Job Description

Title: Technical Specialist- Communication and Advocacy

Company Name: Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB)

Vacancy: 01

Job Location: Sunamganj (Bishwamvarpur, Dakshin Sunamganj, Derai)

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ Master’s in Social science/Master’s in relevant subject from reputed national or international universities.
∎ At least five years of professional experiences in communication, M&E, food safety system and organic products promotion.

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) is going to implement the “Strengthening smallholder farms and rural enterprises to better cope with climate change in the vulnerable Haor region of Bangladesh” project funded by the Welthungerhilfe (WHH).
∎ The project aims to create local ownership and sustainable development through the establishment and strengthening of local community institutions such as Climate Field School, Micro and Small Enterprises (SMEs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Agri Service Centers. The project also foresees active collaboration with local authorities (Union Parishad, Upazila Paishad, District Parishad, Municipality and City Cooperation, various government departments) thus political, systematic changes can be initiated and an effective scaling of the project approaches can be enabled. The project will intends to establish and strengthen formal partnerships with different public sector, private sector and civil society institutions such as Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Organic Agriculture Network (BOAN) of BARI, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) to (i) deliver coordinated, decentralized, location specific and need-based extension services for smallholders, (ii) promote sustainable, safe and transparent production and processing standards, and (iii) establish PGS certification as a recognized eco-label. In the towns of Sylhet and Dhaka, the project will cooperate with 20 food entrepreneurs for the creation of organic supply and value chains and support the Consumer Association of Bangladesh in raising the awareness of 1 million consumers on climate resilient, ecological foods. The overall objective of this project is to enhance rural community resilience in Bangladesh to the impacts of climate change on agriculture, food security and livelihoods.
∎ With the partnership of FIVDB, the project will focus in the Upazillas of South Sunamganj, Bishomvopur, and Dirai under Sunamganj District. The duration of the project is 3 years, and the job is contractual for the project period. The position will be recruited for implementing the project based at the Project Office at Sunamgonj with substantial field activities.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ The Technical Specialist- Communication and Advocacy will be overall responsible for the promotion of ecological foods through consumer information campaigns, IEC material development, networking and advocacy as well as monitoring and documentation. He/she will also be responsible for the capacity building interventions, including module and course curriculum development, creation of tools/methodologies/guidelines and handholding support to the field staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders. The Technical Specialist- Communication and Advocacy will closely work with the Project Coordinator to ensure smooth and effective operations of the program in timely manner. He/she will regularly monitor the quality of the interventions under relevant project results.
∎ Capacity development of staffs, Govt extension workers and community organizations in advocacy, communication and PM&E through providing regular and need based technical guideline, technical training (need analysis, training module, materials & guideline development), mentoring and knowledge sharing etc.
∎ Lead the development of an effective and appropriate Monitoring and Evaluation system, methodologies, and frameworks for measuring progress and impact at different levels
∎ Support to establish an interactive digital multi-stakeholder platform at national and district level involving various actors such as smallholder farmers and their FPOs/SMES, food entrepreneurs, consumer groups, certification bodies, civil society networks and public-sector authorities for the promotion of ecological agriculture, PGS-certification, Consumer communication, marketing and business development.
∎ Assist to collect, record and compile quantitative and qualitative data including designing data collection tools, analyses data and preparing reports
∎ Organise conferences/workshop/round table discussion at national and district level for advocacy and knowledge sharing to promote the formulation of a National Organic Policy and establishing PGS Certification.
∎ Support to develop an information and communication strategy on climate change and PGS certified food
∎ Lead to develop the information, education, and communication (IEC) materials
∎ Support to organise consumer awareness campaign in district/cities level in coordination with Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and BOAN and other related stakeholders
∎ Maintain close collaboration and coordination between different Govt organizations, Private sector and Civil society organizations such as DAE, BOAN-BARI, CAB, BFSA, food entrepreneurs, media persons on food safety and PGS certified products.
∎ Mobilize and facilitate engagement of stakeholders during planning and development meetings, workshops and other fora.
∎ Support to form and strengthen the community institution/SHG
∎ Ensure the activities of the project site according to the DIP (Details Implementation Plan).
∎ Assist the project staffs to implement of the oversight plan, reporting back to the Project Coordinator on any observed successes and challenges, and make useful correction.
∎ Capable to meet the donor requirement on Information/Data collection and report preparation as well as data analysis.
∎ Prepare monthly, quarterly and yearly progress report and submit to project Coordinator.
∎ Any other activities will be performed that’s assigned by organization and Donor agency.
∎ Duty Station : Project office level

Additional Requirements:
∎ Age 25 to 55 years
∎ Both males and females are allowed to apply
∎ Experiences in communication and advocacy strategy development and implementation with focusing ecological agriculture, PGS-certification, Consumer communication and marketing.
∎ Practical knowledge and experiences on IEC/BCC materials development.
∎ Experiences on Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks development for measuring the project progress and impact at different levels
∎ Experiences in capturing learning, innovations and best practices including writing case stories and dissemination
∎ Skill in Computer software as MS-Office, MS Excel and MS Power Point.
∎ Ability to drive motorcycle with having valid driving license.
∎ Ability to generate new ideas/innovation and ways of working to continuously improve existing work processes, practices, and concepts.
∎ Excellent oral and written communication skills including interpersonal communication and facilitation skills.
∎ Ability to work in a team and with good networking and interpersonal skills.

Salary: Tk. 50000 - 55000 (Monthly)

Compensation & Other Benefits:
∎ Weekly 2 holidays, Mobile bill
∎ Salary Review: Yearly
∎ Festival Bonus: 1
∎ As per the policy of FIVDB.

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 9 Sep 2021

Company Information:
∎ 31 Aug 2021
∎ Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB)
∎ Address : FIVDB, Khadimnagar, Sylhet-3103
∎ Web : www.fivdb.net
∎ Business : FIVDB is a development organization, established in 1979. Its major operation cover 7 major districts and concentrates round in the north-east of Bangladesh. It mission is to give disadvantage women, men and children greater voice, reduce their vulnerability, increase use of citizenship rights and help them enhance their quality of life.

Category: NGO/Development

: Only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.