Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Position Grade: PL4
Position Number: 50071287
Posting Date: 27-Jan-2025
Closing Date: 26-Feb-2025
THE BANK:
The African Development Bank (“the Bank”) is a premier multilateral development finance institution. Its mission is to contribute to the economic development and social progress of its regional members, mobilize resources for the financing of development projects and promote economic integration on the continent. The Bank are 81 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). It has established ties with an extensive network of international development partners and enjoys a very good reputation on the capital markets. Since its inception in 1964, the Bank Group has committed over US$100 billion to support more than 4,000 development projects and programmes in Africa. Over the last 10 years, the Bank has grown in size and impact. It has modernized its operations to improve efficiency and value for money, which has put it at the centre of Africa’s economic transformation. Today, the Bank is at the forefront of helping Africa achieve accelerated development. It is implementing its bold strategy to transform the lives of Africans, with speed and rigor, based on its High 5s objectives: Light Up and Power Africa: power, energy, environment and green growth, Feed Africa: agro-industry, agricultural finance and rural development, Industrialize Africa: private and financial sectors, infrastructure, urban, industrial and trade development, Integrate Africa: regional development, integration and impactful delivery, Improve the quality of life for Africans: human capital and skills development, health, nutrition, water and sanitation. The High 5s have been acclaimed globally as the key for accelerating Africa’s development. Independent analysis by the UNDP shows that achieving the High 5s will help Africa to achieve 90% of the Sustainable Development Goals targets and 90% of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals.
THE COMPLEX:
The President plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and the African Development Fund and manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund. The President supervises several Departments and Units, including the Office of the President; the Independent Development Evaluation Department; the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department; the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit; the Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board; the Administrative Tribunal; the Office of the Auditor General; the Group Risk Management Directorate; the General Counsel and Legal Services Department; the Communication and External Relations Department; the Staff Integrity and Ethics Office and Office of the Secretary General and General Secretariat.
THE HIRING DEPARTMENT:
The Communication and External Relations Department (PCER) is in charge of planning, preparing and implementing public relations and institutional communication programmes designed to make the Bank better known by its various audiences so as to promote social and economic development in Africa. The department also works to promote the Bank’s credibility and good reputation as Africa’s leading development finance institution. PCER’s work is underpinned by the Communication and External Relations Strategy, designed to reinforce the Bank’s regional and global position as Africa’s premier development financial institution, and enable greater resource mobilization to scale up its financing capacity. The Bank needs strong communication to support its critical role of advocacy in Regional Member Countries (RMCs) to implement sound economic policies, sustainable development, and good governance.
Social media plays a critical role in this regard. Since the Bank’s last approved communication strategy in 2009, digital transformation has significantly influenced the way businesses operate, and it has made the world more accessible. It has also changed the way the world communicates. There are nearly 4 billion social media users globally, which is about 48% of the entire world’s population. In addition, by 2021 there were almost 4.9 billion internet users in the world. In Africa the total number of internet users is estimated at 460 million with a total penetration of 33% of the total population. Nearly 191 million users are reported to be active social media users.
Globally and regionally, leaders and organizations can no longer ignore the power and influence of social media. It is via this platform that messages, views, comments, protests and opinions are communicated, consumed and shared in real time.
The Bank’s social media platforms are vibrant and command a significant following.
The expansion of digital technology and social media present a major opportunity for the Bank to widely communicate impact, effectively engage with all its external stakeholders and promote interaction within the Bank.
To amplify the work of the Bank, PCER seeks to recruit a Principal Social Media Officer who will be in charge of coordinating the Bank’s social media activity.
The Principal Social Media Officer will report to the Manager, Editorial, Social Media and Media Relations Division (PCER1), Communication and External Relations Department.
THE POSITION:
1. The Principal Social Media Officer plays a crucial supervisory and strategic role in enhancing the Bank’s operational outcomes through social media.
2. This role is pivotal in leading efforts to project a positive image of the Bank and its initiatives, fostering engagement with both shareholders and the public across member countries.
3. Responsibilities include creating and curating content optimized for social media, developing and updating a comprehensive social media strategy, and overseeing the Bank’s communication activities on these platforms.
4. The Principal Social Media Officer will also craft a social media content calendar, design communication plans for flagship events, establish partnerships for collaborative promotions, and produce multimedia content to enrich the Bank’s digital offer.
5. By assessing the impact of social media campaigns, the Social Media Officer ensures that the Bank’s strategies resonate with and effectively reach the Bank’s diverse audience, thereby improving awareness, understanding, and the overall image of the Bank.
6. The Principal Social Media Officer will also be responsible for ensuring a consistent approach to social media communication and that it is aligned to corporate priorities and messaging.
7. The incumbent will coordinate efforts to expand and strengthen the Bank’s social media footprint, build on the existing social media community, and provide the blueprint for which the Bank can use to guide its social media activities.
