The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) is a non profit organisation based in Johannesburg South Africa and Dar Es Salaam Tanzania. It is committed to dismantling inequalities in the food and agriculture systems in Africa and the promotion of agro-ecology and food sovereignty. ACB’s theory of change rests on quality research and political analysis of issues relevant to African small-scale farmers, including analysis on current smallholder systems and related policies and the impact of agribusiness on the food system. This research is shared with the general public, civil society organisations (CSOs), networks and movements in order to collectively develop and amplify demands and solutions that will influence media, ‘thought leaders’, and decision makers. Resultant changes in government and corporate policies, laws and programmes will lead to direct improvements in the lives of farming communities and the general population.
ACB’s key areas of research and advocacy include genetic modification and biosafety, seed sovereignty and industrial agriculture and corporate control. These are situated in a context of support for food sovereignty and agro-ecology as alternatives to corporate-industrial agriculture.
ACB seeks to employ a critical, self-motivated and independent thinker to join our dynamic team as a communications and monitoring and evaluation officer to:
- develop and implement a robust communications strategy for the organisation in order to enhance the impact of its work; and
- develop and implement an appropriate and efficient Monitoring and Evaluation system for the organisation.
The duties will include in regards to the communications strategy:
- Manage ACB’s media and mailing lists;
- Enhance the efficiency of ACB’s advocacy campaigns;
- Ensure increased online and social media presence and interest;
- Facilitate the dissemination of the ACB’s work and advocacy across all forms of media at local, national, regional and Pan-African, and international levels;
- Improve the visibility and image of the ACB, increasing public awareness on current issues;
- Design thematic brochures and other promotional materials
- Build consistent and powerful branding and increasing ACB’s brand awareness at local, national, regional, Pan-African and international levels.
The duties in regard to monitoring and evaluation will include:
- Construct baselines during the first year of employment for the key indicators outlined in the ACB’s programmes for the next three/four years.
- Develop comprehensive systems that can improve reporting and support learning and sharing within the organisation and measuring progress and impacts.
- Such a system must be integrated with the operational strategies of the organisation including and especially its communications strategy.
- The M&E framework must consist of a diverse range of methods and mechanisms to measure the impact of our work and the use of outputs as well as an evaluation of the extent to which the objectives of programmes have been met.
The successful candidate will be based in Johannesburg. Costs of relocation can be negotiated if necessary.
ACB has an Employment Equity policy in place, and agrees on the need for racial and gender transformation in our divided and unequal society. Preference will therefore be given to candidates from Southern Africa.
The candidate must be a good fit with ACB’s organisational culture and ACB reserves the right not to hire anybody to the position.
Salary is at competitive market rates.
Interested parties should send a CV to acbresearcher@gmail.com, include a one page motivation as to why you are suitable for the position and what you will bring to the work of the ACB and a sample of your written work.
