TERMS OF REFERENCE

General Information

Position Title:

Focal Staff for Communications

Unit:

Communications, Advocacy, and Knowledge Management

Contract period:

12 months, to be renewed annually or to be extended based on the project period

Project:

Reduction of Unintentionally Produced Persistent Organic Pollutants and Mercury through an Environmentally-Sound Approach on Healthcare Wastes Management in the Philippines with a Special Focus on the Pandemic

Supervisor:

Communications Manager

Duty Station:

Quezon City

Employment status:

Project-term employee

Background

About the organization
BAN Toxics is an independent non-government environmental organization that works for the advancement of environmental justice, health, and sustainable development in the area of  chemicals and wastes with a special focus on women, children, and other marginalized sectors.  

BAN Toxics’ intervention approach emphasizes how the mismanagement of toxic chemicals can  impact us. Chemicals are a part of daily life and they play an important role in society. However,  their mismanagement can potentially impact various aspects of human life. As such, the organization  views toxic chemicals issues as important human rights issues. 

The organization works closely with government agencies, communities, and civil society at the  local, national, and international levels to reduce and eliminate the use of toxic chemicals and support global sustainable development goals through education campaigns, community  grassroots interventions, training and capacity-building, policy research and development, and  advocacy programs. We employ a three-pronged approach towards achieving our objectives, as reflected in our three  program pillars, namely: 1) policy work, 2) community development, and 3) campaigns. These  strategies and approaches reflect our belief in the capacity of government and state institutions  to shepherd social change as well as the right and agency of individuals and communities to  advocate for change. 

Over its decades-long existence, the organization has worked on pressing chemicals issues such  as e-waste, plastics, pollution, and mismanagement. BAN Toxics has started enduring programs  such as the Toxics-Free Schools Program (TFSP) and the Compassionate Gold (CG) project. In its  work on mercury, BAN Toxics has been a consistent presence in advocating for the ratification of  the Minamata Convention in the Philippines. The organization has also worked closely with  various local and international ASGM communities to reduce their mercury emissions such as in  Cambodia, Mongolia, Indonesia, Uganda, and Tanzania.

About the project
Known for its experience on sound chemical management advocacy in the country, BAN Toxics has been identified as the Project Executing Entity (PEE) for the 5-year implementation of the GEF-UNIDO project entitled, “Reduction of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (uPOPs) and Mercury through an environmentally-sound approach on health care wastes management” or the HCW project. This project aims to achieve the protection of human health and the environment from the impacts of improper medical wastes management. It also focuses on the avoidance and reduction of the releases of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury in the health care waste sector. Below are the major components of the project: 

Component 1: Unintentionally produced POPs release reduction in the healthcare waste sector

Component 2: Management of mercury, mercury-added products (MAPs) and mercury wastes in the health sector according to the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Philippine National Action Plan for MAPs phase-out.

Component 3: Capacity-building, awareness raising, and knowledge management

Component 4: Monitoring and Evaluation

The project is going to be implemented in three major sites in the country covering hospitals, health care facilities, and various communities in Region 2, Region 8, and the National Capital Region. 

Scope of Work 

  1. Develop and execute communication strategies aligned with project goals and BAN Toxics Communication Strategy.
  2. Facilitate engagement with various stakeholders on various communication channels especially in BAN Toxics social media platforms.
  3. Create compelling communication content for awareness raising and movement building on health care waste management in the country.
  4. Coordinate communication campaigns and initiatives with project units and other key stakeholders and project partners.
  5. Manage crisis communication effectively.
  6. Monitor and evaluate the performance and accomplishments of the project communication strategy and adjust the plan and activities as needed.
  7. Perform other related tasks assigned by the Communications Manager

Qualifications

  • Demonstrated experience in diverse communication mediums, including but not limited to conducting public relations with traditional media outlets; crafting visual materials through video, photography, and print mediums; and leveraging internet and social media platforms for effective communication outreach.
  • Excellent stakeholder engagement and awareness-raising skills 
  • Proficiency in content creation.
  • Experience in crisis communication management.
  • Analytical mindset for performance evaluation.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams.
  • At least three to five years professional experience in communications, media relations, campaigns, and advocacy in the field of sound chemical management, environmental protection and conservation, human rights, and/or community development.
  • Bachelor’s degree in communication, media relations, journalism, public relation, and other related fields.
  • Ability to travel to the project sites. 

To Apply:

Please submit your CV and cover letter, including your expected salary, to: hr@bantoxics.org