Communications Consultant

We are looking for an experienced communications consultant for the BRACED Knowledge Manager (KM) to amplify the impact of external outreach initiatives and increase the profile of the BRACED consortium.

Background

The Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) programme (2014- 2019) is a major DFID-funded programme helping people become more resilient to climate extremes in South-East Asia, the Sahel and East Africa.

BRACED does four things:

1. Builds climate resilience in target communities in West Africa (Component A)
2. Builds climate resilience in target communities in East Africa and Asia (Component B)
3. Improves our understanding of how to effectively build climate resilience (Component C)
4. Strengthens the policy environment for building resilience (Component D)

The Fund Manager (FM) is responsible for overseeing the delivery of BRACED activities related to Components A & B – the implementation of resilience building activities in Africa and Asia by the BRACED Implementing Partners (IPs). The Knowledge Manager (KM) is responsible for delivering Component C – capturing and interrogating the lessons learnt from Components A & B, generating evidence and ensuring their uptake. Component D aims to apply the lessons learnt through BRACED to influence national and global resilience policies, although the scope is yet to be finalised and the workplan developed.

ODI leads the Knowledge Manager (KM) for BRACED - a consortium of 6 partners. The consortium specialises in monitoring and evaluation, research, learning and uptake, with regional expertise and partnerships across Africa and Asia. BRACED has recently received an extension (until 30th September 2019), with an increased focus on taking what has been learnt from BRACED projects and using this learning to influence national and international policy and planning. Of the fifteen original IPs working under BRACED, nine have received funding for the extension period.

For the extension, the KM is structured around six thematic areas:

• Theme 1: Climate Risk Information for Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation Planning
• Theme 2: Access to Markets
• Theme 3: Climate Finance
• Theme 4: Gender and Social Inclusion
• Theme 5: Climate Change and Disasters in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Contexts
• Theme 6: Resilience Measurement

Through cross-cutting and strategic learning, uptake and communications, the KM takes the knowledge and evidence generated under each thematic area to targeted audiences with the aim that this knowledge and evidence will be put into use both within BRACED countries and beyond.

Terms of reference

Under the direction of the BRACED KM Programme Management Unit (PMU), proactively design and implement external outreach initiatives to amplify the evidence and lessons emerging from across the BRACED KM.

Main tasks

• Identify target audiences relevant for the BRACED KM, as well as key strategic opportunities to engage these audiences with BRACED evidence and lessons.
• Support the KM to develop strong engagement strategies to influence key policy processes and strengthen core partnerships.
• Proactively and creatively identify areas and initiatives to strengthen BRACED’s communications to raise awareness of the BRACED programme and extend its reach.
• Tailor BRACED KM key messages according to target audiences and key policy moments, liaising with partners across the KM consortium and wider BRACED programme to ensure they are compelling, relevant, timely and useful.
• Support on the effective digital dissemination and promotion of content across BRACED’s channels and beyond, extending BRACED’s reach on influential external platforms.
• Support the planning and delivery of high profile events and roundtables – convening critical speakers, and driving impactful and strategic agendas.
• Support the BRACED knowledge manager to harness strong media coverage and public affairs opportunities.
• Carry out other tasks as specified by BRACED’s Project and Operations Lead and ODI’s Communications Manager.

Contract: Fixed term up to three days a week for 6 months.
Rate: negotiable, based on experience.
Eligibility: Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.