Position Green Leaf Radio Officer
Duration of Position 1 year with possibility of extension
Location Uganda
Reports to Green Leaf Team Enterprise Lead
Language Requirement English and Luganda
Start date November 2024
Application deadline Open until filled
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
Farm Radio International is a Canadian organisation working to harness the power of radio to meet the needs of small-scale farmers. We work with more than 1,400 radio partners located in more than 38 African countries to fight poverty and food insecurity. With the benefit of Farm Radio resources and training, our broadcasting partners deliver practical, relevant, and timely information to tens of millions of women, men and youth farmers and facilitate dialogues and knowledge exchange. We also work with a range of partners to implement radio projects that address specific development challenges and community needs.
BACKGROUND
Farm Radio International is a non-profit communication-for-development organization dedicated to serving African rural communities through the innovative use of radio and mobile phones. Together with our broadcasting and project partners, we reach tens of millions of small-scale farmers with life-changing information and enable them to have a stronger voice in their own development. Through our efforts, rural radio programs enable women, men and gender diverse people to: share and access information; gain and exchange practical knowledge on agriculture, food and nutrition security, health, education, climate change adaptation; contribute to community and societal transformation; and have their voices heard.
Starting in November 2024, Farm Radio will implement the second phase of the Knowledge Sharing Platform project, funded by the IKEA Foundation (IKF). In the first phase of the Platform project, 13 individual Green Leaf platforms were established, each comprising a Content Hub (based at the district agricultural extension office) and a Green Leaf Magazine, airing weekly on a partner radio station. The 13 platforms provide coverage of some 12m farmers. The project uses a variety of strategies to increase awareness, knowledge and uptake of good agricultural practices, especially circular regenerative practices. In Phase 2 Farm Radio is establishing a Green Leaf Enterprise department, which will give us the chance to further explore how to best sustain the Platform. Phase 2 includes a series of new program features, for which the Green Leaf Radio Officer will be instrumental.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- Green Leaf radio content design, training and quality assurance activities – 40%
- Green Leaf radio networking activities – 40%
- Special assignments (supporting Green Leaf and Farm Radio especially in project implementation activities) – 20%
Radio content design, training and quality assurance activities
In concert with Farm Radio’s Radio Craft Team ensure that all radio craft elements of Green Leaf (eg content design, training and quality assessment) are delivered effectively and to the highest standards.
- Support the review and revision of the Green Leaf Magazine radio format (based on evaluation results, feedback and lessons learnt in Phase 1 as well as the expectations for Phase 2, as laid out in the approved project plan)
- Integrate two new radio approaches to the Green Leaf platforms in Uganda: On Air Dialogues in Year 1 and Drama+ in Year 2), drawing on Farm Radio models, materials and resources
- Support new Green Leaf partners, specifically women, youth and regenerative agriculture partners to make contributions, specifically linking the Green Leaf magazines to local networks and resource persons
- In concert with Green Leaf radio station partners and distinct Content Hubs, plan, facilitate and evaluate content design workshops
- Assess the skills of radio staff at Green Leaf stations to implement all aspects of the Green Leaf Magazine
- Working with Farm Radio’s Radio Craft Team, plan, deliver, evaluate and report on gender-sensitive in-station training for Green Leaf stations and content hubs (using Farm Radio training methods and materials), including distance coaching in radio skills and the implementation of Green Leaf content designs to Green Leaf stations
- Collaborate with the Digital Innovation Team to ensure that Green Leaf interactive components are planned, implemented and monitored
- Share lessons learned and insights from for continuous improvements of Farm Radio methods, eg in-station training, coaching, etc.
- Contribute to the Green Leaf strategies related to community listening groups
Networking activities
In concert with Farm Radio’s Radio Network Team ensure
- Support Farm Radio’s Network Services Team in subscription and distribution activities related to the Green Leaf Platform in Uganda
- Plan and facilitate Radio Resource orientation sessions for Green Leaf stations and content hubs
- Liaise regularly with Green Leaf radio broadcasters and content hubs through various communication channels, including facilitating and animated WhatsApp groups for Green Leaf radio partners, content hubs, partners, etc.
- Support the production of radio resources for Green Leaf programming, with a goal of creating/distributing quarterly resource packages for the Green Leaf network. This may include subject matter content and training resources, including radio scripts, webinars, discussions, etc.
- Support Green Leaf radio partners and individual broadcasters to adapt and use Farm Radio’s radio resources
- Collect feedback from radio partners on the use of radio resources
- Facilitate WhatsApp group discussions with expert guests on relevant topics
- Maintain regular contact with individual women and men broadcasters with a view to increasing use of Farm Radio and Green Leaf network resources (content and training), making connections to other Green Leaf stations and broadcasters and peer training and coaching
- 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
Country program support
- Be a member of the Farm Radio Uganda office/team, making appropriate contributions
- Contribute towards project implementation activities in the programs department
- Contribute to annual work plans and budgeting activities
- Contribute to knowledge sharing activities
- Take up special assignments as ability, time and bandwidth allow
- Any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
- Degree in radio journalism or a related field or the equivalent work experience
- 5+ years experience in outcome-oriented radio and/or communication programming
- 3+ years experience in learner centred training, facilitating and coaching
- Having a background in project management will be an added advantage.
Expected skills
- Strong capacity for facilitating participatory, multi-stakeholder initiatives
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent digital skills (Google suite, WhatsApp, Zoom, etc.)
- Willingness to travel
- Strong writing and presentation skills
- Strong English language skills, both spoken and written
- Proficiency in one or more local languages
- Ability to integrate gender equality and inclusion strategies, programs and materials into all aspects of Green Leaf radio
- Good knowledge of the social, cultural, health, political and economic landscape and current events in each region of the country
- 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
APPLICATIONS
FRI values diversity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from all candidates that meet the qualifications. Women, people with disabilities and members of other equity-seeking or marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request in all aspects of the recruitment process.
FRI also participates in the inter-agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (https://misconduct-disclosure-scheme.org/). As such, upon hire, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation at the time of departure.
By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms the understanding of these recruitment procedures. If you wish to apply for this position, please send a cover letter, CV and salary expectations to [email protected] indicating the job title “Green Leaf Radio Officer” in the subject line.
Please note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
