Communications Officer, ESGBV (Abuja, Nigeria)

International IDEA is collaborating with Action Appointments for this recruitment process. Applications should be submitted to https://www.actionappointments.co.za/idea-nigeria-2026

Context

 The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance is an intergovernmental organization with 35 member states hailing from different continents around the world. International IDEA aims to support sustainable democracy worldwide, doing so, inter alia, by working with both new and long-established democracies to strengthen the institutions and culture of democracy and enhance the rule of law. Located at the interface of research and practice, International IDEA serves as a forum for dialogue and uses comparative experience and analysis to identify good practices for democracy-building. It also produces knowledge tools and practical guides for democracy support. The Institute maintains a global network of experts, provides training materials, and offers strategic advice to democracy actors at the international, regional, and national levels. The Institute is headquartered in Stockholm with field offices in Africa and West Asia, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

International IDEA will be managing the “EU Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) in Nigeria” programme.  This programme aims to reduce Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria by strengthening laws and policies, expanding survivor-centered essential services and driving positive social-norm change. It will ensure that people in all their diversity with particular attention to women, girls and the most vulnerable have their rights promoted and protected from all forms of violence through legislation and effective enforcement, while improving the rule of law, tackling impunity, and enhancing access to justice through a more independent, effective, responsive, transparent and gender-sensitive justice sector. The programme also advances Sustainable Development Goals 5 (Gender Equality) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The programme will work towards three anticipated Outcomes:  

1. Facilitate the strengthening, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of key legal and policy frameworks on the prevention of SGBV such as the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition (VAPP) Act, the response to SGBV and the protection of women, men, girls and boys in all their diversity;

2. Improve and expand access to essential services (health, justice, protection and other related services) to recover from experienced violence, especially for survivors from rural communities, conflict-affected communities, persons with disabilities and for victims of technology facilitated GBV; and

3. Build the capacity of and provide resources to women’s rights organisations, social movements and other civil society organisations to influence and advance progress on promoting favourable social norms to end SGBV.

The Communications Officer will manage the development and implementation of the ESGBV programme’s communication and visibility plan. They will optimize awareness of the programmes work and oversee the production of regional communication tools aligned with target groups, raising awareness of both public and technical audiences. The incumbent will also act as the media focal point for the programme and will lead in developing and implementing social media campaigns.

Duties and Responsibilities

 1. Provides communications and media support to all partners within the programme; Regularly holds communications meetings with the focal points of all partners to stay well-informed about planned activities, upcoming events and campaigns; Coordinates the inputs from programme partners;

2. Uploads content generated by the programme to the relevant communication forum as needed;

3. Responds to media/press inquiries and pitches Op-Eds and stories to media for placement;

4. Maintains the programme database, soliciting and including regular updates; Contributes to and regularly updates the programme’s press lists;

5. Undertakes regular media monitoring (on social and traditional media) for references to programme activities;

6. Establishes, maintains and actively manages relationships with the media to raise the profile and credibility of the programme;

7. Organizes and coordinates media and visibility events for the programme;

8. Serves as a content editor; Writes and edits web articles, tweets, social media posts, press releases and other outreach content as necessary; Quality assures audio, video and graphic materials;

9. Coordinates the timely content development of programme newsletters and manages an editorial calendar for the proposed content and themes;

10. Creates clear infographics and digital assets for use online and in presentations;

11. Implements the European Union’s communications and social media strategy for all social media channels; Reviews and updates the programme’s social media guidelines as needed.

12. Monitors and reports on impact and analytics; Generates monthly and quarterly analytics reports for all social media platforms and for the newsletter;

13. Supports the development and dissemination of knowledge management products and materials such as impact reports, case stories, how-to-guides, etc.;

14. Raises staff and partners awareness on the programme’s communication and visibility plan and provides guidance for implementation and compliance;

15. Manages and directs the work of the Communications Assistant, Social Media, to deliver efficiently on all agreed communications outputs, within agreed timeframes, and in accordance with approved procedures and processes; Establishes and nurtures a working environment that is conducive to delivering results, fostering a spirit of collaboration, strong work ethic and cohesion;

16. Carries out other duties and responsibilities as related to the post that may be assigned from time to time.

Safeguarding

17. Shares responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom they work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children;

18. Has a shared duty to safeguard from the following conduct by staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, or adults at risk; and any form of trafficking in persons.

General Profile

• Has developed specialized skills or is multi-skilled developed through job-related training and considerable on-the-job experience;

• Adds considerable value to team-based activities in their unit, and is a knowledge resource for colleagues and partners; Collaborates with other entities of the Institute as required;

• Follows internal procedures to ensure high standards of performance and compliance with Institutional and donor guidelines;

• Acts in accordance with International IDEA’s Core Values; Respect, Integrity, and Professionalism; and

• Integrates a rights-based approach, gender, and diversity perspective in all activities.

Reporting line

 • Senior Programme Manager, ESGBV

Education and Experience

 • University degree or equivalent work experience in communications, journalism, international relations or a related subject;

• Minimum of five (5) years professional experience in a similar role, or, as a journalist or writer in communications for development, with a focus on social media and preferably in an international context; Experience in communications strategy development and implementation;

• Experience leading and managing teams;

• Experience creating and maintaining social media campaigns preferably as it relates to ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) in Nigeria or similar context ;

• Expert graphic design skills and ability to use all related Adobe tools;

• Experience of working in an international context, e.g., in an intergovernmental organization, considered an advantage.

Terms of Contract:

• Local Post.

• Fixed term appointment for two (2) years.

Please note as this is a local post, International IDEA will bear no costs relating to the relocation of the selected candidate to the duty station. This position is open to those legally authorized to live and work in Nigeria for the duration of the contract. International IDEA is not able to support work permit applications. 

International IDEA is collaborating with Action Appointments for this recruitment process. Applications should be submitted to https://www.actionappointments.co.za/idea-nigeria-2026

International IDEA is an equal-opportunity employer which seeks to further diversify its staff in terms of gender, culture and nationality.