Regional Representative MENA (Middle East and North Africa)

Job Description

BackgroundInterpeace is an international organisation for peacebuilding that strengthens the ability of societies to manage conflict themselves in sustainable and non-violent ways. Interpeace designs and delivers its work tailored to each situation in partnership with local partners and communities, based on extensive consultation and research. Interpeace also ensures that the processes of conflict management and change that it supports are integrated at all levels of society including local communities, civil society, government and the international community (we call it a ?Track 6? approach).Interpeace was originally established by the United Nations and remains its strategic partner. Beyond field-based peacebuilding, Interpeace also assists the international community ? particularly the UN ? to be more effective in supporting peacebuilding efforts worldwide. This includes contributing innovative thought leadership on peacebuilding policies and practices.Interpeace?s mandate comprises the following two facets, in order of priority:I. To strengthen the capacities of societies to manage conflict in non-violent, non-coercive ways by assisting national actors in their efforts to develop social and political cohesion.II. To assist the international community (and in particular the United Nations) to play a more effective role in supporting peacebuilding efforts around the world.Position within the Organisation The Senior Regional Communications Manager (RCM) is a senior member of the Global Communications team (GCT) within the Strategic Partnerships & Communications (SP&C) Unit. The RCM will report to the Global Communications Manager, and works in close collaboration with the GCT. The RCM will be based in (LOCATION) and work closely with the Interpeace Country Representatives their respective teams and will be in close contact with other colleagues globally.Under the overall guidance of the Global Communications Manager, the RCM will be responsible for conceptualizing, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Interpeace?s global communication strategy at the regional level. He/she does that in in line with Interpeace?s global Strategy 2021-2025 and annual workplans.He/she has overall responsibility for the design, execution, as well as monitoring/evaluating the impact of communications plans, activities, and campaigns in support of Interpeace?s work in the region and in the country teams, as needed. This includes overseeing national Interpeace communications communication officers or consultants in developing context specific plans and actions for high profile or potentially sensitive projects. The RCM provides develops risk management, crisis management, and proactive target audience engagement strategies. He/she will engage with relevant external and internal stakeholders, as needed, with a focus on current events, public opinion, social or political issues, and other external or internal developments related to Interpeace?s work. This includes leading teams to communicate strategically.The RCM will directly supervise National Communications Officers and or Consultants within his/her region to undertake work planning, work assignment and monitoring of progress and is ultimately responsible for the provision of communications support to the country teams and their communications plans. The RCM will advise the management of the country teams on communication matters. He/she also ensures communications related outputs (publications, reports, stories) meet quality and consistency standards and are produced in line with processes, systems and the necessary delegation of authority defined at the global level.Purpose and General OverviewCommunication is a key component for an organization to achieve its objectives. In addition to programmatic or policy objectivies, it contributes to the creation of a positive working environment, cement working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and sets the tone for the entire organisation. Good communication is more than a simple exchange of information and messages: it involves attitude and behaviour. The RCM is expected to own and lead the communication strategy, plans, processes flow and messages at the regional level in close coordination with the GCT.The RCM will design, develop, implement and evaluate effective communications plans and actions to support the programmes branding and messaging priorities, using the full range of modern communication tools, including social media and digital publishing in compliance with Interpeace?s communication strategy.The RCM will be instrumental in disseminating and socializing the global communications strategy and guidelies throughout his/her region. Through a deep understanding of the regional context and inherent sensitivities related to Interpeace programmatic engagement, the RCM ensures that institutional messages on all communication products and channels are designed and conveyed adequately for optimal impact.This position involves frequent travels throughout the region to support Interpeace country teams.ResponsibilitiesThe Senior Regional Communications Manager will directly supervise country communications officers and complete performance assessments as their first line manager. He/she will also be responsible for the selection of key communications services providers in the region as per Interpeace?s tender policies.The RCM will oversee, design, develop and or lead regional communications plans including communication material for campaigns, global appeals, reports, newsletters and website content of the country teams, including communication assessment and analysis, in close cordination with the Global Communications Team.

