Media & Digital Communications Consultant – ZCRA Indonesia

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, and in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Mercy Corps Indonesia helps people to recover from the crisis conditions they face and then turn it into an opportunity to improve the quality of life. Based on local needs, our programs help people across Indonesia with the tools and support they need. Mercy Corps Indonesia is part of the Mercy Corps family.

The Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance (‘the Alliance’) is a cross-sector collaboration between Zurich Insurance Group, NGOs, and academia. Zurich Insurance Group works with the humanitarian and civil society organizations Concern Worldwide, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Mercy Corps, Plan International, and Practical Action, as well as research partners the International Institute for Applied Systems and Analysis (IIASA), the London School of Economics (LSE), and the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International (ISET). The Alliance was originally launched in 2013 with the goal of shifting focus from flood response and recovery to pre-event risk reduction. During this time, the partners will together implement a combination of pilot programs, research, knowledge management and work to persuade donors, policy-makers and practitioners to invest in flood prevention and preparedness through: increased and more effective financial investments in flood resilience; improved global and national policy for increased pre-event action to flood resilience; and, improved practice in flood resilience by key stakeholders.

In early 2024, the third phase of the ZFRA program began, with the Alliance changing its name to the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (ZCRA). This change reflects the Alliance's broader scope of work in this new phase, extending beyond flood hazards. For ZCRA Indonesia, this third phase marks the beginning of our efforts to expand our reach and impact in other watersheds. While our initiatives will expand to take into account the complexities and dynamics of new areas, we will remain focused on improving flood resilience in our current areas of Pekalongan City and Regency, plus new areas in the Central Java North Coast Route (Pantura) region such us Semarang City and Regency, Salatiga City, Grobogan Regency, and Demak Regency. Within the Alliance, Mercy Corps leads the advocacy workstream, but our activities go beyond advocacy alone. Instead, we adopt a holistic approach, combining community-level work with science-based advocacy efforts to create a stronger evidence base for our messages.

While ZCRA Indonesia delivers strong and relevant programming, its knowledge, field experience, and impact have not yet been consistently amplified across owned digital platforms nor sufficiently positioned within international/national/local media discourses. As a result, the program’s achievements and evidence-based approaches remain underrepresented among wider audiences, including donors, policy-makers, practitioners, and global/national stakeholders.

On the other hand, the program has generated solid scientific evidence through various studies, such as the Climate Risk and Impact Assessment (CRIA), Participatory Land Use Planning (PLUP), Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA), and Climate Resilience Management Capacity (CRMC). However, the current challenge is how to translate these in-depth technical studies into content that is more accessible, communicative, and engaging for a wider audience. As the issue of

coastal flooding becomes increasingly pressing, strengthening communication strategies and media collaboration is crucial to increase the program's visibility and attract the attention of policymakers, donors, and other key stakeholders.

To ensure long-term sustainability, donor confidence, and institutional credibility, ZCRA Indonesia requires a coherent, strategic, and integrated communications approach that combines digital content management for international, national and local media engagement. Strengthening both owned and earned communication channels is essential to reinforce trust, enhance visibility, and position ZCRA Indonesia as a credible actor within global climate resilience discourse.

For more details download attachment below