Communications & Learning Specialist

Job Title: Communications & Learning Specialist
Location: Kabarole with travel within districts of operation
Reports to: ASTYE Program Lead

Application Deadline: 8th March 2026

Program Background

The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program

ASTYE is a 5-year transformative initiative designed to enable dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women, refugees, and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers in Uganda's Agrifood system. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Government of Uganda Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program will contribute to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, as well food and nutrition security. Additionally, ASTYE is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which aims to empower 4.3 million young Ugandans, particularly young women, by addressing structural barriers to employment and providing them with the skills and resources to succeed.

Specifically, GOAL will implement component one to reach 500,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with 456,000 transiting into work and 336,000 securing dignified and fulfilling work. As the program is young women-centric, 80% of the total outreach target will be young women within Uganda's agrifood ecosystem. Furthermore, 5% of the total youth in work target will be refugees, and another 5% will be people with disabilities.

Job summary

The Communications and Learning Specialist will be in charge of Communications and learning, conducting learning, accountability, documentation and disseminating learnings. The Communications and Learning Specialist is expected to play an important role in providing leadership in the development and implementation of the Communications and Learning strategy for the ASTYE program. The role entails carrying out communication activities, Learning, accountability and ensuring quality of communication and Learning materials produced that informs and contributes towards influencing and educating partners and stakeholders. The Communications and Learning Specialist will work closely with and review the work of a professional media service provider (s), who will deliver communication products according to contract. The postholder will design leaflets, briefs, press releases, and publications on demand, ad hoc basis.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

Essential

• Postgraduate degree in communications, journalism
• 5 years work experience and at least 3 years of demonstrated experience in Communication component of a donor – funded project, private enterprise or media house.
• Experience with social media, website development and creative design.
• Experience collaborating with stakeholders across private sector, government agencies, and academic institutions.

Desirable

• Excellent use of creative design software
• Demonstratable skills in digital community feedback and response mechanism
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize information and present findings clearly.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrating fluency in written and spoken English to effectively engage diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize, implement, and deliver high-quality work within tight timelines and with minimal supervision
• Ability to travel up to 50% of time from base.

The key responsibilities of the role will be:

Strategic Communications and Planning

• Develop and implement a program communications strategy and annual workplan aligned with the ASTYE objectives and the GOAL and Mastercard Foundation’s communications strategy and guidelines.
• Maintain a Stakeholder Database for the ASTYE program.
• Ensure all communications outputs are brand-aligned, compliant with the Foundation’s brand guidelines, and reflect program values and positioning.
• Keep the Crisis and Reputational Risk Mitigation Plan updated, with clear incident reporting protocols, escalation steps, and holding statements.
• Lead the MEAL and Programme teams, liaising with the funding partner and Technical Advisors and others to convert data/workshop notes/interviews/complex technical documents into well-written and engaging content suitable for a range of audiences.
• Coordinate with ASYTE Leadership team, MEAL and Programme teams and solicit input into regular internal and external communication outputs
• Provide training and capacity building to Programme staff as needed on development/production of content for communication materials
• Produce high-quality Learning and communication materials such as learning briefs, case studies, success/challenge stories, newsletters, blogs, photo journals and videos reflective of all GU programme areas
• Produce quarterly ASYTE Project message sheets and share with Funding partner, GOAL HQ and ASYTE senior leadership.
• Act as an information bridge between the Communications Team in ASYTE project, GOAL and Funding partner
• Serve as the focal point for information requests on programmatic learning;
• Review, adapt and edit resources in coordination with relevant colleagues and stakeholders (e.g. Programmes, MEAL, HR, others) to respond to requests for information from a range of partners and funding partner
• Support the implementation of a ASYTE social media plan, with regular updates to GOAL Uganda and Funding partner’s social media platforms
• Manage communication material supplies and replenishment

Content Development and Impact Storytelling

• Capture and amplify youth voices through multimedia formats (written, video, digital) that demonstrate the impact of the program and inline with the GOAL and Mastercard Foundation’s guidelines.
• Document and package impact stories showing changes in livelihood outcomes, opportunities for young people, and institutional strengthening.
• Develop communication materials (briefs, brochures, fact sheets, presentations, infographics, newsletters, digital content) tailored to stakeholder needs.
• Ensure all communications reflect evidence from program M&E data, translating insights into accessible and compelling formats.

