Senior Communications and Outreach Consultant

Purpose and Objectives:

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is an autonomous international organization established for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes with a vision of safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and expanded its role to be for scientific, educational, developmental and humanitarian purposes. ADPC employs a wide range of professional expertise typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner.

ADPC develops and implements cross-sectoral projects/programs on the strategic themes of risk governance, urban resilience, climate resilience, health risk management, preparedness for response and resilient recovery. Our strategic themes are complemented and underpinned by the cross-cutting themes of gender and diversity, regional and transboundary cooperation as well as poverty and livelihoods.

Through its work, ADPC supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the agenda defined at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, and other relevant international frameworks

For details, please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/

The Geospatial Information (GEO) Department supports stakeholders to increase their uses of geospatial technology, data, and information for supporting decision making related to disaster risk management and climate resilience. The department supports all thematic areas of focus of ADPC to achieve their goals, mainly through:

• Increased accessibility and technical capacity to develop, maintain, and use geospatial information including disaster and climate risk maps, forecasted and real-time disaster data for early warning, and damage data for post-disaster assessment and recovery planning,
• Increased awareness by decision makers on applications of geospatial information in disaster risk management and climate resilience decision making, and
• Geospatial solutions, such as maps, tools, models, and data, customized to the demands of stakeholders

SERVIR Southeast Asia (SERVIR SEA) is a 5-year project, co-created by USAID, NASA, and ADPC, to address disaster and climate resilience as well as environmental issues in the region. SERVIR SEA’s objective is Expanded and Scaled Climate Actions by using Satellite Data and Geospatial Information in Decision Making. Communications and outreach is an important element of SERVIR SEA, supporting the project’s and ADPC’s aim for increased awareness by various stakeholders and the public as well as resource mobilization.

ADPC and the GEO Department are seeking a qualified Senior Communications and Outreach Consultant to support delivery of the outputs for the project mentioned above.

Expected Outputs:

The following outputs are expected from the assignment:

1. Communication products for SERVIR SEA, including web stories, audio and video visuals, social media posts, impact stories, and the project web site
2. Engagement plan for media outlets
3. Training for partner organizations’ communications teams and media outlets
4. Annual communications and outreach plans
5. Contribution to project reports such as the annual work plans, quarterly progress reports, annual reports, and the USAID Performance Plan and Report (PPR)
6. Periodic inputs to project related meetings
7. Subject-matter-expert inputs and training for the project team and supervisees

Scope of Work:

The consultant will:

• Provide overall leadership, management, and strategic direction for the project’s communications and outreach activities
• Take responsibility on all project reporting, ensuring compliance with ADPC policies and procedures and USAID rules and regulations, as stipulated in the project’s communications strategy and plan.
• Provide overall quality assurance of all project’s communications and outreach activities and products
• Serve as the primary liaison with USAID’s Development Outreach and Communications team
• Serve as the primary liaison with NASA’s Communications team via SERVIR’s Science Coordination Office
• Support the Chief of Party in ensuring that program activities align with the annual workplan to meet program objectives
• Oversee project communications and outreach, development of the learning agenda, and monitoring and evaluation approaches – with inputs from the MEL Specialist and the Capacity Development Lead of SERVIR SEA
• Supervise the SERVIR SEA Communications Specialists and communications team members, who are based at the headquarters and in countries
• Contribute to strengthening and creating new relationships with partner agencies
• Travel as needed to countries in Southeast Asia to coordinate the implementation of activities related to SERVIR SEA
• Actively pursue new and maintain existing relationships with partner agencies
• Regularly meet and coordinate with supervisees and other SERVIR SEA team members
• Join SERVIR SEA related meetings as requested by the supervisor

Working Principles:

The Consultant will report to the Chief of Party of the SERVIR SEA project, while working closely with other members of the project.

Qualifications:

The Consultant is expected to possess the following qualifications.

• Advanced Degree in Science Journalism, Communications, public administration, or International Development;
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience; 8 years of which in developing communications and outreach plan or products;
• Experience working with or supporting USAID or USAID projects on communications and outreach required;
• Experience developing and implementing effective communications and outreach strategies for development audiences at a range of scales required;
• Knowledge of scientific subjects related to SERVIR-SEA such as Geography, Climate Science, or Environmental Science considered favorably;
• Experience in translating science into impactful writing for non-scientific readers considered favorably;
• Experience in conducting business development and/or fund raising will be considered favorably;
• Project / Program management experience will be considered favorably;
• Exemplary English writing and editing skills (writing samples/writing test will be requested)
• Demonstrated skills in documentation and knowledge management interventions;
• Advanced computer literacy – including presentation software, publishing, and MS Office;
• Experience delivering presentations to large audiences, and important stakeholders, including academia, Government and non-government;
• Knowledge of the development context of Southeast Asia considered a plus;
• Work experience in Southeast Asian Countries considered favorably;
• Willingness to commit to further training and development as required.

Duty Station: home-based, with possible travels to Bangkok and other project sites, as requested by the supervisor

Duration: The duration of this assignment will be for 12 months, starting on 1 September 2024 and ending on 30 August 2025. The duration may be extendable subjected to satisfactory completion of the assignment and subjected to the needs and fund availability.

Itinerary: The assignment may require travels to project sites in Southeast Asia. ADPC will bear the cost of those travels, subject to approvals of the supervisor.

Condition of payment: The consultant fee will be paid a daily rate and Payments will be made monthly upon approvals of the monthly timesheets by the supervisor.