Reporting to the Kenya Communications Manager, the Communications Associate will work with the GAIN Kenya Communications Manager, the CASCADE team and the global Communications team to develop and implement a communications strategy that will guide the programme’s internal and external communication in addition to Supporting communications and advocacy activities of the programme at county and national levels

Key Responsibilities include.

• Organize the internal and external communications activities of the CASCADE project.
• Work with the GAIN Kenya Communications Manager, the CASCADE team and the global Communications team to develop and implement a communications strategy that will guide the programme’s internal and external communication.
• Support communications and advocacy activities of the programme at county and national levels.
• Develop country level co-branded advocacy/communication materials (flyers, leaflets, fact sheets, success stories, media kits, photographs, video clips, documentaries, radio programs).
• Planning and execution of programme communication strategy – 2022, and for the coming years.
• Work with the policy and advocacy teams to synthesize research reports into high level highlights and policy briefs that guide decision making.
• Support the Policy and Advocacy Manager in coordinating both physical and virtual events and coordinate information and knowledge needed for various platforms.

About You

• The ideal candidate should have proven experience in managing internal and external communications preferably within a project setting, ability to work with a global communications team while developing and repackaging materials developed by the programme such as lessons learned and best practices across consortium partners. Prior experience working alongside advocacy teams is preferred.
• The postholder should demonstrate competence in conceptualizing and executing social media campaigns and developing digital media content with ability to network and coordinate the media fraternity in advocacy and policy processes. Ability to synthesize research reports into high level highlights and policy briefs that guide decision making in addition to working in an environment with multiple stakeholders from private and public sectors.
• You should have strong (written and verbal) communication and analytical skills leaning towards policy and advocacy communication. Candidate should have an education background in a relevant field such as university level degree in communications, knowledge management, business and marketing, food technology, economics, or related field.

Experience

• 3+ years of professional experience working in communications
• Exceptional experience in policy and advocacy communication
• Demonstrated excellence in written/verbal communications, research, writing, and analytical ability.
• Experience in managing online events and webinars
• Experience in working with the agriculture, food and nutrition sectors will be an added advantage

Education

• University level degree (Master’s, or MBA) in a relevant field such as communications, knowledge management, business and marketing, food technology, economics, or other relevant field

Reporting to the Influencing and Advocacy Manager, the Senior Associate, Policy and Advocacy will Support the implementation of various policy aspects for GAIN projects. Support the Policy and Advocacy Manager in engaging with the key stakeholders in government, private sector, UN, donors and civil society including academia, media, and other development practitioners; to improve support for GAIN’s mission and increase resources allocated to nutrition in Kenya while providing technical input in the design of policy and advocacy projects within the Country Programme.

Key Responsibilities include.

• In consultation with the Policy and Advocacy manager, develop project implementation plans and update key project documents as well as reporting project achievements .
• Review and synthesize key government food and nutrition related policy documents necessary to deliver project commitments.
• Monitor, engage, and represent GAIN where appropriate, with key global and local policy for a (e.g., Decade of Action on Nutrition, Nutrition for Growth, Scaling Up Nutrition, Kenya National Food Fortification Alliance, Nutrition Technical Forum).
• Research, edit, and produce policy documents, in collaboration with the Policy and External Relations team, Knowledge Leadership (KL) department and Programme Services team.
• Monitor, attend and engage to represent GAIN, where appropriate, in key national-level and country-level policy fora and meetings.
• In consultation with the Policy and Advocacy Manager, develop project implementation plan for the CASCADE, Vegetables for All, Resilient markets projects and other policy related work.
• Support the Policy and Advocacy Manager in engaging with the key stakeholders in government, private sector, UN, donors and civil society including academia, media, and other development practitioners; to improve support for GAIN’s mission and increase resources allocated to nutrition in Kenya
• Support the development and implementation of key advocacy tools (eg Budget tracking tools, Score cards, public participation tools, power analysis tools)

About You

• The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience in policy research and communication within an advocacy-oriented context, either within an NGO, government or policy context. Strong experience in partnership building and brokering between business and other stakeholders, with a strong record of negotiation. Proven knowledge of business models including experience in working with mechanisms that catalyze business partnerships and investments.
• The postholder should demonstrate ability to review literature and documentation to turn complex technical and project reports into clear stories/ coherent position papers. Ability to analyze food and nutrition security policy debates and contribute to drafting papers in line with GAIN’s strategic priorities. Demonstrate experience in policy and/or budget advocacy, strategic planning, and project management.
• You should have experience working with stakeholders from civil society, government, donors at national international level .
• Candidate should have an education background in a relevant field such as Bachelors’ or Masters’ degree level in public policy, international relations, law or related field.