Communications and Advocacy Consultant

POSITION SUMMARY

The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) is seeking a Communications and Advocacy Consultant to support communication, advocacy and stakeholder engagement for multiple major events this year. The events are the 10^th anniversary of the Safe Schools Declaration (May), the International Day to Protect Education from Attack (September), and the 5^th International Safe Schools Conference (November/December). Key deliverables include the development of communication campaigns and media packages for these events, with some general support to maintaining GCPEA’s digital platforms and developing wider coalition communications plans.

GCPEA was formed in 2010 by organizations working in the fields of education in emergencies, higher education, protection, and international human rights and humanitarian law who were concerned about ongoing attacks on educational institutions, their students, and staff in countries affected by conflict. GCPEA is governed by a Steering Committee made up of the following international organizations: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Education Above All Foundation, Plan International, Save the Children, UNICEF, and UNESCO. GCPEA is a project of the Tides Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, which serves as fiscal sponsor.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Consultant will coordinate with internal team members and external partners to support planning and executing communication campaigns for each of the key events included above.  This entails developing communication resources to highlight progress made advancing GCPEA’s mission, such as good practice in the implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, key research data and trends, and progress in policy change. Work will encompass gathering relevant content;  producing compelling multimedia packages including videos/animations, human-interest stories, and social media posts; and supporting the development of issue/research briefs (editing and graphic design).  

The consultant will collaborate closely with the GCPEA Secretariat and Steering Committee representatives, as well as with some regional and country based teams to ensure effective outreach and advocacy with Member States, civil society organizations, donors, and other stakeholders. The consultant will ensure compliance with GCPEA’s communication standards. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and 3 years relevant professional communications experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Proven experience managing communications campaigns and publications
• Experience working in international development, human rights, education, or child protection sectors is highly desirable

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong writing, editing, and graphic design skills
• Proficient in design and publication software (Adobe, InDesign, Canva, Publisher, etc.)
• Excellent ability to work within a coalition of organizations with diverse partners
• Ability to work proactively, quickly, and effectively under pressure and under minimal supervision, prioritize and juggle multiple tasks within tight deadlines, and to deliver time-sensitive high-quality work
• Fluency in English required, with the ability to read and write in a second language, particularly Arabic or French preferred 

WORK CONDITIONS

The consultancy will be 100 days between April 2025 – December 2025 (essentially half-time). The range for a daily rate is 250 – 300 USD per day. 

Work Environment, Location and Travel

GCPEA cultivates a supportive and inclusive environment. Reasonable accommodation will be made for people with disabilities and flexible work arrangements are available (including reduced and non-traditional work hours). This position is remote but can also be based in New York City, where GCPEA is headquartered and currently has office space. We are operating on a hybrid work arrangement (2-3 days in the office). This position may include 1- 3 international trips.

Physical Demands 

The Communications consultant will spend up to seven hours a day sitting at a desk working on a computer or speaking on a telephone. He or she may travel to countries outside the US, including potentially in conflict-affected environments.

GCPEA’s NY office is wheelchair accessible. When traveling, the Communications Consultant will be required to adapt to the conditions in the environment and will need to work from hotel rooms or whatever workspace may be available. Meetings with partner organizations or field-based practitioners may occur in locations that are not wheelchair accessible.

APPLICATIONS

To apply, please send the following in one PDF to gcpea@protectingeducation.org. Applications will close on Friday, April 11th at 12PM Eastern Standard Time.

• a cover letter with your daily rate
• a CV
• a sample of communications products and/or publications
• contact information for two references