About ZOA

We are here for people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

Our work in Uganda

In Uganda, ZOA has offices in Kampala, West Nile (Arua), Acholi (Lamwo), Kiryandongo and Karamoja (Amudat). ZOA Uganda works both in relief and recovery on the themes of food security & livelihoods, primary/accelerated/ education, and conflict management with a special focus on land security.

ZOA Uganda is looking for a Communication Officer (Based in Kampala Office )

Your challenge

The Communications Officer supports ZOA Uganda to strengthen programme visibility, accountability and learning. The role produces high-quality communications products for internal and external audiences, including project fact sheets, human-interest stories, photos and captions, publications, web and social media content, press releases, and inputs to donor and annual reports. The position is primarily responsible for communications on the Pharus Foundation funded projects but also contributes to ZOA Uganda’s wider communications priorities as assigned. The position will support internal and partner capacity building initiatives.

The position is based in ZOA’s country office in Kampala with regular field visits required.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

General

• Develop and implement a project communications and visibility plan in line with ZOA Uganda and donor branding/visibility requirements.
• Produce high-quality content (stories, captions, case studies, fact sheets, briefs, articles) for reports, web and social media, ensuring informed consent and safeguarding considerations.
• Capture and edit photos and short videos from field activities; maintain an organised digital archive with metadata, permissions and usage notes.
• Support management and programme teams with key messages, presentations, talking points and communication products for internal and external engagements.
• Coordinate with the ZOA global Communications Unit to ensure consistent messaging, quality standards and timely publication across platforms.
• Support media engagement as required, including drafting press releases, facilitating interviews/field visits, and maintaining professional relationships with relevant media outlets.
• Support external facing events such as engagements with government, partners, or events organised by ZOA Uganda. This includes planning, managing procurements, liaising with media, selecting venues, among others.
• Using design software to ensure external facing documents are professionally formatted.

Partner oversight

• Support partners to understand and apply project visibility guidelines and donor/ZOA branding requirements.
• Maintain regular liaison with partner organisations to plan joint communications, collect content and ensure consistent documentation of results.
• Build partner capacity in communications through trainings and mentorship.

Reporting

• Provide communications inputs to implementation plans, monthly/quarterly reports and donor reports, as required.
• Identify, document and package lessons learned and good practices in close collaboration with programme and MEAL colleagues.
• Produce and/or support the production of success stories and case studies that meet donor and ZOA quality standards (including consent, accuracy and respectful language).
• Contribute to proposals, learning products and other communications materials as assigned by the supervisor.

Representation and coordination

• Participate in relevant coordination and technical working group meetings when communications/visibility inputs are required.
• Coordinate with district stakeholders and partners (e.g., Local Government, OPM, UNHCR, INGOs/NGOs) to support visibility and dissemination of results, in line with agreed protocols.

Procurement and finance

• Initiate timely purchase requisitions for communications and visibility goods and services, in line with ZOA procedures.
• Support procurement of visibility materials (e.g., banners, branded items, prints) by providing specifications and ensuring correct branding.

Accountability

• Promote awareness of ZOA Uganda’s feedback and complaints mechanisms among communities, partners and other stakeholders, using appropriate communication channels.
• Ensure feedback and complaints received through communications activities (including media/social media) are documented and referred through the correct reporting and response procedures.
• Apply ZOA’s Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies and promote a “Do No Harm” approach in all communications, including safe and dignified representation of programme participants.

Your profile

Identity

The candidate is expected to fully support the vision, mission and Christian values 0f ZOA (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related field.
• At least three years’ experience in communications/visibility within the international development or humanitarian sector.
• Strong understanding of the Uganda context; experience working in the refugee response is an added advantage.
• Proven writing and editing skills in English, including the ability to produce clear, accurate and audience-appropriate content.
• Experience producing and managing digital content, including basic photo/video capture and editing, and maintaining content archives.
• Experience using AdobeInDesign, Canva or other design softwares.
• Experience working with local partners and localisation approaches.
• Experience communicating inclusively and ethically, including with/for persons with disabilities, is an advantage.
• Experience working in emergency contexts is an advantage.

