Support Communications & Marketing Plan for Local NGO
Activity/project background
Partner: HOPE worldwide Botswana (Local NGO)
Hope Worldwide Botswana (HwwB) is in the final year of a three-year implementation of a project called Preventing New HIV Infections and Reducing Vulnerability among Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and Adolescent Girls and Young Women. The project is implemented through OVC and Determined, Resilience, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) programming. The project covers five (5) districts (Gaborone, Southeast, Lobatse, Southern and Kweneng) and focuses on 1) HIV prevention, 2) psychosocial and adherence support for HIV+ adolescents, 3) parenting for lifelong health, and 4) Providing economic strengthening for caregivers and adolescent girls and young women.
In October 2020, HwwB became a prime partner to USAID and spent the first year learning how to manage the new funding mechanism, strengthening stakeholder relations, and revising implementation strategies. Recently, HwwB identified marketing and communications support and capacity development as a need to increase awareness and outreach within and to community partners and local audiences. Therefore, HwwB is seeking a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to support the development of a marketing and communications strategy.
HOPE worldwide Botswana (HwwB) previously worked with a Peace Corps Volunteer. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
Virtual service engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
• Co-develop a marketing & communication strategy that includes media outreach, social media content creation, marketing, knowledge development, and profiling
• Build capacity for, and assist in the implementation of, the strategy including:
• Organizational website and social media platform management
• Marketing (infographics/branding/stylized organizational image)
• Knowledge development i.e. case studies/histories/best practices/surveys
• Profiling i.e. rapid ethnographies/community profiles, filmed documentaries and documentary research, compilation of anecdotal information or discourses that may inform research
This engagement is expected to be approximately 12 weeks. VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week.
Meetings between VSPPs and Host Country Counterparts will take place during normal office hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Botswana standard time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp. for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.
Optional additional activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.
Essential qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations, or related field
Experience: 2 years’ experience in marketing & communications strategy development
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
Desired qualifications
Technical Skills: Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication
Experience:
• Experience with social media platforms and online networks
• Experience writing content for various digital channels
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement-specific safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
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