Advocacy and communication officer – Ukraine

MdM is an international humanitarian organization whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care. In Ukraine, MdM Spain implements the project activities in close cooperation with the relevant authorities, public health facilities and communities.

MdM has been operating in Ukraine since August 2015 and is currently implementing an emergency response and recovery program in different regions in Ukraine. The program is implemented around two main components: direct provision of services through multidisciplinary mobile units (including primary healthcare services (PHC), sexual and reproductive health (SRH), Mental Health and Psychosocial support services (MHPSS)); and  strengthening of local health system (with a specific focus on PHC, SRH, MHPSS and GBV) through capacity building of health and non-health staff, awareness raising and the provision of medical equipment, consumables and medicines. 

 In Ukraine, MdM is part of the following advocacy initiatives:

•      Humanitarian advocacy through the Consortium ACCESS as well as in coordination with other humanitarian INGOs and local organizations, by insisting on the specific health-related needs in areas affected by the conflict. Advocacy efforts will target international, national and regional decision-makers, with tailored messages like: the need for actual implementation of the free-drugs regulations; the need to create better conditions for health staff working in conflict-affected areas to overcome current shortages; the need to strengthen emergency services; the need for urgent and sustainable access to MHPSS services; etc. 

•  MdM will advocate at the regional level through meetings, exchanges and workshops with local authorities. Issues to be highlighted include: the urgent adoption of a plan to address difficulties in the referral system (from PHC to specialized services) and addressing disruption in local transportation, lack of services in some specific areas, administrative barriers, etc. 

MdM will advocate in a regional and international level to guarantee the humanitarian access (Humanitarian actors’ ability to reach populations in need and Affected populations’ access to assistance and services), enhancing respect for international law and promoting good practice by parties to conflict, with specific attention to the protection of health staff and infrastructures.

 Essential duties / HR 

Under the supervision of the Advocacy and Communication manager, the Advocacy and Communication Officer supports the implementation of the advocacy strategy for the MdM Ukraine mission as well as designs and oversees the implementation of the annual advocacy and communication action plan. In addition, she/he publicises the work of Doctors of the World in different programming areas such as Primary Health Care Services and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services.

 Implementation and update of the advocacy and communication strategy and plan

• Support the Advocacy manager in implementation of advocacy and communication action plans for the mission and for the field bases, including activities such as press releases, contacts with parliamentarians, reports, advocacy events, etc.
• Integrate MDM field partners and target groups in implementation and update of the advocacy strategy on relevant aspects.
• Monitor closely and analyse the political environment, the latest developments in the field and the agenda and statements of the targets, and react to events.
• Support the team in collecting adequate and reliable information and feedback to be used in advocacy activities and for creating valuable multimedia communication content
• Elaborate factsheets, policy briefs and any other advocacy and communication documents for the MdM Ukraine mission highlighting advocacy messages for specific strategic themes for the organization in Ukraine using the field data collected by MdM teams (print/social media/photos/video)
• Propose and review relevant investigations/reports
• Propose and elaborate advocacy and communication contents and materials adapted to MdM advocacy/communication goals on regional and international level
• Work with media: build a database with media contacts and relevant journalists, build a good relationship with journalists and generate media interest in the topics MdM is covering, respond to media requests as quickly as possible, coordinate the response to the media demands of the Ukraine mission
• Identify spokespersons on mission staff and train, if necessary, to respond effectively to media demands.        
• Centralize, pool, treat and share information with the international network’s communication community
• Facilitate the cooperation with journalists (requests, interviews, press trips) and contribute to press releases
• Oversee social media community management (facebook) and content editor

 Capacity building of MdM Staff in Advocacy

• Maintain ongoing communication with the team to sensitize them, involve them in the advocacy actions and stay up to date with the development in the field.

 Coordination, networking

• Support Advocacy manager in networking with International and Ukrainian stakeholders, such as NGOs, Governmental actors, the media, academia, UN agencies, media, etc.
• When required and by delegation from the Advocacy manager and from the General coordinator, to represent MdM in Coordination groups and relevant advocacy working groups such as the ACCESS Consortium advocacy group, UN Clusters (Health, Protection cluster and working groups on Mental Health and GBV).
• Identify the necessary resources to facilitate the agility of the communication work: photographers, translators, etc.
• When required and by delegation from the Advocacy and Comms manager and from the General coordinator, maintain communication with political authorities and diplomatic representations
• Support advocacy manager in developing of exchange practices and methodology in advocacy among relevant stakeholders, including Consortium partners. 
• Strengthen current partnerships and support with MDM local partners especially in advocacy.      

 External communication

• Propose and contribute to media interventions: press releases, press trips, opinion column, interviews, etc.
• Centralise the communication material.
• Contribute to the Facebook page planning and develop content; coordinate teams on the field in creation of communication and advocacy materials and achievement of advocacy/communication goals of MdM in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. 
• Building online communication through social media (facebook), as well as managing online communication, managing MDM's identity and brand image and maintaining stable relationships with the online audience.
• To generate content about Doctors of the World's work in several formats for the NET: press releases, news, web releases, columns, articles, etc.
• Identify the necessary resources to facilitate the agility of the communication work: photographers, translators, etc.
• Identify and make visible the groups of population with whom we work and who are in a situation of vulnerability in order to know their stories and document them through recordings, images and interviews.

 Other

• Be flexible in performing his/her duties to ensure that MdM Ukraine mission’s advocacy and communication messages are developed according to internal quality standards and are efficiently disseminated 
• Perform other additional duties related to advocacy / communication activities

 Hierarchical and Functional links

 Hierarchical and technical link: Advocacy manager

Functional link: coordination team

Profile required: 

• Education: Degree in Law / International relations / Public relations/ Journalist or equivalent is required
• Excellent analytical skills, especially for complex political context
• Excellent presentation and diplomatic skills / Ability to defend advocacy position in front of external actors
• Excellent writing skills
• Strong organisational skills / Rigor / Ability to classify and to manage priorities
• Capacity to take initiatives and propose innovative solutions / Adaptability to a possible changing context 
• Knowledge of data analysis and documentation for advocacy purposes
• Knowledge of how to use policy, research, lobbying, public campaigning, media and digital work to influence a political agenda.
• Professionalism, ability to develop solid evidence-based arguments and recommendations 
• Knowledge of International Humanitarian Law is an asset
• Skills in graphic design, video, photo editing, and web development applications 
• Gender sensitive
•  Team work spirit

 EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in a humanitarian organization / humanitarian context / NGOs: at least 2 years required
• Experience in advocacy: experience of advocacy in the national health reform process is a strong asset; humanitarian advocacy a strong asset.
• Experience in health-related project – specific focus on Mental Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender-Based violence an asset.
• Experience in public speaking and in negotiations and relations with partners and authorities
• Experience of facilitation of trainings / coaching

Computer skills: Very Good knowledge of office tools (MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint) 

Languages

English: Fluent writing speaking

Russian / Ukrainian: Fluent writing and speaking

 To apply:

• Send CV + cover letter;

We offer:

• Fixed term contract;
• Salary according to the MDM salary Grid;
• Medical insurance.
• Full -time job
• Location: Kyiv

Deadline for application - 25th of February, 2023

 https://www.facebook.com/mdm.ua.no