Communications Consultant

Democracy International (DI) is seeking to hire five Communications Consultants, hereinafter the Consultants – for the Activity with one in each of its five pilot partner municipalities in Kosovo (Gjilan/Gniljane, Obiliq/Obilić, Pristina, Prizren, and Suhareka/Suva Reka). The Activity, funded by USAID, aims to introduce sustainable practices for public participation to improve Kosovo citizens’ quality of life and strengthen their partnership with the municipal government. In 2022, the Activity facilitated a process between municipal officials and community groups to develop a Social Contract Agenda that lays out practices to expand public participation and lower the barriers of interaction for resolving community issues. In 2023, the Activity supported municipal officials in developing communication plans, planning and implementing communication campaigns for participatory budgeting, reviewing internal protocols for addressing citizen requests and improving communication and public engagement practices.

The Activity is seeking five Consultants to provide support with communication and public outreach to municipal officials on activities related to the Social Contract Agendas of the Municipality of Gjilan/Gniljane, the Municipality of Obiliq/Obilić, the Municipality of Pristina, the Municipality of Prizren, and the Municipality of Suhareka/Suva Reka, with one consultant per municipality. The Consultant in each location is expected to work closely with the Public Information Office and the Mayor’s team of the respective municipality to provide advice and support to improve communication with the public. The Consultants will work under the guidance of the Senior Communications Officer and will report to the same person. The level of effort (LoE) for this engagement will be up to 20 days through June 30, 2024 for each consultant.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Each STTA consultant will:   

• Support implementation of priority actions of the Communications Plan, including coaching sessions as needed and directed by the Senior Communications Officer (up to 5 days);
• Assist municipal officials to plan and implement the communication campaign for participatory budgeting in targeted communities, including coaching sessions as needed and directed by the Senior Communications Officer (up to 9 days);
• Coach the Public Information Office to use the text-based mobile application channels to communicate effectively and create new channels for targeted groups (up to 4 days);
• Perform other similar communication tasks as required by the Senior Communications Officer and agreed with municipal authorities (up to 2 days).

Key Deliverables:

Each Consultant is expected to provide the following deliverables:

• An action-plan for assistance that includes the abovementioned key tasks agreed with the Office of the Mayor and the Point of Contact (within 14 days of the start of the engagement);

• Monthly reports detailing the support provided during that time, including sign-in sheets of any coaching sessions;
• A plan of the communication campaign for participatory budgeting in the municipality;  
• A comprehensive Final Report with the set of recommendations to the USAID Social Contract Activity for improving public communication in the municipality.

Qualifications:

• This position is open to Kosovo residents;
• Experience and technical expertise working on local governance in communications and/or public consultation;
• The consultant should possess a strong background and expertise in communication strategies, campaign planning, and coaching techniques;
• Familiarity with text-based mobile application channels and the ability to coach others in utilizing these channels for effective communication;
• Professional fluency in English and Albanian/Serbian;
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred;
• Experience working with donors preferred;
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders

Reporting:

• Each Consultant will report to DI’s Senior Communications Officer.

Timeline:

• February 15, 2024 to June 30, 2024.

Number of days:

• 20 

Application Process:

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter (indicating the municipality they are applying for) and a CV by February 9, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. DI is dedicated to attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent, and the position will be filled as soon as a qualified candidate is identified. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Application Link:

https://recruitingbypaycor.com/career/JobIntroduction.action?clientId=8a78826757e082f20157e44efef80218&id=8a7887ac8d19fe84018d55e3459f75e1&source=&code=&fromAggregate=false&qToken=

About the Organization:
DI provides technical assistance, analytical services and project implementation for democracy, human rights, governance and conflict mitigation programs worldwide for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. State Department and other development partners. Since its founding in 2003, Democracy International has worked with civil society organizations, political parties, election-management bodies, government agencies, legislatures, justice-sector institutions, and others in 70+ countries.

DI welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for DI employees. DI makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, or reproductive health decision making. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at DI. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.