Media and Digital Engagement

• Develop a media engagement strategy for the ASTYE program.
• Lead digital campaigns and social media content to drive awareness and uptake of the program by young people.
• Draft and disseminate media releases, op-eds, and feature articles in consultation with program leadership.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, media outlets, and digital influencers to ensure accurate and positive coverage for the program.
• Manage the program’s digital platforms (website, social media, newsletters) and monitor analytics to optimize engagement and reach.

Stakeholder Communication and Coordination

• Provide tailored, timely, and accurate communication updates to stakeholders (youth, government and Private Sector Actors, Civil Society Organizations, implementing partners, Mastercard Foundation, GOAL global team, and other financiers).
• Coordinate with internal teams (Project Manager, M&E, Gender Specialist, Finance, HR) to ensure consistency and accuracy in communications.
• Support events, learning workshops, training sessions, and program convenings by developing media kits, talking points, and branded materials, etc.
• Serve as focal point for communications with government bodies and strategic partners.

Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting

• Monitor, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness of communications activities against agreed indicators (reach, engagement, uptake, partner feedback, etc.).
• Incorporate learnings into evolving communication strategies to strengthen impact and improve delivery.
• Produce quarterly and annual communications reports that feed into program, GOAL and, Mastercard Foundation reporting requirements.
• Support the MEAL Coordinator and Program Leads to develop and apply learning documentation guidelines, tools, and templates.
• Ensure systematic documentation of lessons learned, best practices, innovations, and adaptations across ASTYE interventions.
• Facilitate integration of learning into program design, policy development, and decision-making processes.
• Act as focal point for development and dissemination of organisational learning resources.
• Collaborate with MEAL and Communications teams to apply standardized learning tools and reporting frameworks.
• Explore and promote innovative approaches and digital tools for learning capture, analysis, and dissemination.

Accountability

• Lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive accountability framework aligned with humanitarian principles and organizational policies and GOAL’s strategies and priorities.
• Lead the establishment of community feedback mechanisms (CFMs) to empower communities in expressing their concerns and suggestions.
• Facilitate consultations with affected communities to understand their needs, expectations, and feedback on responses.
• Collaborate with program teams to ensure community voices are integrated into program design and implementation.
• Develop and deliver capacity building training for ASYTE staff, partners to ensure accountability standards, tools, and best practices are well taken and implemented.
• Coordinate with the MERL Officers to establish and apply robust monitoring systems to effectively track CFMs from all ASYTE operation areas.
• Regularly analyze, consolidate and share CFM data with leadership, funding partner and partners to ensure community feedback is timely acted upon, and reports are timely shared with all responsible.
•       Manage ASYTE’s hotline and use the information to meaningfully collect, synthesize and monitor feedback working in collaboration with the program team and ASYTE’s leadership.
•         Undertake regular field visits to identify best practices and provide supportive supervision to all area offices and their programs focusing on accountability and learning.

General Terms and Conditions

At GOAL we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment@ug.goal.ie

GOAL Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnic background, tribe, birth, creed or religion or social or economic standing, political opinion, disability.

Code of Conduct and Accountability within GOAL

GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has values and behaviours framework which defines our code of conduct. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability.

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, Code of Conduct, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults a must be safeguarded to the maximum extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

GOAL 

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency and works with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and overcome humanitarian crises, and to assist those facing poverty and exclusion achieve greater resilience and well-being. GOAL envisions a world beyond humanitarian crises where poverty no longer exists, where vulnerable communities exposed to shocks and stresses are resilient, where barriers to well-being are removed and where everyone has equal rights and opportunities. 

General Description of the Country Programme 

First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda country programme focuses on Health, (including WASH, Health Accountability and Nutrition); and a market-based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behavior changes and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give effect to our mission.  

GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of over 110 personnel and has a head office in Kampala and field offices in 7 locations across Northern, Southwestern and Eastern regions of Uganda.  GOAL Uganda’s donors include the Mastercard Foundation, charity: water, Irish Aid, The Kingdom of Netherland Embassy in Uganda (EKN) and other private donors.  

Interested applicants who meet the requirements should apply through the link with at least 3 professional referees (current or former Line Manager) from the last three employers and daytime contact number by 8th March 2026.