Job Advertisement – Communications Consultant, National Drug Policy of Saint Kitts and Nevis

1. BACKGROUND

The National Drug Policy of Saint Kitts and Nevis (2024-2028) seeks to address the complex impact of drugs within the Federation by prioritising the two main areas of concern for drug control, i.e., health, safety and security. In keeping with International and Hemispheric standards, and using the CICAD/OAS Hemispheric Strategy 2020 (OAS/CICAD, 2020) and its Plan of Action on Drugs 2021-2025 as a guide, this policy addresses the critical issues and creates a plan of action across five thematic pillars:

1. Institutional Strengthening
2. Measures of Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Support
3. Measures to Control and Counter the Illicit Cultivation, Production, Trafficking, and Distribution of Drugs, and to address their Causes and Consequences
4. Research, Information and Monitoring & Evaluation
5. International Cooperation

Under the guidance of a Multi-Sectoral Steering Committee, all activities related to the foregoing thematic pillars will receive focused and balanced attention. Further, the implementation of the policy will be advanced through strategic institutional practices grounded in empirical evidence, established good practices, and compassion, as well as international standards of public health, technical, technological, and human resource capacity building and human rights principles. It outlines a Vision and Mission that is tied to the following Core Values:

• Collaboration (Institutional Strengthening) An efficient and effective response to addressing the harm caused by drugs requires strong institutional systems and a coordinated multi-sectoral response.
  • People-Centred / Harm-Reduction (Demand Reduction) Drugs exist in our society and action to delay the onset of first use and reduce the impact of harm through prevention, treatment and social reintegration is critical.
  • Safety and Security (Supply Reduction and Measures of Control) Enforcement agencies are a significant part of the response to curtail illicit activities in furtherance of the security and safety of our country and its citizens. This requires the building of technical, technological and human resource capacity.
  • Data-Driven (Research, Information, Monitoring and Evaluation) The best decisions are evidence-informed. This requires consistent advocacy for and the development of mechanisms to collect and analyse data and report on interventions that, once proven effective, can be scaled up to benefit a wider cross-section of the population.
  • Global Responsibility (International Cooperation) The impact of drugs on our society is the result of influences that are both internal and external to the Federation. Through collective responsibility and engagement with regional and international partners, the Federation will be better equipped to respond to these threats.

In alignment with these core values, the activities identified in the Plan of Action will support the implementation of the policy. These actions, developed through engagement with stakeholders whose concerns included children and youth, gender considerations, justice-involved persons with substance use disorders, vulnerable communities, and areas prone to drug trafficking, include but are not limited to the following: 6

1. Strengthening the National Drug Council and developing mechanisms for inter-agency collaboration and coordination.
2. Developing and implementing a national substance use and misuse prevention programme while improving treatment, recovery support, and social integration intervention at every level of care.
3. Providing agencies with appropriate training and the necessary equipment for efficient supply reduction interventions and related activities.
4. Strengthening the development of evidence-based programming by developing and strengthening coordination mechanisms for collecting, analysing, and disseminating drug-related information and
5. Developing and implementing a national plan to access technical assistance and donor funds while undertaking bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Finally, the Policy is underpinned by a robust monitoring and evaluation component which would aid stakeholders in understanding the process used for implementation, identifying whether the action has addressed the issue for which it was developed and finally, estimating the impact it has had on the drug problem.

The outcome of the focused, strategic, structured and coordinated implementation of this policy will result in stronger relationships among stakeholders as well as significant reductions in drug-related harm, in both the areas of demand and supply reduction.

• OBJECTIVE

The Communications Consultant, under the guidance of the Director of the National Council in Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat, will be responsible for developing the comprehensive Communications Strategy that supports the project’s development objectives.  The Communications Consultant will also provide training to the staff of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat to provide guidance on the implementation of the Communication Strategy. This is to be completed within four months.

• SCOPE OF SERVICES, TASKS AND EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

The Communications Consultant will work closely with the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat and will be expected to execute the following tasks and activities:

1. XXX will develop a comprehensive communications strategy to increase awareness and visibility of the objectives of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Drug Policy 2024 – 2028 and the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention.
2. Provide training session(s) for appointed staff at the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat on effective communication strategies and consideration for implementing the Communication Strategy.
3. The Communication Strategy must consider the Federation’s diverse languages and cater to the Hispanic and other predominant communities.
4. Undertake any other tasks (such as consultations) necessary to complete the Communication Strategy.
5. Before it can be finalised, the communication strategy must receive the approval of the Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat.
6. Subject to evaluation based on the outlined schedule to assess the quality and impact of work.

• QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Academic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, or any other related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in working with developing and implementing communication plans and strategies including social media management and website analysis, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Relevant experience working in health and social communications would be an asset.
• Experience in working in a project environment such as those with funding from International Development Partners (IDPs) such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will be an asset

Expert Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of current theories and practices in communications research, planning and strategy, and the role of mass media
• Knowledge of video production
• Proficient in Adobe applications, including but not limited to, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Lightroom; MS suite and MS Project, SharePoint, enterprise resource planning (ERP) or other productivity software tools;
• Fluency in verbal and written English. Knowledge in another language such as French, Spanish or Dutch will be an asset
• Experience in copywriting, proofreading and editing
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, members of the media and the public.
• Ability to work independently and with members of a team
• Demonstrated ability to manage the use of web conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Team, etc.

• CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONSULTANCY

• Type of Consultancy: Individual
• Duration: 4 – 6 months
• Place of Work: Determined by consultant/private
• Working Language: English (Some Spanish promotion may be necessary)

• REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND TIME SCHEDULE FOR DELIVERABLES

All payments will be made upon the Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat submitting and accepting monthly invoices with supporting documents. The Communications Consultant will submit monthly invoices with supporting documents to the Director on an agreed-upon date and time.  

• CLIENT INPUT AND COUNTERPART PERSONNEL

The National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention will provide the Communications Consultant with the applicable laws, policies and relevant project documentation.

• COORDINATION

The Consultant will report directly to the Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat, who will coordinate activities under the contract, accept and approve reports on behalf of the Ministry of National Security, receive and approve invoices for payment, and prepare performance evaluation reports. The Consultant is expected to be guided by the Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat and to collaborate with other key stakeholders related to the execution of the scope of services and deliverables.