Skills/attitude

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills, with intercultural sensitivity.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and deliver quality work within deadlines, with minimal supervision.
• High integrity and professional judgement, including responsible handling of sensitive information.
• Commitment to inclusion and respectful representation of programme participants, including persons with disabilities.
• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision and values (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity).

Special conditions/circumstances

The Communications Officer will be based at the ZOA Uganda country office in Kampala. Regular travel to field locations and stakeholder meetings is required. The postholder should be able and willing to ride a motorcycle in rural conditions, including on unpaved roads, in line with ZOA safety procedures.

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week). Working hours and benefits are outlined in the ZOA Uganda Employee Handbook.

The position is offered at Salary Scale 3 in the ZOA Uganda Salary Scale.

Our offer

ZOA offers a challenging role in a dynamic context, and you will be part of an inspiring and motivated team.

We offer good benefits and remuneration which suits the NGO sector.

Do you need more information? Please visit our website www.zoa-international.com.

• Develop and implement a project communications and visibility plan in line with ZOA Uganda and donor branding/visibility requirements.
• Produce high-quality content (stories, captions, case studies, fact sheets, briefs, articles) for reports, web and social media, ensuring informed consent and safeguarding considerations.
• Capture and edit photos and short videos from field activities; maintain an organised digital archive with metadata, permissions and usage notes.
• Support management and programme teams with key messages, presentations, talking points and communication products for internal and external engagements.
• Coordinate with the ZOA global Communications Unit to ensure consistent messaging, quality standards and timely publication across platforms.
• Support media engagement as required, including drafting press releases, facilitating interviews/field visits, and maintaining professional relationships with relevant media outlets.
• Support external facing events such as engagements with government, partners, or events organised by ZOA Uganda. This includes planning, managing procurements, liaising with media, selecting venues, among others.
• Using design software to ensure external facing documents are professionally formatted.
• Support partners to understand and apply project visibility guidelines and donor/ZOA branding requirements.
• Maintain regular liaison with partner organisations to plan joint communications, collect content and ensure consistent documentation of results.
• Build partner capacity in communications through trainings and mentorship.
• Provide communications inputs to implementation plans, monthly/quarterly reports and donor reports, as required.
• Identify, document and package lessons learned and good practices in close collaboration with programme and MEAL colleagues.
• Produce and/or support the production of success stories and case studies that meet donor and ZOA quality standards (including consent, accuracy and respectful language).
• Contribute to proposals, learning products and other communications materials as assigned by the supervisor.
• Participate in relevant coordination and technical working group meetings when communications/visibility inputs are required.
• Coordinate with district stakeholders and partners (e.g., Local Government, OPM, UNHCR, INGOs/NGOs) to support visibility and dissemination of results, in line with agreed protocols.
• Initiate timely purchase requisitions for communications and visibility goods and services, in line with ZOA procedures.
• Support procurement of visibility materials (e.g., banners, branded items, prints) by providing specifications and ensuring correct branding.
• Promote awareness of ZOA Uganda’s feedback and complaints mechanisms among communities, partners and other stakeholders, using appropriate communication channels.
• Ensure feedback and complaints received through communications activities (including media/social media) are documented and referred through the correct reporting and response procedures.
• Apply ZOA’s Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies and promote a “Do No Harm” approach in all communications, including safe and dignified representation of programme participants.

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills, with intercultural sensitivity.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and deliver quality work within deadlines, with minimal supervision.
• High integrity and professional judgement, including responsible handling of sensitive information.
• Commitment to inclusion and respectful representation of programme participants, including persons with disabilities.
• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision and values.
• Proven writing and editing skills in English.
• Experience producing and managing digital content, including basic photo/video capture and editing, and maintaining content archives.
• Experience using AdobeInDesign, Canva or other design softwares.
• Experience working with local partners and localisation approaches.

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related field.
• At least three years’ experience in communications/visibility within the international development or humanitarian sector.
• Strong understanding of the Uganda context; experience working in the refugee response is an added advantage.
• Experience communicating inclusively and ethically, including with/for persons with disabilities, is an advantage.
• Experience working in emergency contexts is an advantage.