Communications Officer

The Communications Officer is responsible for coordinating and delivering communications activities for the EKN HIV Instrument Project across all participating countries and partners.

The role leads the development of project content, storytelling, visibility materials, communications products and digital content while ensuring alignment with EKN branding, donor visibility requirements and mothers2mothers standards. The Communications Officer serves as the day-to-day communications focal point for the project and is responsible for coordinating communications activities across implementing partners, country teams and the EKN Communications Working Group.

Working closely with project teams, partners, community representatives and communications colleagues, the role ensures that project achievements, lessons learned, innovations and community voices are effectively captured, documented and communicated to internal and external audiences.

The role also supports implementation of the mothers2mothers Spokeswomen Programme by helping identify, prepare and support spokeswomen to participate effectively in media, advocacy, donor and stakeholder engagement opportunities

Key Performance Areas

Storytelling, Content Development and Knowledge Capture

Purpose

Lead the development of compelling content that demonstrates project impact, learning and community voice.

Key Accountabilities

- Develop stories, case studies, testimonials, human-interest features and success stories from EKN countries.
- Capture project achievements, innovations, lessons learned and impact.
- Conduct interviews with staff, partners, beneficiaries and stakeholders.
- Translate technical project information into clear, audience-appropriate content.
- Coordinate collection of photographs, videos, quotes and multimedia content.
- Maintain the project content repository and communications asset library.
- Ensure community voices, AGYW and key population perspectives are reflected in communications products.
- Support implementation of the mothers2mothers Spokeswomen Programme.
- Identify, document and support development of potential spokeswomen from programme countries and communities.
- Coordinate logistics and communications preparation for spokeswomen activities.
- Support training, coaching and preparation of spokeswomen for media, donor, advocacy and stakeholder engagements.
- Assist with development of key messages, personal stories and communications materials for spokeswomen.
- Work closely with the Advocacy Lead to ensure spokeswomen participation supports project advocacy and communications objectives.
- Deliver communications content in line with agreed communications plans and deadlines.

External, Digital and Stakeholder Communications

Purpose

Develop and coordinate communications content across internal and external communication channels.

Key Accountabilities

- Develop content for websites, newsletters, social media platforms and digital communication channels.
- Coordinate dissemination of project updates, milestones and achievements.
- Produce communications materials for internal and external audiences.
- Adapt content for different audiences and communication platforms.
- Support implementation of project visibility and stakeholder communications activities.
- Ensure all communications products align with approved messaging and communications standards.
- Coordinate communications content for donor, partner and stakeholder audiences.
- Support communication requirements associated with project launches, milestones and achievements.

Publications, Visibility and Branding

Purpose

Coordinate development of communications products and ensure compliance with approved branding and visibility requirements.

Key Accountabilities

- Develop content for reports, factsheets, presentations, publications and visibility products.
- Coordinate production of donor visibility materials and project publications.
- Ensure communications products comply with EKN branding requirements and donor visibility guidelines.
- Support implementation of agreed communications review and approval processes.
- Ensure safeguarding, consent and ethical communications requirements are consistently applied.
- Maintain communications templates, branding resources and style guides.
- Support quality assurance across project communications products.

Partner Communications Coordination and Communications Working Group Support

Purpose

Ensure effective communications coordination across project partners and participating countries.

Key Accountabilities

- Coordinate communications activities across implementing partners.
- Maintain partner communications calendars and content plans.
- Coordinate collection of stories, updates and communications materials from partners and country teams.
- Support implementation of common branding, visibility and communications requirements across the partnership.
- Coordinate meetings and actions of the EKN Communications Working Group.
- Promote consistency of messaging and communications approaches across partner organisations.
- Facilitate communication and information sharing between project communications focal points.
- Support alignment of communications activities across countries and implementing partners.

Communications Planning, Project Management and Coordination

Purpose

Coordinate implementation of the project communications work plan and communications deliverables.

Key Accountabilities

- Maintain the project communications work plan and content calendar.
- Monitor progress against communications deliverables and timelines.
- Coordinate content review, approval and publication processes.
- Track communications outputs, deadlines and visibility commitments.
- Maintain communications records, trackers and repositories.
- Coordinate communications inputs required for project events, workshops and reporting cycles.
- Ensure communications deliverables are completed on schedule.
- Support integration of communications activities into project planning processes.

Communications Monitoring, Learning and Reporting

Purpose

Monitor communications performance and support continuous improvement.

Key Accountabilities

- Track communications outputs and visibility requirements.
- Monitor communications performance and engagement metrics.
- Support project communications reporting requirements.
- Identify opportunities to improve communications products and approaches.
- Support knowledge-sharing and learning activities relating to project communications.
- Contribute to communications performance reviews and improvement planning.

Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

Must Have

- Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Studies, Marketing or a related field.
- Qualification in Digital Communications, Content Marketing, Journalism or Storytelling.
- Training in photography, videography or digital content development will be advantageous.
- Minimum 3-5 years' experience in communications, journalism, public relations or content development.
- Demonstrated experience producing communications products and publications.
- Strong writing, editing and proofreading skills.
- Experience managing communications content across multiple channels.
- Experience coordinating communications projects and deliverables.
- Experience working with stakeholders and collecting content from multiple contributors.

Preferred

- Experience within NGOs, INGOs, public health or development programmes.
- Experience supporting donor-funded projects.
- Experience capturing community stories and impact narratives.
- Experience supporting advocacy, stakeholder engagement or spokesperson initiatives.
- Experience working across multi-country or partnership projects.
- Experience with digital communications and social media management.

Reporting & Team Structure

- Reports to: Advocacy Lead
- Collaborates with: Internal

Advocacy Lead,Senior Communications Manager, Senior Project Director

Project Director, Project Leads, Government & Partnerships Leads

Strategic Information Teams, EKN Project Team, Country Teams

External

Implementing Partners, Community-Based Organisations

Consultants and Designers, Photographers and Videographers

Communications Service Providers, Donor Communications Focal Points (where required)

- Supervises:

Working Conditions

- Employment Type: Full Time
- Location: Cape Town
- Travel Requirements:
- Work Requirements:

Compensation and Benefits

- Competitive salary and performance-based incentives
- Comprehensive benefits (health, retirement, leave)
- Opportunities for growth, leadership, and professional development