Main Responsibilities
- Review current communications strategy to assess strengths and areas for improvement.
- Develop a revised communications strategy aligned with ACFODE’s goals and current demands.
- Identify relevant platforms, networks, and partnerships at national, regional, and international levels to advance ACFODE’s work to mark ACFODE @40.
- Support in updating the website, tracking usage, and reporting metrics.
- Develop and produce timely, accurate, and high-quality information and advocacy materials (press releases, media advisories, news briefs, articles, fact sheets, stories of change
- Create a compendium of human-interest stories and key media reports to share with media and influencers.
- Cultivate connections with media representatives to promote ACFODE’s accomplishments locally and globally.
- Popularise ACFODE’s strategic plan (2024 -2030) as a resource mobilisation tool
- Contribute to online resource mobilization initiatives (donor conferences, crowdfunding, fund me etc.).
- Initiate or link ACFODE to relevant gender equality campaigns at national, regional, continental, and global levels.
- Support ACFODE in engaging in high-level policy advocacy campaigns at local, regional, and international levels.
Qualifications
- Undergraduate University Degree or Masters degree in Journalism, Communications and or Mass Communication
- Specialized Vocational Training such as ICT for development
- 2 – 5 Year experience
- Experience and skills in Public relations, Information, knowledge management systems, promotion of gender equality and human rights, fundraising and resource mobilisation, Photography, Social Enterprise, Events management, Facilitate team learning etc
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, clear way to diverse audiences, including non-technical staff.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and beneficiaries,
- Familiarity with software and data management platforms, along with an understanding of the importance of data security and confidentiality when dealing with sensitive gender-related information.
- Proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Project description and context:
Crossroads International will engage Canadians, Canadian stakeholders, Crossroads staff and volunteers, local partner organizations and women and men in sub-Saharan Africa to become Gender Equality Champions both in Canada and overseas.
The Volunteer Cooperation Program (VCP) aims to reduce gender inequalities and alleviate poverty by addressing gender-based violence, inequalities in access to resources and economic opportunities, and barriers in exercising strategic forms of choice, voice, and influence.
Description of the partner
ACFODE is a national women’s organisation whose vision is a just society where gender equality is a reality and with a mission to empower women and girls and to influence policies and legislation for gender equality in Uganda. Since inception, ACFODE has been advocating for gender equality though a number of interventions including challenging social and gender norms that perpetuate gender inequalities including GBV, Violence against women and girls, leadership development, economic empowerment of women and advocacy for gender responsive laws and policies. Like other WROs, ACFODE is experiencing reduced funding due to a number of challenges including changing donor priorities, epidemics, wars, shrinking civic space and gender backlash, hence need for strategic and innovative ways to mobilise resources such as social enterprises among others.
Description the volunteer mandate
ACFODE implements a variety of interventions that require timely and effective information sharing with a broad range of stakeholders. As such, there is a pressing need to rebrand the organisation as Uganda’s leading women’s rights organisation to better reflect current demands and the evolving operating context.
The year 2025 marks a significant milestone in ACFODE’s journey of promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE), as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. Over the past four decades, ACFODE has made substantial contributions to advancing women’s rights, and these achievements must now be strategically packaged for different audiences at national, regional, and global levels. There is a growing need to enhance the organisation’s visibility and marketability in order to attract new partners and broaden its influence both locally and internationally.
To support these efforts, ACFODE is seeking a Communications Advisor who is agile, experienced with online communication strategies and tools, and passionate about gender equality and women’s rights. The ideal candidate should bring relevant expertise in branding, marketing, and digital storytelling to help elevate ACFODE’s profile.
This role is critical in supporting the dissemination and promotion of ACFODE’s new seven-year strategic plan (2024–2030), which will serve as a key resource mobilisation tool. The Communications Advisor will work closely with the Communications Department, the Monitoring and Evaluation team, and various Programme Officers — all of whom work collaboratively to amplify ACFODE’s impact and
Eligibility criteria
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- Be a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
- Willing to conduct fundraising and public engagement activities before, during and after the placement
- Share the commitment of preventing and addressing sexual misconduct
- In good physical and mental health (medical examination required)
- The volunteer needs to bring their own computer.
- The volunteer must be available to attend an online pre-departure training.
Personalized support before, during and after the mandate provided by an experienced and welcoming team. The Crossroads’ experience includes the following:
- Daily living allowance (depending of the country of assignment)
- Plane ticket and local transport
- Pre-assignment online training.
Crossroads International is committed to addressing gender-based violence by supporting the innovative work our partner organizations in ending violence against women and girls.
APPLICATION
To apply for this position, we kindly ask that you fill out Crossroads’ online application form.
Please contact our volunteer mobilization team if you have any question: volunteer@cintl.org
We thank all applicants but only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
