Programme Assistant, Communications Unit - West Africa Civil Society Institute

The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) was established to build the institutional and operational capacity of civil society in West Africa, through knowledge management, capacity development and policy influencing. WACSI seeks a committed, motivated and dynamic person to join its team in contributing to enhancing civil society’s efficiency and effectiveness in West Africa.

General Description

The Communications Programme Assistant will provide day-to-day support to the Institute’s communications team.

Social Media Management

• Identify and create engaging content for WACSI’s social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
• Provide a monthly summary of performance on WACSI’s Social Media platforms.

 Institutional publicity

• Liaise with programmes teams to develop articles on WACSI’s activities and blogs on topical development-related themes for WACSI’s website.
• Develop press releases for sharing with the media.
• Develop captivating and informative graphics to communicate key messages on WACSI’s programmes and publications.
• Contribute to the marketing of TechSoup, WACSI’s Sitrep, Change the Game programmes and E-Directory resources for CSOs in West Africa (to support TechSoup marketing)
• Assist in the implementation of WACSI’s communications and media strategy.
• Assist in arranging media engagement opportunities towards convenings.
• Assist in preparing and coordinating media content in the form of opinion pieces, articles, blogs and other related content.
• Constantly update the database of media contacts across the regions where WACSI operates to sustain relationship with local and international media.
• Coordinate the production of quarterly Newsletter.
• Constantly update WACSI’s email listserve.

Videography and Designing

• Contribute to take photographs, video recording and video/picture editing.
• Assist in developing content for internal publications such as newsletters, email announcements, planned publications.
• Assist other units within the organisation to prepare communications content and products for publication.

Website Management

WACSI Website

• Assist in the management of the Institute’s website.
• Regularly update the Institute’s website with up-date content of the Institute work.

Civil Society Electronic directory (E-directory)

• Provide support towards the management and operation of the civil society e-directory platform (www.csowestafrica.org) in the following ways:
• Actively engage with a wide range of CSOs and other actors in the 18 countries the Institute works in to promote and enable their access and use of the civil society e-directory platform;
• Promote the visibility of CSOs’ works and programmes through the directory;
• Manage the civil society directory website to facilitate networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing among CSOs and partners in Ghana and across all countries represented on the website;
• Identify, collate, report and respond to technical challenges of CSOs using the website across the region;
• Update and validate database and CSOs’ corporate data on the website; such as name, contact, operational field;
• Develop and implement a sustainable marketing plan for the website to increase visibility and engagement on the platform;
• Update the website with information on funding opportunities, job opportunities and collaborative opportunities for CSOs across the region;
• Ensure the regular publicity and dissemination of information about the e-directory on WACSI’s online and social media platforms;
• Monitor and track monthly engagement and traffic on the website;
• Assist in the development of a quarterly editorial/opinion piece on pertinent issues on the relevance of this website to CSOs, production of critical write-ups on how CSOs can leverage on the directory to boost their visibility, publicity materials for the e-directory and initiate, develop and disseminate newsletters with CSOs registered on the website;
• Liaise with the Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) sector in Ghana and other relevant state management institution of NGOs in West Africa to provide information, analysis and recommendations on the engagements of CSOs in the region and assist in the identification of similar institutions in other countries and initiate and maintain a relationship with them.

Electoral Integrity Portal (ELIWA)

• Provide Key Support towards the functioning of the Electoral Integrity Portal (www.eliwa.org ) in the following ways:
• Actively engage with a wide range of CSOs working on elections related programmes in the countries on the portal to enable their access to the website;
• Ensure the appropriate management and functioning of the website to facilitate networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing among CSOs, West African citizens, media and partners in Ghana and across all countries represented on the website;
• Identify, collate, report and respond to technical challenges of CSOs using the website across the region;
• Ensure that WACSI alumni, CSO beneficiaries, all YALI fellows under the MWF and Accra RLC initiatives that work on governance and elections related programmes across the region register and utilise on the website;
• Ensure the regular publicity and dissemination of information about the ELIWA portal on WACSI’s online and social media platforms; and
• Carry out any other duty assigned by the unit.

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing, communication, journalism, economics, international development and/or policy or related field. Master’s degree preferred;
• Capacity to think creatively and work collaboratively in a multicultural environment
• Strong speaking and writing abilities in English and French highly preferred as well;
• Strong computer skills including a high level of comfort with Microsoft Office
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as part of a team
• Knowledge of social media for dissemination of programme information;
• Proven ability to manage diverse, time-sensitive and complex tasks;
• Some background in creating Design/Graphics preferred;
• Engagement with the media would be an added advantage;
• Strong analytical, research and writing skills;
• Commitment to WACSI’s vision, mission, and strategic goals.