Communications & Knowledge Management Expert

**BACKGROUND**:
The **International Water Management Initiative (IWMI)** is a research-for-development (R4D) organization with the vision ‘a water-secure world’. IWMI works with governments, civil society, and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions. Through partnerships, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products for capacity strengthening, dialogue and policy analysis to support sustainable implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change and inclusive economic growth.

IWMI is headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with offices in 13 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 30 countries. IWMI is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) helps deliver a climate-smart African future driven by science and innovation in agriculture. AICCRA works to make climate information services and climate-smart agriculture more accessible to millions of smallholder farmers across Africa.

**Purpose**:
The Communications & Knowledge Management Expert will lead the development and delivery of a communication strategy required for achieving impact primarily for the IWMI Southern Africa office, and especially the AICCRA project. The Expert will provide communications support to the IWMI-South Africa Country Representative, AICCRA Project Leader and a team of researchers undertaking various research projects in the region.

**Duties AND Responsibilities**:
The position holder will work closely with the Project Leader, Country Representative and Communication & Knowledge Management team to:

- Develop and implement communication and knowledge management action plans that include media outreach and social media content creation for research projects
- Conceptualize and develop digital, printed and multimedia communications materials including presentations, press releases, fliers, brochures, posters, web and social media campaigns, infographics, informational videos, and blogs based on insights research projects and according to donor requirements and IWMI branding guidelines
- Identify and filter key messages and recommendations from technical research reports and package for dissemination to different stakeholders.
- Develop news stories and opinion articles, cultivate relationships with journalists, coordinate interviews with researchers and organize media participation in field visits and key events.
- Perform writing, editing and, translating services to the research teams.
- Develop and maintain contacts with the media and establish a media outlet database for the project.
- Engage/network - support the identification of key clients and partners, maintain relevant information on and with them, and engage with research.
- Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in development planning and policy making.
- Compile, edit and distribute regular newsletters to targeted audiences and update project mailing lists.
- Support the documentation of internal and external meetings and workshops with clients and partners.
- Provide editorial assistance to Researchers.
- Learn and share - develop systems to support learning, reflection and sharing amongst teams, projects and partners.
- Liaise with IWMI HQ communication and KM Coordinators to provide information and materials as needed.
- Contribute to the preparation of project proposals to ensure inclusion of clear communications and uptake strategies, and activities.
- Manage all communications sub-contracts and service providers needed by the office and/or project teams e.g. graphic design firms, videographers, photographers etc.

**Requirements**:
**MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED**:
**Essential**:

- A Masters degree in Journalism/mass communication or any discipline relevant to IWMI’s mandate eg: in natural / physical sciences or social sciences
- A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional and applied experience
- Experience in the design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of communications and knowledge management plans in multi-disciplinary research for development programs
- Experience in content writing and editing for all relevant media platforms
- Demonstrated success in working on international programs and in international work environment
- Basic understanding and willingness to consider gender and inclusion in communication materials
- Experience in writing on scientific and development issues
- Experience working in Southern Africa

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED**:
**Essential**:

- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Fluency in other languages spoken in the Southern African region (e.g. Portuguese, French) is desirable.
- A demonstrated ability to use various communication channels, soc