Organization details

The Civil Peace Service (CPS) of GIZ is an independent German programme within the field of international cooperation. It is funded directly through grants from its commissioning party, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The objective of CPS is to reduce or prevent violence, foster understanding and contribute towards sustainable, just peace in cooperation with local partners. In other words, it seeks to address structural causes of violent conflicts and strengthen mechanisms of peaceful conflict transformation.

Since 2014, the Civil Peace Service (CPS) of GIZ has been active in Uganda. Initially focusing on land rights, the programme has in recent years added a new component: Dealing with the Past. Based on a multi-stakeholder approach and supported by 13 Interest Groups (IGs), CPS implements conflict-sensitive activities in the Acholi, Teso, and Karamoja sub-regions. Under the current programme phase “Peaceful Transformation of Past and Present Conflicts over Natural Resources in Northern and North-Eastern Uganda”, CPS brings together civil society organisations, local authorities, traditional leaders, and faith-based actors to share expertise, address land issues, and confront the legacies of violent conflict. Together, we work towards the non-violent prevention and peaceful transformation of conflicts in Northern and Northeastern Uganda.

GIZ CPS is recruiting a Communications Specialist to strengthen internal and external communication, enhance the visibility of CPS Uganda and its partners, and provide advisory support on media, public relations, and representation.

Knowledge, skills and competences

• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills in English.
• Familiarity with conflict-sensitive communication and ethical reporting principles.
• Experience in working with local partner organizations and civil society actors.
• Strong coordination, facilitation, and networking skills.
• Good working knowledge of ICT technologies and software (MS Office, social media management tools, graphic design basics).
• Willingness to travel regularly to project locations in Teso, Acholi and Karamoja.
• Familiarity with the cultural and socio-political context of Northeastern Uganda is an asset.
• Ability to work independently, under pressure, and within a diverse, multicultural team.

Responsibilities

The Communications Specialist will;

• Serve as the Programme Communications Focal Point for the Interest Groups of CPS.
• Advise staff on CPS communications formats, such as Change Stories, to ensure a consistent GIZ/CPS image.
• Coordinate and implement promotional and media events.
• Contributing to the overall communication strategy, visibility, and knowledge management of the CPS Uganda programme.
• Accompanying the organisational development process of one partner organisation in the field of media and conflict sensitivity.
• Oversee the production and dissemination of high-quality communications materials (e.g., factsheets, newsletters, banners, and videos).
• Collaborate with the GIZ Country Office to ensure programme alignment on intranet and external publication standards.

A. Specific Tasks

Knowledge Management

• Capture and organize project related content (raw design files, photos, final videos, publications) on Microsoft Teams for institutional memory and easy retrieval.
• Support the documentation of lessons learned, best practices, and project impacts through knowledge products and online publications.
• Assist teams with internal documentation and support the preparation of donor reports and technical presentations.
• Ensures sound collaboration, synergy, and information flow within the CPS teams in Karamoja, Teso, and Kampala.
• Contributes to the knowledge management system of CPS by documenting success stories and lessons learned.
• Keeps the CPS team informed about relevant public debates, media developments, and communication opportunities related to peacebuilding and land rights.

Public relations

• Lead the development and implementation of communication strategies aligned with project goals and GIZ standards.
• Serve as the Programme Communications Focal Point for Communicators Teams in the Country Office as well as with GIZ/CPS Headquarters in Bonn.
• Advise staff on corporate communication protocols to ensure a consistent GIZ image.
• Coordinate, implement and design media strategies for all CPS relevant events.
• Oversee the production and dissemination of high-quality communications materials (e.g., factsheets, newsletters, banners, and videos).
• Collaborate with the GIZ Country Office to ensure programme alignment on intranet and external publication standards.
• Draft and edit articles, case studies, and success stories for internal and external use.
• Represent the coordinator and GIZ/CPS in Uganda on public and internal events when required

Capacity Development and Partner Support

• Supports one Interest Groups in strengthening its external communication, visibility, and public image through tailored training and mentoring.
• Accompanies Interest Groups in the processes of developing activities under do-no-harm principles
• Provides coaching to partners and IG Coordinators on media engagement, storytelling, and public presentation.
• Acts as a stand-in for CPS advisors for Interest Groups on issues of media, advocacy, and communication in the context of land rights.
• Promotes exchange and learning among CPS partners on effective communication practices and visibility strategies.

