Communications Lead supporting United States Energy Association (USEA)

About Our Client & its Background – United States Energy Association (USEA)

The United States Energy Association (USEA) is an association of public and private energy-related organizations, corporations, and government agencies. USEA represents the broad interests of the U.S. energy sector by increasing the understanding of energy issues, both domestically and internationally.

In 2018, the U.S. Government (USG) launched the Asia Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy (Asia EDGE) initiative to support the growth of sustainable and secure energy markets across the Asia-Pacific region. USAID/India has been designated as the “regional hub” tasked to coordinate Asia EDGE activities in South Asia to promote the development of economical, reliable and clean energy access across South Asia, while supporting U.S. strategic interests and growing private sector engagement in the Indo-Pacific to create investment opportunities for U.S. companies. SAREH is the mechanism that will support USAID/India to coordinate and report on all its regional hub activities. SAREH will engage a suite of stakeholders across the region including private sector entities, national governments, international donors, financial institutions, and civil society organizations, and will coordinate interventions with USAID missions in South Asia, USAID/Washington, other regional Asia EDGE hubs, and other USG agencies supporting the initiative.

As a whole-of-government endeavor, Asia EDGE has four strategic objectives: (1) strengthen the energy security of regional partners; (2) create open and transparent energy markets (gas and electricity); (3) improve free, fair, and reciprocal energy trading relationships; and (4) expand access to affordable, reliable energy.

To achieve a comprehensive approach, the Asia EDGE consists of four technical pillars: (1) enhanced regional energy markets and integration; (2) increased deployment of advanced energy solutions and systems; (3) high performing modern utilities; and (4) private sector investment and services mobilized (including transparent, best value procurement).

To accelerate the implementation of SAREH, USAID/India has tasked the U.S. Energy Association with launching a series of activities that will establish a regional energy cooperation platform, through communication, outreach and coordination, and targeted, quick technical assistance actions to add value to public and private sector stakeholders. This will operate in parallel and in coordination with existing USAID-funded energy programming in the region.

This will include two primary tasks: (1) regional platform (SAREH) establishment, management and administration; and (2) technical assistance services. SAREH is expected to draw from ongoing energy programs of USAID/India (regional and bilateral), USAID Missions across South Asia, the array of USG agencies and departments, South Asia host governments, and the work of private sector entities. To implement SAREH, USEA will be establishing an office in New Delhi, India. The New Delhi office (headed by the COP) will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of SAREH, under the strict guidance of USEA/Washington and USAID/Delhi. The responsibilities of the COP will include planning and implementation of a variety of capacity-building and technical assistance activities to take place in India and the surrounding South Asian countries; overseeing the implementation of a portfolio of communication and social media outreach; and overall SAREH program planning.

Role
Sannam S4 has an opening for Communications Lead to the USEA for a two-year assignment to assist the Chief of Party to launch the USAID inception activities under the Asia Edge – SAREH. This position is based in New Delhi with occasional travel to Washington, DC and other South Asia countries. The Communications Lead will report to the U.S. Energy Association office in Washington, DC and will coordinate closely with the USAID/India Mission in New Delhi, India.

Through a cooperative agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3), the United States Energy Association implements an Energy Utility Partnership Program (EUPP) available to all USAID-assisted countries and USAID Missions. EUPP assists developing countries to increase environmentally sustainable energy production and use and improve the operational efficiency and increased financial viability of their utilities and related institutions. The goal of the EUPP is to increase access in USAID-assisted countries to environmentally sound energy services. Under the EUPP mechanism, USEA is launching activities for Asia EDGE – SAREH program.

The Communications Lead will develop and implement communication strategy for SAREH and will coordinate with USAID/India and other relevant stakeholders such as USAID/Washington and USAID/RDMA to assist in advancing the strategic vision and achieve program goals.

Major duties

Implement and monitor communication and marketing of SAREH programs by:
•Designing sketches of mass media announcements
•Creating content for social media platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook)
•Writing content for SAREH website in coordination with the USAID/India
•Coordinating webinars and other outside communication
•Creating and designing “facts sheets,” articles, press releases, and other external communications for publication
•Planning outreach and press conferences
•Communicating with preapproved media, as directed by USEA and the COP
•Managing media inquiries and arranging interviews, statements etc.
•Reporting on SAREH activities for USAID and others as requested
•Handling all USAID and USEA requests for information and reporting results
•Taking high quality photographs at SAREH activities that can be used in publications

Provide support in the implementation of key activities to include:
•Building long-term relationships with media and key stakeholders
•Coordinating external and internal communications flow (memos, newsletters, etc.)

Build and manage relationship with USAID’s implementation partners, collaborators and stakeholders as needed to support the development of communications products:
•Liaising and coordinating with USAID/India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal missions, and their implementing partners (both existing and forthcoming)
•Liaising and coordinating with other key Asia EDGE stakeholders
•Traveling as needed to create effective communication strategies for the program
•As directed, liaising and coordinating with key stakeholders in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, and Nepal, and other South Asia countries, including media, private sector entities, national governments, international donors, financial institutions, and civil society organizations, USAID missions in South Asia, USAID/Washington, and other USG agencies supporting the initiative
•Conducting and developing key outreach events identified by USEA as critical for the development and success of SAREH
•Attending conferences and workshops to deliver presentations on behalf of SAREH should the Chief of Party or Program Manager be unable to attend
•Coordinating with USAID and USEA communications staff, as needed

Coordination with other staff by:
•Working with the U.S. Energy Association, USAID/India, the SAREH Chief of Party (COP) and Program Manager in setting up the SAREH office in New Delhi, India
•Assisting in planning, organizing, distributing, and coordinating the flow of work, with oversight by USEA
•Assisting in implementing staff policies, procedures, and schedules, in accordance with USEA procedures
•Ensuring timely and quality execution of project team deliverables
•Coordinating with USEA and the COP on overall office management