Communications Manager Fort Portal - BRIGHT Project

About IFDC

IFDC is a public international organization active in 27 countries in Africa, Asia, and America. IFDC uniquely approaches the global issues of food security and poverty by bridging the gap between research and impact, combining science-based innovations, holistic market systems development, an enabling policy environment, and strategic partnerships to assist farmers and countries to identify and scale sustainable agricultural solutions, including improved nutrient use efficiency. These approaches are needed to boost soil health and crop productivity while reducing the environmental impact of fertilizer use. IFDC translates research into action by using locally driven, environmentally sound, and impact-oriented solutions. With our partners, we seek to close the yield gap, eradicate global hunger, safeguard the soil on which our lives depend, and generate economic resilience for farming households and the countries in which they live.

Position Summary

The Communications Manager will be responsible for developing and executing comprehensive communication strategies for the BRIGHT Project. This role requires a creative storyteller with expertise in multimedia production (written, photo, video), strategic communication, and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will work directly with the BRIGHT project team across three regions, with support from IFDC headquarters' communications and knowledge management staff.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Communication Planning:
• Design, implement, and continuously update the BRIGHT Project communication strategy;
• Ensure that communication efforts align with the project's goals and broader organizational objectives.
• Content Creation and Dissemination:
• Produce high-quality written and visual content (articles, success stories, social media posts, videos, infographics) that showcase project impact and innovations;
• Manage the dissemination of content across multiple platforms, including social media, project websites, and e-newsletters;
• Support the design and delivery of multimedia training materials.
• Media Engagement and Public Relations:
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets;
• Organize media events, press releases, and promotional campaigns to highlight BRIGHT Project achievements;
• Develop and manage communication materials for external audiences, including donors and strategic partners.
• Reporting and Documentation:
• Collaborate with technical teams to compile, edit, and finalize project periodic reports;
• Prepare communication briefs, intervention fact sheets, and other promotional materials;
• Maintain a well-organized photo and video library documenting project activities.
• Event Coordination:
• Plan and execute communication aspects of project events, including media campaigns, press coverage, and community outreach;
• Support the organization of training workshops, conferences, and field visits.
• Monitoring and Evaluation of Communication Impact:
• Collect and analyze feedback to measure the effectiveness of communication strategies;
• Adjust approaches based on data insights to enhance engagement and reach.
• Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:
• Work closely with BRIGHT project partners and stakeholders to amplify messaging and engagement;
• Coordinate knowledge-sharing activities and best practices across regions.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field. A master’s degree is an added advantage;
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a similar communications role, preferably within the nonprofit sector, agriculture, or rural development;
• Proficiency in digital communication platforms and software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, video editing tools);
• Knowledge of social media management and analytics;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of local languages in the project regions is an advantage.
  
  

Core Competences

• Proven ability to translate technical concepts into engaging, accessible content for diverse audiences;
• Strong track record in media relations and developing multimedia content (photo, video, graphics);
• Strong writing and editorial skills, including the ability to produce high-quality reports, press releases, and storytelling content;
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks and deadlines;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage diverse stakeholders;
• Proactive mindset with the ability to generate innovative communication solutions.
  
  

Reporting and Work Relationships

The Communications Manager reports to the Project Manager and collaborates closely with project colleagues and consortium members. While not supervising any staff directly, the Communications Manager works closely with the MELS and Technical teams.

Location

This is a national recruitment with a duty station at the IFDC office based in Fort Portal, Uganda.

Benefits

IFDC's benefits include annual and sick leave, health and group life insurance coverage, a 13th-month salary, social security and pension contribution in compliance with local laws and end-of-contract benefits.  

Salary grade

The salary grade for this position is BG 9 with a total monthly gross of UGX 7,216,488 budgeted for this role.

The contract assignment is anticipated to be effective from the 14th of April 2025 through to the 30th of September 2026 unless amended in writing and agreed upon by both Parties.

The determination of new employee salaries considers various factors. These include the salary range linked to the assigned job grade, the candidate's qualifications in relation to the job's responsibilities and prerequisites, internal fairness, the competitive state of the job market, as well as potential organizational and budgetary considerations.

About Program/Project

Building Resilience and Inclusive Growth of Highland farming systems for rural Transformation (BRIGHT) is a four-year project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) through the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Dutch development policy. The project is being implemented by IFDC, in collaboration with Agriterra, the Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), district local governments, and private sector actors.

The vision of the BRIGHT project is to promote inclusive economic growth and rural transformation through equitable integration into value chains. BRIGHT aims to build the resilience of 106,560 highland farm households in Kigezi, Mt. Elgon, and Rwenzori regions by supporting Uganda to recover from external shocks in an ever-changing context through absorption, adaptation, and transformation. In so doing, the project will improve the food and nutrition security and incomes of farmers, transition subsistence-oriented farm households to more of a market orientation by supporting them in integrated farm planning and inclusive decision-making, introducing appropriate climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies to strengthen local farming systems, ensuring natural resource conservation, and developing strategic value chains.

Required Skills

Required Experience


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