The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian protection and assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation to ensure a concerted, rational, and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We advise and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.
Based in Dakar, the Africa public relations officer and spokesperson works with delegations in French-speaking Africa to generate coverage of ICRC’s activities, humanitarian concerns, and regional thematic priorities. They develop messaging and implement strategies to strategically position the organization, identifying and highlighting compelling stories we can tell globally about our work and the people we serve in Africa. They guide delegations on public communication issues, opportunities, and challenges.
They are part of the Cross-Media team with a blue line to the global news editor in Geneva. They also work closely with the Africa Head of Sector based in Geneva and the regional communications team based in Dakar.
Media Relations
• Provide strategic support to 13 delegations in French-speaking countries in Africa.
• Sets up and handles communication opportunities for senior ICRC leaders to profile operations (e.g. during field visits to operational delegations).
• Follow innovations and trends in communications, media and digital.
• Signal issues on which ICRC should consider positioning itself publicly and bilaterally and define strategies, messages and tools for communicating such issues.
• Lead strategic cross media communications packages comprising online media tools.
• Drafts speaking points, news releases, defensive lines and other products for traditional media, and contributes to digital content.
• Acts as a spokesperson, providing information on the ICRC's activities and humanitarian concerns.
• Provides (or organizes) interviews, quotes and briefings for journalists on operations and issues of concern, ensuring that the ICRC's public position is known and understood.
• Pitches story ideas, content and interviews, and engages with key media to develop longer-term content partnerships (either directly or with global reach delegations).
• Works with Regional Resource Network (RRN), and its Regional Hub in Dakar (DAK HUB) to provide support to delegations in West Africa, as well as contributing directly to the implementation of the RSF priorities and to humanitarian diplomacy efforts.
• Works with the digital communication team at headquarters and regional communication centres to develop media/digital campaigns around key thematic issues and contexts.
• Works with other communication staff based in or covering the same region to map, prioritize and build media contacts. Supports the key delegations when necessary, including through country visits.
• Supports the global media management of crises, working with the operational region and digital communication team at headquarters and regional communication staff and global reach delegations in the field.
• Ensures smooth coordination of public communication issues with all International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement components, especially during crises and joint Movement response.
Capacity Building
• Support ICRC delegation to coach, brief and debrief of field communications, with particular emphasis on first mission and national staff.
• Participate in the conception, preparation and implementation of public communication training modules.
• Support and advise the teams managing operations at field and headquarters levels in their communications activities and strategies, provide a constant stream of information on these interventions, and help ICRC continue exposing the humanitarian needs of the population it is helping.
• Provide support to, mentor and coach communications coordinator to develop communication strategies and initiatives in the countries.
Emergency support
• On call 24/7 every six weeks to cover global media requests.
• Attend crisis calls and meetings; write and share internal/external updates.
• Support the delegations in its communications initiatives for major emergencies, upon request.
• Participate in crisis management teams on critical incidents, when needed.
Type of contact: Open ended contract
Working rate: 100%
Starting date: March 2023
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Length of assignment: 24 months
Application deadline: 05/11/2022
The ICRC values diversity and is committed to building an inclusive working environment. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates.
This vacancy is archived.