Background
The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS) project is designed to seek creative and flexible programs to address recognized needs in Somalia, which is considered one of the highest foreign policy priorities on the continent. The overall objectives of the TIS program are to increase the visibility of, and confidence in, government through improved service delivery; create collaborative and strategic partnerships between government institutions, private sector, and civil society; increase access to peace, recovery, and development information, support broad-based participation in the transition; and support to reconciliation processes. TIS program implements quick impact, short-term activities that promote stabilization, while using a collaborative framework for program design and implementation. This approach ensures Somali ownership of the entire process by engaging government, civil society, and private sector to collectively prioritize targeted stabilization initiatives. USAID’s TIS program is implemented by DAI and IOM.
TIS’s ever-increasing portfolio of initiatives requires better information outreach to interested US government, development community, Somali Diaspora and Somali Government, civil society and private sector stakeholders. Success stories and program reports, if disseminated properly, matching medium to the target audience, can help increase the visibility of the TIS program, and garner goodwill amongst program constituents.
The Grants Writer will work closely with the TIS Grants team, Information Managers, Multimedia Specialists, and M&E teams to draft and edit grants, weekly and quarterly reports, success stories, and other reports. The Grants Writer will also provide training to local staff to draft grants, reports, and other documents. The Grants Writer will identify and capture impact stories, and prepare and package all TIS publications, reports, and audio visual communications material.
Overall Responsibilities:
Draft, edit, and proofread grant documents, weekly and quarterly reports, success stories, and other reports and documents to level of native English-speakers
Ensure that all TIS-DAI documents meet publication quality standards
Mentor, coach and guide the TIS communications, M&E, grants, program and management team on improved reporting and presentation of program successes
Increase public information about TIS activities, promote the transparency of TIS activities, and improve government/community communications through TIS activities
Tasks:
Support the TIS-DAI grants, communications, M&E, program and management team on improved reporting and presentation of program successes.
Manage the production of communications materials, including success stories, one-pagers, posters, short videos and other communications outreach material, and facilitate their strategic distribution.
Assist in increasing public information about TIS activities, promote the transparency of TIS activities, and improve government/community communications through TIS activities.
Increase access to and exchange of information on community concerns, and areas in need of improvement on project activities.
Train TIS staff on photography, improved writing, and video production skills.
Assist in the production of all required program reports for USAID including weekly updates, quarterly reports, annual reports and other documents as needed.
Create and manage TIS’s photograph and short video archives.
Liaise regularly with TIS information officers and technical staff to stay up to date on program activities, upcoming events, and program successes.
Perform other duties as required by the Chief of Party.
Products and Deliverables:
Weekly reports
2 Quarterly reports due June 2015 and October 2015
Minimum of 2 success stories per month
Communications material including success stories, one-pagers, posters, short videos and other communications outreach material, and facilitate their strategic distribution, in collaboration with TIS DAI personnel
One creative PowerPoint presentation to showcase TIS successes.
At least one training to TIS staff from DAI on photography, improved writing, and video production skills.
Develop a short guide on how to write snapshots and take photographs
Qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science, international affairs or other related social sciences field;
Native oral and written English language skills;
Photography, graphic design and short video production skills, preferred;
Experience in writing and designing brochures, success stories, technical reports and promotional material;
Demonstrated cross-cultural communications ability
Reporting:Reports to TIS-DAI Chief of Party.
This is a Nairobi based position with potential travel to Somalia and Somaliland.
If you have the qualifications and skills listed above, please send 1) a CV 2) current position and salary history and 3) three professional references to TIS@dai.com. Please title the subject of your email as: “Grants Intern Application” Please note only short listed candidates will be contacted.
HOW TO APPLY:
If you have the qualifications and skills listed above, please send 1) a CV 2) current position and salary history and 3) three professional references to TIS@dai.com. Please title the subject of your email as: “Grants Intern Application” Please note only short listed candidates will be contacted.