COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY OFFICER – Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zimbabwe

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and periodically review PELUM Zimbabwe’s Communications and Advocacy Strategy in line with the organisation’s Strategic Plan and advocacy priorities.
• Develop and implement appropriate communication and advocacy plans that support programme objectives, advocacy goals, and policy influence.
• Integrate advocacy messages, policy narratives, and programme evidence across all communication products and platforms.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of campaigns and visibility initiatives, including the Annual National and Decentralised Seed and Food Festivals, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and advocacy priorities.
• Maintain a calendar of key national, regional, and international events and policy moments to align communications and advocacy efforts.
• Work closely with programmes team to ensure that advocacy and communications are integrated into programme planning and implementation.
• Plan, coordinate, implement, and report on PELUM Zimbabwe’s Participatory Action Research (PAR) work.
• Document community knowledge, innovations, and lessons emerging from programmes and PAR processes for communications, learning, and advocacy purposes.
• Collect and package evidence appropriately, including stories of change, case studies, and policy briefs.
• Facilitate feedback loops to ensure research findings inform advocacy messaging, programme adaptation, and organisational learning.
• Maintain an organisational knowledge management system, including online databases and digital workspaces.
• Develop and maintain an up-to-date website and social media pages.
• Generate, curate, and manage high-quality content for the website, social media platforms, and digital channels, ensuring alignment with advocacy objectives and organisational branding.
• Track and communicate organisational activities across platforms before, during, and after events.
• Coordinate the development and design of monthly newsletters, institutional reports, and other publications that reinforce advocacy and brand identity.
• Lead the development and consistent use of branding, publicity, and awareness materials.
• Establish and manage systems for collecting and archiving multimedia content for communications and advocacy purposes.
• Identify and leverage networks, platforms, and formats to broaden audience reach and influence.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with journalists, media houses, civil society actors, and other key stakeholders to amplify advocacy messages.
• Develop press briefs, media kits, talking points, and activity-based press releases.
• Support stakeholder engagement and consultation processes, ensuring effective two-way communication and feedback.
• Lead and coordinate communication aspects of organisational campaigns and public events.
• Coordinate organisational virtual and physical meetings, workshops, and public engagements.
• Maintain records of media coverage, publicity, and stakeholder engagements.
• Promote a positive organisational culture that encourages teamwork, collaboration, and shared accountability.
• Support team members and partners in adopting consistent branding, messaging, and communications approaches.
• Mentor or guide colleagues, interns, or implementing partners on communications and advocacy best practices.
• Support fundraising by developing communication materials and evidence-based content for donor engagement.
• Maintain databases of current and prospective funders and partners.
• Track relevant calls for proposals and support proposal development through content development.
• Link communications outputs and programme evidence to donor reporting and visibility requirements.
• Participate actively in organisational meetings, planning processes, and working groups.
• Participate in quarterly performance reviews and annual performance appraisals.
• Share information and updates through organisational information management systems.
• Attend other office issues when the situation calls for and according to PELUM Zimbabwe’s policies, rules and regulations
• Carry out additional responsibilities as assigned by the Programmes Coordinator and Country Coordinator in alignment with PELUM Zimbabwe’s objectives.

Requirements

• Proficiency in MS Office, Adobe InDesign, Canva, Corel draw, Video editing and related software is critical.
• Article writing, graphics design, videography and photography skills are essential.
• Superior ability to write in a journalistic style that is customary for corporate and external publications
• Young, energetic, and keen to learn and grow with the organization.
• Versatile, down to earth, highly organized, giving attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal (public speaking) and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong command of both Shona and Ndebele is desirable.
• Ability to coordinate efforts of various teams in order to present a coherent message.
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines with limited supervision.
• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or related field.
• Additional related certificates or qualifications in Public Relations, Journalism or Communications are an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in advocacy and communications, preferably within the non-profit sector.
• Knowledge and familiarity with agroecology and farmers’ rights is highly desirable.

How to Apply