KEY FUNCTIONS:
Under the overall supervision of the Division Manager, Editorial, Social Media and Media Relations, PCER.1, the Principal Social Media Officer has the following core responsibilities :
General responsibilities
1. Create and curate social media-optimized content for the Bank’s social media accounts;
2. Provide strategic advice to PCER management on the Bank’s social media presence;
3. Develop/update and implement a social media strategy to guide the Bank’s strategic approach to using its social media accounts as a key communication tool;
4. Create a social media content calendar to ensure coverage of Bank activities across its regional member countries;
5. Design and implement social media communication plans for the Bank’s flagship events and other strategic campaigns;
6. Identify opportunities for and forge strategic partnerships with peers from other multilateral development banks and other institutions for collaborative / cross promotion opportunities;
7. Provide advice on running paid-for campaigns for specific events requiring reaching audiences beyond the Bank’s organic reach;
8. In coordination with PCER multimedia team, produce on a regular basis, cost-effective short multimedia pieces to use on the Bank’s social media platforms, including video interviews / vox pops, audio podcasts, animated infographics;
9. Assess the effectiveness and impact of social media posts and campaigns, and deliver insights on the Bank Group’s progress, prevailing trends, and public sentiment;
10. Oversee the provision of translation services for social media content as required;
11. Gather and examine information to discern recurring themes or developments, offering conclusions through the use of data visualizations like graphs, charts, and tables, thereby facilitating informed strategy, decision-making, and the development of presentations and reports;
12. Monitor social media to detect fraudulent accounts impersonating the Bank Group or its senior representatives and take appropriate actions with the Cybersecurity Unit to stop them;
Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to the below:
1. Establish strong relations with key social media influencers. Create and maintain a social media influencer network, and act as the key liaison between the Bank and selected amplifiers, including Bank staff members through an employee advocacy programme.
2. In cooperation with the People and Talent Management Vice Presidency and PCER management, identify social media training needs for Bank staff.
3. Assist in implementing the Bank’s social media guidelines and support / facilitate training on social media best practices.
4. Undertake any other assignment assigned by PCER management.
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COMPETENCIES (skills, experience and knowledge)
1. Hold at least a Master’s or equivalent degree in Journalism, Communications, Social Sciences, Literature or equivalent related field;
2. Professional training in communications-related fields: social media and web editing, among others is desirable;
3. A minimum of 6 (six) years of professional experience in journalism, public relations, media or communications activities working in an international organization, government, NGO or a reputable private sector organization, with at least three (3) years of that should include experience in overseeing social media for an institution such as the African Development Bank;
4. Knowledge of operational processes of institutions such as the African Development Bank would be an additional asset is desirable;
5. Detail-oriented and excellent follow-through skills;
6. Delivery of assigned tasks in a timely manner with no or little supervision;
7. Problem solving;
8. Client orientation;
9. Team working and interpersonal relations;
10. Demonstrated ability to be part of a fast-paced team;
11. Ability to effectively work under pressure on multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines;
12. Ability to drive a high volume of work to completion;
13. Proven record of achievements in development/project communication, with a focus on results;
14. Sound knowledge of development issues in Africa, in particular agriculture, food security, climate change, infrastructure, and gender;
15. Demonstrated political awareness and ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences;
16. Proven ability to plan, design and implement social media communication strategies;
17. Ability to use standard communication IT tools;
18. Demonstrated writing, editing and communication skills in English and/or French;
19. Ability to run tactical plans to implement complex social media communication plans;
20. Ability to understand technical and business concepts and express them in clear, concise instructions;
21. Ability to motivate a multicultural team of social media experts (staff or consultants);
22. Ability to coordinate the work of several communication experts and consultants working on various and sometimes conflictual agendas;
23. Excellent project and time management skills;
24. Ability to mentor and train communication experts and consultants on social media best practices;
25. Ability to pitch innovative ideas to PCER management;
26. Demonstrated writing, editing and communication skills in English or French, with a good working language of the other language;
27. Very good command of social media tools and processes;
28. Very good command of basic photo, video and audio processing software;
29. Proven ability to operate on various platforms and systems (Apple, Windows, Android…);
THIS POSITION IS CLASSIFIED AS INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT AND ATTRACTS INTERNATIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.
Should you encounter technical difficulties in submitting your application, please send an email with a precise description of the issue and/or a screenshot showing the problem to: HR Direct HRDirect@AFDB.ORG(link sends e-mail)
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To apply for this position, you need to be national of one of AfDB member countries.
Applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are considered for further assessment will be contacted. Applicants should submit a concise Curriculum Vitae (CV) and any additional documents that may be stated as required. The President of the African Development Bank reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. http://www.afdb.org
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