Networking Officer (Consultant - Nigeria - Part-Time - Remote) at Farm Radio International

Term: Part-time Consultant, June 1 - September 30, 2021

Background

• In collaboration with the Green Innovation Centers for the Agriculture and Food Sector program, the REGIS project works with radio stations and other partners to research, design, deliver and evaluate quality interactive radio series for women and men small-scale farmers in four value chains.
• Farm Radio International is working closely with eight (8) radio station partners and key stakeholder groups in the GIZ target states to design and deliver 24-week interactive radio programs per value chain per state - i.e. Maize (Kaduna and Kano), Rice (Benue, Nassarawa and parts of Cross River States), Cassava (Ogun and Oyo) and Irish potato (Plateau) from November 2020 to April 2022 (18 months).
• The main aim of the proposed interactive radio programming is increased knowledge and uptake of improved techniques and innovations by smallholder men and women farmers contributing to improved productivity in various value chains

Organisational Context

• Farm Radio International is a Canadian organisation that has been working since 1979 to harness the power of radio to meet the needs of small-scale farmers. We work with more than 1,000 radio organizations located in more than 40 African countries to fight poverty and food insecurity.
• With the benefit of FRI resources and training, our broadcasting partners deliver practical, relevant, and timely information to tens of millions of farmers, including women farmers. We also work with a range of partners to implement radio projects that address specific development challenges and community needs.
• In NIgeria, we are connected with more than 50 radio stations. We would like to grow our network, increase our engagement with our broadcasting partners, and support our partners to use our resources and benefit from our learning opportunities.

Key Areas of Responsibility
Networking activities:

• Under the supervision of the Network Coordinator
• Support existing radio partners to follow FRI's online learning modules, available at www.farmradiotraining.org, including our Gender Equality and VOICE Standards modules.
• Support Network Services in growing a network of radio partners, including subscribing new partners.
• Facilitate and moderate a WhatsApp group for radio partners, posting in relevant local languages and encouraging partners to participate in their language of choice.
• Share FRI's radio resources with broadcasting partners.
• Support partner stations to adapt and use radio resources and FRI's services.
• With the support of the radio craft officer, plan a remote Broadcaster resources orientation workshop to show partner stations how to use and adapt FRI's radio resources.
• Maintain regular contact with women and men broadcasters.
• Find ways to include broadcasters that aren’t proficient in reading and writing in English and give priority to "marginalised" broadcasters and radio stations.
• Contribute to improve the quality of radio broadcasts with the help of radio resources.
• Motivate broadcasters to feel pride in their work and to positively contribute to their communities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Journalism, Communication or a related field or the equivalent work experience in a relevant field
• 5+ years experience in Radio and/or Communication programming
• Experience with / knowledge of Farm Radio resources and service
• Experience coaching / facilitating workshops considered an asset

Expected Skills:

• Strong capacity for facilitating discussions, particularly online
• Excellent communication skills, including written and oral
• Excellent digital skills (Google suite, WhatsApp, Zoom, etc.)
• High level of English, both spoken and written with fluency
• Proficiency in one or more local languages
• Understanding of, and experience with, gender equality and inclusion issues
• Good knowledge of the social, cultural, health, political and economic landscape and current events in each region of the country
• Good knowledge of radio production techniques
• Good familiarity with Farm Radio's resources and services
• Ability to receive and sort a large volume of information
• Ability to check the reliability of information and to disseminate it
• Ability to respond to the specific needs of people belonging to marginalized groups
• Ability to understand and analyse information on gender equality