Impact Communications Specialist

Job Description

About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states (Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Tigray and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa) Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women.

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Salary Level: (Refer to the relevant salary scale)

Risk Level: ☐ Level 3 ☐Level 2 ☐Level 1
Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data)

The Program / Department / Summary
The Economic Recovery for Conflict-Affected Populations (ER-CAP) Program is a SIDA-funded, multi-partner initiative led by Mercy Corps in collaboration with DRC and First Consult, aimed at supporting resilient and inclusive economic recovery in conflict-affected regions of Tigray, Amhara and Afar in Ethiopia. Operating in a fragile context, the program focuses on strengthening livelihoods, market systems, and community resilience through evidence-based, adaptive, and conflict-sensitive approaches. It integrates learning, accountability, and stakeholder engagement to drive sustainable change, ensuring that recovery pathways, systems strengthening, and resilience-building processes are well-documented and communicated. By aligning program delivery with a strong Theory of Change, ER-CAP emphasizes collaboration across partners, promotes dignified and ethical engagement with communities, and contributes to broader sector learning and influence while meeting donor visibility and reporting requirements.

The Position (General Position Summary)
The Impact Communications Specialist will lead to the day-to-day implementation of the ER-CAP communications strategy, ensuring that program visibility, learning, accountability, and stakeholder engagement are delivered in a coherent, high-quality, and conflict-sensitive manner.

The role is responsible for transforming program evidence, field realities, and learning into clear, compelling, and ethically grounded communications outputs that support donor reporting, stakeholder engagement, and sector influence.

Working closely with program, MRM and MEL, and field teams across the consortium, the Impact Communications Specialist will ensure that communications is fully integrated into program delivery and adaptive learning processes.

Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY, PLANNING AND COORDIANTION

Create and operationalize the ER-CAP Communications Plan across all program locations and partners
Translate communications strategy into actionable workplans and content pipelines
Coordinate communications activities across Mercy Corps, DRC, and First Consult teams
Ensure alignment between communications outputs, program priorities, and donor requirements
Contribute to development of program-wide impact narratives for donor and strategic reporting
Provide insights to inform adaptive management and program decision-making
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND STORY TELLING

Lead development of high-quality communications products including human-interest stories, success stories, case studies, and learning briefs
Document recovery pathways, systems change, and resilience-building processes
Produce multimedia content (photo, video, digital assets) in collaboration with field teams and partners
Ensuring storytelling reflects dignity, agency, and conflict sensitivity
LEARNING AND EVIDNECE COMMUNCATION

Work closely with MEL teams to translate evidence into accessible communications products
Support documentation of adaptive management, lessons learned, and program innovations
Contribute to learning briefs, technical notes, and annual learning reports
Ensure learning products are relevant for both operational and external audiences
Support synthesis and communication of program outcomes and impact-level results
Ensure alignment of communications with program Theory of Change
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND VISIBILITY

Support donor visibility and reporting requirements, including SIDA communications needs
Develop content and messaging for government, donor, and sector engagement forums
Contribute to learning/evidence briefs, presentations, and external positioning materials
Support preparation of communications for events, workshops, and stakeholder dialogues
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

Manage and support program digital communications channels (websites, LinkedIn, etc.)
Develop digital content including posts, infographics, short videos, and evidence snapshots
Ensure consistent messaging and branding across consortium partners
Monitor digital engagement and adjust content strategy accordingly
Analyze communication performance to assess influence and uptake
WORKING RELATIONSHIP

The role works in close collaboration with MEL teams to ensure effective integration of evidence and learning into communications outputs. It engages regularly with field teams to identify relevant content and support meaningful community engagement. The position also coordinates with consortium partners to maintain alignment and coherence across program communications, while working with technical teams to ensure accuracy and contextual relevance of all materials. Additionally, the role liaises with external stakeholders, including donors and government counterparts, to support visibility, reporting, and strategic engagement.

KEY PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

Success in this role will be measured by the consistent production of high-quality communications outputs that clearly reflect program impact. It includes effectively integrating learning and evidence into communications products to support informed decision-making and adaptive management. The role is expected to strengthen stakeholder engagement and enhance program visibility, while strictly adhering to safeguarding and conflict sensitivity standards. Additionally, performance will be assessed based on meaningful contributions to program learning processes and the timely delivery of donor-facing communications in line with requirements.

RISK AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
Ensure all communications comply with conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm principles
Manage informed consent processes for all human-centered storytelling
Review content for protection, privacy, and reputational risks
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.
Support safeguarding review processes for sensitive content