Communication and Knowledge Management Expert

KEY INFORMATION

Job Title: Communication and Knowledge Management Expert – Lebanon

Position/ Contract Type: Long Term Consultancy

Duration of Initial Contract: 12 months, starting ASAP (up to a total of 50 days)

Position Location: Lebanon

Language Required: Arabic, French and English

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

Launched in December 2021 and implemented by Cowater International, the Middle East Support Services Project (ME-FSSP) will primarily support the development and humanitarian objectives of Canada’s Middle East Strategy by providing administrative, financial, procurement, and logistical services in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and the region.

The Middle East Field Support Services (ME-FSS) will also support the regional development programming for the Government of Canada through the provision of technical specialists in gender equality, governance and human rights, and environment and climate action.

BACKGROUND

Since 2016, Canada has committed over $585 million in international assistance for Lebanon as part of its whole-of-government Middle East Strategy. Programming funded by Canada improves access to education, livelihoods, health and protection services for both vulnerable Lebanese and refugees, in addition to providing essential services, such as water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, food and cash assistance. In addition, Canada aims to promote gender equality with a particular focus on women and youth. Canada further supports Lebanon’s security and stability. Based on the rising demand for transparency and accountability to the public and the importance of visibility and communications, the objective is to amplify via social media, success stories, and other materials Canada’s support to Lebanon and the impact Canada’s programming is having on the country and its population.

OBJECTIVE

The consultant will provide technical support in Communication and Knowledge Management (CKM) aiming to promote the visibility of Canada and its program in Lebanon, through using innovative CKM methods and tools. The consultant will capture knowledge, success stories, best practices and lessons learned (in the form of interviews, feature stories, videos, etc.) with the ultimate aim to increase the visibility of Canada in Lebanon and abroad. The consultant will highlight where the themes intersect and demonstrate how the program is adapted in an innovative way to the context. A special focus should be placed on communicating Canada’s contribution to the implementation of Lebanon’s national strategies, FIAP priorities, and Sustainable Development Goals in general and in particular SDG5 related to women’s rights and gender equality. The Development Program at the Embassy of Canada will disseminate these products to the general public and the local government using established media channels.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES AND DELIVERABLES

Description of services

In collaboration with the International Assistance in Lebanon team and Canada’s implementing partners, the consultant will be responsible for developing and implementing communication and advocacy strategy and plan, including systems for capturing, generating, organizing and disseminating information and facilitating the effective use of data, knowledge and innovation for program formulation and visibility purposes.

Deliverables will include as needed:

1. Collaborate with the Technical Program Leads to contribute to the development of communication materials, presentations, articles, abstracts and posters for various audiences and media outlets to ensure that the work of the program is well documented and publicized.
2. Under the guidance of the Technical Program Leads, produce videos, leaflets and brochures to comprehensively document and publicize the program’s activities.
3. Develop a system to capture and share success stories and help disseminate information on major progress and results of Canadian programming.
4. Gather best practices and lessons learnt from partners and document them for sharing.
5. Work with GAC’s partners in Lebanon to collect needed data and information for producing communication and visibility material.
6. Map out Canada-funded partners in Lebanon, including communications contacts, social media links and handles.
7. Support the program in implementing its visibility calendar of events, including proposing communication/advocacy material that can be used for international days, aligned with the overall Communication and Visibility Strategy of GAC.
8. Develop other related products as deemed necessary and recommended.

* * All tasks and deliverables will need to comply with donor media and communication guidelines.

* * Communication and social media materials need to be produced in English, French and Arabic.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Advisor:

The Advisor is responsible to deliver the services described in the section above of this TOR according to the agreed timelines, expected results, and deliverables outlined in the Service Requisitions/ Table, and any additional services as requested by the Technical Authority. The Advisor will provide technical support and advice to the International Assistance in Lebanon team in the area of Communication and Information Management. The Advisor will work in close collaboration with GAC field staff and HQ’s programming teams and assigned HQ Specialists, and whenever necessary with other consultants.

The Technical Authority (TA)/ Program Technical Lead (PTL):

The TA/PTL, identified by GAC Lebanon is responsible for:

• The provision of service requisitions to the Advisor, including the approval of the Advisor’s assigned work and deliverables.
• Reporting to GAC on the completion of services and deliverables against the approved tasking as set out in the online Tracking Table and Service Requisition forms. A detailed reporting schedule will be agreed upon and attached to the contract.

ME-FSSP team:

• Managing the competitive process of identifying and hiring the Advisor, including signing the contract.
• Review and approve payments based on the invoices and timesheets submitted by the Advisor.

REPORTING

The Consultant is expected to work in close cooperation with GAC in Lebanon to produce reports as follows:

• The Advisor reports directly to ME-FSSP (Project Manager) who has full responsibility for the administration of the contract, including the approval of timesheets and invoices. Technical assignments including the Tracking Table, Service Requisitions and deliverables, evaluation of the quality of services and deliverables against the Tracking Table, etc. are approved by GAC’s TA in Lebanon. Reports include, but are not limited to:
• Financial reporting which consists of a detailed monthly invoice, covering the Advisor’s fees for the services rendered during the previous month indicating the date, the day and the number of hours worked for each day as well as any necessary and reasonable expenses incurred during the previous month, including all original receipts in support of the expenses claimed.
• Narrative, research or analytical reports, as requested by GAC.

LOCATION, TIMELINES AND ESTIMATED LEVEL OF EFFORTS

The advisor will be located in Lebanon with a contract valid until the 31 December 2024. The Advisor must be ready to travel to different locations in Lebanon to support GAC’s development and, to a lesser extent, humanitarian assistance programs’ planning and monitoring activities and to meet with partners. The ME-FSSP PM must approve all travel prior to the travel.

The basis for payment and payment schedule will be based on a fixed-time rate contract.

The level of effort is estimated at up to 110 days depending on the needs and activities of the program. No activities/tasks should be undertaken without GAC Lebanon TA’s approval.

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

• The Advisor will report to the Cowater/ FSSP PM in Amman.
• The contract will be signed between Cowater International/ME-FSSP and the selected candidate.
• Work will be performed out of the Advisor’s own office and locations identified by GAC Lebanon, and the Advisor will be responsible for providing all required overhead, including maintaining internet access and an email account.
• The Advisor will be expected to use their own workspace, equipment and materials (office space is not provided).
• The Advisor will be paid according to the agreed-upon daily rate based on the level of effort reflected in the monthly financial report and requisition forms. Activities and services rendered should be in line with the Tracking Table (or requisition forms) agreed and approved by the TA.

EDUCATION

A minimum of a university degree in communications, English/French, marketing, media, journalism, or a relevant field.

EXPERIENCE

To be considered for the role, it is important that the Advisor has proven expertise and experience in the communication and knowledge management fields.

• Minimum 5 years of experience producing communication and visibility material for an international donor organization (donor, UN agency, INGO) in Arabic, English and French;
• Minimum 5 years of experience producing press releases and acting as a focal point media;
• Experience producing analytical reports based on data;
• Experience using proper judgment to maintain discretion and confidentiality;
• Professional in using MS applications (Word, Excel, Teams, etc.)
• Experience working with various web-based communications programs such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, and SharePoint, among others.

Additional desirable qualifications:

• Familiarity with gender, inclusion, women’s economic empowerment, and food security issues;
• Experience in producing and implementing advocacy strategies and messages;
• Experience with graphic and/or video design tools (Adobe Creative Cloud desktop applications: Photoshop, Premier Pro, Acrobat, InDesign, Illustrator, etc.).

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTs

Fluency in oral, reading and writing in English, French and Arabic languages.