Job Description
| Job #: | req11925 |
| Organization: | World Bank |
| Sector: | Communications |
| Grade: | EC2 |
| Term Duration: | 1 year 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | Local Recruitment |
| Location: | Khartoum, Sudan |
| Required Language(s): | English and Arabic |
| Closing Date: | 5/26/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
The East Africa External and Corporate Relations Department (ECRAE) manages strategic communications in support of the Bank’s work in Eastern Africa. In particular, the communications program is directed at building understanding and support for the work of the World Bank and ensuring the full spectrum of views and information is brought into the Bank’s decision-making.
The mission of ECRAE is to connect and engage with diverse stakeholders to communicate about the World Bank’s mission to end poverty and boost shared prosperity, promote an informed and evidence-based debate about development in the region, and enhance the Bank’s reputation as an effective development partner for the countries in the region. ECRAE’s key audiences include government officials, think tanks and researchers, business leaders, civil society organizations, development partners, journalists, and internal decision makers within the World Bank.
ECRAE is offering a 1-year local communications Extended Term Consultancy (ETC) in Khartoum, Sudan. The ETC plays an important role in planning and implementing communications strategies in support of the country program in Sudan, identifying and exploiting communication opportunities and risks, developing communications products to a high standard, proactively managing relations with internal and external clients, and developing and tailoring communications strategies to support Bank activities and advance the overall mission. The ETC will report to the Senior External Affairs Officer based in Addis Ababa.
Duties & Responsibilities:
• Prepares and implements the country communications strategy, and any other communications related work in coordination with the Senior External Affairs Officer, based on the guidance of the Country Management Unit.
• Plans, designs, executes, monitors and evaluates the impact of communications strategies, activities, and campaigns about the Bank’s work. Also contributes ideas with regards to the World Bank overall country strategy for Sudan.
• Identifies and suggests the types of information and communications activities that are best suited to addressing issues or needs. Accordingly, produces both routine and complex outreach products (e.g., backgrounders, media packets, news releases, op-eds, radio/TV broadcasts, PowerPoint presentations, brochures, Q&As, websites, social media, speeches, briefing notes, etc.) that promote the strategic and timely flow of information on major issues about the Bank, its policies, projects, and reports to key audiences in Sudan.
• Stakeholder engagement and partnerships – conducts stakeholder mapping and develops and sustains effective professional relationships with key internal and external constituencies (including development partners, media, civil society, NGOs, academia, businesses, government agencies, parliamentarians, etc.). Identifies opportunities for and forges strategic partnerships both inside and outside the Bank to improve dialogue and outreach and strengthen the Bank’s overall effectiveness.
• Monitors and analyzes current events, including media monitoring. Keeps management, the Sudan Country team and clients informed on trends, news developments, or changing/unexpected circumstances that may impact the Bank and its work and helps to determine appropriate strategic responses to address them.
• Identifies risks (reputational or otherwise) to the World Bank program and alerts the Country as well as Unit Management in a timely manner, proposing ways to mitigate them.
• Provides communication support to World Bank operational teams and government implementing agencies. This includes review and comment on key documents, capacity building to undertake communication interventions, consultations, and stakeholder engagement activities through lending and non-lending activities (i.e., projects, programs, analytical work, etc.).
• Organizes press briefings, public or broadcast appearances, and other communications-related activities, and supports the organization/preparation of conferences and seminars, sponsored by the Bank. Works and provides guidance to others developing various communications products for specific campaigns.
• Contributes to managing websites, social media and other online communications platforms and outreach channels.
As a member of the ECRAE team supporting the country management unit, the ETC will also be responsible for leading specific business line communications activities.
• Provides cross support to ECRAE members in the region and HQ, as required.
Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree and at least eight years of professional experience or bachelor’s degree and at least ten years of professional experience in a relevant discipline (communication, journalism, economics, finance, business administration, development studies, or international relations).
• Experience in communicating complex technical concepts in a clear, compelling and concise manner and constructing messages that are accessible to a range of audiences.
• Proven writing, editing and speaking skills in English and Arabic and an ability to convey complex ideas in a clear, direct, and engaging style. Those considered for shortlisting will be asked to take an English and Arabic writing test.
• Solid understanding of the political landscape in Sudan and different stakeholder groups—including its dynamic civil society landscape—is essential, as well as an established network in Sudan’s government, civil society, media and the private sector.
Proven ability to manage sensitive/confidential information, demonstrating good judgment and care.
• Capacity to work simultaneously on a variety of issues and tasks independently, adjusting to priorities and achieving results with agreed objectives and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a team player, within and across teams, and deliver on complex and sometimes parallel tasks on tight deadlines.
Core competencies
• Communication in International Development – Ability to communicate with internal and external partners, based on understanding their communication needs and possessing experience with international development topics and issues.
• Social Media, Information Channels, and Communication Tools Awareness – Ability to assist, consult or coordinate with others in assuring existing or new, upcoming communication tools and media channels are fully leveraged to assure proper communication.
• Access to Information Policy – Knowledgeable in information access, and in the distribution, design, and delivery of communications products and in other information dissemination activities.
• Content Development – Has experience in and/or demonstrates broad, proficiency in this competency and is therefore able to clear for internal or external use material that is developed.
• Content and Style Editing – Has experience in and/or demonstrates proficiency in writing/rewriting or editing communications products, including social media products, for purposeful structure, clarity of ideas, and the logical persuasive presentation of content.
• Communication Strategy, Planning, and Execution – Has experience in and/or demonstrates proficiency at a level sufficient to assist, consult and coordinate in the planning, development, and execution of communication strategies for projects and situations.
• Relationship Management and Political Awareness – Has experience and/or demonstrates ability to manage relationships with critical internal and/or external constituencies to foster strategic partnerships and to strengthen the Bank’s image or mitigate reputational risk.
• Client Orientation – Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication – Shares best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulates ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making – Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.
For information about WBG Core Competencies, please visit: https://bit.ly/2kbIA7O.
Note: The selected candidate will be offered a one-year appointment, renewable for an additional one year, at the discretion of the World Bank Group, and subject to a lifetime maximum ET Appointment of two years. If an ET appointment ends before a full year, it is considered as a full year toward the lifetime maximum. Former and current ET staff who have completed all or any portion of their second-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.
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