About this role
Communications & Outreach Officer
Enhanced Water Security and Community Resilience in the Adjacent Cuvelai and Kunene Transboundary River Basins (CUVKUN) Project
Financing Agency: Global Environment Facility (GEF)
GEF Implementing Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
UNDP Executing Agency: Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA)
Duty Station: Cuvelai Watercourse Commission (CUVECOM)
Main Road, Old Ongwediva, (AMTA Building), Ongwediva, Namibia The Cuvelai and Kunene River Basins in Angola
Tenure: This is a fixed-term employment contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Contract Start Date and shall continue until 30 April 2028.
Reporting to: CUVECOM Executive Secretary & GWPSA Head of Communications
1. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
The Cuvelai Watercourse Commission (CUVECOM) was established on 16 September 2014 to manage the shared transboundary waters of the Cuvelai Watercourse. The secretariat is currently based in Ongwediva, Namibia. Adjacent to the Cuvelai River Basin is the Kunene River Basin. Transboundary cooperation for the Kunene Watercourse is managed through a Permanent Joint Technical Commission (PJTC) established in 1990. Both the Cuvelai and Kunene Watercourses are shared between the Republic of Angola and the Republic of Namibia.
The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) an intergovernmental organisation established in 1996 to support countries in their efforts to implement more equitable and sustainable management of their water resources. The network spans 13 regions with 2,400 institutional Partners in 158 countries. The global secretariat is in Windhoek, Namibia. The GWP Africa Coordination Unit is based at GWP Southern Africa in Pretoria, South Africa, and coordinates GWP Africa programmes across the continent. GWPSA also hosts the GWP global theme on climate resilience and is charged with providing global strategic leadership and coordination of the implementation of the GWP strategy on climate resilience.
1.1 Enhanced Water Security and Community Resilience in the Adjacent Cuvelai and Kunene Transboundary River Basins (CUVKUN Project)
The CUVKUN Project aims to improve the management of water resources of the transboundary Kunene and Cuvelai basins shared by Angola and Namibia. There is increasing water scarcity and hydrological variability, exacerbated by climate change within the region, even though both basins are stark in contrast. The need for comprehensive monitoring of climate and water resources and the sharing of information has never been greater, as also the need to improve systems that can provide early warning of climate-related disasters.
The USD 11 million project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the GEF Implementing Agency. The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) is the Executing Agency, while the Cuvelai Watercourse Commission (CUVECOM) and Kunene Permanent Joint Technical Committee (PJTC) are the focal custodians of the project implementation. The project undertakes a suite of activities designed to strengthen joint management and planning capacity and practices at the transboundary basin level. These activities are implemented under six (6) project components:
• Component 1:Strengthening the transboundary and conjunctive water resources management in the Cuvelai River Basin
• Component 2:Strengthening the transboundary water resources management with future development scenario analysis in the Kunene River Basin
• Component 3:Strengthening the governance of the Cuvelai and Kunene River Basins to foster joint management by the two countries in the most cost-effective manner
• Component 4:Strengthening institutional, technical and operational capacity in Angola to sustainably develop and manage the sub-region's water tower located in southern Angola
• Component 5:Enhancing community participation in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to build resilience in livelihoods
• Component 6:Supporting outreach and knowledge management for replication, upscaling, and stakeholder engagement
This position of Communications & Outreach Officer at CUVECOM is supported through the Enhanced Water Security and Community Resilience in the Adjacent Cuvelai and Kunene Transboundary River Basins (CUVKUN Project).
2. PURPOSE OF POSITION
CUVECOM invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Communications and Outreach Officer, to be based at the CUVECOM Secretariat in Ongwediva, Namibia. The successful candidate will primarily support CUVECOM initiatives, with the CUVKUN project as one of the key flagship projects among others. Working closely with Member States, partners, and stakeholders, the Communications and Outreach Officer will enhance the visibility of CUVECOM and PJTC initiatives, promote knowledge sharing, and strengthen stakeholder engagement across the Cuvelai and Kunene River Basins.
2.1 Duties and responsibilities:
• 2.1.1 CUVECOM and PJTC–broad duties
• Lead the development and implementation of communication plans for CUVECOM and PJTC, including the dissemination of technical information, best practices, research findings, policy briefs, newsletters, outcomes of Commission meetings, decisions, and joint data initiatives.
• Coordinate the preparation and publication of communication and visibility materials that showcase Commission project achievements, lessons learned, and impacts across the Cuvelai and Kunene basins.
• Maintain consistent branding and messaging across CUVECOM and PJTC communication outputs and ensure alignment with UNDP and GEF visibility guidelines, where applicable.
• Support media engagement, including preparation of press releases, op-eds, event coverage, and liaison with journalists at national, regional, and continental levels.
• Support the establishment, maintenance, and content management of CUVECOM, CUVKUN and Kunene River Awareness Kit websites and other digital communication platforms.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and outreach activities to strengthen awareness of, and participation in basin management initiatives.
• Ensure that lessons learned and best practices from CUVECOM and PJTC projects are systematically documented and shared throughout implementation.
• Support the organization of workshops, conferences, training events, and public awareness campaigns convened by CUVECOM and PJTC.
