Job ID:
HQ01641
Location
Bangladesh
Closing Date
20-Dec-2023
Salary:
94798 – 177443 BDT per month
About IRRI
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.
Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.
Job Purpose
Under the supervision of the Senior Associate Scientist and in collaboration with the AMD initiative teams (nationally and internationally), this position will support developing and implementing a communication, out-scaling, advocacy, and engagement plan to achieve the project’s policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and communication goals
This position will be based at our country office in Bangladesh and is open to Bangladeshi nationals only.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Support the implementation of project outreach and advocacy activities, including identifying target stakeholders, evaluating their information needs and potential engagement opportunities
- Develop draft communication collateral and engagement materials to support policy advocacy campaigns and strategies and individual stakeholder engagement opportunities
- Focus on targeted stakeholder engagement among the public and private sector policy and extension agencies, farmer organizations, and individual farmers
- Working with the Senior Associate Scientist to support developing and implementing the project communication and stakeholder engagement plan of the AMD initiative in Bangladesh.
- Advise on potential entry points in Bangladesh’s policy and civil society landscape to advance support for the project plan and implement these in collaboration with the project team.
- Collaborate with the IRRI Communication team in other AMD country programs and the project team to ensure the creation and delivery of communication materials appropriate for each stage of the program and each type of target audience to be engaged.
- Develop and sustain relationships with relevant stakeholders in Bangladesh and support the project team in maintaining stakeholder relationships using an appropriate mix of public communication, face-to-face meetings, events platforms, and interpersonal touchpoints.
- Work closely with consultants, advisors, suppliers, vendors, etc., to align initiatives and ensure delivery of commitments.
- Support the Senior Associate Scientist in keeping internal and external partners current on the project’s status and ensuring that their communication needs are met
- In collaboration with the project team, conduct a comprehensive stakeholder mapping and engagement analysis for key stakeholder groups.
- Research and plan engagements within climate change and agri-food-system research communities in Bangladesh, as well as other key stakeholder groups
- Prepare key messages and ensure messages and project information are up to date across all platforms (print, digital, etc.)
- Write/edit the FAQs, news, feature stories, scripts, and other content for use across multiple channels/platforms (printed materials, website, social media, etc.) on the project’s status, milestones, events, and the like, for policy advocacy campaigns/strategies and meetings.
- Write, edit, and support the development of communication materials to target audiences and provide material to the media, including the local vernacular language press.
- Monitor traditional and social media for coverage of stories related to climate change, agri-food systems, and other topics related to the initiative.
- Collect data and other relevant inputs to prepare the regular media monitoring and stakeholder engagement reports.
- Perform any other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor from time to time
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communication, Journalism, Public Policy, Economics, or related fields with a minimum of six years of relevant work experience; or
- Master’s degree in communication, Journalism, Public Policy, Economics, , or related field with a minimum of four years of relevant work experience
Skills Required
Mandatory
- Experience working or liaising with partners and stakeholders, preferably with national government extension agencies, ministries and agencies, private sector, local government, and non-government organizations
- Deep understanding of Bangladesh’s national government extension agencies, government R&D agencies, private sector, and systems and processes
- Successful track record of implementing advocacy campaigns and creating long-term change
- Good understanding of coastal area agriculture and substantial experience in packaging and disseminating communication materials through several channels
- Excellent English and Bengali written and oral communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Pro-active and reliable, attention to detail
- Team player and highly collaborative
- Excellent English and Bengali language skills (written and spoken)
Preferred
- Advanced MS Office applications skills and substantial experience using design software
- Advanced social media experience (SEO content development), engagement, and monitoring skills
- Communication research skills such as conducting interviews, content analysis and other relevant areas