Communications Assistant

Project: USAID Green Annamites

Office:  ECODIT, 5th Green Plaza, Da Nang, Vietnam

Position: Communications Assistant

Duty station:  Da Nang, Vietnam

Work area: This position will be based in Danang, Vietnam

Starting date: As soon as possible

Probation period: 2 months

PROJECT OVERVIEW

ECODIT is implementing the USAID-funded Green Annamites activity (GA Project) in Quang Nam (QN) and Thua Thien Hue (TTH) provinces in central Vietnam. The purpose of the Green Annamites activity is to assist Vietnam’s transition to climate-smart, low emission, and resilient development that protects people, landscapes, and biodiversity in Vietnam’s priority forested provinces. The project’s overall period of performance is September 26, 2016 to December 16, 2020, subject to the availability of funding, and includes three main tasks:

  • Increased application of low emission land use: conserve the existing carbon sink; stop emission from small scale deforestation and degradation, and unsustainable agricultural practices; and increase carbon sequestration from restoration of degraded landscapes. A key component of Green Annamites’ intervention strategy is the focus on livelihood improvement and value chains, aiming at generating sustainable revenue streams for communities living in forested areas and in or around protected areas.
  • Strengthen biodiversity conservation: mitigate threats to the globally significant biodiversity in central Vietnam, including poaching and activities that destroy habitats for wildlife and cause habitat fragmentation (e.g., deforestation, forest degradation, and conversion of natural forest into plantation)
  • Increase resilience for vulnerable communities: ensure that results of activities supported under the two other components are not affected by climate change impacts.

In addition, under this task the Program conducts standalone activities to build resilience for vulnerable communities. Much of these activities reflect findings and recommendations from the climate vulnerability assessment findings.

A central component of Green Annamites’ intervention strategy is the focus on livelihood improvement and value chains, aiming at generating sustainable revenue streams for communities living in forested areas and in or around protected areas. Experience shows that with adequate level of support, forest communities reduce their impact on forested ecosystems when other income-generating alternatives to deforestation and forest degradation are available.

Key program results include improving the livelihoods of 20,000 forest dependent people; improving biodiversity of over 400,000 hectares of natural forest, mobilizing at least $20 million in public and private resources for sustainable livelihoods and forest conservation; and avoiding and/or removing the equivalent of at least 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Communications Assistant will mainly support the Project Communications Specialist in the following tasks:

  • Assist the Communications Specialist with the design/conception and execution of the Project communication products in English and Vietnamese (and/or local languages) including Promotional videos, Brochures, Newsletters (internal and external), and PowerPoint presentations;
  • Work closely with Project team members to gather write-ups, anecdotes, photos or illustrations for the Project communication products;
  • Work closely with Project team members in Da Nang and regional offices in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue to document all field visits with photos and prepare a one-page description in English and/or Vietnamese;
  • Assist the Communications Specialist to prepare Project updates to be posted on USAID website and Facebook page;
  • Assist the Communications Specialist to prepare Project Success Stories;
  • Assist the Communication Specialist in implementing the Project 4-year Communications Roadmap;
  • Assist the Communication Specialist in developing and implementing the Project Annual Communications Action Plan;
  • Assist the Communications Specialist, Project team members and ECODIT Home Office (HO) personnel as needed to prepare the Communications section of Project deliverables;
  • Provide formatting support to all Project deliverables using MS Word and Adobe Acrobat before submission to USAID;
  • Providing advices to project staff and implementing partner on the regulations and contacts for communications and corporate design/branding in the interests of a uniform USAID Green Annamites Project image and based on the regulations of USAID and ECODIT;
  • Manage the project photo database and Communications Folder on the ECODIT server
  • Implement other tasks or activities as may be requested by the Deputy Chief of Party and Communications Specialist.
  • Upon request, support on interpretation in meetings or on translation for documents

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Minimum of BA in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, English or similar fields;
  • Minimum 2-3 years of experience as a Communications Assistant, Junior Communication Officer or similar role;
  • Experience with media production: writing articles, press releases, Facebook posts, etc. (samples are required);
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a confident journalistic style in Vietnamese and English
  • Working experience with international organizations (USAID, UN, EUADB, DFAT, etc.) NGOs, private sector and communities preferred;
  • Proficient in MS Office and basic skill in Photoshop
  • Being familiar with social media and new digital tools is an asset;
  • Having skills in design (familiar with design software like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or similar) and film-making is a plus.
  • Photography skill is a plus;
  • Organizational skills; ability of working under pressure and managing multi tasks;
  • Outgoing, self-motivated personality

Interested candidates should send application including:

  • A cover letter
  • Latest CV
  • Writing samples/media products/photos/artworks, and
  • Three references.

By February 28th , 2017 to the following address: [email protected]

No phone contact please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.

Job Details
Organisation Name: 
ECODIT
Location: 
Da Nang
Application Deadline: 
Wed, 2018-02-28