Details of Communication/advocacy

Somaliland multiparty system and elections began with a constitutional referendum in 2001. Elections and Somaliland Democracy is a home initiative started from the grassroots, since that time, Somaliland has successfully held three municipal elections in 2002, 2012, and 2021; three presidential elections in 2003, 2010, and 2017; and two parliamentary elections in 2005 and 2021 with great success.

The Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity and efficiency of electoral processes in Somaliland. In preparation for the combined presidential and political parties elections scheduled for November 13, 2024, the NEC is recruiting Communications and Voter Education Advisor.

Scope of Work:

Under the guidance of NEC, and in direct collaboration with his/her counterparts, the Communication and Voter Education Advisor's responsibilities will include:

v Review Voter Education (VE) strategies and operational plans for the presidential and political parties election processes, focusing on video media (TV, Internet), print media (newspapers, magazines, blog posts, web platforms), audio media (radio, internet, podcasts), and civil society awareness raising interventions.

v Offering solutions to complex VE issues for NEC consideration.

v Reviewing and revising VE activity plans to meet the needs of the election processes.

v Strengthening NEC’s capacity and systems to monitor voter education program activities, ensuring compliance with local rules.

v Ensuring high-standard design, timely production, and budget compliance of all materials and manuals.

v Mentoring the NEC Voter Education Director and other individuals responsible for voter education.

v Developing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system to track voter education message delivery.

v Developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy for the presidential and political parties election process.

v Crafting clear and effective messaging to communicate key election information to the public through various media channels (TV, radio, social media, print).

v Coordinating with NEC's communications team to ensure consistent and accurate dissemination of information.

v Organizing and facilitating press conferences, media briefings, and public information sessions.

v Monitoring and responding to media inquiries and public feedback.

v Developing a crisis communication plan to handle potential issues or misinformation during the election period.

v Building and maintaining relationships with international media outlets.

v Advising as the primary point of contact for all media-related activities during the election period.

v Develop and implement strategies to identify, counter, and mitigate the impact of misinformation and disinformation related to the election process.

v Establish and maintain strong working relationships with major social media platforms to monitor and manage election-related content.

v Implement social media monitoring tools to track and analyze election-related conversations and identify potential misinformation trends.

v Developing media kits and informational materials to support accurate and balanced media reporting.

v Training and supporting NEC staff on media engagement and communication best practices.

v Providing strategic guidance to NEC on effective communication and media strategies.

v Identifying opportunities for positive media coverage and public engagement.

v Promoting transparency and public trust in the election process through proactive communication and media engagement.

v Preparing an end-of-mission report with recommendations for future voter education, media and communication programs.

v Documenting and sharing lessons learned and best practices from the election communications and media activities.

Skills and Qualifications

Qualifications and competencies

·       Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field.

·       At least 15 years of international election experience, with a proven track record of working in countries with conditions similar to Somaliland.

·       Demonstrated experience in conducting similar international embedded expert deployments, providing advisory services, and supporting electoral processes in challenging environments.

·       Extensive knowledge and experience in election management.

·       Strong ability to remain composed and effective during crises and challenges

·       Exceptional attention to detail.

·       Ability to work respectfully and effectively with local staff.

·       Strong communication skills with fluency in English.

Duration of the assignment

The duration of the assignment is 35 days, including travelling to Hargeisa to carry out the capacity assessment.

How to apply

The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) is implementing a project titled “Somaliland Electoral Support” which will embed technical experts within the NEC.

Interested candidates should send their updated CV to hargeisa@nimd.org

before September 12, 2024 at 18:00 EAT. Please use the subject line “Communication and Voter Education Advisor” in your email. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews will be conducted shortly thereafter.

Email hargeisa@nimd.org