Communication Expert at ActionAid Nigeria

ActionAid is an anti-poverty agency that prioritises works with the poor and excluded; promoting values and commitment in civil society, institutions and Governments with the aim of achieving structural changes in order to eradicate injustices and poverty in the world. ActionAid Nigeria is an affiliate of ActionAid International, an International Non-Governmental organisation registered in The Netherlands with its headquarters in Johannesburg South Africa. ActionAid International works in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Communication Expert - Content Development for Information, Education and Communication Materials for the EC-PANAF Project

Location: Nigeria

Background

• ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) is a human rights-based organisation that works with poor and excluded people, promoting their rights and empowering people living in poverty to take necessary action to end poverty
• Established in 1999, AAN is an affiliate of ActionAid federation focusing on social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication using the Human Rights Based Approach
• This is focused on protecting and fulfilling the human rights of people living in poverty as the best way to eradicate poverty and injustice.
• In Nigeria, AAN has worked in over 30 states supporting programme/projects interventions while promoting pro-poor programmes at all levels. By building local organisations, and linking these organisations into networks, platforms, alliances and movements at the local and national levels, AAN helped build a broad movement for change.

Project Overview
At the 8th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of governments 2007, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), an initiative of the African Governance Architecture (AGA) by the African leaders, was first introduced. This legal document came into force on 15 February 2012 with about 10 countries signing and ratifying the document. Another 28 countries signed but have not ratified while 18 countries still have a neutral position on it. The ACDEG has since 2012 been ratified by 45 countries.

The instrument aims at reinforcing the commitment of the AU member states towards the promotion and consolidation of democratic governance and human rights in the continent. The formulation of this charter was stimulated by different decisions, declarations, resolutions and normative instruments of the AU. These instruments include the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; the 1999 Algiers Decision on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa; the 2000 Lomé Declaration on the Framework for an AU Response to Unconstitutional Changes of Government; the 2002 AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa; and the 2002 Constitutive Act of the AU.

The charter seeks to promote adherence, by each State Party, to the universal values and principles of democracy and respect for human rights; Promote and enhance adherence to the principle of the rule of law premised upon the respect for, and the supremacy of the constitution and constitutional order in the political arrangements of the State Parties. It also seeks to promote regular free and fair elections to institutionalise legitimate authority of representative government as well as democratic change of governments. It prohibit, reject and condemn unconstitutional change of government in any member state, as a serious threat to stability, peace, security and development amidst other objectives. The charter further empowers the African Union Commission (AUC) through the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit, and the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Fund to offer technical assistance to AU member states towards the strengthening and improvement of their electoral institutions and processes.

The implementation of ACDEG is envisaged to take place at national, regional and at the Africa continent levels, leveraging normative instruments, policies and structures at those levels as stipulated under Article 44 of ACDEG. Since the adoption of the charter in 2012, different countries have made tremendous effort in entrenching democracy and good governance in Africa. But of the 45 African countries signatory to ACDEG, only the Republic of Togo has since submitted its initial State Report on the implementation of the principles and commitments to the Charter.

As part of efforts at empowering citizens to engage the governments to live up to their responsibility of implementing the objectives of ACDEG, ActionAid Nigeria is partnering with the media to further strengthen the demand for governments across the Africa continent to match their commitments with effective implementations.

It is against this background that ActionAid Nigeria would like to develop content for Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) materials. Hence, we require the services of a communication expert who would develop, design messaging, for Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) materials (Fact sheet, Sticker, T-Shirt, Short Video Messaging). The messages shall focus on promoting conversation on the implementation of ACDEG, with a view to change government attitudes towards implementation of ACDEG.

Key Deliverables
The selected Communication expert shall develop content for BCC materials through evidence-based research and situation analysis of the following articles of the African Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance:

• Public institutions need to remain independent, accountable and resourced. Governments shall establish independent and autonomous public institutions that promote and support democracy and are accountable to national organs
• Electoral institutions and processes must be strengthened. Electoral processes ought to follow best practices to hold regular and credible elections. Governments may request for assistance in strengthening electoral institutions and processes to the Commission that will send a special advisory mission.
• Assessment of the electoral environment prior to elections. Prior to elections, observer missions should be allowed to play the role to document and assess whether the necessary conditions have been established to hold transparent, free and fair elections.
• Women participation in governance. State Parties shall create the necessary conditions for full and active participation of women in the decision-making processes and structures, as well as encouraging their participation in the electoral process. Equal opportunities must be given to women and gender parity in representation at all levels
• Sustainable development and Security. Governments should formulate and implement policies that ensure sustainable development and the security of their citizens.

The BCC materials shall focus on communicating the objectives of the project to the target audience, influencing them to act for the #ACDEG Campaign.

Outputs

• Develop messages for 3 short videos
• Develop well Researched Evidence Base content for a Fact Sheet
• Develop and content Messages for ACDEG 1 Pager and other BCC materials.

Timeline

• Successful organisation is expected to deliver on this job on or before 10 working days.

Required Documentations

• Company Profile
• CAC Registration Certificate
• Tax Clearance/Exemption if on Tax Holiday

Experience

• Experienced in Advocacy, Campaign Messaging and Designing Communication Strategy for policy advocacy

Payment

• The organisation shall submit an expression of intertest quoting their fee, experience. Fifty percent of the total sum shall be paid in advance at the beginning of the consultancy period. The balance of 50% will be paid when the final job is delivered by the organisation
• ActionAid is under Nigerian tax laws obliged to deduct 5% withholding tax on the payment and transmit same to the tax authorities in favour of the organisation

Reporting Lines:

• The selected organisation shall submit all documentation and resources developed to the Policy, Advocacy and Campaign Officer, AAN.

Application Closing Date
31st July, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their expression of interest and profile to: procurement.nigeria@actionaid.org and cc. Agenyi.Arome@actionaid.org