Communications Officer at African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)

AFIDEP is looking to recruit suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill the position of Communications Officer. The Communications Officer will Contribute to the design and implementation of AFIDEP’s policy engagement, branding and communications strategy to raise AFIDEP’s profile and impact as a regional research and policy institute. The officer will manage development of and write content for institutional publications such as the annual report, newsletters, African Development Perspectives as well as the website and social media accounts. The successful candidate will facilitate engagement with policymakers and support research staff in translating evidence and packaging it into policy oriented and general reading outputs including policy briefs, infographics, blogs, media releases, media kits, Op-Eds, videos, podcasts, and photo-stories. The Officer will contribute to capacity building of AFIDEP staff, other researchers, policy makers, and journalists in communications and evidence informed decision making. The job-holder will establish and sustain links and contact with journalists and media houses to ensure visibility of AFIDEP’s work in the media.

The Communications officer should have a Masters’ Degree in Communications, Media or International Relations, with at least 5 years’ experience in science and development communications, excellent writing, editing, networking, and verbal communication skills.

This position could be based at either AFIDEP’s Nairobi office or Lilongwe office.

Key Responsibilities

• PEC strategy: Contribute to the design and implementation of AFIDEP’s policy engagement and communications
• Branding: Contribute to the development of a recognizable AFIDEP brand as a leading policy institute in promoting and enabling evidence uptake in development efforts in all sectors, and supporting evidence synthesis and use; Expand AFIDEP’s partnerships and facilitate participation in key policy
• Publications: Create, design, edit and produce content for various institutional and technical publications. Write stories and blogs based on AFIDEP’s programmes and projects for publishing in newsletters, AFIDEP website, and other development blogs websites; Prepare content and produce AFIDEP’s IEC materials, mainly in relation to programmes in Kenya, and Eastern and West
• Media and multi-media: Implement a robust media engagement strategy that includes to establish and sustain links and contact with relevant journalists in Kenya and Eastern and West Africa to increase awareness of AFIDEP’s work among journalists; Develop media materials based on evidence generated by AFIDEP including media releases, media kits, Op- Eds, etc.; Produce and publish multi-media products (including videos, podcasts, photo- stories, infographics, animations, etc.) in a timely
• Online presence: Management of AFIDEP website and social media accounts. Contribute to managing the AFIDEP website, ensuring that web content related to our programmes in Kenya and the Eastern and West African regions are well presented and up to date on the website (includes developing content for website). Contribute to managing AFIDEP’s social media accounts, ensuring regular and quality content emanating from our work in Kenya and Eastern and West Africa.
• Keep abreast of other emerging social media and web 2.0 tools, taking advantage of these to extend the reach and impact of AFIDEP’s

Capacity development in science communication and evidence-informed decision-making

• Contribute to capacity building programmes for AFIDEP staff in science communications and evidence
• Contribute to the Institute’s capacity building programme in evidence-informed decision- making.

Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation of Communications Programme

• Implement a monitoring, learning and evaluation (MLE) plan for AFIDEP’s policy engagement and communications (PEC) programme in Kenya, and Eastern and West

Qualifications

A Masters’ Degree in Communications, Media or International Relations, with at least 5 years’ experience in science communications.

• Communication: excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills with ability to convey technical arguments in clear and vivid prose
• Negotiation and networking: ability to negotiate, form and sustain credible strategic alliances
• Knowledgeable: sound knowledge of regional and pan-African development issues; public policies and laws; proven skills in translating research and evidence into effective advocacy
• Technical skills in publications production and design; web design and management Applicants are invited to submit their CVs, cover letter, and one-page motivation

Terms of employment: The position is an initial contract of 2 years renewable depending on

Performance, relevance and availability of resources.