• RCM will take the lead on the development of new communications activities aimed at expanding Interpeace?s digital reach and engagement in the region. The RCM will build on Interpeace?s visual identity to produce key resources, including regular reports, ensuring they have high impact, raise Interpeace?s profile and build our reach.
• RCM develops and pre-test appropriate messages, tools and materials. This will include the development of: content and materials for different media/target audiences, infotainment scripts, TV/radio spots, illustrative leaflets, posters, and other materials. Subsequently, all messages, tools and materials will be pre-tested according to an agreed protocol in compliance with the overall strategy and plans. The messages, tools and materials may need to be modified/ improved periodically based on review/ monitoring reports from the field and Geneva.

• responsibilities of the RCM will therefore include but not limited to;

1. Communications strategy

?Develop a sound understanding of the Interpeace?s global communication strategy; its vision, purpose and objectives and conceptualize best ways for its implementation at the regional level.?Facilitate the development of national/programme communication plans for Interpeace?s country programmes to help achieve objectives and in line with external stakeholders? requirements (donors, national partners).?Lead and develop strategic approaches to communicating programme activities of national country teams. Advise and support country teams on the effective use of tools of mass communication with an attempt to strive for convergence with other activities of country teams where appropriate, in the context of Interpeace?s strategic plan.?Proactively manage external strategic communications for the region, in close collaboration and coordination with the GCT, and ensure that high quality, strategic communication plans are consistently implemented. This includes ensuring clarity, accuracy, relevance, and engaging narratives in all materials that the regional communications teams produce.?Plan, develop, and implement effective communications actions to support the project(s) and initiative(s) branding and messaging priorities, using the full range of modern communication tools, including social media and digital publishing in compliance with the Interpeace (IP) strategic plan.2.Content development?Proactively ensure exchanges of information, experience, identifies new courses of action to ensure high quality support to improve Interpeace?s strategic communications across the region.?Oversee the regular development of communications content by country teams for newsletters, and prepare monthly alert messages to announce the monthly updating of the web site; edit and adapt file formats of photographs for web and social media use.?Approve content for public release following relevant internal processes and information flows compliance of all material to the standard style guide, ensuring high-quality and consistency with Interpeace?s global branding overall.3.Events, media and public relations?Lead the development of a regional media engagement strategy in coordination to the Country teams. This includes the creation of a network with relevant national and international journalists and media.?Act as regional spokesperson with national and regional media for press releases and events, establish media connections and aim to get maximum media attention for press releases, special events, press interviews either through broadcast or print media.?Lead in the organization of public, high visibility events to position Interpeace?s messages impactfully.?Participate in meetings with authorities, donors, partners and project beneficiaries to capture and share lessons learned, stories, recommendations, etc.4.Analysis and Monitoring and reporting?Regularly monitor the web and social media statistics and prepare regional reports with the support of the Global Communications Manager and the GCT.?Develop key performance indicators with the support of the Global Communications Manager to track the successful implementation of the country communication strategies.?Provide leadership and oversight to several country teams to ensure compliance with set objectives through periodic meetings, individually and in groups.?Monitor the overall planning and budget of the country communications plans, ensuring they are properly administered, and utilized. Prepares and submits timely progress/status reports for the Global Communications team.?Effectively monitor and evaluate various communications tools and activities, to measure the impact on achieving the overall objective.5.Staff management and budget oversight?Act as direct line manager for national communications officers. This includes developing personal workplans and objectives, conducting performance appraisals and staff development plans.?Be responsible for the recruitment of communication staff at the national or regional level as deemed necessary for the proper accompaniment of Interpeace?s programmatic presence in the region.?Lead on the selection of key service providers at the national and regional levels to support the delivery of communication outputs in line with Interpeace?s tender policy.?Oversee and monitor communications budgets and ressources at the regional level in close coordination with national communications officers. This also includes proactively advising and supporting budget development by ensuring appropriate communications ressources and plans are included in project proposals.The RCM can be called upon to perform additional duties required for the effective running of the regional programme within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience. He/she will lead on all aspects of communications that relate to countries of coverage as assigned by Global Communications, and be flexible to work across other countries and regions, as needed, to ensure high performing country communications teams are in place.Expected resultsHigh quality, strategic, multi-purpose, impactful communications and media content produced; enhanced presence and visibility online of Interpeace regional presence and programmes; increased number of local and international media at profile-raising events; improved efficiency and the increased output of the regional Country programme and the Global Communications team.

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