Other Duties/Additional Tasks

• Close collaboration with CPS admins to guide Interest Groups successfully to obtain LS contracts with GIZ and support them in their reporting according to GIZ standards.
• Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communication, Journalism, or related field.
• Driving license Class B (manual) and confidence in driving long distances.

Details of experience

• 5 years in years’ professional experience in in communication, public relations, or media work - preferably in the field of development cooperation, peacebuilding, or human rights.
• Experience in developing and implementing communication strategies and producing PR materials for diverse audiences.
• Proven experience in capacity development, training, or coaching on media and communication topics.
• Proven experience in projects on conflict transformation.
• Experience in working on land rights in Teso region is an asset.

• Serve as the Programme Communications Focal Point for the Interest Groups of CPS.
• Advise staff on CPS communications formats, such as Change Stories, to ensure a consistent GIZ/CPS image.
• Coordinate and implement promotional and media events.
• Contributing to the overall communication strategy, visibility, and knowledge management of the CPS Uganda programme.
• Accompanying the organisational development process of one partner organisation in the field of media and conflict sensitivity.
• Oversee the production and dissemination of high-quality communications materials (e.g., factsheets, newsletters, banners, and videos).
• Collaborate with the GIZ Country Office to ensure programme alignment on intranet and external publication standards.
• Capture and organize project related content (raw design files, photos, final videos, publications) on Microsoft Teams for institutional memory and easy retrieval.
• Support the documentation of lessons learned, best practices, and project impacts through knowledge products and online publications.
• Assist teams with internal documentation and support the preparation of donor reports and technical presentations.
• Ensures sound collaboration, synergy, and information flow within the CPS teams in Karamoja, Teso, and Kampala.
• Contributes to the knowledge management system of CPS by documenting success stories and lessons learned.
• Keeps the CPS team informed about relevant public debates, media developments, and communication opportunities related to peacebuilding and land rights.
• Lead the development and implementation of communication strategies aligned with project goals and GIZ standards.
• Serve as the Programme Communications Focal Point for Communicators Teams in the Country Office as well as with GIZ/CPS Headquarters in Bonn.
• Advise staff on corporate communication protocols to ensure a consistent GIZ image.
• Coordinate, implement and design media strategies for all CPS relevant events.
• Draft and edit articles, case studies, and success stories for internal and external use.
• Represent the coordinator and GIZ/CPS in Uganda on public and internal events when required.
• Supports one Interest Groups in strengthening its external communication, visibility, and public image through tailored training and mentoring.
• Accompanies Interest Groups in the processes of developing activities under do-no-harm principles.
• Provides coaching to partners and IG Coordinators on media engagement, storytelling, and public presentation.
• Acts as a stand-in for CPS advisors for Interest Groups on issues of media, advocacy, and communication in the context of land rights.
• Promotes exchange and learning among CPS partners on effective communication practices and visibility strategies.
• Close collaboration with CPS admins to guide Interest Groups successfully to obtain LS contracts with GIZ and support them in their reporting according to GIZ standards.
• Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management.

• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills in English.
• Familiarity with conflict-sensitive communication and ethical reporting principles.
• Experience in working with local partner organizations and civil society actors.
• Strong coordination, facilitation, and networking skills.
• Good working knowledge of ICT technologies and software (MS Office, social media management tools, graphic design basics).
• Willingness to travel regularly to project locations in Teso, Acholi and Karamoja.
• Familiarity with the cultural and socio-political context of Northeastern Uganda is an asset.
• Ability to work independently, under pressure, and within a diverse, multicultural team.

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communication, Journalism, or related field.
• Driving license Class B (manual) and confidence in driving long distances.