• Develop and implement strategies for the dissemination of Commission project results and knowledge products through regional and international networks and partner platforms, including SADC, UNDP and other relevant partners.
• Take lead responsibility for exchanges with other RBOs and regional institutions, including participation in SADC RBO Dialogue and SADC Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues; regional RBO meetings; contributions to digital platforms on transboundary river management; and exchange visits on technical issues.
• Monitor and evaluate communication, knowledge management and outreach activities, and report on their effectiveness and impact.
• Perform any other related duties as may be required by CUVECOM, PJTC and the CUVKUN Project Management Unit.
2.1.2 CUVKUN project–specific duties
• Lead and coordinate all communications and knowledge management activities for the CUVKUN project, ensuring alignment with the project objectives and results framework.
• Maintain consistent branding and messaging across all CUVKUN project outputs and ensure alignment with UNDP and GEF visibility guidelines.
• Support media engagement for the CUVKUN project, including preparation of press releases, op-eds, event coverage, and liaison with journalists at national, regional and continental levels.
• Manage the CUVKUN project’s web and social media presence (including inputs to the Kunene River Awareness Kit), ensuring timely and accurate information on activities, events and results.
• Provide communication support for the CUVKUN project’s contributions to regional, international fora, including GEF IW:LEARN events.
• Take lead responsibility for the development and dissemination of CUVKUN knowledge products, including project results, innovative solutions, best practices and lessons learned, tailored to different stakeholder groups.
• Develop and maintain a repository of CUVKUN knowledge outputs (policy briefs, case studies, training materials, toolkits) and ensure they are disseminated through relevant partner platforms.
• Ensure the CUVKUN project’s active contribution to learning and knowledge-sharing activities and events organized by the GEF IW:LEARN programme, including:
• Participation of the project team and national focal points in IW:LEARN activities (such as the GEF International Waters Conference held every two years).
• Production of GEF IW:LEARN Experience Notes covering CUVKUN activities and lessons learned.
• Establishment and regular updating of a project website linked to the IW:LEARN site.
• Perform any other related duties as may be required by CUVECOM, PJTC and the CUVKUN Project Management Unit.
3. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Knowledge Management, or a related field.
Experience
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in communications, public relations, or knowledge management, preferably within the environmental or water resources management sectors.
• Experience with international development projects, particularly those focused on environmental sustainability, climate change, or water resources management.
• Experience with knowledge management systems and platforms, including the creation and dissemination of knowledge products (e.g., reports, case studies, newsletters).
• Experience in developing and implementing knowledge management strategies that support organizational learning and information sharing.
• Proven track record in managing communications campaigns and Outreach initiatives for multi-stakeholder projects.
• Experience in capacity building related to communications and knowledge management, including training workshops and mentoring.
• Familiarity with the Cuvelai and Kunene Basins and related environmental and social issues, with the ability to translate technical information into accessible and engaging content.
• Knowledge of social marketing and behaviour change communication (BCC) strategies related to environmental conservation and water management.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks as they relate to communications, knowledge management and outreach
Language
• Proficiency in English is required (oral and written), with proficiency in Portuguese an asset.
Competencies
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for engaging with stakeholders, partners, and team members across different cultures and levels of expertise
• Proficiency in digital communication platforms and tools, including social media, content management systems (CMS), and graphic design software.
• Ability to produce high-quality communication materials, such as reports, press releases, newsletters, and multimedia content.
• Ability to develop and execute communication strategies that align with project goals and enhance stakeholder engagement.
• Strong analytical skills to assess the effectiveness of communication and knowledge management activities and make data-driven decisions.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, often under tight deadlines.
• Experience in planning, implementing, and monitoring communication campaigns and knowledge management initiatives.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including technical experts, project managers, and external partners.
• Proactive approach to building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and community groups.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity in working with diverse communities, particularly in the transboundary context of the Cuvelai and Kunene Basins.
• Understanding of local contexts and languages is highly desirable for effective communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to take initiative and lead communication and knowledge management activities independently, while aligning with overall project objectives.
• Leadership skills to mentor and guide team members or partners in communication and knowledge management practices.
4. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
• Applicants must be nationals of either Namibia or Angola. CUVECOM will only support relocation of staff based in Angola.
• Applicants must be willing to travel as needed.
• A driver’s license is required for this position
Interested candidates should submit the following:
• Candidates should submit a cover letter, a detailed CV and a minimum of three references in English through the online application system and not via email.
• Bamboo link: https://gwpsanpc.bamboohr.com/careers/131
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted within 4 weeks after the application deadline.
• Questions can be directed to [email protected]
• Deadline: 27 August 2026 17:00 GMT
5. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION
The Programme Operations Manager shall maintain confidentiality of all non-public information, data, and documents accessed or generated in the course of the assignment. Such information shall not be disclosed, shared, or used for purposes outside the scope of this role without prior written authorization from the Responsible Party and/or the Regional Project Management Unit. This obligation shall remain in effect during and after the completion of the assignment.
6. TAXES
A withholding tax will be deducted from the Contractors invoices at the default rate of 15%, or 10% where a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) is applicable for the respective country. GWPSA will provide the corresponding tax certificates and shall not be liable for any additional taxes payable to the tax authority/authorities in the Consultant’s country of origin. $2500