Time to challenge our shortlist!

So, we’ve cut the list of possible outreach bloggers down from over 50 people to just 12. What now? How do we choose just one person from these 12 excellent candidates? The answer… challenges!

Below, we’ve outlined our selection process for the next outreach blogger. Tomorrow our candidates will receive details of their first challenge. Stay tuned…

How the selection process will work

The selection process will be guided by the following five criteria:

1) Writing skills: Since our blogger will be required to not only teach others about social media, but also to blog themselves, strong writing skills are a major consideration.

2) Passion for the cause: The role of an outreach blogger is not easy. We need someone that will go the extra mile for ActionAid to make the outreach blog a success.

3) Social media skills: In the end, Project TOTO is about using social media to give people a voice. Our ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the technological and networking elements of social media.

4) Social network: Talking about poverty is pointless if nobody is listening. We need someone that knows how to spread messages online. The larger the network they have or could create, the greater the impact.

5) Cultural sensitivity: Teaching others requires mutual understanding and trust. Cultural sensitivity will be vital to ensure the project runs smoothly and that the knowledge transfer is effective.

Selection process

ActionAid will set a series of challenges for our shortlisted nominees to complete. These challenges are based on our selection criteria and aim to give a rounded picture of each of our remaining nominees.

Nominees will be judged on each of these challenges, with results posted to ActionAid’s TOTO blog. After all challenges have been completed, ActionAid will review all results and choose the most suitable candidate.

Nominee profiles

ActionAid will post profiles of each nominee to give TOTO followers a better picture of our shortlist. These profiles will be used to post the output and result of each challenge.

Followers of Project TOTO will be invited to post comments on each nominee, which will feed into the process and be factored into our final selection.

Challenges

ActionAid will issue three challenges to the shortlist. Each challenge will need to be completed within the set timeframe and will be judged based on a range of factors. Details of challenges, timeframes and judging criteria will be sent to nominees and posted on the TOTO blog at the outset of each challenge.

Roughly, the three challenges will test:

1)       Blogging skills and comprehension of ActionAid’s work

2)       Multimedia production and social media skills

3)       Creative fundraising skills

Timeframe

The selection process will take place over the next 12 weeks, with an announcement on the successful candidate due on 31 January 2010.

ActionAid understands that most nominees are engaged in full time work or study and will therefore work with the chosen candidate to find a deployment date that fits with their schedules. Ideally, ActionAid would like to send the next outreach blogger anytime between February and April 2010.

Budget

ActionAid needs an estimated $10,000 to establish the next outreach blog. We have already raised a portion of this money, but will need to raise more to make the next phase of Project TOTO a reality.

Location

ActionAid is currently investigating the most appropriate destination for our next outreach blog. We expect to announce the destination within the next four to six weeks and will be seeking input from nominees and Project TOTO followers into this process.