Regional Communications Specialist

Reports to: GWPSA -Africa Head of Communications
Location: Pretoria South Africa
Duration: 2-year contract renewable based on performance and availability of funding
Contract Type: Regional Staff
Application Deadline: Friday 27 February 2026

BACKGROUND

The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1996 to support countries in their efforts to implement a more equitable and sustainable management of their water resources. The network spans 13 regions with more than 3000 institutional Partners in more than 180 countries. The global secretariat is in Stockholm Sweden.

The GWP Africa Coordination Unit is based at GWP Southern Africa in Pretoria South Africa and coordinates GWP Africa programmes across addition GWPSA hosts the GWP global theme on Climate Resilience and is charged with providing global leadership and coordination of implementation of the GWP strategy on climate resilience.

GWPSA is also the Secretariat of the African Unions Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) which was adopted by the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government as part of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa Priority Action Plan 2 (PIDA-PAP 2) during the 34th ordinary session of the African Union Summit on 7 February 2021.

The AIP aims to close the water investments gap by mobilising at least an additional USD 30 billion per year by 2030 and creating five million jobs towards the African Water Vision 2025 and SDG water related targets in 2030.
The AIP is implemented by national governments regional economic communities (RECs) river basin organisations (RBOs) with technical backstopping by the AIP Secretariat hosted by the Global Water Partnership Africa Coordination.

To strengthen delivery of its expanding regional and continental mandate GWPSA seeks to recruit a Regional Communications Specialist to provide high-level technical supervisory and operational support.

REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

The Regional Communications Specialist is a senior technical and supervisory role responsible for translating GWPSAAfricas communications strategies into high-quality timely and coordinated outputs across Southern Africa and the continent.

Working under the strategic direction of the Head of Communications the position supports:

• Day-to-day coordination and quality assurance of regional communications.
• Supervision and mentoring of Communications Officers and consultants.
• Consistent implementation of GWPSA Africa and global GWP communications standards.
• Strengthening partner visibility stakeholder engagement and institutional reputation.

The role serves as a senior extension and support to the functions of the Head of Communications ensuring operational excellence staff supervision and continuity.

KEY RESULT AREAS/ PERFORMANCE AREAS

Strategic Communications Support

• Support the Head of Communications in operationalising GWPSAAfrica and AIP communications strategies in alignment with the global GWP communications framework.
• Translate strategic priorities into annual and quarterly communications plans campaigns and content calendars.
• Contribute to the development of key messages narratives talking points and briefing materials for senior leadership programmes and partners.

Supervision and Team Coordination

• Provide day-to-day technical supervision and mentoring of Regional and Country Communications Officers interns and short-term consultants.
• Coordinate workplans assign tasks review outputs and ensure timely delivery of communications products.
• Support performance monitoring learning and professional development of communications staff in collaboration with the Head of Communications.
• Promote a collaborative inclusive and results-oriented communications team culture.

Regional and Continental Outreach

• Coordinate communications engagement with key regional and continental stakeholders including:
• SADC institutions and River Basin Organisations.
• African Union Commission (AUC) AUDA-NEPAD AMCOW.
• Development partners UN agencies and regional media.
• Support Pan-African visibility of GWPSA and AIP initiatives through strategic media engagement storytelling and targeted outreach.

Knowledge Management and Editorial Oversight

• Lead drafting editing and quality assurance of communications products including:
• Press releases feature stories opinion pieces and web content.
• Progress reports annual reports and programme publications.
• Briefing notes speeches and presentations for senior officials.
• Ensure editorial consistency accuracy accessibility and compliance with branding and style guidelines.
• Support systematic documentation packaging and dissemination of programme knowledge lessons learned and impact stories.

Digital and Media Communications

• Managing websites and content development for various digital platforms
• Monitoring of social media and digital outreach strategies across platforms.
• Coordinate content contributions from programmes and Country Water Partnerships (CWPs).
• Support media relationship management including identifying story opportunities coordinating interviews and maintaining media contact lists.

Partnership and Network Information Management

• Oversee maintenance and quality assurance of the regional partners and membership database in coordination with GWPO Network Operations.
• Ensure accurate up-to-date records of CWPs partners governance structures and contact persons.
• Support reporting on partner engagement participation and visibility in GWPSA initiatives.

Events and Visibility

• Lead or support communications planning and execution for key regional and continental events including SADC dialogues AIP events and flagship conferences.
• Coordinate outsourced services (design translation printing photography video production) in line with approved budgets and quality standards.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the principal technical and supervisory support to the Head of Communications.
• Coordinate and supervise regional communications implementation across Southern Africa.
• Ensure quality control and timely delivery of communications outputs.
• Support internal communications and information flow between GWPSA ACU CWPs governance structures and GWPO.
• Support preparation and consolidation of monthly biannual and annual communications inputs to programme and institutional reports.
• Represent GWPSA in communications coordination meetings workshops and technical forums as delegated.
• Ensure correct and consistent application of GWP brand editorial and visual identity standards.
• Support maintenance of the GWPSA e-filing and knowledge management systems.
• Undertake duty travel and field missions as required.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Head of Communications or the Regional Executive Secretary.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education

• Masters Degree in Communications Journalism Public Relations International Relations Development Studies or a related field.
• A Bachelors degree with additional relevant professional experience may be considered.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in communications media public affairs or knowledge management preferably within regional continental or international organisations.
• At least 3 years experience in a supervisory or team coordination role.
• Demonstrated experience working with government institutions regional economic communities development partners and media.
• Proven track record in editorial oversight publication production and multi-channel communications.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Technical and Professional Skills

• Strong strategic and operational communications skills.
  
• Excellent writing editing and storytelling ability in English (French or Portuguese an asset).
• Knowledge of digital communications social media and media engagement.
• Ability to manage multiple workflows deadlines and stakeholders.

Leadership and Behavioural Competencies

• Ability to supervise mentor and develop communications staff.
• Strong coordination delegation and quality assurance skills.
• Strategic thinking with strong attention to detail.
• High level of professionalism discretion and integrity.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multi-country environments.

APPLICATIONS

• Candidates should submit application package in English through the online application system and not via email including a cover letter (with salary history and requirements) and a minimum of three references
• Submit application on Bamboo: short-listed candidates will be contacted within 4 weeks after the application deadline.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Questions can be directed to
• Deadline: 27 February 2026 00:00 (midnight) Pretoria.

Required Experience:

Senior IC