Advisor – Communication and Digital Governance At GIZ Nigeria, Support to ECOWAS on Organisational Development (OD)

Posted on Sun 6th Jul, 2025 - ngojobsite.com --- (0 comments)

Organization: GIZ Nigeria, Support to ECOWAS on Organisational Development (OD)
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Salary: According to GIZ salary scale for Band 4
Closing Date: 16 July 2025
Minimum Qualification: MSc/MBA in digital policy, political science, law, media studies, innovation, international relations, or a related field.

About GIZ

GIZ is a global leader in international cooperation for sustainable development and international education, committed to shaping a future worth living worldwide. With over 50 years of experience, GIZ operates in diverse areas, including economic development, employment promotion, energy, environment, peace, and security. We collaborate with the German Government, European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector, and governments of other countries. Our primary commissioning party is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Headquartered in Bonn and Eschborn, GIZ employs approximately 23,500 staff across 120 countries, with nearly 70% being national personnel (as of July 2020).

In Nigeria, GIZ has been active since 1974 and maintains a country office in Abuja since 2004. Currently, 466 national employees, 63 international employees, 37 regional staff, 4 integrated specialists, and 3 development workers are engaged in the country (as of January 2025).

Project Background: Support to ECOWAS on Organisational Development (OD)

The “Support to the ECOWAS Commission on Organisational Development (OD II)” project aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), and the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) to effectively implement the ECOWAS Vision 2050. The project emphasizes transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, focusing on improving strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), human resource processes, gender mainstreaming, and cooperation with development partners.

A key component is promoting strategic communication to counter misinformation and disinformation, enhancing public trust and the legitimacy of ECOWAS institutions. This includes capacity-building for staff, modernizing communication structures, and integrating digital tools, such as social media analysis, into institutional workflows. The project, following a Team Europe Approach, is co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Union (EU), and Spanish Cooperation (AECID). It is implemented by GIZ and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, spanning January 2024 to December 2026 with a financial volume of EUR 14.9 million.

Responsibilities

The Advisor – Communication and Digital Governance will:

Develop regional and national strategies to combat online and offline disinformation.
Facilitate multi-stakeholder platforms for fact-checking and public awareness.
Create capacity-building tools for media, civil society, and government actors to enhance digital literacy and resilience to information manipulation.
Provide technical input for policies on platform governance, content moderation, data protection, and algorithmic transparency.
Support ECOWAS in aligning with continental and global standards, such as the Global Digital Compact.
Engage with regional ICT regulators, civil society, and platforms to improve regulatory coherence and rights-based digital governance.
Monitor global trends in generative AI, regulation, and information manipulation to inform ECOWAS responses.
Promote local AI and innovation ecosystems to support democratic resilience and access to trustworthy information.
Contribute to the organizational development of ECOWAS units focused on communication and digital governance.
Support the development of long-term institutional frameworks for strategic communication, digital engagement, and platform oversight.

Tasks

The Advisor – Communication and Digital Governance will:

Provide strategic and technical advisory services to the ECOWAS Commission on countering misinformation and disinformation, enhancing institutional resilience, communication capacities, and public trust.
Design and implement inclusive, gender-responsive digital governance frameworks and policy dialogues on platform accountability, algorithmic transparency, and digital rights within the ECOWAS context.
Collaborate with ECOWAS directorates to strengthen internal coordination and policy coherence on digital governance and information integrity.
Co-develop strategies for integrating emerging technologies, such as AI, into communication workflows, policy design, and data analysis.
Develop and implement capacity-building measures for ECOWAS staff and regional partners, including training on strategic communication, AI literacy, fact-checking, and combating digital threats.
Establish digital tools and data-driven approaches to monitor public discourse, analyze disinformation trends, and enhance ECOWAS’s digital outreach.
Draft technical papers, analytical briefs, talking points, and background notes on disinformation, digital platform governance, AI, and innovation in the ECOWAS region.
Coordinate with stakeholders (civil society, media, tech actors, development partners) to foster regional cooperation and multi-stakeholder dialogue on digital governance and responsible innovation.
Participate in monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities for the Strategic Communication and Digital Governance component and contribute to reporting.
Manage consultants, service providers, and vendors, ensuring quality and compliance with project objectives and GIZ standards.
Support knowledge management by documenting good practices, success stories, and lessons learned in strategic communication, platform governance, and digital innovation in West Africa.
Perform additional duties as required to support the overall OD project objectives.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Qualifications

MSc/MBA in digital policy, political science, law, media studies, innovation, international relations, or a related field.

Professional Experience

Minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic communication, digital governance, or combating disinformation.
At least 2 years of experience fostering partnerships with civil society, media, and regional institutions for early detection and rapid response to disinformation campaigns.
Proven experience providing technical input for policy briefs and regional frameworks on information integrity and digital governance.
Strong understanding of digital governance, AI policy, and platform regulation.
Familiarity with West Africa’s political, digital, and media landscape and relevant policy/regulatory frameworks.
Experience applying a gender-sensitive or intersectional lens to digital policy, communication strategies, or technology interventions, promoting inclusive approaches that address the impact of disinformation on women and marginalized groups.
Experience facilitating regional dialogues and multi-stakeholder cooperation in a sensitive and inclusive manner.

Other Knowledge and Competencies

Professional proficiency in two ECOWAS official languages (English, French, or Portuguese).
Strategic thinking with a strong grasp of the intersection of technology, governance, democracy, and human rights.
Cultural sensitivity and experience working in multilingual, diverse regional environments.
Commitment to gender equality, diversity, and inclusive digital development.
Experience with international and donor organizations, including GIZ.
Excellent skills in data analysis, copy editing, writing, research, oral and written presentation, interpersonal communication, and high integrity.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit your CV and letter of motivation as a single document with complete contact details via email to: [email protected]. Include Vacancy No. 061 in the email subject line.

GIZ is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity. All qualified candidates, regardless of disability, age, sex, ethnicity, race, or religion, are encouraged to apply.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.