POSITION: PAID INTERN – COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY
VACANCY – ONE (1)
LOCATION: NATIONAL OFFICE – LUSAKA

The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) is a Christian, Membership, Non-Partisan, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) dedicated to the empowerment of the community (especially women, youth, and children) to contribute to the attainment of a just society through rights-based approaches and sustainable interventions. YWCA, since its inception in Kitwe, Zambia in 1957, has continued to stand at the forefront of social change and tackling gender injustices such as gender-based violence, including teenage pregnancies, child marriage, and sexual reproductive health rights violations.

YWCA seeks to recruit a qualified paid Communication and Advocacy intern to be based at the National Office in Lusaka.

Position Summary:
The Communication and Advocacy Intern will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies and advocacy campaigns to promote and support the association’s goals, mission, and programs. This role involves creating engaging content, managing communication channels, building relationships with stakeholders, and advocating for the YWCA’s causes and initiatives. The Intern will be working closely with the office of the Executive Director and Programmes Manager. This internship offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in advocacy, policy development, stakeholder management, and community engagement, all while contributing to the advancement of gender equity and equality in Zambia. Approximately 15% of the work will be administrative in nature.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Communication Strategy and Management:
   • Develop, review, and execute a comprehensive communication strategy aligned with the organization’s goals and objectives
   • Identify target audiences and key messages to effectively communicate the association’s mission, programs, and impact
   • Develop, implement, and monitor communication and advocacy initiatives
   • Contribute to the development and review of policy briefs, position papers, case studies, and other advocacy materials to support key initiatives
   • Plan and coordinate communication activities, including media relations, stakeholder engagements, and internal communications
   • Participate in planning and budgeting processes
   • Participate in the design, delivery, and management of press statements, social media communication content, and platforms
   • Support the Executive Director’s office in preparation for board meetings and National Council
2. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership:
   • Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including government departments, donors, partners, volunteers, and community members
   • Develop and implement strategies to engage and involve stakeholders in advocacy efforts and campaigns
   • Collaborate with internal teams to collect stories, testimonials, and impact data to showcase the organization’s achievements
   • Help identify and onboard Campaign Ambassadors and Champions to promote gender diversity messages within the industry and develop a tracking matrix of their engagement
   • Develop a media engagement strategy and plan media awards on gender equality and Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
   • Manage and maintain a stakeholder matrix of contacts and details of partnerships
3. Media Relations and Marketing:
   • Cultivate relationships with media outlets, journalists, and influencers to enhance the organization’s visibility and coverage
   • Coordinate media interviews, prepare key spokespersons, and manage media inquiries
   • Monitor media coverage and prepare reports on media trends, sentiment, and impact
   • Design, create, and edit compelling content for various communication channels, including press releases, articles, blogs, social media posts, and newsletters
   • Manage the association’s website, ensuring content is up-to-date, engaging, and optimized for search engines
   • Ensure consistency in terms of branding across all YWCA regions, messaging, and frequency of posting via multiple media channels
   • Develop and implement advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and mobilize support for the organization’s causes and initiatives
   • Support engagement with policymakers, government officials, and relevant stakeholders to influence public opinion and policies with the involvement of relevant Board and Officers
   • Build evidence-based advocacy arguments, working closely with Board, management, and stakeholders to identify gaps in evidence and arguments and ensure those gaps are adequately filled
   • Lead on the definition and targeting of advocacy strategies on issues and priorities identified through YWCA projects and mainstream programs
   • Capacity building and training on advocacy and collaborations
   • Package identified barriers and enablers for presentation at existing or new advocacy platforms; Refer/escalate identified advocacy issues and results to relevant authorities, including the government, funding, and implementing partners
   • Participate in conducting research studies and data management (surveys and focus groups) to gather data that informs advocacy efforts
   • Analyze and synthesize research findings and contribute to the preparation of reports and presentations
   • Develop and document the YWCA documentary
   • Support the compilation of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports that track the progress of advocacy initiatives against set objectives with professional pictorial illustrations

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, ABILITIES & SKILLS

• A bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication, Policy Development, Communication for Development, or a related field
• A minimum of 6 months of experience in advocacy, policy influencing, stakeholder engagement, brand building, or a related area (including internship or volunteer roles)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate with diverse groups of stakeholders
• Research and data knowledge management is an added advantage
• Ability to develop position papers, press statements, newsletters, and reports
• Ability to manage social media and websites
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and other local languages
• Strong organizational, analytical, and time-management skills
• Familiarity with gender diversity and inclusion issues is preferred
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and basic reporting tools
• Experience in report writing and presentations is an advantage

WHAT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL OFFER

• Full hands-on experience in advocacy, policy development, and stakeholder engagement
• Exposure to gender diversity initiatives within Zambia’s construction sector
• A diverse work environment with opportunities to develop professional skills
• Mentorship from experienced professionals in various fields, gender equality, and equity
• A certificate of completion at the end of the internship