Programme Officer, Strategic Communications – IWRAW Asia Pacific | Remote Job Opportunity

Organization: IWRAW Asia Pacific (IWRAW AP)
Job Title: Programme Officer, Strategic Communications
Location: Kuala Lumpur or Remote
Job Type: Full-time, Fixed-term
Salary: USD 1,500–2,000 (payment period not specified)
Application Deadline: November 9, 2026
Travel Requirements: Periodic international travel
Application Method: Online application form

About the Organization

IWRAW Asia Pacific is a feminist, women’s human rights organization working to advance equality, justice, and human rights. For more than three decades, the organization has collaborated with movements, civil society organizations, and communities to address discrimination and inequality.

Its work connects local experiences with international human rights mechanisms, helping women and gender-diverse people understand, exercise, and advance their rights.

The organization is guided by feminist principles and emphasizes inclusion, equity, integrity, and respect for diverse experiences.

About the Job

IWRAW Asia Pacific is recruiting a Programme Officer, Strategic Communications to strengthen its communications strategy, public visibility, and engagement with audiences across different regions.

The successful candidate will develop communications plans, produce content, support advocacy campaigns, and translate complex research and human rights issues into clear messages for the public, partners, policymakers, and funders.

This position works closely with programme teams, organizational leadership, advocacy colleagues, and movement partners. It also contributes to donor communications and fundraising by communicating the organization’s work, impact, and priorities.

The role may suit communications professionals with experience in advocacy, feminist movements, human rights, international development, or civil society organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications and Planning

The Programme Officer will develop and implement the organization’s communications strategy, ensuring that communications activities support its wider priorities.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing annual communications plans and plans for major organizational initiatives.
• Identifying target audiences, communications objectives, key messages, and appropriate channels.
• Planning advocacy campaigns and communications activities with programme colleagues.
• Maintaining a communications calendar.
• Coordinating messaging across websites, social media, publications, events, and media activities.
• Monitoring audience engagement and communications performance in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Programme Officer.

Content Development and Storytelling

The successful candidate will help communicate the organization’s work through accessible, accurate, and engaging content.

Tasks include:

• Translating research, policy analysis, and human rights information into clear narratives.
• Developing case studies, impact stories, and programme updates.
• Identifying stories and communications opportunities arising from advocacy and programme activities.
• Working with programme teams to document emerging issues and partner perspectives.
• Ensuring stories involving partners and communities are communicated ethically and respectfully.

Advocacy and Campaign Communications

The role includes communications support for international advocacy and human rights initiatives.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing communications materials for campaigns, reports, research launches, webinars, and events.
• Supporting public statements, joint statements, and coalition communications.
• Preparing advocacy toolkits and digital campaign materials.
• Supporting communications around the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and United Nations human rights processes.
• Preparing spokesperson messaging and coordinating timely responses to significant political and human rights developments.

Website and Digital Communications

The Programme Officer will contribute to the management and improvement of the organization’s digital presence.

Key duties include:

• Managing and updating the organization’s website, blogs, social media accounts, and other digital platforms.
• Producing institutional and partnership communications materials.
• Coordinating creative materials and external creative vendors.
• Maintaining an organized archive of communications assets.
• Supporting digital security practices and developing communications templates and guidelines.

Donor Communications and Fundraising Support

The position also contributes to resource mobilization through communications.

Duties include:

• Developing funding narratives that explain the organization’s work and priorities.
• Preparing donor-facing communications, briefings, and engagement materials.
• Contributing content to funding proposals and donor reports.
• Producing impact stories and case studies for fundraising.
• Supporting fundraising campaigns and website fundraising content.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in one of the following areas:

• Communications or journalism.
• International development.
• Gender studies or human rights.
• Social sciences.
• Another related field.

Candidates should also have 3–5 or more years of professional experience in strategic communications, advocacy communications, movement communications, or a related area. Experience in feminist organizations, human rights work, civil society, or Global South contexts is preferred.

Other requirements include:

• Experience developing communications strategies, campaigns, and multi-channel plans.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• The ability to explain complex research, policy, and human rights issues to different audiences.
• Experience working with programme teams, leadership, advocacy colleagues, and external partners.
• An understanding of feminist movements, human rights frameworks, and women’s rights advocacy.
• Experience managing digital content for websites, social media, publications, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with tools such as Canva and Mailchimp, or the ability to learn them quickly.

Experience with CEDAW, United Nations mechanisms, international human rights advocacy, media engagement, narrative change, donor communications, multimedia storytelling, or communications analytics is an advantage.

The organization also encourages applications from people whose relevant skills have been developed through community work, lived experience, and non-traditional career paths.

Core Skills

The position requires a combination of strategic thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

Important competencies include:

• Strategic and political analysis.
• Feminist and movement-centred practice.
• Relationship building and teamwork.
• Creative and adaptable communication.
• Professional judgement and discretion.
• Campaign planning and advocacy communications.
• Content development and editing.
• Digital communications and audience engagement.
• Communications monitoring and learning.

Salary and Employment Conditions

The advertised salary range is USD 1,500–2,000. The original vacancy does not specify whether this amount is monthly or annual, so applicants should confirm the payment period and applicable employment terms with the organization.

Other employment conditions include:

• Full-time employment on a fixed-term contract.
• Potential contract renewal depending on performance and available funding.
• A flexible or remote working arrangement, with Kuala Lumpur listed as a location.
• Periodic international travel.
• Collaboration with colleagues working across different time zones.

The source vacancy does not specify the contract duration, benefits package, or whether applicants must reside in a particular country. Interested candidates should clarify these details directly with the recruitment team.

Who Should Consider Applying?

This opportunity may be relevant to professionals who have experience in communications, digital content, advocacy campaigns, human rights, gender equality, or international development.

Applicants should review the experience requirements and consider how their previous work demonstrates their ability to develop communications strategies, write for different audiences, support advocacy, and communicate organizational impact.

IWRAW Asia Pacific states that it will prioritize applications from women, gender-diverse individuals, persons with disabilities, people from the Global South—particularly Southeast Asia and the Pacific—and historically underrepresented communities.

Applicants do not need to meet every listed requirement to be encouraged to apply, provided they believe they can contribute meaningfully to the role.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can submit their applications through the official online application form.

Application form: https://forms.gle/Jym6oTy4pedSQCSu8

Application deadline: November 9, 2026.

Applicants who cannot access the form can contact the recruitment team at recruitment@iwraw-ap.org.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The organization states that it cannot provide individual feedback because of the high volume of applications.

Before submitting an application, candidates should review the official vacancy and confirm any employment details that are not specified in the announcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a remote job?

The vacancy offers a flexible or remote working arrangement, with Kuala Lumpur listed as a location. Periodic international travel is required. The organization has not specified whether applicants must reside in a particular country.

What is the salary?

The advertised range is USD 1,500–2,000. The payment period is not specified in the source announcement and should be confirmed with the employer.

What qualifications are required?

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in communications, journalism, international development, gender studies, human rights, social sciences, or a related field, alongside 3–5 or more years of relevant professional experience.

When is the application deadline?

The closing date is November 9, 2026.

How can I apply?

Applications are submitted through the organization’s official application form. Applicants who experience access problems can email recruitment@iwraw-ap.org.

Is the contract permanent?

No permanent appointment is stated. The vacancy describes a full-time, fixed-term role that may be renewed depending on performance and funding.

Source: IWRAW Asia Pacific’s Programme Officer, Strategic Communications vacancy announcement. Applicants should consult the organization directly to confirm any details not included in the original posting.