Conference Writer

Position Title: Conference Writer

Position location: Lilongwe, Malawi

Direct Report: Thokozani Ng’ombe-Mwenyekonde

Additional Report: Julie Langelier and Dr Patrick Mphaka

Works closely with: FRI, iHEARD Partners, YAC and YO members, and government

Application deadline: 14th November 2025

Duration: November 20th to December 10th 2025

The Innovations in Health, Rights, and Development (iHEARD) Project aims to enhance access to quality sexual and reproductive health information and services for adolescents and youth in Malawi through participatory, youth-led, and evidence-based communication approaches.

As part of its social and behaviour change interventions, iHEARD is implementing an On-Air Dialogue (OAD) Series between October and November 2025 through radio (Times Radio Station and Zodiak Broadcasting Station) and digital platforms through Social Media Influencers to promote open discussions on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR) issues, amplify youth voices, and strengthen linkages between communities, youth leaders, and service providers.

Following an anticipated successful completion of the OAD series early November 2025, the project plans to convene a National Convening Meeting to reflect on key findings and lessons, amplify evidence generated, and identify policy and programmatic opportunities to sustain and scale up youth-led communication for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

The National Convening Meeting will bring together key stakeholders with the purpose of reflecting on insights and lessons from the OAD series, discussing the implications for policy, programming, and communication strategies on Adolescent and Youth SRHR and co-creating recommendations for sustaining and scaling youth-led SRHR initiatives in Malawi through continued advocacy work.

The specific objectives of the convening are to:

1. Present and discuss key findings and outcomes from the OAD series.
2. Showcase youth-led innovations and communication approaches from the iHEARD project.
3. Facilitate dialogue between youth advocates, decision and/or policy-makers, and implementing partners on improving Adolescent and Youth SRHR communication and services.
4. Develop an action-oriented communiqué and advocacy brief for post-project engagement and sustainability to drive advocacy.

Informed by the 4th objective, Farm Radio International would like to engage the services of a Conference Writer to document the convening proceedings in a format that will build the notes into an action-oriented communiqué and advocacy brief for post-project engagement and sustainability to drive advocacy. The Conference Writer will be engaged for a total of six (6) days spread across the timeline specified above.

The Conference Writer will work under the guidance and supervision of the meeting organizers or designated focal points to fulfill the outlined responsibilities and deliver high-quality written materials for the meeting and post-meeting activities. The qualifications and skills listed below, including proficiency in English writing and experience covering international meetings, are essential for effectively capturing and communicating the proceedings of the meeting.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Pre-conference: Engage proactively with meeting organizers to meticulously plan and prepare for the conference, ensuring alignment with specific meeting objectives and agenda items.
• Live Note-Taking: Attend the meeting and take comprehensive notes of all discussions, including key talking points, decisions, action items, and any important details or insights shared during presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions.
• Day-One Activities Recap: Provide a concise recap of the activities and discussions held on the first day of the meeting. This recap should highlight key themes, discussions, decisions, and any emerging priorities or challenges identified during day one.
• Meeting Report: Compile the notes taken during the meeting into a clear, concise, and well-organized meeting report. The report should include an overview of the agenda, summaries of discussions, outcomes, recommendations, and any follow-up actions agreed upon during the meeting.
• Policy Brief Support: Collaborate with the meeting organizers and participants to develop a policy brief based on the discussions and outcomes of the meeting. This includes synthesizing information from the meeting report, identifying key policy recommendations, and assisting in drafting the policy brief document.
• Accuracy and Timeliness: Ensure the accuracy and completeness of all written materials, including meeting notes, reports, and the policy brief. Submit deliverables within the agreed-upon timelines to meet project deadlines.
• Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with the meeting organizers, facilitators, and stakeholders to understand the objectives of the meeting and the desired outcomes. Maintain open communication channels to clarify any uncertainties and seek feedback on deliverables.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

• Familiarity with policy development processes and the ability to contribute to the drafting of policy documents.
• Familiarity with gender equality and inclusion and unpaid care work approaches.
• Strong command of written and spoken English, with the ability to write well-crafted and articulate documents in English.
• Experience in conference or meeting documentation, including note-taking and report writing, preferably with a focus on international meetings or conferences.
• Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Familiarity with Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Youth Programming and Gender Inclusion and Equality concepts and terminologies
• Attention to detail and accuracy in capturing meeting discussions and outcomes.
• Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Proficiency in using productivity tools and software for document preparation and collaboration.

APPLICATIONS

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your application in English to jobapps@farmradio.org

Farm Radio is an affirmative action employer. Women, people of color, and members of equity-seeking communities are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities, and accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. No telephone calls, please.

How to apply

f you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your application in English to jobapps@farmradio.org

Farm Radio is an affirmative action employer. Women, people of color, and members of equity-seeking communities are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities, and accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. No telephone calls, please.