Communications Consultant

The Feminist Humanitarian Network (FHN) is seeking a communications consultant to contribute to achieving the network’s objectives over a number of months by providing strategic communications guidance, producing dynamic content and publications, and managing the FHN’s digital channels. Guided by the FHN’s Communications Committee, and with support from the FHN Lead, the consultant will apply feminist communications principles to support the revision of the FHN’s communications strategy to ensure that the FHN is producing communications that contribute to achieving its campaigning, advocacy, learning, and fundraising objectives; and that the FHN Secretariat is communicating effectively with FHN members, including ensuring all key information is available to members at all times. The consultant will strengthen and build on the FHN’s existing communications strategy and approaches and other existing tools and assets, including the FHN’s brand guidelines.

Key contacts within the Feminist Humanitarian Network: FHN Lead,FHN Communications Committee, FHN member organisations, FHN Steering Committee

Reports to: FHN Lead

Timeframe and duration: 1 August 2022 – 31 May 2023, approx. 36 days (ideally four days per month, with days for each month to be agreed with consultant on a month-by-month basis, dependent on deliverables schedule + consultant’s availability. Start date negotiable with candidates, based on their availability)

Location: Remote

Background

The first meeting of the Feminist Humanitarian Network was in November 2017. Since then, the FHN has worked collectively to build its membership, establish its own structures, policies, and practises, and to develop strategies to achieve its goal and objectives.

The FHN is led collectively by its members, and its strategic focus areas (Advocacy, Membership, Communications, and Fundraising) are each driven by a committee that agrees on strategies and approaches, and makes decisions with regard to each of these. The FHN’s Communications Committee guides the FHN’s communications work and decision-making with regards to priority focus areas and approaches. The FHN is seeking a consultant to implement plans agreed by the FHN Communications Committee, and to build the FHN’s presence online, and to support in the publication of strategic information, reports, and advocacy pieces.

About the Feminist Humanitarian Network

The Feminist Humanitarian Network (FHN) is a global network of women leaders working together to transform the humanitarian system into one that is guided by feminist principles. The FHN was established by feminists working in humanitarian action that recognised the deeply patriarchal and colonial ways in which the humanitarian system works, and the need for system change to ensure the agency and amplify the voices of women in emergencies.

The FHN is a member-based network of grassroots, local, and national WROs working in the Global South; regional networks; international NGOs; and individuals. 70% of the FHN’s organisational members are WROs – INGO/international membership is limited to 30%.

Objectives of the consultancy:

1. To review and update the FHN’s communications strategy, and supporting tools and assets
2. To produce strategic content highlighting the feminist work of FHN members
3. To produce strategic communications targeting the FHN membership, drawing on progress updates from different FHN committees and project groups
4. To produce strategic communications to achieve the FHN’s campaigns and advocacy, learning, and fundraising objectives

Ways of working, reporting, and accountability lines:

• The consultant will report to the Feminist Humanitarian Network Lead, who is responsible for the overall coordination of the network and its activities, and for the management of the FHN Secretariat. The FHN Lead and the consultant will meet on a regular basis and make decisions together, using feminist principles, to apply the FHN’s principles and policies to FHN communications work. The FHN Lead will provide guidance on the FHN’s communications objectives and processes throughout the consultancy.
• The consultant will work alongside the FHN Communications Committee to develop and agree on communications plans and strategies, and to make decisions on communications opportunities, messages, and approaches. The Communications Committee is responsible for driving communications planning and for reviewing and finalising all communications content and messages. The Communications Committee works primarily over email, and meets once every six weeks. The consultant will attend these meetings.
• The consultant will contribute to progress reports prepared every six weeks by the FHN Lead for the Steering Committee, and will attend Steering Committee meetings as and when needed.
• If required for communications purposes, the consultant will attend meetings of the other FHN strategic committees (Advocacy Committee, Fundraising Committee, and Membership Committee).
• The consultant will attend quarterly member meetings to support the Communications Committee to share updates and to consult members on key decisions.
• The Communications Consultant will engage with FHN members for communications purposes: to conduct interviews, gather content, and consult on key messages.

Deliverables:

Deliverables include:

Strategy and policy development:

• Reviewing and developing the FHN’s Communications Strategy, in consultation with the FHN Communications Committee
• Supporting in the development of FHN communications policies, tools, and processes as required

Content and publication production:

• Producing a quarterly newsletter to be sent to the FHN membership, drawing on updates from FHN committees and project groups
• Supporting the coordination and production of the 2022 Annual Report
• Supporting on the graphic design of research reports and position papers produced by the FHN Advocacy Committee and FHN members
• Producing graphics and illustrations that can be used across the FHN’s social channels, publications, and website

Digital platform management and support:

• Managing the FHN website, including updating content, and coordinating the translation of the website into multiple languages and translation functionality
• Ensuring the FHN membership is visible on the website, by publishing blogs and interviews on members’ work, and collating and publishing all member logos
• Managing FHN social media channels, including engaging with followers, sharing members’ content, and planning and posting FHN content
• Creating a digital hub, where members can access FHN information, tools, and resources
• Support in the development of strategies to overcome digital barriers faced by members in different contexts that impact participation in virtual FHN meetings, events and spaces

Required experience/skills:

• A strong understanding of and commitment to feminist communications principles.
• Experience developing communications strategies for movements and/or not-for-profit organisations, ideally for campaigns, advocacy, and organising purposes
• Strong content creation skills, including excellent copy writing, basic graphic design, and audio and visual production abilities
• Basic web platform management experience
• Experience managing and building social platforms for organisations
• An understanding of and deep commitment to feminist leadership principles and feminist ways of working
• An understanding of networks and networked ways of working
• Strong relationship and interpersonal skills.