication techniques;

e. Regularly produce communication and advocacy material for use in advocacy and on Plan International's websites and social media;

f. Effectively manage communication in crisis and disaster situations.

g. Set up a bank of high-resolution communication resources (photos, videos, audio, etc.) and contribute to enriching the global media bank;

h. Contribute to Disaster Preparedness Plan update

i. Contribute in the design of projects and the development of proposals for emergency response projects

Time Frame

Three months starting as soon as possible (December 2020)

This vacancy is archived.

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